The Calm Before the Storm!

Wanted to show that the 'Burgh does get sunny days even in the snow and cold!  We're expecting a storm tonight that may bring us ice which we don't get too often.  Hope we don't lose our power.  Hope you are staying warm or cool wherever you may be.  Talk to you later.  I'm going to steal a quote from Claude Monet for the daily quote, but make it my own.

This is Claude's quote:  More than anything, I must have flowers, always, always.

This is my take on Monet's quote:  More than anything, I must have herbs, always, always.

Talk to you later.

Natural $$$

Sigh....
Just recently, we've been reading about the sell-out of the big natural and organic corporations to Monsanto and genetically modified crops.
I wish it were just a little bit more surprising. I wish that just once big money and truly natural and organic products could honestly swim in the same pool, but it doesn't seem likely. Oh, sure... there are wonderful companies where the people running them do well, but there is a division, and once we start talking "corporation" and "stock options" the numbers fall off quickly. In all seriousness, we should all know better by now.
We've watched this game for a good long while. Not as long as some, but the last 20 years have told a weary tale of hope and deceit. Hopeful, exuberant people learning to use plants for healthier lives, and deceitful business people seeing dollar signs in those glowing faces.
For me, it started in *I think* 1992, when my sister and I trekked to what I believe was the first Natural Products Expo East and found an entire wholesale show that catered to exactly what we were looking to add to our shops. We were beside ourselves with excitement! Row upon row of booths run by family businesses making and selling their wares, and we were able to talk to the people who blended the teas, made the tinctures, or wrote the book. We found incredible, innovative natural and organic products.
Imagine our surprise when the very next year the whole thing changed, and instead of long-haired hippies in jeans and tie-dye, we found chrome and glass, suits, and booth bunnies selling things like glandulars, body-building formulas, and weight-loss capsules. We were devastated. The big boys had followed the scent of money to be made.
I distinctly remember having a drawn-out argument with some "suit" who stopped us in the aisle offering an "herbal cure for herpes". Really. To begin with, you rarely find the people who actually make things standing in the middle of the aisles hawking and blocking the way - just sayin'... But we took a look at the ingredients and noticed there were no herbs in the list (nevermind the whole CURE thing). It contained vitamins and some amino acids. So we asked him to please point out which of the ingredients he considered to be herbal. He couldn't believe we were being so petty because, you know, what's the diff? You see, he assumed that as shop owners we would be just as interested in pulling the wool over someone's eyes to get their cash as he was. He really couldn't understand how he was insulting our whole industry, and besides, he was just hired for the show to work the booth. He didn't actually know about the product or care if it worked.
About that time, the pharmacist from a large drugstore came in to our shop and really gave us a ribbing for all the HILARIOUS products we carried. Can I tell you how highly amused we were to find that within another month or two, we found that they were carrying many of the same products? Or that from then on, we always saw his boss at the Expo? And of course the CVS that opened a block away from our main shop did the same thing.
And then we took a series of classes covering the various forms of alternative medicine. During one of the classes, we were told about a new chain of grocery stores, where you could walk in and buy anything, sure that it was healthy and natural. Every eye in the room got misty at the mere thought of such a foodie Nirvana. However we were told, they wouldn't be opening in our area because surveys showed we were "not a highly-educated area". Even at that moment, I knew it couldn't be about education. You can scarcely swing a cat without hitting an institution of higher learning around here. It was about money. I'm glad Whole Foods never came to our area because that has meant that we have honest, family-run establishments run by knowledgeable people who have managed to stay in business here! Whole Mart destroys small business the same way WalMart does, except they manage to cost a WHOLE lot more. We have CSA's, herb shops, herb farms, and our grocery stores carry local produce. We have an amazing array of farm markets. We were way better off without the expensive chain, and learned how to shop for ourselves.
In the meantime, I like to think that a lot of people have been learning what they need to know for themselves. Every day I get to converse with readers of The Essential Herbal who are in the process of learning to make their own herbal products - or purchase them from our advertisers who are not big money corporations. I'm proud of spending the last 10 years helping to share that information and getting people together to teach and learn.
That's where it's at, folks. It really is up to the individual.

