Catnip Tincture ~ Yarrow Tincture ~ Homemade Bug Repellent

You may get a laugh out of this discovery, but it's a reminder to get your recipes out before you do early prep work. I started a catnip infused oil earlier in May, thinking it was what I needed for my homemade bug spray. It was not.

I then thought I used catnip oil for homemade tick repellent, and that was not it either.

Having said that, I started a catnip tincture. Good grief. I started making the bug spray way back around 2015. It works to repel bug bites, but if it's very hot out, you do need to re-apply it during your time outdoors.

(photos from September of 2015, when I first made the bug repellent spray)

The link for the online recipe no longer works, but the original recipe was from Mountain Rose Herbs. They have changed the recipe and the title over three times since then. It was first called Bug-Away Spray, then a Skeeter spray, and again changed after that.

I went searching for the link to share, but in the process, learned something new.

Did you know that yarrow can be used for a bug repellent? I did not know this. I read comments on another recipe regarding homemade bug spray, and one person said she has been making a strong tea to keep the bugs away. I love that it uses a lot less ingredients.

I have yarrow growing in two pots, and it grows wild here too. You can research this in your own herbal books or online (Learning Herbs has instructions).

My entire process of mistaking the need for catnip oil, for bug spray, taught me a new recipe (and with less ingredients).

I now have a catnip tincture, and a yarrow tincture being made. I can add the catnip to the yarrow spray, and utilize it, so I am making both.

Treating Mosquito Bites

Having made my mistake, which taught me something new, I can now share what I use for treating mosquito bites - chickweed salve. So far, it's the best thing for, not only healing the bite, but removes the itch.

I have yet to make my own chickweed salve, as I have some that I purchased (made local by Amish). I do plan to make it, but not until I run out of my current supply.

I put some in a smaller container for traveling and camping.

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.

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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 . . .

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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 . . .

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Pioneer Woman at Heart

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