FROSTY MORNINGS-OCTOBERFEST-GARDEN DELIGHTS-DRYING HOT PEPPERS AND HERBS.

GREETINGS

The hot and humidity has cleared out and now we are hit with almost frosty temps.  That is New England for you.  We  finally got some longed for rain. And now a stretch of  wonderful weather. 

OCTOBERFEST

 

The Brick Meeting House is active again..  Come join us for lots of local crafts, food and a good time in Colrain.  Next Saturday or rain date is Columbus Day, Monday for a wonderful fair.

GARDEN DELIGHTS

 Sadly none of my pumpkins came up this year but to my surprise one rogue cucumber did come up and is giving me some nice cukes at the end of the season.

 The  leeks did wonderful and I did remember to hill them up occasionally this summer.  Half are in the freezer and I will pull up the rest soon.

DRYING HOT PEPPERS AND HERBS AND RECIPE FOR ARTHRITIS SALVE

 

I bought 10 hot peppers I don’t know what kind they are but after they were in the dehydrator for an hour or so I started coughing and my eyes were tearing up.   Finally after a couple of hours I had to turn it off.  Today I am finishing them .  I am including my recipe for Arthritis Salve which is easy to make and works well.  Please remember when using that this is made from hot peppers …

ARTHRITIS SALVE

 CAUTION PEPPERS CAN CAUSE BURNS WEAR GLOVES AND DON’T TOUCH YOUR EYES OR FACE.  EYE PROTECTION IS RECOMMENDED.

WIDE MOUTH JAR WITH CAP

Hot Peppers  ( they must be dried and sliced )

Olive Oil enough to cover the hot peppers by at least 2 inches

Small amount of Beeswax  It all depends on how many peppers and oil that you use.

Dry peppers (either in a dehydrator or by hanging them up)  Place in a jar and cover the with olive oil then add two inches, making sure that no peppers can reach the top of the olive oil.

Let sit for at least a month.  Mine will sit for 2 or three months.  This lets the peppers infuse with the olive oil.

   Strain the peppers  through a cheesecloth and place in  a saucepan.   Put aside . Melt beeswax over a double boiler and put aside.     Warm up the oil till its warmed through and then add the beeswax a little at a time.  Testing drops on a plate as you do this.  When you find that the drops solidify your are done.  Do not overdo the beeswax. Pour into jars.  

This salve has worked wonders for me.  When you put it on there is no hot sensation.  It works slowly.   It  has also saved me a lot of money.  Fr a small amount of money you can make 10 or 20 jars , and compared to what it cost in the store you could save hundreds of dollars.

 

PRESERVING SWEET ANNIE WITH PLANTS FROM SUSAN BATES HOME AND GARDEN

I started preserving Sweet Annie, which is one of my favorite plants .I finally found the perfect spot for it and they took off..  This year I bought 2 plants from Susan Bates at the Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair. She has a brick and mortar store in Ashby, Massachusetts called Susan Bates Home and Garden.     Her plants are of the best quality.  She has lots of wonderful things at her shop, furniture, and antiques handmade things and she also occasionally has classes.  Check her out on Facebook.

 This year I have enough to sell a few bunches and am preserving them in a glycerin based mix.  1 put 1 part glycerin and 2 parts water.  With freshly cut branches place them in the water mix for approximately one week.  They will stay as they were preserved and not turn brown  The smell remains and they are a perfect fall decoration and they repel insects.

Many thanks for reading my blog on this lovely fall day.   Carole.

DOT AND SHE HAS A NEW FRIEND SEE MORE ABOUT HER IN MY NEXT BLOG

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOVA SCOTIA NEXT SEPTEMBER-MORTICIA-KITCHEN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN

GREETINGS

The sky tonight was so beautiful.  In the north-western sky it was oranges and yellows and in the south-western sky it was red and blues.  I just love it when I have some time at the end of the day to sit and enjoy it.

NOVA SCOTIA NEXT SEPTEMBER

There is a wonderful trip to Nova Scotia next September and I am hoping to go.  It’s a 6 day bus tour leaving from Vermont.  It’s a rug hooking tour and we will be stopping at Searsport Rug Hooking Shop in Maine, Deanne’s studio in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Cheticamp for 2 nights and Encompassing Design SHop and of course we couldn’t miss seeing the enchanting Peggy’s COve.  The scenery will be breathtaking.  If the bus is full the rates are very low and its all-inclusive.  I will start saving for it now.  Even if you are not a rug hooker its a great way to see lots of Nova Scotia.

MORTICIA 

She is determined to be a Mother again.  In the morning she will fly out of the nest box and run around squawking getting a drink and quickly eating.  Getting back to her two little eggs as quick as she can.  I put plenty of hay in the nest box and she almost buries herself in it.  Tonight Mrs Brown has joined her.

THE KITCHEN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN

The freezer is in the kitchen but not before all the herbs were taken out of the herb cabinet and it moved across the room.   The move was timely, at this time of year I like to look through all the herbs and refresh them.  This year I dried spearmint, sage, parsley, basil, cilantro, and dill.  I really didn’t think that I would like the arrangement but it made more room and looks quite nice.  I will finish it up tomorrow.

NO CROW COLLARS

They arrived yesterday and I will put them on the two young roosters over the weekend.  They are not harmful and I think may help the roosters to ive a longer life.  Roosters need to take a huge breath to crow.  The breath is about twice the size of a normal breath.  This collar will not allow them to take such a deep breath and while they will still crow it will not be of that loud volume.  I think this is a wonderful thing.  People always have roosters they love but live in the city and can’t keep them, The collar is lightweight and simple and in no way harmful.  I will let you now how it works .

Many thanks for reading my blog today , I hope you enjoyed the day.   Carole