Weather Cones...

Long before technology was developed to predict the weather, people had to rely on observation, patterns and folk lore to avoid being caught off guard by the elements. If your plans, livelihood or even your survival depend on the weather, it certainly wouldn't hurt to become familiar with some of these methods, especially since you never know when you might be out of touch with the local weather report.

Did you know that one of the most reliable of all natural weather indicators are pine cones? These have traditionally been used to forecast the weather as they change shape according to whether it is wet or dry. In dry weather, pine cones open out as the scales shrivel up and stand out stiffly. When it is damp, they absorb moisture and as the scales become flexible again, the cone returns to its normal shape.

Do you have access to pinecones? Do you have a fireplace? If so, perhaps you will like this craft that costs very little to make. When I had a pine tree dropping cones in my yard I pondered ways to use them. Making wreaths is one way but you can also make your own pine cone firestarters for your fireplace. Perfect for the cold weather months coming up.

Gather the pinecones in fall, allow them to dry out, then dip in melted wax recycled from old candles or crayons. These make wonderful gifts for the fall and winter for those with fireplaces.

The colors vary depending on the treatment applied. Melt wax in double boiler , not directly on stove as heated wax can ignite. To add colored flames when burning use:

- table salt (burns yellow)
- no-salt substitute (burns violet)
- borax (burns green)

Dip pinecones in wax to coat and then dip in a mixture of sawdust and one of the above items, (depending on the burning color desired).

Display in a wicker basket, nestled in autumn leaves or Christmas greenery, and embellish with seasonal ribbon bows. Just lovely!

Folding Sheets?

After drying your sheets, put both sheets and one pillowcase in the other pillow case. Fold neatly into a square. The next time you change sheets, you need only take out the one pillow case from your storage area and your sheets and the other pillow case are inside. No need to look for the matching items or rummage around the linen closet.

Did You Know...

That if you place an apple in a bag of potatoes, the potatoes will not sprout? The ethylene gas, as well as other organic alcohols emitted by the apple, suppresses the elongation of the potatoe's cells, which is what causes the sprouts to form. Do not rinse your potatoes before storing.

A few more ways to prolong your potatoes are to place them in a brown paper, burlap or plastic bag with holes in it.

Store them in a cool, dark, dry place. A root cellar, if you have one, is the best storage option but how many of us have one of those these days?

Make sure the temperature in the area is about 45 to 50 degrees F. Don't store potatoes in the refrigerator, or they will become too sweet.

Avoid storing potatoes with onions because, when close together, they produce gases that spoil both.

Store potatoes no longer than two months if mature. If they are new, store no longer than one week.

Check on them occasionally and remove those that have become soft or shriveled, as well as those that have sprouted.

I love potatoes prepared any way and if you do too, try this recipe. If you have leftover mashed potatoes, this is a great way to use them.

Irish Potato Farls

The word farl originates from the Gaelic word fardel, meaning four parts. This is a potato griddle bread. Serve hot with a little butter and salt and enjoy!

Ingredients:
4 medium potatoes, peeled and halved
1 pinch salt
1/4 cup all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
1 tablespoon melted butter

In a pot, cover potatoes with water and bring to a boil over high heat. Simmer on medium-high heat until the center of the potatoes are tender when pricked with a fork, about 20 minutes. Turn off heat. Drain, return potatoes to pot and allow to completely dry out over remaining heat. Mash with a potato masher until smooth.
Place warm mashed potato in medium bowl. Stir in flour, salt and melted butter. Mix lightly until dough forms.

On a well floured surface, knead the dough lightly. The dough will be sticky. Use a floured rolling pin to flatten into a 9 inch circle about 1/4 inch thick. Cut into quarters using a floured knife.

Sprinkle a little flour into the base of the skillet and cook the farls for 3 minutes on each side or until evenly browned. Season with a little salt and serve.

The Morning Glory...

The Morning Glory's message is: "I bring you clarity."
It is your birth flower if you are born between August 22 – September 22.

Morning glory zodiac flower signs are thoughtful and reflective. You tend to think and plan first before you take any action. You are organized and very observant. You have a natural eye for detail, and can be very analytical. You love to help people, and often use your organization skills to help others who struggle in “getting their act together.” You bloom beautifully right where you are planted, and you have a neat way of making things right and tidy. People come to you for guidance and healing.

Morning glories are known in China for their medicinal properties. The seeds are said to have a laxative effect. Large amounts of the seeds can also be hallucinogenic.

