Slow Living Through the Seasons
Slow living is the practice of slowing down and appreciating life for what it is. It is living in the moment, spending time in nature, and intentionally saying no to some of the hustle and bustle of the world. Slow living is not buying a bunch of trendy “sustainable” products, or just not doing anything…
Homemade Brown Sugar Syrup
Brown sugar syrup has become a festive and special addition to my kitchen. I used to enjoy it only in December at my local coffee shop before I realized I could make it myself with much better ingredients. This syrup is delicious drizzled over all your favorite fall and winter treats or simply on toast…
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…
Why You Should Brew Loose Leaf Tea
People have been brewing loose leaf tea for millennia. Like many other things, brewing tea in bags is an invention of modern convenience culture; turning something that was once a soothing ritual into a quick caffeinated cup. I’m sure it won’t surprise you to discover that I’m a passionate advocate for loose leaf tea, especially…
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…