Making Progress, Herbally Speaking!

Had to give you another photo of my favorite, lemon verbena.  It's hanging out in the basement at the moment getting some heat!  Just have to start giving it some more sun!  Ha!  That's funny in the 'Burgh!  Not much sun here at  the moment!  Eventually we will turn the corner here.  We always do.  Hope you are having a great day wherever you may be!  The quote for today is from Mrs. Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal:

Thy loving smile will surely hail

The love-gift of a fairy tale.

- Lewis Carroll

Talk to you later.

Online Herbal Learning Opportunities

One of my favorite aspects of the internet is the wide variety of herbal learning opportunities available to us all without leaving the comfort of your own home.  


These may include free one-time webinars, online magazines, year long courses or even shorter herbal courses on focused topics. 


The following is a brief listing of upcoming online herbal courses. This is not meant to be an exclusive list, instead it is a listing of herbalists and courses that I am aware of. Please feel free to share others in the comments below. 


Free Taste of Herbs Webinar- The Pungent Taste
I'll be presenting a free webinar in the Taste of Herbs series on February 15th at 5:30 PST. I'll once again have the honor of Michael Tierra's commentary as we explore the pungent taste of Herbs. The webinar is completely free but you need to register in advance by clicking here.  To hear about my latest new including articles and other learning opportunities please sign up for my newsletter in the left hand column. 

HerbMentor.com 
HerbMentor is a monthly subscription website. It has over 1,000 pages of information including audio courses, an herbal encyclopedia, videos of plant walks, monthly interviews with herbalists and a couple of my own columns such as Anatomy and Physiology for Herbalists, The Herbal Glossary Series and many of my ebooks. HerbMentor.com has some exciting new courses coming up soon. Plant walks with 7Song and Ryan Drum, a step by step guide to kimchi, and a new 10 part course with Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa. 


Plant Healer Magazine
This is the new quarterly journal of the contemporary Folk Herbalism resurgence – a downloadable, illustrated, full color PDF magazine dedicated to the further informing, inspiring and empowering of those interested in herbal medicine. Introductory special ends February 1st. 


Herbal Roots Zine
If you aren't familiar with Kristine Brown's incredible zine, then you are in for a treat. Each publication of this zine featured a specific herb, all sorts of information about the herb as well as stories, songs, crafts and more. Perfect for anyone wanting to share their love of herbs with kids. 


Using Herbs with Young Children
Taught by herbalist, Rachel-Fee Prince she says, "This online course is designed to empower caregivers, providing them with a foundational materia medica and the confidence to treat common childhood ailments at home." Register by February 1st. 


Brighid's Well Herbs
Darcey Blue and Sean Donahue offer a variety of herbal courses online. Coming up soon are classes on "Nourishing the Wild You" and a course on Insulin Resistance. 


Gail Faith Edwards
Gail offers many learning opportunities including a free weekly webcast on Monday nights as well as longer more in depth courses. 


Sylvan Institute of Botanical Medicine
I am really looking forward to taking online courses with herbalists Ben Zappin and Thomas Avery Garran. "The Sylvan Institute of Botanical Medicine strives to facilitate the expression of herbal medicine in clinical settings, homes, and any other imaginable venue. Our classes are geared toward Licensed Acupuncturists, Doctors, Nurses, Naturopathic Doctors, Pharmacists, gardeners, parents, community-based herbalists, and students."

Congrats Miss C!

It was Science Fair day and night at Miss C's school yesterday.  She got a first place and an excellence award in her category, Behavioral Science.  Not quite growing plants like last year, but she and I are left handed so it was still near and dear to my hand or heart!  I took a picture of the ribbons, but I goofed, Miss C.  We didn't cover up her name and I promised I wouldn't disclose it. 

That's her problem and it is true that right handed people have a dominant eye, hand and foot, but left handed people seem to be more adaptable and can use both hands and feet more easily than right handed folks!  It is still mostly a right handed world, but we adapt to it a little better.  That's my version of the story and I'm sticking to it!  Unlike last year, she is sixth alternate for regional competition.  It's a matter of numbers.  She is in seventh grade and only 10 are going.  She may still have a chance, but it's OK, Miss C.  You did good!  Off to see The King's Speech again.  The Herbal Husband is going to see The Rite.  Talk to you later.
I'll get you a quote later on.

My Favorite Seed Catalogs for Herbs

My master gardening friend, Shelley, thought that it was about thyme (sorry just had to) that I talked about my favorite seed catalogs.  It is prime time for ordering herb seeds, vegetable or flower seeds.   Here are six of my favorite catalogs.  Some of their websites are under my favorites list on the right.

Johnny's Selected Seeds from Maine-a perennial favorite of mine
Richters from Canada-I am going for a visit some day soon to buy plants!
John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds from Connecticut-Haven't ordered from them, but it is just a matter of time.
Pinetree Garden Seeds from Maine-Have ordered vegetable, flower and herb seeds from this company.  Very reasonable prices.
Nichols Garden Nursery from Oregon-Have ordered vegetable, flower and herb seeds from this company.  Very unusual varieties.
Territorial Seed Company from Oregon-Have ordered vegetable, flower and herb seeds from this company.

There are a couple of websites that I want to highlight that are on my favorites list, Renee's Garden.  Renee's have our favorite flat bean called 'Musica' and Hometown Seeds.  Haven't ordered from this company, but I'm looking forward to ordering soon.  There are lots of herbs and herbal flowers that are really easy to grow from seed.  They include calendula, nasturtiums, dianthus, borage, dill, cilantro, parsley, basil, anise hyssop, chamomile, chives, fennel, feverfew, salad burnet, summer savory, stevia and more that I can't think of at the moment!  This is just a fraction of the possibilities, but I hope that I have given you some ideas that you haven't explored!  What's your favorite seed catalog or website?

Hope you had a great day.  It's snowing again here.  Went to Miss C's Science Fair and I will have the results for you tomorrow.  Talk to you later.  The quote of the day is from Mrs. Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal:

Who loves a garden,

Still his Eden keeps;

Perennial pleasures plants,

Wholesome harvests reaps.

--Amos Bronson Alcott

a wandering mind

The other day my daughter called and told me that she needed to write a paper about something "either thrilling or traumatic from my childhood or adolescence." As her mother, my mind went tearing around to several ...um... interesting instances that would have fit. Hers went in a completely different direction, finally settling on a particularly horrific hair choice I made for her as a child that apparently has scarred her for life.
This conversation lit up certain parts of my brain, and it's been firing for days now, hitting on various *odd* things that have happened along the way.
One of those that keeps making me laugh to myself every so often is about 20 years old. It was from our days at the renaissance faire. One of the gypsies had a bed of nails and a pet rat. At some point he decided that it would be a good promotional idea to make a tiny bed of nails and train the rat to use it while he wandered the streets hawking his show. Not necessarily thrilling or traumatic - but clearly in the odd column. It reminds me of how much more time people had before the internet.
Another would have to be the day I realized that hot air balloons have some risks. Bob, my bil was the pilot, and he and I were sailing along when Maryanne radioed up that the ground winds were picking up. We saw a good landing field coming up fast, so Bob let the balloon sink into a tree that would slow us down enough to land there. This is not really unusual, but we hit too low in the very tall tree and instead of just slowing us down, the basket got caught and we found ourselves on our bellies hanging on for dear life to avoid being dumped out on our heads. It was one of those moments where the illusion between every day life and "Oh $*!%" clash, of which, looking back, there have been entirely too many. I'm fairly certain it was my last flight.
My daughter had a lot of interesting adventures growing up. Lots of thrills, and plenty of trauma, and much of both were my fault - especially when she was very small. I can't decide how to feel about her settling on a bad hair style as a worthy topic, but since one of my favorite college papers was an ode to a volunteer tomato plant and another a love letter to my 17 year old car, I suppose it's all in how we look at things. I can't wait to read what she writes!

