AN UNSEASONABLY WARM AFTERNOON AT WOODLAKE NATURE CENTER

Today was one of those perfect fall days in Minnesota that you just have to drop everything and enjoy for a few minutes.

A good friend invited me out to explore Woodlake Nature Center in Richfield, mostly because I realized recently that I’d never seen a cormorant in person before. She said there were many hanging out at the center so I couldn't pass up the chance to finally see one.

It hit the 70s today, which is completely wild for October in Minnesota, usually we’re in the 50s by now! It was bright, sunny, with a gorgeous blue sky. It seemed like everyone in the Twin Cities had the exact same idea; the trails were full of people walking, enjoying the sunshine, and bringing out big camera lenses to watch the wildlife.

And the birds definitely delivered! We saw so many cormorants, along with mergansers, gulls, wood ducks, and mallards. Even a few turtles were out sunning themselves on logs taking full advantage of the heat wave.

It was just one of those simple, great days spent outdoors with good company and cool critters. Here are a few more photos I took while walking around:

Read More

HEADS UP! HANDCRAFTED SOAPS AT THE RICHFIELD FALL BOUTIQUE THIS NOVEMBER

Autumn is officially here, and we’re returning to one of our favorite events of the season!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 7th! We’ll be set up at the Richfield Fall Boutique with a table full of our handcrafted, skin-loving soaps. I won't be able to make it in person this time, but my daughter will be manning the table and can't wait to see you all! Whether you're looking to treat yourself to a little self-care or start your holiday shopping early, she'll have you covered!

We’re bringing several brand-new seasonal scents, including Elderberry Plum which is a mix of grapefruit, lemon, and red currant layered over elderflower, jasmine, rose, and violet, all grounded in a warm base of plum, vanilla, and malt. It smells just like a sparkling elderflower cordial poured over fresh-picked berries!

Plus, we’ll have our best fall season seller, Autumn Fig.

Be sure to stop by if you're in the area, say hi to my daughter, and explore our new soaps.

Please note: we'll only have a table at this event on Saturday. 

Read More

MY TOP ESSENTIAL OIL PICK FOR COLD & FLU SEASON (AND WHY IT WORKS)

It doesn't matter how hard I try, I'll always get some sort of respiratory bug each winter. Whether it's a cold or the full blown flu, I always need something to help me deal with the sinus pressure that comes with both conditions and that's where Breath Easier comes in handy.

I love this essential oil blend. If I were to pick a #1 favorite, this one would be it. It has saved me many times from the awful discomfort that comes with painful sinuses and a runny nose. It works instantly by relieving pressure and making it possible to breathe again... and to sleep!!

It contains lemon, eucalyptus, rosemary, and peppermint - four powerful essential oils for the flu and a cold:

1. eucalyptus: clears sinus congestion and thins phlegm.
2. peppermint: cools the airway, relieves muscle aches, and can also relieve a headache if you have one.
3. rosemary: opens respiratory passages, relieves discomfort, and reduces the sharpness of eucalyptus and peppermint.
4. lemon: anti-nausea and a mood uplifter and if you use it in a room diffuser, it will freshen the air.

This particular blend comes from Edens Garden and I've used it for many years. The company does gc/ms testing to verify purity and assess therapeutic quality so they are a great place to get essential oils from.

I find if I use these inexpensive inhaler sticks that I found at the local natural food store, and use at the first sign of sniffles or pressure, my sinuses stay clear. 

There have been times I didn't use it right away and waited until my nose was fully plugged and despite feeling like I couldn't sniff in enough for it to be effective, it worked!! It's an incredibly helpful blend for this time of the year so I can't recommend it enough.

What sort of herbs, supplements, etc... do you find the most helpful during flu season?

Read More

MABON AUTUMN EQUINOX & FREE ALTAR CARD

As the air turns crisp, we reach Mabon, the Autumn Equinox. It’s a time for gratitude, reflection, and taking in everything the year has brought us so far.