The water morning glory, also known as water spinach or swamp cabbage, can be eaten like lettuce. Although it is categorized as a Federal Noxious Weed, the state of Texas allows water spinach to be grown for personal consumption.

Morning glory juice was used in combination with substance from the Castilla elastica tree to make bouncing rubber balls over 3,000 years ago.

Did you know you can watch your morning glories and predict the weather? The petals with wide open blooms indicate fine weather and closed petals predict rain and bad weather.

MMMMM....Vanilla Wafers

If you like vanilla wafers you will love this recipe! They will surely bring your children and anyone else in the vicinity running in to see what the wonderful aroma is wafting from your cottage kitchen.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup soft butter or margarine (I use I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Cubes)
1/2 cup shortening
2/3 cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups sifted all purpose flour

Cream together butter, shortening, and sugar until fluffy. Add vanilla and salt. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in flour. Mix well. Drop from teaspoon onto greased cooky sheet. Flatten with a flat bottomed glass. Bake at 375F for 8 to 10 minutes or until delicately browned on edges. Remove immediately from pan. Makes 7 dozen.

Sensational Homemade Sorbet...

I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend! It finally feels like Summer has arrived here in Southern California just as Fall is about to sneak in upon us! I'm in the mood for sorbet and if you are too, give this recipe a try. It can be concocted in the blink of an eye using ingredients you most likely have on hand. You can also make it with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or melon.

Ingredients:
2 pints raspberries, washed and hulled
1 1/3 cups simple syrup*
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Purée the raspberries in a food processor. This should yield about three cups.
Stir one cup of the simple syrup and the lemon juice into the puree.
Taste and add remaining syrup if necessary. Pour the mixture into a bowl and freeze for about two hours.

* To make simple syrup, combine two parts water and one part sugar in a small sauce pan. Bring the mixture to a boil, and wait until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cool.

Tip: Garnish with fresh raspberries and/or mint leaves.

A Is For Apples...

This is a recipe for Panned Baked Apples from a vintage recipe book. It's something simple and delicous to make with the apples from this years apple harvest and you can make as little or as much as you'd like. The scent coming from your oven will be delightful as well!

Core and cut apples into eighths. Put a layer in any size baking dish you'd like, sprinkle with two tablespoons of sugar, add another layer of apples and continue until the dish is full. Add to each quart of apples a half pint of water; cover the dish and bake in a quick oven until soft. The skin which is left on the apples gives a fine flavor. Serve hot in the dish in which they were baked. This is very nice when served with the meat course at dinner.

I'm not sure what a quick oven temperature is but I use 400F when I make this recipe. I also add a bit of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

Enjoy!

Did You Know...

That you can make your own sour cream? Just add 4 drops of pure lemon juice to 3/4 cup of heavy cream. Allow the mixture to stand at room temperature for about 40 minutes and you have homemade sour cream!

Laundering Tip...

Never allow your washing machine to agitate more than 15 minutes on the wash cycle or the dirt that came out of your soiled items may be forced back into the clothing. Usually 5 minutes of agitation is enough, especially for your delicate items.

Ouch!

When working outside in the garden, or around the house, I always find myself bumping in to something that causes scrapes or bruises.

In the Victorian Era most people could not afford a doctor. Instead, they had household handbooks, which came complete with home remedies. The remedies had worked for centuries, having been passed down from mother to daughter.

One of the remedies for bruising to prevent the area from discoloring is to brew a tea from one large tablespoon of oregano and and a cup of boiling water. Let it set for 10 minutes and then strain it. Wrap the wet oregano in a piece of cloth and apply it to the bruise. Save the liquid and refresh the oregano leaves as needed.

Another tip from 1890 states: The best treatment of bruises is the application of water, of such temperature as is most agreeable. The degree of temperature varies with the temperature of the weather and the vigor of the circulation. On a hot day, use cool or cold water. If the circulation is low, use warm water. The bruised parts may be immersed in a pail of water, and gently pressed or manipulated with the hand or soft cloth for ten minutes, or even longer in severe cases. Then wrap up the parts in cloths wet with cold water, and keep quiet. This treatment keeps down the inflammation, and in nine cases out of ten proves a speedy cure.

Thimble Thimble...

Who has the thimble? Hopefully you do if you are a crafter and seamstress! If you sew and use a thimble try this tip...wet your finger before placing the thimble on it. This creates a suction and holds the thimble in place!

Don't know what a thimble is? It is a cap that fits over the finger to protect it while pushing a needle during sewing. The word, derived from Middle English, literally means “thumb shield.”

The thimble has a long history. The oldest existing thimble is Roman, found in the ruins of Pompeii and is lovely and bronze. Primitive thimbles of bone and leather also existed and thimbles have been used by every known culture.

Early thimbles had to be sturdy because homespun fabric was coarse and needles were rough and unfinished. It was difficult to push the thread through the fabric so a strong, thick bronze or iron thimble, called a “skep,” was required to prevent injury. Each thimble was shaped individually by pounding metal into a mold.

In Victorian times, a silver thimble was regarded as a highly appropriate gift, especially for a man to give a woman. Victorian women carried a chain-like device called a chatelaine, to which sewing items such as small scissors and a needle case could be attached. Thimbles were enclosed in a decorative thimble case that could be attached to this device as well. Sometimes the couple would remove the cap from a thimble so it could be used as a ring.

I would bet you didn't realize that a couple of unusual uses for thimbles involved 19th century prostitutes using them to tap on their client's windows and Victorian school mistresses using them to knock recalcitrant students on the head.

If you sew and don't have this wonderful little device, try one on for size and style. Thimbles are made from a variety of materials, such as leather, glass, metal or rubber. They are most effective when fitted properly to your finger. Place the thimble on your middle finger and hang your hand in the air with your fingers pointed down. The thimble should not fall off; however, if it is squeezing your finger, it's too tight.

To use:
Push a needle through the fabric. The original and primary use for a thimble is to assist the needle as it threads through fabric. Sewing machines often take care of this chore now, but thimbles are still quite useful when sewing by hand. Press gently with your thimble covered finger to encourage the needle through the fabric. This is especially helpful when pushing needles through leather.

Grip your needle between the thimble and thumb. In addition to pushing through fabric, thimbles are often used to grip the needle when pulling thread. Rubber thimbles often have grooves on the top to assist with gripping. After using the thimble to place pressure on the needle, flip to the other side of the fabric and grasp the needle between the thimble covered finger and thumb. Pull the thread all the way through.

Do as the Victorians did. After a long day in front of the sewing machine, pour yourself a few thimblefuls of alcohol to relax. In the 19th century, the phrase "just a thimbleful" became popular as people began to measure their intake of spirits by the thimble. When your sewing is done and you've had a thimbleful to drink, place your lovely little item on parade as a valuable collector's item.

Prolong The Life Of Your Expensive Soaps...

I love L'Occitane Bar Soaps, in particular the Lavender and Lemon Verbena. Because they are more costly than store brand, I like to do what I can to prolong their use. Did you know you that you can prolong the life of your expensive bath soaps by unwrapping them and allowing them to dry out before your first use?

A fresh bar of soap is soft enough that you can make a dent in it with your finger. At that time it contains more water than if it is allowed to age, dry and harden. The longer you allow your soap to dry before initial use, the longer it will last. However, that also makes the scent less apparent. Not to worry though, the scent will return when the bar is wetted for use. If you allow the soap to dry, a complexion bar can last up to a year!

Never store your soaps in plastic or airtight containers. As lovely as this might be in a decorative glass jar, your soap cannot dry this way. Store soap in a box, in brown paper, or on a shelf with your towels to make them smell nice. Direct sunlight will fade the color of soap as well, but will not affect its quality.

Also helping to increase the life of your soap, never allow it to sit in a soap dish where shower water can hit it. Use a soap dish with ridges so the soap is not in contact with the water and it can be allowed to dry between showers.

Scent Your Cottage...

With homemade Maple Cinnamon Applesauce! I love homemade applesauce and used to make it for my children when they were young. I prepared some a couple of nights ago for company and it not only tastes wonderful but fills your cottage the with the scent of apples, maple and cinnamon. It's so easy you'll wonder why you haven't made it before now! This recipe yields about 3 1/2 cups

Ingredients:
6 McIntosh, Granny Smith or other tart apples, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 Golden Delicious or other sweet apple, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Combine apple pieces and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Cover and cook, stirring once or twice, until the apples are very soft and falling apart, about 30 minutes. Mash the apples to the desired consistency and stir in maple syrup and cinnamon. I like to leave a few large chunks of apple in the applesauce for various texture.

Store in refrigerator. This recipe is also great on vanilla ice cream or even in crepes!

My Spice Rack

Do you have favorite spices that you use almost daily in your cooking? Spices are not only useful for adding flavor and depth to food, but are also used in promoting good health. Some of my favorites and how I use them are below. What are your favorites?