Extreme Snowman!

I'm sort of scraping the bottom of the snow barrel today with this post!  It isn't even my yard.  It's next door!  Still snowing.  Hopefully, it doesn't stick.  Maybe I'm having brain freeze, herbally speaking that is!  Very delinquent on the quote front.  Here is today's quote from Mrs. Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal:

Show me your garden and I shall show you who you are.

-- A. Austin

Hope you are having a great day!  Talk to you later.

Guest Blogging for The Herb Companion Magazine-The Chelsea Physic Garden!

Obviously, The Garden of World Medicine!

The Rock Garden and Pool

A Contemplative Garden

Two of My Favorites, Nasturtiums and Chard!

Beans on the Tripod with a Flower Pot Hat!

Lemon Gem Marigolds, Lettuce, Corn and Chard!

A Stand of Perilla!

A Bed of Herbal Remedies or a Hedge of Lavender!

A Hedge of Green Santolina!

A Lavender Collection!

A Tropical Walkway in the Greenhouse

An Educational Cart in the Garden

A Monkey Puzzle Tree

Meadow flowers at the Chelsea

Very Exacting Flower Beds!

Just wanted to post these photos as promised in my guest blog for The Herb Companion magazine called Herbal Travels: The Chelsea Physic Garden of London.  Hope you had a great day!  Talk to you later.

A Favorite Pastime in London!

Piccadilly Circus-The Times Square of London

Looking down from my seat on a Double Decker Bus!

One of My Favorite Streets in London-Piccadilly

A Slightly Crazy Gentleman on a Bicycle Riding in Front of the Bus!

You Can Rent a Bicycle in London!

I have gotten pretty good at finding my way around London on my own.  I really enjoy getting on a double decker bus and getting the front seat upstairs and just going to the end of the line.  Even at night I go.  London is beautiful in the daytime and at night.  I need to tell you about that fourth photo is of a slightly crazy gentleman who had his briefcase hanging on the handlebars and he was well dressed.  I didn't get a photo because I was shocked at what happened.  He stayed out in front of the bus and as we were going through Green Park, he made a hand gesture to make a right turn and go under the street through a tunnel!  The bus stopped, fortunately, and let him go!  I have seen guys on roller blades hanging on to the back of a bus at night!  You see it all in London!  They have just started renting bikes in London!  I'm not that crazy.  The Herbal Husband wanted to rent bikes in Paris!  Crazy!  Not doing that any time soon!  Another cold day in the 'Burgh!  I must say we are really pleased that the Steelers won last night and are on their way to the Super Bowl!  Hope you had a great day wherever you may be.  Talk to you later! 

One of My Favorites-Rosemary!

Sometimes I forget what nice herbal accessories I have!  It also helps me talk about rosemary which is definitely one of my favorite herbs.  Taylorsoutback  asked the other day what is my preferred rosemary for cooking.  Then yesterday I got an email about a good rosemary that was in the 24 inch range.  Here is that question and my answer.

We now need rosemary that is about 24 inches and upright to add to our newly reconstructed backyard environment.  There are paths around a central circle and interwoven paths throughout the yard. We are are looking for rosemary to use around raised beds and for the central circle.  The rosemary in the circle can be taller or shorter depending if it is in the center or closer to the border.  Any insight would be appreciated

I have the Well Sweep 2010 catalog in front of me.  I do love Well Sweep.  I wish I was closer to them.  They are a great family owned herb farm.  They talk about several rosemaries that made it through the winter of 2001-2002 when the temperature was 7 degrees.  'Dutch Mill' is 14 inches.  'Blue Spears' is 18 inches.    'Blue Gem' and 'Blue Spire' are 20 inches and upright.  'Logee Blue' is 22 inches (in a slightly protected area) and 'Sissinghurst Blue' is closest to what you need at 24 inches.  These are also 24 inches, 'Franeaux', 'Hulka', 'Pink' and 'St. Andrew's'.  So there are 5 choices that Well Sweep offers in the 24 inch size depending on their stock.

