We had a very special experience today...
The girls & I were sitting snuggled on the sofa, reading, when Boomer our dog came dashing in. E shouted 'he has my butterfly' so i jumped up, shooed him out, dreading what he had done. But the dark little shape E had seen was a baby sparrow! Now, all day long we had heard tweeting...I had been searching around outside for a bird, or nest. When in fact she ws inside our home all along! (We think our cat brought her in this morning)
She is slightly injured on her left side, & is currently resting in a shoebox. We are going to try letting her go again in the morning (tried earlier, but she could not fly...& we have several neighbourhood cats, as well as our own) if she still cannot fly, we shall be taking her to the vet!
Monday, 18 June 2007
Sunday, 17 June 2007
Education Otherwise...
Something very close to my heart, but something i never dared to mention in this blog, is my desire to Homeschool my girls. Well....hubby has said yes! Praise God! This is such a wonderful thing for us....& something that God placed in my heart. I am sooooooooooo very happy!
We will officially start in september, but, of course, education in the home is something that happens all the time...whether planned or not!
Too happy to type about it! LOL!
We will officially start in september, but, of course, education in the home is something that happens all the time...whether planned or not!
Too happy to type about it! LOL!
More Butterflies...
Well, the butterfly who wouldnt fly had quite an adventure...After keeping him for a while, this is what happened. E put out both butterflies on flowers in our garden to have their daily 'outdoor time' when she came back, he was missing. We hunted high & low, but could not find him. Three days later, we found him..floating in water (We have a little trough, sunk into the ground for the girls to sail boats in, etc) There he was, just floating. I suggested we could bury him in the garden, but as i picked him out of the water, he started to wriggle! E tended him, allowing his wings to dry out in the hot sunshine. That afternoon, he flew up into our blossom tree, drank from the blossoms for a good while, & then flew away into the sunshine! What a happy tale.
As for the butterfly with the deformed wing...she is still here with us...after all this time :)
As for the butterfly with the deformed wing...she is still here with us...after all this time :)
Monday, 28 May 2007
Our New Pet
Well, all of our butterflies hatched, apart from one, which appeared to be a late developer! We observed them for a day or two, then came the momment to set them free. Off they all went, apart from one, which was born with a slightly crumpled wing. The poor thing cannot fly. So...we have ourselves a new pet! LOL! She (E says she is surely a girl) is brought fresh flowers daily & is fed sugar water, plus she has daily walks in the garden, where E pops her on the flowers so she can drink the nectar. Quite the life!
When the last butterfly was born, for some unknown reason, she would not leave, either! Despite being taken out to a beautiful local meadow, she would not leave...untill this morning. Both butterlies were enjoying the daily treat of sunning themselves in the garden. e came into the house, & when she got back out to them, only our damaged wing friend remained. I do hope late bloomer has finally taken to the wing...& not some pesky bird decided to make her breakfast...who knows?
E took it very well...she does seem to deal with the reality of the natural world in a non-sentimental way.
When the last butterfly was born, for some unknown reason, she would not leave, either! Despite being taken out to a beautiful local meadow, she would not leave...untill this morning. Both butterlies were enjoying the daily treat of sunning themselves in the garden. e came into the house, & when she got back out to them, only our damaged wing friend remained. I do hope late bloomer has finally taken to the wing...& not some pesky bird decided to make her breakfast...who knows?
E took it very well...she does seem to deal with the reality of the natural world in a non-sentimental way.
Sunday, 27 May 2007
Comfrey Salve
Our comfrey is growing very nicely in a big pot on the stone steps leading down to our garden. I have picked some leaves to make some Comfrey salve.
As I write, the leaves are Macerating in Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, ready to make the salve. To begin with I plan to make plain Comfrey salve, then, later in the year when my Calendula plants flower, I will be making a salve from Comfrey, Lavender & Calendula.
Comfey is very healing (it is known as 'Knitbone') & the salve will be useful to keep in the first aid kit for scrapes & small cuts. Deeper cuts & puncture wounds should not be treated with comfrey-it is so very healing that it could cause the surface of the wound to close over too quickley, possibley trapping infection inside. Tincture of Echinacea is useful to have around to first apply to injuries for it's antibacrerial qualities.
Here are the recipies...
Macerating Herbs:
Either fresh or dried herbs can be macerated (dried being more potent) I wilted my Comfrey leaves in the oven with the oven light on overnight.
Pack them into a jar, cover with your oil of choice (I am using Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
Make sure there are no trapped air bubbles.
Leave on a sunny window sill for 2-6 weeks, shaking the jar daily.