This time of year has me thinking a lot about legacy. I've been thinking about this for a long time, wondering what it is I'd like to leave behind when I'm not longer of this earth, and I decided I want to make a workbook that can be passed down from generation to generation for my daughters. 

The inspiration actually came from an elderly dementia patient of mine. She has numerous books she made throughout her life filled with her travels, photos, and letters she had written to her mother. Seeing those made me realize what I wanted to create.

Right now, I am working on a workbook centered on all 8 Sabbats. It covers what to put on your altars, crafts, baking and cooking ideas, journaling prompts, and our family traditions.

Today, I’m focusing on Mabon. It was such a beautiful morning for a first day of fall walk in the woods around Lake Alimagnet. While I was out, I gathered some seasonal items for my altar:

• Freshly fallen leaves, acorns, pinecones

Then I came home and laid out what I felt best fits this sabbat:

• A red candle: to represent change and the wisdom that comes at this time of year as a cumulative of the past months.
• An apple: to represent the harvest.
• A citrine crystal: for abundance, gratitude, and bright energy. 

My artist daughter drew a special altar card for Mabon just for this project, and I am making it available as a free download for those who want to create their own altar.

Download Your Free Mabon Altar Card Here

At some point, I will also have the Sabbat worksheets available too!

How are you celebrating Mabon this year? Let me know in the comments!

Read More

MINNESOTA WILDFLOWERS BLOOMING IN SEPTEMBER

When I was a little girl, my mother, a natural teacher, would take my sister and me on endless walks along the trails of Swede Hollow. She pointed out flowers at every turn, patiently teaching us their names, but back then they were just pretty decorations. It wasn't until I grew older that I truly felt a connection to the plants and their blooming seasons. Now, with fall closing in, walking the trails takes on a whole new meaning. While everyone else looks up at the changing leaves, I find myself looking down, discovering the late-season landscape painted in pastel purples, bright golds, and stark whites. I encourage you to take a walk and appreciate these late blooms; they are only visiting briefly before giving way to the rich oranges of autumn.

Canada Goldenrod

European Cranberry Bush or Native American High Bush Cranberry (I'm not sure)

Native Woodbine

Native Brown-eyed Susan

Native Purplestem Aster

Native White Arrowleaf Aster

Native Snakeroot

Native Great Blue Lobelia

 

Read More

MADE CANNED PICKLES AGAIN (AND PRAYING THEY AREN'T MUSHY)

I am such a lazy canner, though I'm pretty sure it’s just my AuDHD at work. I love learning new things, but I have a lifelong habit of skipping instructions, taking shortcuts, and completely missing important  details. 😣

A few years back, I repeatedly tried canning pickles using cucumbers I’d grown. Every single time I opened a jar for that first bite, I was met with total disappointment. Mush. ALWAYS MUSH! 

A homesteading friend suggested Ball Pickle Crisp granules to firm things up, and I also learned that the cucumber variety makes or breaks your batch. So, on a recent trip to the farmer’s market, I went straight to the experts: the farmers. They recommended Excelsior cucumbers, so I grabbed a bunch.

Then, I learned another lesson the hard way: don’t wait two days to process fresh cucumbers! By the time I got around to them, some had already started softening. Because I refuse to eat soft pickles, I tossed the squishy ones aside, leaving me with just enough crisp cucumbers for a VERY small batch. (As you can see in the photo, they have way too much room to float around!)

Following Ball's Kosher Dill recipe, the water bath canning is officially done. Now, I just have to wait patiently to see if I finally cracked the code on crunch. Fingers crossed!

Read More

ELDERBERRIES...MY NATURAL IMMUNITY FOR FLU SEASON

Every year, I harvest elderberries from a bush I planted years ago in my backyard, but for the first time ever, the birds beat me to it and left me with nothing. Luckily, an incredibly kind person offered up their own bushes so I could pick enough to make my syrup and tincture. It’s all part of my annual flu-prevention herbal pack I put together.

If you're interested in making your own syrup, check out my prior post HERE

Read More