Unfortunately, I don't have experience with any of them.  I have grown 'Arp' at 17 inches, 'Golden Rain' at 14 inches, 'Prostrate', 'Salem' is about 18 inches, 'Spice Island' about 12 inches or larger and I think 'Tuscan Blue' at 30 inches.  I usually have one upright and one prostrate in the herb garden each year.  Both come in in a container for the winter.  I have never had a rosemary winter over in my herb garden.  The 'Prostrate' has been a container now for two seasons and has done well in our garage that has a southern exposure.  The 'Spice Island' was taken in late in 2010 and I think it got over watered.  Hopefully it will be alive when spring comes to go back in the garden again.

Rosemary is one of my favorite herbs.  I would truthfully like one of each please!  I think 'Salem', 'Spice Island' and 'Tuscan Blue' did the best for me.  'Golden Rain' while it was unique was not a very strong plant in my experience.

Taylorsoutback, I do usually have just one prostrate and one upright.  Any more than that and I have to bring them all in and then that can lead to problems.  'Arp', 'Salem', 'Spice Island' and 'Tuscan Blue' are all fairly available in local garden centers and are very good for cooking.  If it says common on the tag, I would bet that it is an 'Arp'.   This is when I wished I lived in the southern part of the country so I could have a rosemary that was as big as a small car!  Don't forget to visit one of my favorite herb shops with rosemary, The Rosemary House and their blog, Rosemary's Sampler.  The sisters Reppert got me starting blogging and I've never looked back.  Well, I hope if you have had questions about rosemary, this has helped you.  If you have any lingering questions, please feel free to leave me a comment or e-mail me.  I love to do research about my passion, herbs!

Well, got to run.  It is still freezing here!  Getting ready for the big game!  Go Steelers!  Talk to you later!

not as quiet as it sounds

I keep chastising myself, feeling like nothing is getting accomplished around here.
January is a weird month. The days are so short, and as the sun goes down my internal clock is set to wind down with it. This year brought a cold, frosted winter, and it finds me indoors much more than usual, but a quick look back reminds me that this month has been just as full of things to do as any other... it's just that I'm not quite as willing as April or May will find me.
There's the year end paperwork, and then a couple of birthdays. Molly was home until mid-month, and managed to squeeze in a nasty little intestinal virus. That was fun. We've even had a couple of days where we took off and just didn't work at all. But we did lots of work too.
At the moment, we're finishing up the Mar/Apr issue of The Essential Herbal, and it will probably go to the printer in the morning. The early spring issue always surprises me because of the volume and number of great articles that come in. Here I am slogging along, but thankfully others are not. In fact, although we haven't done it for almost 2 years, we felt that we needed to add pages to this issue, and it's still packed with page margins as small as we can safely make them. Every time we send out a new issue, it is exciting to think about readers receiving them, but this time... well, I can't wait!We've also been busy with Maryanne's soap biz. In fact, we finally broke out the oil melter (from soapequipment.com) that's been stored in my basement for 3 years. We are VERY slow to change the way we do things. We got the whole set-up, but are implementing the parts one at a time. For a long time, the cutter made enough difference in the process that we were able to keep up, but it became clear that it was time to start using the melter. Weighing up solid oils in the winter (especially after they've been in "cold storage") is really difficult. We used to be able to pre-weigh them in warmer weather, but no more. Sometimes we get stuck in a rut of thinking small, and need to be forced to step up. This soap making equipment allows us to do it in our own way, and each step seriously changes our lives for the better.
As with any big change in a routine, there are small bugs to work out, so we've been doing that. We think we've got it now :-).
It's become boring for me to take and post pictures of COLD, so it's seemed quiet around here - but I guess it isn't after all.

A Natural Thermometer!

