The Climb From Balmy Spring

Handyman and I went to a local farmer's market recently. One of our finds was this delicious jam made without pectin. We bought the Pucker Up Berry and finished off the jar within days! Here are some of the other goodies we enjoyed seeing there.

fresh herbs

organic berries

I've found that the best way to store berries is to place them inside a wide, flat container lined in paper towels. Give the berries enough room so they are not touching, if possible. If your container is deep enough, you can place a paper towel over the berries and gently put a second layer of berries on top. I finish off with another piece of paper towel, then seal with a lid. The berries should not be crushed or squeezed against one another. Don't rinse them until you're ready to eat them. 

gourmet ice cream

I tried the dark chocolate sea salt ice cream bar
 and it was delicious!

artisan loaves of bread

The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color. 

Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting

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Tisanes for what Ails You~

A good cup of tea can make almost any moment better, and the fact that it is so good for you is a bonus! Green tea, along with black, is full of flavonoids. Flavonoids are plant-based compounds with powerful properties, which means they reduce inflammation, promote healthy arteries, and help fight aging by preventing -- and repairing -- cellular damage. Flavonoids may also protect against dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and some cancers.


Speaking of things that are good for you, an herbal tisane might just be what  need if you get a cold or have insomnia. Here are some suggestions for herbal 'teas' (remember, it is not actually tea if it is not from a camellia sinensis plant)~

• SORE THROAT~ ginger, licorice, marshmallow,slippery elm
• INDIGESTION~ chamomile, fennel, licorice, peppermint, cardamom 
• STRESS~ chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, passionflower, catnip
• INSOMNIA~ chamomile, hops, lavender, lemon balm, passionflower
• COLDS and FLU~ echinacea, ginger, rose hips

 To get the most from prepackaged tea bags, use 2 bags and cover the steeping cup with a saucer to trap essential oils. With loose herbs, measure out two tablespoons into an eight ounce cup, add hot water and cover. Steep up to 15 minutes, then strain and drink.

CHAMOMILE

Lovely Lavender~

I have been fond of Lavender for years and try to grow a variety in our yard year-round. I especially enjoy being able to walk outdoors with a pair of clippers and return to the house with a fresh bouquet from our garden. What a treat to have cuttings from the yard! At this time of year a number of places have Lavender Fairs. This weekend there is a lot for lavender lovers to see and do in Sequim, Washington.
Did you know Lavender has anti-septic and anti-viral properties? It also promotes relaxation and relieves headaches. Last year we took a drive up the coast and visited a lavender farm in California.

As soon as we parked and stepped from the car you could hear the low hum of bees buzzing! And, oh, what a scene~

         Row upon row of sweet lavender. The owners had chairs dotting the edges of the lavender rows, so we sat without speaking and just soaked up the sunshine and listened to the bees at work.

It smelled fantastic....and got me to thinking that I wanted to make a lavender wand when I returned home.

If you do not have lavender in your yard, buy a bunch at your local Farmers Market and try making a lavender wand for yourself or a friend. I have wands I made years ago and they still smell nice. You can always freshen a wand with a few drops of Lavender essential oil too. Place a wand near your bed for a relaxing scent at night.

Let me know if you try your hand at making a lavender wand :)