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Horsetail Salve ~ A "first" this Year

We purchased some horsetail salve to try last year.  It is said to help with severely dry, cracked skin.  My husband was the first to try it, with very, very dry and cracked hands from work. He loves it!  He joked I could not have it back.   I started the infused, horsetail oil the last part of March. Something I learned:   horsetail is also called shavegrass. I infused horsetail in oil, and strained it.  I then made horsetail salve.  I remembered to label my jar with what oil(s) I used, so I can journal this all in my "Herbal Remedies" journal.  I often forget to write the oil used. Now, the one we bought, has more in it than I put in ours, as far as ingredients (the purchased salve had lanolin, and aloe).  We'll see if ours works just as good.  I added the sage essential oil, and vitamin E oil. A "first" time experience for us this year.    I bought the larger tins at a seed store in an Amish area last year.  They a...
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Homemade Onion Butter

  Initially, I made this homemade onion butter (minus the fresh parsley, as our herb garden lacks it right now) to try on grilled fish, but we used it for grilling mixed vegetables.  Delicious!  We will be making it again soon, as we still want to try it on grilled walleye maybe. The recipe comes from this cookbook, which I obtained years ago.  I kept it for some reason, and I am glad I did not donate it.  We plan to grill more fish, and try more sauces, marinades and such. Homemade Onion Butter   ©  June 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart  

Dehydrating Lavender

  A few of our lavender plants are ready to harvest to dehydrate some.  I also picked some to enjoy indoors, and placed them in a small vase. The dehydrated harvest will be used for a few things, but it all depends on how large the harvest is this year.  I did not dehydrate any last year. Dehydrating Lavender  ©  June 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart  

Creative Crafting ~ Pressed Flower Bookmark

  Wild violet picking, back about a month ago or so, got me motivated to press some.  Why?  I have no clue, but I did.  The old fashioned way.  I pressed them between layers of waxed paper and heavy books. It also got me thinking, and I started looking into flower presses, that were small enough for hikers to take along in their backpacks.  I am still him-hawing that purchase.  They are small, and after measuring the wild violet leaves I pressed, I am not sure they would be big enough, and worth the purchase. Back to the creative bug that zapped my bonnet.  I decided to take the pressed wild violets, and leaves, and modge podge them to a cut piece of card stock.  The job of modge podge and delicate pressed flowers is a delicate job.  The flowers are very thin. I did two layers, and allowed it to dry each time.  I also have been very (and I mean very slowly) slowly purging some craft supplies I still had in my utility room.  The...

Homemade Garlic Aioli ~ A "first time" Experience

  I have borrowed many cookbooks from the library, in search for a good "burger sauce" recipe.  In the process, I decided on one recipe to make homemade aioli for the very first time ever. I used yolks from our ladies (fresh of course), and used garlic that we grew in the garden. The recipe called for "vegetable oil" but I only had organic canola, olive oil, and a few others.  I decided on canola. Not calorie free obviously, but homemade and fresh.  Boy it was delicious on burgers we grilled with mushrooms, onions and swiss cheese.  So good! I'm still on the hunt for a different burger recipe.  We once visited a restaurant (many years ago), that had a sauce they called Mama Mia sauce (house made).  We are still looking for a sauce similar to that taste, but glad I gave the library some business and was motivated to make the garlic aioli. The cookbook the recipe is from (photo above).  There are many different aioli recipes by the way.  It's b...

Infused Honey

  I have strained the elderberry/hibiscus honey.  It wasn't hard to do, but sort of a messy process.  The color is the same as the one we purchased to try, and the taste is pretty good.  The benefits even better. I may or may not be infusing other honey flavors.  We love to use lemon infused honey in any salad dressing that calls for honey and fresh lemon juice.   Infused honey is very giftable too.   Infused Honey ©  May 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart  

Cool May Nights

  It's 45°F out this morning.  The rain may have quit for a while, but the cold nights remain.  May is that way most years.  It could rain, snow, be 90°F, or a drought.  You just never know. I could not believe I picked this yesterday.  My goodness.  What a grand year for our asparagus. It's been a very good month, although we still have a few days to go.  We would have liked to have more done, but sometimes we just have to look for the good in what we think is not good.  I often times, have to remind myself. The good?  Cleavers are still growing, as well as more asparagus coming up.  The herb garden is looking grand, although I do need warmer days to drop parsley seeds, basil and more.  Two cilantro plants, that self-seeded, are still doing pretty well. Cool May Nights ©  May 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart