Wintering or How to Slow Down When Everyone Else is Speeding Up
The Christmas lights are still up, cranberries are finding their way into everything I bake, and I have not started a new rigorous workout program. In fact, I’m trying to do less this year, not more. Of course, I have a few grand goals and ideas, but my biggest one is to simplify our lives…
Temperature Blanket Tips, Tricks, and Crochet Pattern
What is a temperature blanket? A temperature blanket is created to record the temperatures of every day of a particular year. It’s typically a crochet project, but can be knitted as well. Each row of stitches reflects the temperature on the corresponding day of the year. An additional row is also placed to divide the…
Immune Boosting Honey Fermented Cranberries
Honey Fermented Cranberries make a delicious treat, snack, or sauce that’s full of seasonal flavor and antioxidants. You can eat them plain to boost your immune system or add herbs and spread onto a crusty piece of sourdough. This recipe is also a great way to preserve cranberries to enjoy later in the winter because…
Natural Handmade Tallow Candles
Creating a candle from tallow is as easy as melting and pouring! The tallow acts as the fuel source for the flame, resulting in a clean, non-toxic burn. You can certainly keep your tallow candles plain or you can add some delicious scents. Below I will share how I scent my candles using only natural,…
Homemade Suet Cakes for Wild Backyard Birds
We started making suet cakes from scratch about 15 years ago. It began as a fun activity to do with my youngest child. I would wrap an apron around him, stand him up on a stool at the stove with a wooden spoon, and start him on a pot of bubbling bacon tallow. As I…
Lemon and Ginger Honey Bomb
A honey bomb is a mixture of immune-boosting/flu-fighting ingredients fermented in honey to become a powerful weapon to fight colds and infections, and prevent illness. I have recently added this recipe to my cottage apothecary to help us stay healthy in the winter months when everyone seems to be getting sick. Using the bomb is…
Tallow Lotion Bars with Beeswax and Calendula
In the chilly, windy, and damp North Georgia winters, moisturizing my skin is essential. Of course, I often love and use my homemade tallow lotion recipe, but I’m also been drawn to the convenience of these tallow lotion bar. They are structurally solid which makes them great for travel, stashing in the drawer of my…
Light and Fluffy Collagen Marshmallows
Collagen Marshmallows are a simple and delicious alternative to store-bought mallows usually laden with dextrose, corn syrup, artificial flavors, and food dye. Before I discovered their collagen counterpart last year, I always considered marshmallows to be a very unhealthy, overly sweet, and processed treat that I wanted nothing to do with. It wasn’t until I…
Bone Broth Hot Chocolate ~ The Only Recipe You Will Need
Bone broth hot chocolate is a delicious drink to sip any time you want a mug of something warm and healing. I love making this drink after dinner on quiet, dark winter evenings and enjoying it with a game of backgammon or a good book. I have also included two methods below for how I…