Allspice- Sold whole or ground. Strong flavor-therefore better combined with other spices in fruit, cakes, pies, pickles, etc.

Cardamom Seeds- These have a spicy smell and aromatic taste. Used in baked fruit, cakes, breads, soups, cheese and sauerkraut.

Cardamom- especially good in honey combinations. Use for some baked goods.

Cayenne Pepper- Usually obtained from small fruited varieties of capsicum. It should be of dull red color. May be used in very small amounts in vegetables and in some salad dressing and in cheese dishes. It must be used with care, however, and paprika, a milder form of red pepper, is successfully substituted.

Cloves- Should be dark brown in color and is usually used in combination with other spices, which gives a better flavor than used alone. Too much gives an undesirable color as well as a bitter flavor.

Curry Powder- This is a number of spices combined in proper proportion to give a distinct flavor to such savory dishes as meat, poultry, fish and vegetables.

Mace- This spice is the inner envelope of nutmegs. It may be used in "blade" or ground in various dishes.

Mustard- Sold whole or ground. I use this alone or in small amounts in various soups, meat dishes, pastry and in such dough mixtures as fancy breads, dumplings and in some puddings; also in combination with other spices for pickles.

Nutmeg- Useful in many dishes and adds a nice touch to: eggnog, apple Pie, green beans, creamed onions, sweet potatoes, creamed fish and chicken dishes, pork chops, and in stuffings. You can also use in fruit compotes, custards and ice creams cookies etc! Try buying your nutmegs whole and using a nutmeg grater for the best flavor.

Paprika- A Hungarian sweet pepper. Bright red in color and used in meat, salads, and soups, both cream and stock. As a garnish for potatoes, cream cheese, fruit salads and eggs.

Pepper (Black)- Used in all meat and vegetable dishes where the color does not affect the product.

Peppercorn- The whole berry of the pepper plant.

And my favorite of all:
Cinnamon- Enhancing both sweet and savory foods, this ancient spice has been used for millennia. It adds distinctive flavor and depth to many dishes, both familiar and exotic. Almost endless possibilities exist to add this versatile spice to the daily menu.

Do You Suffer From Insomnia?

Potions have long been a part of the insomniac’s medicine cabinet. Tinctures made from valerian root, mandrake root, and lettuce seeds are a few of the helpful but generally innocuous variety, while the Middle Ages prescription of “drinking a potion made from the gall of a castrated boar” is perhaps a bit extreme. The castrated boar juice was included in a concoction to put out patients about to undergo surgery in the Middle Ages as well.

In the Victorian era, people tended to be interested in spiritualist theories, including those involving magnetic fields and their impact on human health. Charles Dickens, who suffered from insomnia and for a time, tried a combination of opium and alcohol that left him with a wicked hangover, ultimately found relief after placing the head of his bed due north.

An old natural Victorian cure for insomnia from 1890 claims if you follow the procedure below you will be asleep in no time!

1) Chafe the body and extremities with a brush or towel, or rub smartly with the hands, to promote circulation and withdraw the excessive amount of blood from the brain. You will fall asleep in a few moments.

OR

2) On retiring to bed, eat three of four small onions. They will act as a gentle and soothing narcotic and you will be drifting off to slumberland posthaste.

I read an excerpt in an old book that read:

Soap your head with ordinary yellow soap; rub it into the roots of the hair until your head is just lather all over, tie it up in a napkin, go to bed, and wash it out in the morning. Do this for a fortnight. Take no tea after 6pm. I did this, and have never been troubled with sleeplessness since.

Curious indeed and personally I think it was not drinking the tea before bedtime that assisted this insomniac in slumber.

I think I will stick to a relaxing herbal tea to help me drift off.

Quick And Healthy Frozen Yogurt Recipe...

This delicious frozen yogurt can be made with only two ingredients! Add pureed berries or bananas to the mix for increased flavor, or top with flavored syrup.

Ingredients:
4 cups plain yogurt (I like to use greek nonfat yogurt)
1 cup honey

Combine both ingredients with a mixing spoon, and then freeze for two hours. That's all there is to it!

Tip: Use maple syrup instead of honey for a wonderful treat.

New Life For Scissors...

Remove the rust on your old scissors by applying a paste of salt and lemon juice. Rub them thoroughly with a dry cloth and then to sharpen, cut a piece of steel wool or aluminum foil about 20 times.

Extra Cucumbers In The Garden?

