Should've knocked harder....

So last week a couple of gal pals & I were warming by the fire at Tastebuds. 2 of them were reminiscing about already having strep run thru their families. My other friend's family has had another crud, but she only got a cough. My daughter has only had the sniffles....so I knocked on wood and was thinking how fortunate I was that we've had nothing more. Well, I should have knocked harder. She's still well enough to jump on the bed and run around making more chaos out of chaos....but has a gnarly cough and the sniffles. The rest of us are forcing our fluids and using some of these easy home homeopathic remedies to help us thru this season of colds and other crud. Justine's Chicago Cold Remedy - my roomie in College hails from Evanston, IL (just N of Chicago). She & I were visiting her mom and I got a cold....this is what she made for me and it worked - in my bag of tricks ever since:

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Bedding down the garden

This time of year is so bitter sweet for me...... loving all the harvest and crisp autumn days, Seeing the spring's hard work come to fruition, Fresh soups and homemade bread warms the body and soul. Cleaning up the debris from plants past their prime The once flowery landscape bare and solemn, Seeing all the once green turning to gold. To liven my heart as I clean up the debris from the foraging, I plant some garlic and onion seed. This brings a smile and the hope of next years bounty. Some other tasks I find helpful in the fall:

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Jammin & Fall garden tips

I realize not everyone has a full size freezer, but making freezer jam is SO VERY EASY that I don't (hardly ever) pull any hair out when making it with my kids: All you need is fruit, sugar, pectin and jars. No stove, no canner....just those simple items.

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Unusual Edibles

Flowers not only bring beauty to our world, they can add a splash of color or some extra zest to your favorite dishes. I use quite a few edible flowers in and around my garden. Along with getting to harvest them for eating, they encourage pollinators to the garden which some plants rely on in order to grow. Below is a list of some of my favorite edibles:

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More Flower Power & Other Garden Business

It's always so exciting to get the first blooms of the year. With the Dog Days of Summer having officially set in, there are some little things you can do to once again brighten your day and give you something to look forward to:

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