Skip to main content

Preparing for Flu Season and other Tidbits


Two weeks ago, I placed dried elderberries and raw honey in a canning jar.  I let it sit in a warm location to infuse.  



 The result?  



This, will help build immune systems here, while providing a healthy toast topper, tea sweetener, and more.



And don't discard those elderberries.  If you read through the comments on that site, they suggest uses for them.  I ended up putting mine in my banana bread recipe.  They did soak up some honey, but were still a bit crunchy in the bread (although delicious too).




The rain discombobulated my plans on Monday.  I had bedding on the clothesline, and I was getting ready to dig carrots, when it arrived.  I guess those carrots (and potatoes) will have to wait another day.

This cooler weather is surely to get me in trouble.  Yesterday I slept in about a half hour past sunrise, and then troubles appeared.  First we discovered one of the dogs, most likely the oldest, had an accident on the front room carpet.   Then, just after the kids got on the bus, Daughter came running into the kitchen.  Here, after the toilet was flushed, it backed up, but the chain was stuck, so it had been flushing on it's own, and I then had a bathroom floor covered in water.  



Although each "crisis" was time consuming,  I got 8 more pints of zucchini salsa canned.  Zucchini salsa requires the tomatoes to be boiled 1 minute then tossed in an ice bath, then peeled and chopped.  I started the early morning doing that.


(Zucchini Salsa, batch #3)

We still have a few lingering tomatoes, but those will be enjoyed either in a BLT, or salad possibly.  Hubby shared this salsa at work, and the guys loved it.  One brought in a jar of honey to trade for a jar of salsa.




I brought in some pie pumpkins, and was disappointed in our harvest.  Although some is better than none at this point.  There are more blossoms on the vines due to recent rain, so how knows if I'll get more.

I'm starting to stress about work that needs done before the snow arrives.  With Hubby's truck repairs, it's setting us back several days on getting wood cut too.  I'm late getting my garlic planted as well. 

I heard back from Taste of Home, regarding the onion-blueberry jam.  I didn't really get a straight answer either.  They are telling me that 16 cups of onions (and 2 of blueberries) should reduce to 6 cups.  I asked if they had their test kitchen actually make the recipe as it was written.  They are to get back with me again later. 

I've got one kiddo home with a fever today.  It's already starting.  I tried to remind them to constantly wash their hands now that school started, but to no avail, one is home sick.  Good thing I have the elderberry honey to sweeten her some hot medicinal tea with.

I was so tired at the end of the day yeseterday, that I left the towels I had taken off the clothesline in the laundry basket.  This morning, I entered the kitchen to find this......

Jasper.  He loves to jump on top of a filled basket of clean laundry. 


And try telling him to get off of it.    

Comments

Sam I Am...... said…
I need to find a supply of dried elderberies. I love the infused honey idea and also the fact that your elderberries didn't go to waste. What a great way to help the immune system and since I have 3 immune system diseases it would be great for me!
I think it must be the change in the weather...there's shedding here and there was throw up and an accident by who knows who...the animals aren't talking.
My little dachsund does that if there's a basket of clothes and I leave the house. I think we're all trying to feather our nests for the winter which seems to be arriving sooner than later!
Love your nails! How do you keep them so nice with all that work you do?
Funny you asked about my nails. I had just painted them the night before. I typically can't paint them all summer long, or they are mess the instant I start working, ha ha!
Michelle said…
I can't find elderberries in the stores around here but will keep trying. My cat Cleo does the same thing. Only she does it as I am trying to fold the clothes from the basket. Which turns into a game of wills. After about the the four time of picking her up out of the basket ,she walks away only to run across the room at top speed and jump on the item I am trying to take out of the basket to fold. Then dashes away before I can grab her. She better be glad I love her. :)
Michelle, I have to order my elderberries. Mountain Rose Herbs is sold out so I ordered from a health store. I did plant two elderberry plants early this year. They bloomed this year, but no berries yet. I had to laugh about your cat. So funny.
Unknown said…
I still have some dried elderberries, I should try that...
JES said…
Thanks for sharing our elderberry honey link :) You have been very industrious! Your zucchini salsa looks delicious! I had to make a visit over since you are always so sweet in your comments (I didn't realize you had a blog). Have a lovely week!
JES, I love your blog. You have such good ideas you share.

Popular posts from this blog

Apples and Tomatoes Oh My!

  The early morning weather here has been downright chilly.  One morning it was 42 degrees.  Flower beds have been weeded.  The herb garden is next in line, but I do need to figure out what to do with all the rosemary plants I planted in the actual vegetable garden.  I have not mastered keeping them alive all winter indoors.  They will not survive the winter if left outside. Did any of my blog writing followers locate a better "blog" platform online?  Just curious if anyone is moving from blogger. 

Under the Weather ~ What's Growing?

  I have not been around in blogland much, due to being under the weather after I pushed myself way to far one day.  I have to remember we cannot do it all in one day.  Thank goodness for teas and tinctures, and healing foods (and rest).  We are feeling better. As for our blogs being used for advertising on many websites, and so forth (I can't see any other reason for the source of views: howstuffworks, dominospizza, mayoclinic {not the blog readers interested in my actual blog}) the numbers continue to climb.  I have not found a way to "opt" out either.  If any of you find a new way to avoid this, blog elsewhere, find a new platform etc, please be sure to share.   If your blog has ads, you are are not going to complain, ha ha!  You are probably making a bucko-bucks with all these visitors to your blog. Okay, back to the update post . . .

16 Weeks Until Christmas

  It's not hard to believe that we are traveling closer to the winter holidays.  I'm trying to focus on enjoying every single day until then, but I am fitting in a few snippets of holiday preparing.  Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year.  It's hard to believe it's the last day of August. I have not yet gotten rid of the links to all the advertisers using my blog posts, but again, still working on it. However, my profile has gone from my blog, and while I am in settings, it is not able to add as a "gadget" to the blog.  Weird things are happening.   Google had a data breach recently as well, so gmail users were advised to change passwords.  Not sure what else is going on, but just in case you are wondering why my "profile" is not on my blog any longer.   Okay, back to the Christmas countdown post . . .