When the rhodies leaves are rolled up like cigars!  Look out!  It is FREEZING!  I think I did a post like this last year or the year before.  It was the coldest night last night.  Some of you are below zero at this moment.  We were at 4 degrees or a little less.  That is very cold for us.  Our cat a/k/a Kitty was back this morning and I got a photo of it.  I think it was under The Herbal Husband's car waiting for the birds to be fed!  We think it lives under our neighbor's shed, but it is near our house at times when The Herbal Husband comes out at night.   I guess hoping to sneak inside!  Well, I hope you are staying warm or cool wherever you may be.  Talk to you later.

An Edible Flower Screen!

These yuccas were on my walk to the Garden Museum in London.  Thought it was a novel idea to hide the car.  Really love the way Londoners use every available space.  Bet you forgot yuccas are an edible flower.  We have them in our salads when they bloom here in May or June.  Don't forget to take out the stamens and other parts.  Eat just the petals of organically grown flowers!  Hope you are staying warm!  IT IS FREEZING HERE!  Just unburied the car for the umpteenth time!  It is getting really old for The Herbal Husband.  I still enjoy it since we don't have to commute any more!  I'm a four seasons kinds of girl.  Talk to you later.  Forgot the quote yesterday!  So we will use yesterday's for today's from Mrs. Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal.

An herb is a garden plant which has been cherished for itself and for a use.

-- Henry Beston

Snow and Chicken on the Plate!

Looks like the snow we are getting outside.  It is really mashed potatoes and cauliflower.  We got a new grocery store and I'll in love with it!  I now make excuses to go there!  Really the Herbal Husband asked if there were maps and I said yes, but I just love to wander around looking at all the new brands!  It is so pleasant.  Yes, I know my life gets sadder by the day!  They even are selling beer which I don't care about, but I know lots of people are happy.  You see we have state stores that control our liquor and beer distributors that control beer.  So if you want a six pack, you have to go to a bar until now.  Hopefully, not too easy for kids to get it!

The rest of the plate has cornflake crumb chicken, one of the Herbal Husband's favorites.  Got the recipe for the chicken on the back of the Cornflake Crumb box.  It figures I have all of these fancy cookbooks and what do I need the recipe on the box!  The recipe uses parts of the chicken.  I used boneless and skinless chicken.  There is a 1/2 cup of evaporated milk and seasoned salt (I used my favorite chicken mix from The Village Herb Shop.)  and 2 T. of melted butter and 1 cup or so of cornflake crumbs.  I use a sheet of waxed paper and put the crumbs on it and then pitch the paper when done.  You mix the seasoning with the cornflake crumbs on the paper.  Then soak the chicken in the milk and then cover the chicken with seasoned cornflake crumbs and then place in a ovenproof dish and pour the melted butter over the chicken.  Bake in a 350 degree oven uncovered for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how much chicken you are fixing.  The Herbal Husband likes it cooked fresh.  So I cut one piece in two giving him the bigger piece and then refrigerate the rest in a Tupperware container for later.  It is very easy and delicious.

Getting thin on posts these days.  Will continue to get you travel photos from my September trip and maybe scan a few in from previous trips.  Got to get to work on my gardening class for a local community college!  Not for college kids, but for avid gardeners.  Hope you are staying warm or cool wherever you may be.  Talk to you later.

Another London Favorite Has a New Look and Name!

St. Mary-at-Lambeth which houses the Garden Museum

This is the former Museum of Garden History in London.  It is now called the Garden Museum.  It is a lovely museum and the gardens outside the museum are even better.

The Recreated 17th Century Knot Garden planned and ordered by Lady Salisbury in 1980/81

Love the waddle fences

More Fencing and Rosehips

A Banana Tree

In 1977 John and Rosemary Nicholson created The Tradescant Trust, founded the Museum of Garden History and saved St. Mary's Church from destruction.  Named The Tradescant Trust because both John Tradescant the Elder and John Tradescant the Younger are buried in the courtyard of the church.  They were gardeners and plant hunters to Lord Salisbury at Hatfield House and then to Kings Charles I and Charles II.  Inside there are a number of exhibits, a gift shop (always like those gardening gifts) and a wonderful cafe that serves a very good vegetarian lunch.   It also has a wonderful view of Parliament and Big Ben.

