horseradish and rosemary

After fighting a cold for several days, I surrendered. Sometimes that's the easiest thing to do. I see it as an opportunity to both detox and try different herbal remedies on myself. People don't take your recommendations seriously if you haven't experienced using them yourself. I think that applies to a lot of things, don't you? 

I started with horseradish. I mean to make horseradish sauce every autumn but things get too busy and I forget. The ground is frozen now so an organic root from the healthy food store sufficed. I chopped up enough root to fill a little glass jar and topped it off with 100 proof vodka. It should be strong enough to use in just a day or two, so I'll try it later to clear my nasal congestion. There was some root left so I grated it up (on the small holes of a box grater) and added a little vinegar and salt to make a condiment for last night's dinner. I also added a little cream to some of it but that really toned it down, almost too much. The bite is half the fun. If you take a spoonful of this and let it sit in your mouth until it stops feeling hot, it'll clear your sinuses. I've been doing this all day today and it works. Rather than me going over all the goodness of horseradish, here's a nice page on its medicinal uses. And Susun Weed of the Wise Woman Center was my inspiration to use horseradish for my cold and also for this easy method of condiment-making.

Today I made fresh ginger tea -- about a tablespoon of chopped fresh ginger steeped in hot water -- combined with homemade basil honey and it also cleared congestion -- I could even taste the sweetness which was wonderful. Honey is sugar, yes, but it also has antibiotic and antiviral qualities plus it lifts one's spirits. Then I had a mouthful of honey-candied osha root which is a precious commodity around here. Sometime I'll write about the experience of harvesting osha root by hand, literally, in the mountains. Finally, after testing all these various herbal medicines, I think I'll have the horseradish sauce bedside tonight as it does the best job, all in all. 

I'm starting to baby my houseplants again, poking in dog food kibble as fertilizer, topping the soil level, a haircut if needed, and ending with a nice shower. The cat figurine in the rosemary pot was my mom's so she's pretty old. And she loves being in the rosemary. In fact, her name is Rosemary! What a coincidence. ;)

When I was picking up the sleeve stitches on the February lady sweater, I knew I should have left the yarn that was place-holding them as a lifeline. But I didn't and as I was pulling it out I thought to myself you're going to be sorry. And I am so sorry. It has been a nightmare, I tell you. I told Jan I am not capable of doing such a pattern, I have no business knitting this sweater in the first place. I was in a dark place. After about four hours, I'm maybe back to where I was. I'm not going to be doing any more lace knitting any time soon.

So looking forward to finding new patterns on Ravelry -- as soon as those two sleeves are knitted up and they're only 3/4 length so it won't be long.

And that is that. Thanks for visiting here and happiest and healthiest of weekends to you! xo