Make a Cucumber and Yogurt Mask! If you want happy skin, then cucumber is the answer. Did you realize that cucumber and your skin share the same level of hydrogen? It helps in soothing and softening and does wonders in reducing puffiness around your eye area.

Due to its cooling effect it can be termed as a magic wand for all of your skin problems.

This mask is great for combination skin:
1/2 cucumber
1 tbsp plain/natural yogurt

Puree the cucumber in a blender. Mix in the yogurt. Apply all over face and neck. Relax for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water, then follow with a splash of cold water.

Cucumber Lotion
To make a wonderful skin lotion:
Mix one tablespoon each of cucumber juice and milk and a few drops of rose water. Apply on the face and neck. Remove after 15 minutes. This makes an excellent whitener for delicate skins.

Great Tip For Picnics...

If you like to take hotdogs on your picnics try this tip! Before leaving your cottage, place the hot dogs in a wide-mouth thermos and add boiling water. They will be cooked and ready to eat by the time the picnic site is reached!

Volcano Spit Stone..Also Known As...

Hematite. Hematite is one of the most grounding of all stones (root chakra) and aids in intuition. Used as a meditative stone, Hematite grounds information through the crown chakra and energies from other realities into this physical reality.

Hematite jewelry was highly sought after and popular in Europe during the Victorian era, and regained popularity when rediscovered in jewelry pieces carved by Native Americans. Known best as carved and sculptured pieces, it sports a unique, unmatched dark metallic color, a shade of smoky-silvery black with a unique and an unmistaken shiny charcoal charm. It encourages spontaneity and zest for life and is said to protect the wearer's vital energy and guarantee survival.
FOLK NAME: Volcano Spit
ENERGY: Projective
PLANET: Saturn
ELEMENT: Fire
POWERS: Healing, Grounding, Divination

MAGICAL/RITUAL LORE:
Hematite is a strange stone. It is heavy, solid, and silvery black. It's name alone is something of a mystery. To ancients, hematite was what we now know as bloodstone, so virtually all magical information relating to "hematite" in old books refers to bloodstone. In Italy and elsewhere, it is fashioned into necklaces which are sold as "volcano spit." Magical information relating to this stone is scarce. Hematite possesses the curious property of "healing" itself. Make a small scratch on the surface of the stone, and then rub your finger over it. The scratch may disappear.

Hematite is said to be powerful in drawing illness from the body. As with all stones, it's held in the hands while visualizing, then placed on the skin directly over the afflicted area. A necklace of small stones can also be worn for healing. Hematite is worn for grounding and stabilizing purposes, and to focus the attention on the physical plane.

Hematite is said to have been traditionally used in the construction of "magic mirrors," and is believed to be able reflect back any negativity from whence it came. It is often used in scrying.

In ancient Egypt, Hematite was carved into "pillows" and was often used in death/rebirth ceremonies with their deceased. It was also utilized as an inscription stone for certain passages from the Book of the Dead. It was in this part of the world that Hematite's magic was also put into service by being made into protection amulets, and also as jewelry worn by those in mourning. The original "Bloodstone," the ancient Egyptians used this mineral to aid in curing abnormalities and diseases of the blood, to reduce inflammation, and to treat hysteria. Hematite amulets have been found in nearly every pharaoh's tomb as a support in the afterlife.


The early Romans would crush the mineral and rub its red powder onto their bodies, believing this would bestow courage, strength, and a general invulnerability. Native Americans utilized Hematite to make red face paint called red ochre, often when on a warpath. Ancient myth has it that large deposits of Hematite were formed wherever battles were fought and wherever blood flowed as a result of those battles.

Engraved seals made of Hematite have been found in the ancient ruins of Babylon.

To cleanse and restore the properties of Hematite, bury the stone in the earth for 24hours or more. For the polished stones a quick rinse under running water helps revitalize the mineral's natural water element properties adding further enhancement to its heavy earth element structure.

Metaphysical Properties:
Astrological Sign(s): Capricorn, Aries
Element(s): Earth, Water
Chakra(s): Root
Mental attunement
Clarity
Focus
Memory enhancement
Courage
Strength
Grounding
Cooling
Clearing
Calm reasoning
Promotes tranquility
Dissolves negativity
Meditative
Promotes self-control, strength, stability, originality
Attracts harmony
Protection

This stone also gives physical aid in treating: Leg cramps, blood disorders, anemia, kidney disorders. Helps with nervous disorders, insomnia, anxiety.