Jippity Do Dah

Up at 4am, couldn't sleep with some weird and crazy dreams.

Rain is now a "four letter word" around here.  We finally got up to 77°F, but couldn't do a thing outside.  It's getting depressing, so I have been turning on every light in the house, putting on music and staying busy with cleaning.  Found some division flash cards and phonics - in the goodwill pile now.  

The heat lamp caused major dust in my utility room, so I'm glad I never got that room deep cleaned prior to the chicks being in there.  What a mess.  I can't wash coats and jackets until the rain stops either.

Let's just say that the clothesline is not in full swing.  I caved, washed bedding and towels, and used the (gulp) dryer.

Lost my "jippity" in this mass of rainy do-dah days.  Now the forecast says rain here almost every day until May 15th.  Not sure after that.

Question for soap makers out there?  I bought essential oils from Hoegger to make goat's milk soap, and they are about 5 years old.  What do you think the shelf life is on them?  I do not plan to have dairy goats in the near future either.  No source to get goat's milk right now either.    Or if they are still good, anyone have a recipe for soap making that doesn't use goat's milk (won't be the same, but I don't want to waste it if it's good oil).

Tidbits

We had a beautiful morning sunrise Monday morning.  It was cold out, but gorgeous sky.

Never hit your shin on something.  The pain is like no other.  I've been using up my freezer stash of comfrey poultices.  They are helping, but man...

(used my mortar and pestal for a small amount)

I've also been picking plantain.  I somehow got an itchy patch of a rash on my ankle (hm, could be from wearing flip flops out when it was warmer and brushing on something).  I got rid of it using a fresh plantain poultice in two days (second one I added fresh chickweed).  Yay, for the power of weeds.  Our plantain isn't very big yet, but we are getting some here and there.  I also ordered a free small food processor for small batch making. 

Does anyone here take horse chestnut for varicose veins?  Would love to hear your input.  Just wondering if I order the horse chestnut, do you make the extract as you would a "tincture?"

I placed my order for jojoba oil.  It's time to make homemade tick oil.  It can be used on humans or dogs and it works.  You can also make it with water and spray it on, but I prefer the oil, so I don't have to re-apply so often in the hot sun.

We continue to get rain.  The farmers are behind by 3 weeks getting into their fields, so you can imagine how far behind we are.  Flooding issues almost everywhere right now.  I told Hubby, if we can't plant with good timing, I won't plant at all.  It would be a complete waste of time.  We can't even get the tiller into it until it dries up.  We are not yet at our planting time, so say a prayer, send up good vibes and positive mojo.

Baked away the cold rainy blues - blueberry crumble.