Comfrey salve
This makes a small amount (great for those little lip balm pots)
1 oz Beeswax
2 3/4 oz macerated comfey oil
Simpley heat the oil & beeswax in a double boiler, very gentley.
When melted together, pour into sterilised pots.
Comfery, Lavender & Calendula Balm
2 cups olive oil
1 ounce (about two tablespoons) fresh comfrey leaves*
1 ounce (about two tablespoons) fresh lavender flowers*
1 ounce (about two tablespoons) fresh calendula flowers*
1/2 cup beeswax
*or 1/2 ounce dried
Put the olive oil and the herbs in the top of a double boiler. Gently cook for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring frequently—little bubbles around the edges of the oil are okay; bubbling throughout the mixture means it's too hot. Pour the mixture through a strainer to remove the herbs; discard the herbs and set the oil aside. Melt the beeswax in the top of the double boiler. When the beeswax is melted, add the strained oil and stir until completely blended. Pour the mixture into jars or salve tins. When it is cool, label and date it. The salve lasts about a year, more if it's kept refrigerated.
As I write, the leaves are Macerating in Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, ready to make the salve. To begin with I plan to make plain Comfrey salve, then, later in the year when my Calendula plants flower, I will be making a salve from Comfrey, Lavender & Calendula.
Comfey is very healing (it is known as 'Knitbone') & the salve will be useful to keep in the first aid kit for scrapes & small cuts. Deeper cuts & puncture wounds should not be treated with comfrey-it is so very healing that it could cause the surface of the wound to close over too quickley, possibley trapping infection inside. Tincture of Echinacea is useful to have around to first apply to injuries for it's antibacrerial qualities.
Here are the recipies...
Macerating Herbs:
Either fresh or dried herbs can be macerated (dried being more potent) I wilted my Comfrey leaves in the oven with the oven light on overnight.
Pack them into a jar, cover with your oil of choice (I am using Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
Make sure there are no trapped air bubbles.
Leave on a sunny window sill for 2-6 weeks, shaking the jar daily.
Comfrey salve
This makes a small amount (great for those little lip balm pots)
1 oz Beeswax
2 3/4 oz macerated comfey oil
Simpley heat the oil & beeswax in a double boiler, very gentley.
When melted together, pour into sterilised pots.
Comfery, Lavender & Calendula Balm
2 cups olive oil
1 ounce (about two tablespoons) fresh comfrey leaves*
1 ounce (about two tablespoons) fresh lavender flowers*
1 ounce (about two tablespoons) fresh calendula flowers*
1/2 cup beeswax
*or 1/2 ounce dried
Put the olive oil and the herbs in the top of a double boiler. Gently cook for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring frequently—little bubbles around the edges of the oil are okay; bubbling throughout the mixture means it's too hot. Pour the mixture through a strainer to remove the herbs; discard the herbs and set the oil aside. Melt the beeswax in the top of the double boiler. When the beeswax is melted, add the strained oil and stir until completely blended. Pour the mixture into jars or salve tins. When it is cool, label and date it. The salve lasts about a year, more if it's kept refrigerated.
Thursday, 17 May 2007
Improving One's Health
For about the last month or so, I have been taking supplements, & using herbs to improve my immune system. Since the birth of R, who is now 20 months old, I have been repeatedly suffering with coughs, colds, ear, throat & chest infections.
I began with a general multi-vitamin, plus a vitamin B complex (good for boosting energy & balancing the mood) I then added as a short-term course, Vit C & zinc, plus an echinacea tincture, to really strengthen my poor immune system. E came down with a cold 5 days ago, so i increased my vit C to 2000mg per day. R then came down with a weak version of the cold (she is nursing...that helps a lot!) & I still dont have it! Praise God! I will continue with the increased Vit C, till the threat of cold has passed(!) then return to my daily 500mg.
I intend to do more research on boosting the immune system & treating ailments with herbs & supplements, as time permits.
Making Lemon Barley water
E & R have both come down with colds, to one degree or another. Hence, my kitchen has turned into a prodution line for Lemon Barley water. It is wonderfully soothing, &, of course, full of Vitamin C.
Lemon Barley Water
3 Pints of water
3 Lemons (Pref. Organic, unwaxed)
3oz Pearl Barley
3oz Castor Sugar
Gently heat the water & sugar, stirring untill sugar disolves. Peel the lemons, taking care not to have any pith on the rind. Juice the lemons. Add the rind & the barley to the heated sugar water mix. Simmer for 30 minutes. Leave to cool & stir in the lemon juice. Enjoy!
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