Dehydrated Ginger ~ Baby Blankets for Donation ~ Tidbits

 I freeze fresh ginger often, so that I have it on hand for all sorts of recipes, and it has worked out very nicely.  Many people do not know you can do this with fresh ginger root (we purchase organic).

How I Freeze Ginger Root

I wash the organic ginger root, dry it, wrap it a few times in plastic wrap, and store it inside a freezer bag.  I date each bag and the door of the freezer works best, or it may get lost in your freezer storage.

Back to the dehydrated organic ginger root.

We love herbal/herbal medicinal teas.  I dehydrated a small-ish bit of organic ginger root in May of 2025.  I have been using small bits of it for tea infusing and tea brewing.  It's worked out great, and continues to maintain it's flavor.  I will definitely keep dehydrated, organic ginger root a staple in my pantry. I will be using it to experiment with other recipes.  Considering the amount of power outages this year, I've decided a few more dehydrated (food, herbs, etc.) experiments will be done. 

I used my dehydrator to dry the sliced ginger root, but I am told that some very new models of kitchen ovens, have the "dehydrator" option on them.  I am also told, some air fryers have a dehydrator option.

The baby blankets I have completed, per a request from an area pregnancy center, are a one-color pattern, and a different color edge (all using yarn I was given).  They are all like the one above, but with different edging.

The main part of the blanket is with Aran Redheart yarn.

Three baby blankets ready to donate.  Each one took about 2 full skeins of Aran yarn, but as I got to more of the skeins, I found them shorter in length (even though the ounces were marked the same).  Either way, the edges were scrap yarn as well, but all are ready to donate, and I still have more Aran colored yarn (and more of a few other colors, for more baby blankets). 

It is still cold here.   This morning is was 18°F (windchill), with a temperature of 23°F, so I got them finished in time to be used this winter.

More repairs have been started, and one almost finished.  I'm so thankful to get these jobs done.   More supplies are needed to continue.  I'll be back with a more lengthy update on winter shenanigans. 

I can tell you one thing.  Two side projects developed from my closet purge project, and one is putting letters into a book.  My word, it has become so time consuming.  I'll be honest, I am not sure it will be affordable, so the back up plan is to scan and print them, and put them in a binder for us.  

The only two kids slightly interested in these old letters, cannot read cursive  (nope, our schools stopped teaching it sadly).  All of the letters are to my Dad from 1944 to 1958.  There are many more than span from the 80's to about 2003, but my focus is the first set of letters.

Before I sign off this post today, I can tell you that the yarn I ordered from Herrschners online, back in November of 2025, is still on back order (it was for another project).  It may be getting  canceled.  

Somebody.  I can't say who (gulp!).  Forgot to buy new radish seeds for the garden this spring.   Just a modge podge of life happenings right now, but wanted to pop on here and share a few things today.  Last year ended with several months of chaotic activity (much out of our control).  I have discovered a gallon of outdoor paint, in which neither of us can even come up with one idea of what we bought it for.  The goal this year, is no more chaotic activity.

One question for "writers" here  - what writing resources are available today?  I used to read The Writer magazine, and Writer's Digest magazine.  I see that "The Writer" is no longer printed.

One question for those who bake/cook - any good and interesting ways to use frozen strawberries (prefer healthy recipes, but ....) up?  I think I froze too many last summer, ha ha!  I do make cobblers or crisps, and muffins.

Dehydrated Ginger ~ Baby Blankets for Donation ~ Tidbits  ©  March 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Yarrow Salve (update #2)

 

                                              

In 2024 I made our first yarrow salve, after learning more about the herb.  I have a lot of it growing here, and have used it many ways.  I'd have to go look into my notes, but I believe I used olive oil, or sweet almond oil.

I have, in the past, pulled off some fresh leaves and rubbed it on my arms in a quick pinch to ward off the mosquitos while gardening (will be added to our homemade bug spray), and I have used it many times for a bloody nose (who knew?).  I read, sometime about 2 years ago, that one can simply put the fresh leaves in their nose to stop a nose bleed (have not tired that, but read it somewhere on an herbal blog or book).

I infused oil, and whipped up some salve in 2024, and the most use over the last two years, has been for a bloody nose brought on by dry heat indoors over winter.

It has helped stop the nose bleed in a matter of a minute or two, vs. 20 minutes without it.  

I also keep the salve in a smaller container to travel with, when staying at hotels for more than one night.  Hotels have very dry air in the winter and summer, and I was glad to have it one trip a few years ago after first making the salve.

I'm not a doctor or herbal specialist.  I am simply sharing my experience with our herbal salves.  

Yarrow is invasive, so if you grow it in a pot, and do not regularly cut the flowers off, the seeds will re-seed on the ground around it and you will have yarrow all over the ground in that area.  Just a heads up on that if you are new to planting the herb.

I have used it in "sleep" tinctures, and in teas, but do your research yourself.  If

What have I learned so far?  Yarrow is well known for it's ability to slow bleeding of cuts or wounds, and works as an astringent for those pesky scratches you many get doing outdoor work or garden work.  I have read a few articles that it is edible, but I have yet to add it to any recipes.  Please comment below if you have any experience with yarrow.

In all the years of growing, harvesting and processing herbs of all types, I have not kept a specific "journal" for it.  Often, I'll infuse an oil with an herb spontaneously, and forget to write what oil I used on the label.  I forgot to keep track of uses, and such, and I am now starting (a new "first" this year) my own journal for my herbal journey/apothecary journey.  A simple notebook works for this note taking, but I see that there are several herbal journal options online as well.

I do not know anything about the salves sold online, or by folks on Etsy, but we have located a good (and true) apothecary in our state, who makes salves (and tinctures, teas, and all sorts of other items).  

Winter is still lingering.  Morning temperatures are about 23°F and the skies have been cloudy and dreary.   Rain again.

Yarrow Salve (update #2)  ©  March 2026 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart