Note to Self:

Never put "Olbas Oil" (Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Wintergreen, and more) into your neti-pot rinse. The initial reaction is unfavorable (though it did seem to help in the long run.)

Some More Additions!

Below you will see some pictures of the newest additions to the Bajus mini-farm! I have to confess that they are not very high on my list of favorites, but I sure am getting a kick out of watching the children with them. Their purpose is to reduce the number of chipmunks around here - they sure have their work cut out for 'em! In the pictures below, Liam is holding the one named "Chow Mein" and Abigail is holding "MooShoo." Yes, I named them. I honestly can't believe Chow Mein tolerates Liam holding him! In fact, he seems to like it!

And here is my monkey:

There really is no holding him back. I remember climbing on precarious things as a child; I survived (and so did my mother!)

Finally, here is a picture of calendula blossoms from my garden. I'm drying them so I can use them in skin salve making. How exciting to use herbs from my own little garden!!

Elderflowers, Red Clover Blossoms, and My Hero

Presently, as I type, I have a nice set of four homemade drying racks for drying all sorts of lovely herbacious type things, made my none other than the Carpenter (my Hero) himself. Today I tramped across a ditch and through some tall, mosquito infested grasses to a large elder bush, heavy laden with lacy white blossoms. I snapped off an armful of branches and now the delicate clusters are spread out on one of the racks. Beneath the rack of elderflowers is a rack of almost dried red clover blossoms, needing just one more day before they can be stowed away in a jar, ready to be added to teas. (Red clover tea is an excellent remedy for coughs; I also add it to an inflammation tea that Andrew drinks)

Soon, wild strawberry leaves and fresh mint will be added to the drying rotation and later on yarrow and mullein will follow. On my way home from the library I spotted the grandfather of all elder berry bushes behind a neighbor's barn; I'd venture to guess that he will let me collect a good amount of berries later in the season. I'm hoping to dry lots of random extras from the garden so they are ready to be tossed into soups all winter long. Its fun having these handy drying racks - just pick some stuff and toss it on, gather it up a few days later and stuff it in a jar! Plus, the kids can help: you know - pick a red clover blossom here, gallop through the grass whinnying like a horse, pick another blossom there and eat it... They keep me smiling!

Emerging Herbs

Things are Growing!

I thought I’d share some photos and descriptions of some early spring herbs that we’ve been enjoying. I’ve always found it easier to learn when there are photos… but it isn’t often that you can find photos of the newly emerging leaves; plant identification books wait till the flowers are present!

First is mustard greens:

MUSTARD GREENS

These bitter herbs are highly nutritious and easy to harvest; just pick ’em when you see ’em! In the past I would pick a WHOLE bunch and blanch them in hot water for a few minutes (to remove some of the bitterness) then transfer them to a pot with olive oil, garlic, and red pepper where they could sautee til tender. Salt and pepper to taste, then enjoy on crusty Italian bread. The only problem with this is that no one but me would eat them, as they are very bitter. So, now I chop them up and toss as couple handfuls into a pot of soup. I am planning on drying them as I pick them so that I will be able to use them in soups even as the season passes. You want to be sure and get them before they flower as then they get tough and stringy. The leaves are also nutritious.

Along with the mustard greens go dandelion greens:

DANDELION GREENS/FLOWERS

Almost everyone knows how to distinguish this ‘weed’. The leaves can be used just like the mustard greens; you can also use small quantities of both raw in salads; if you use too much the salad does get quickly bitter. The other day, Abigail picked a basketful of dandelion flowers and I pan-fried them up in a batter made of egg, milk, salt, pepper, parmesan cheese and flour. They were yummy! I am planning on making dandelion wine once the blossoms come out full force!

This is garlic mustard:

GARLIC MUSTARD

If you crush a leaf in your fingers it smells of garlic. Again, toss a handful of the fresh leaves in soup for added nutrition.

Here is burdock:

BURDOCK

The root can be scrubbed, chopped and sautéed in butter and garlic and it is supposed to taste like artichoke hearts. I have a bag full of the roots in the fridge that I plan on using either today or tomorrow. When I first started digging them, I was going for the big roots. I then found that I could gather many more of the skinny, first year plants much more quickly than I could dig up one second year root. I imagine that the first year roots are more tender than the second year, anyway. I’ll try and remember to let you know how we like them!

Edit: They ARE delicious! I sautèed them in butter with garlic, a pinch of dried mint, salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Very yummy!

FIRST YEAR BURDOCK PLANT WITH TAP ROOT

And this is yarrow:

EMERGING YARROW LEAVES

I don’t collect yarrow til it is blossoming in the summer, but it is exciting to identify it this early in the season. The leaves look like little ferns or feathers, curling close to the ground. Don’t let their delicate appearance fool you: Yarrow is a wonderful herb that is ideal for fighting cold and flu. I always have on hand a loose-leaf mix of yarrow, elder flower, and peppermint (called children’s composition) in order to make tea at a moment’s notice. Careful, though! Don’t let it steep too long or it will be too bitter to drink! Honey improves the taste, fore sure! You can also identify where yarrow is growing by looking for the dried flower stalks from last year’s mature plants:

LAST YEAR'S YARROW STALKS WITH DEAD FLOWERHEADS

Early Spring Herbs

Even though our yard looks like this:

I still managed to find some eager young herbs stretching their fresh young arms to the warming sun. This thrills me to no end and I suddenly want to cast all duties to the wind (ehem… don’t I always?) and crawl around outside looking for more evidence of the new life stirring in the ground. I’ve been dreaming, day and night, of bitter dandelion greens cooked to Italian perfection; of pretty violets decorating a fresh spring salad; of tangy wood sorrel fresh on my tongue. I’ve even started thinking of hanging out my laundry to dry in the fresh air and the warm sun. Mmmmm. I have spring fever!!! Anyway, here are the herbs I found:

Mullein:

Mullein is one of my favorite herbs to have on hand in the winter. You can infuse olive oil with its flowers, or leaves if you lack the flowers, and then use the healing oil to aid in getting rid of earaches. The mullein expels moisture so that any ‘water’ that is stuck in the ear can be removed. I’ve used this on myself and the children effectively. We also burn mullein combined with coltsfoot and/or pine needles as incense to help break up chest congestion.

If you see these tall identifying stalks from last years mature plants, you will know where to look for the new fresh leaves of the mullein plant.

Dandelion:

Dandelion! I have fond memories of skipping around my Nonno (my Dad’s Dad) as he meandered around the yard picking the fresh leaves of this prolific 'weed'. If you then wash them, blanch them, then steam-sauté them with olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes, salt and pepper they are delectable – especially with crusty Italian bread (blanching is important as it helps reduce the bitterness). These are so very good for you, providing your body with lots of good vitamins and minerals. It is a natural blood purifier, a wholesome source of iron, and good for your liver. If you drink the water left over from blanching you are drinking a fabulous spring tonic!

Raspberry:

I also found the timid buds of the black raspberry peeking out from their thorny branches! For me this is more of a promise of the yummy things to come! My mouth is watering as I think of juicy berry cobbler or of fresh berries, still warm from the sun, sprinkled over creamy vanilla ice cream! Mmmmm!!

Indians in the House

Throughout the day, I usually am mother to a vast array of people and creatures. I often have baby goats, baby kittens, big lions, and water buffalo. I'm sure to find at least one little dog crawling around at some point during the day and not a day passes without a heard of wild horses galloping across the plains of carpet. When I don't have creatures crawling I have soaring cowboys on flying horses or indians creeping. Other times I have gypsies driving a great couch car across the ocean to Africa.

This morning, as I was luxuriating in bed, I heard the pitter-patter of little Liam feet coming from the boys' bedroom. From downstairs came a soft whistle, a call from the Papa Indian (who had gotten out of bed a short while before.) A soft, excited whisper of "Papa!" answered the whistle, then the little footsteps rapidly thumped down the stairs. It wasn't long till little Phinny Indian arose and was also greeted by an indian whistle; he too crept downstairs with little stomps.

I was thinking how great a Papa my kids have - how fun and loving - and I decided to join my chief and my little indian braves. This squaw knows how to creep quietly so I snuck down the stairs. As I descended, my nose was greeted with the sweet smell of homemade incense: mullein leaf mingled with pine needles to chase away a nasty cold that is trying to settle in our chests.

I have a whole collection of dried mullein plants that I harvested from the hill behind my father-in-law's house at the end of the summer; he sure had a bumper crop! They are hanging upside-down out on the front porch. At anytime, I can go out and grab some leaves and part of the stalk and set fire to them. They smolder fairly nicely and fill the house with a sweet smelling smoke that, amazingly, begins to break up the nasty phlegm that tries to reside in your chest. Mullein will help break up a tight cough and also expedite the drying up of a loose, lingering cough. It is a fantastic herb! You can also combine it with coltsfoot or pine needles to enhance the cough-kicking properties.

So, this family of gypsy-indians sat around the table this morning smelling sweet mullein and eating yummy apples and sipping tasty coffee.

O, What To Do About the Flu?

By now everyone is expressing some measure of concern about the Swine Flu. A school 20 miles from us has actually closed for a few days due to the number of children that are out with sickness. So, rather than sit here and wring my hands, I've done a bit of research to prepare myself to take care of my family, should we get the dreaded pandemic. I've also been researching ways to try and avoid contracting this widespread bug. I thought I'd share what I've learned:

To Help Prevent Flu Sickness
(1) Wash Hands - the age old sage advice. (Now, if only I can remember for myself and four little ones, we'll be good!)

(2) Drink LOTS of warm teas. The following are a list of teas I'm incorporating into our daily diets:
1- Immune Booster (A combination of Elderberries, Echinacea, Peppermint, Nettle) This we will drink for about a week on then a week off so as to not over do it with the Echinacea.
2- Children's Composition (Elder Flowers, Peppermint, Yarrow) This is a nice evening tea for the kiddos before they go to bed. (Yarrow is a superb herb!)
3- Pine Needle Tea. See the following links for some good info.
Pining for Nourishment

Pine Needles

(3) Boost the Immune System. The above teas ar a part of that, as well as eating bunches of yummy garlic, taking a dose of Elderberry Tonic each day, and taking Vitamin D3

(4) Burn Pine Needles and Mullein as incense. This helps purify the air from harmful pathogens. Plus, it smells very nice!

(5) And, we eat copious amounts of cayenne on just about everything! Even the kids like it!



Now, if we DO end up getting the Swine Flu, this is what I would do. First of all I would, for the most part, STOP taking all Immune Boosters and move to Immune Supporters.
(1) Use Garlic Poultices on the Lymph nodes
(2) Take Raw Honey with Garlic, Ginger, Lemon and Cayenne for sore throat.
(3) Up the Pine Needle Tea and the Vit D3
(4) Drink Olive Leaf Tea
(5) Take Oreganol (Oil of Oregano)
(6) Burn more Mullein and Pine
(7) Spend lots of time in a warm tub with Epsom or Dead Sea Salts and Eucalyptus Oil
(8) Drink Grapefruit Peel Tea (breaks up chest congestion)
(9) Continue with the Children's Comp Tea (Elder Flower, Peppermint, Yarrow)

That is about all I can think of at the moment. If I had more time I'd go into the whys of it all, but I don't. Gotta go nurse the cutest baby in the world!