Parliament and Big Ben

Hope you had a wonderful day wherever you may be.  Talk to you later.  The quote of the day comes from Mrs. Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal:

The blessing is not in living, but in living well.

-- Seneca, 8 B.C.-65 A.D.

Texas Tufa's Changing Addresses!

I hope you all know who blog in the blogging universe, that I am here for support.  I just wanted to let you know if you follow Texas Tufa that she is changing addresses to FW Dirt.  She loves gardening,  is a computer whiz and has that great Texas spirit and determination and she enjoys her roses.  She has given me support when I was ready to throw my computer out the window!  I was close TG!  I'm so looking forward to seeing what happens around her new building in Fort Worth.  Here is a 'Dublin Bay' rose or two for you TG!  So if you have the chance, check her out at her new address.

Life is short, make the most of it and enjoy it!

--Unknown, but I say it all the time now!

Warming up if just briefly and that means the sun is out.  The dreading icicles are off the back of the house!  It was getting big and ugly!  Stay warm or cool.  Talk to you later.

One of My London Favorites!

When I visited London last September, my friend and I had lunch at Fortnum & Mason.  This is the famous clock outside striking the two o'clock hour.

It's funny how my English friend that lives in Spain loves coffee now!  I'm still in love with tea!  How could you not be with this silver tea set!  Here is my lunch, a warm lobster salad.  It was very delicious!

Getting ready for the next storm to blow through here.  Going to be warm enough for rain.  Hope you are having a great day wherever you may be.  Talk to you later.  I keep forgetting the quote of the day.  From Mrs. Reppert's Twelvemonth Herbal:

The summer never shines so bright

As thought of in a winter's night

And the sweetest loveliest rose

Is in the bud before it blows.

--  Thomas Hood

Pork Chops with Creamy Herb Wine Sauce

Rose Geranium Infused Wine

Pork Chop with Herb Wine Sauce, Mashed Potatoes and Waxed Beans

Actually the recipe is from delish.com and it is called Pork Chops with Creamy Marsala Sauce.  If you click on the link, it will give you the original recipe.  Of course, I had to put my spin on it by using white Zinfandel infused with rose geranium leaves (for jelly).  It really had a slight taste of the rose geranium which was good.  Here it is plated with The Herbal Husband's famous mashed potatoes and waxed beans from our garden.  It was delish!  So here is my version of the recipe:

Pork Chops with Creamy Herb Wine Sauce
Serves 4
Calories 332 per serving

1/2 cup Marsala wine (I used the rose geranium wine)
2 t. cornstarch
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 thin boneless pork loin chops, trimmed
1/4 t. kosher salt
1/4 t. freshly ground pepper
2 t. (we used more 2 T. at least) extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
(1 clove garlic, minced)
3 t. chopped fresh oregano or 1 t. dried
3 t. chopped fresh chives, divided
1 cup low-fat milk
(Omitted 4 slices thin prosciutto, chopped)

Directions:
1.  Mix 2 T.wine and cornstarch in a small bowl; set aside.

2.  Place flour in a shallow dish.  Sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper (and I used some granulated garlic), then dredge in the flour.

3.  Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Reduce heat to medium and add the pork chops.  Cook until well browned on both sides, about 2 minutes per side.  Transfer to a plate.  Add prosciutto to the pan and cook, stirring constantly, until browned, about 1 minute. (I did not use the prosciutto)  Add onion (and garlic) and cook stirring often, until it starts to soften and brown 2 to 3 minutes.   Add the remaining 6 tablespoons wine, oregano and 1-1/2 t. chives and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits.  Add milk and the reserved cornstarch mixture to the pan; adjust the heat to maintain a simmer.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened and reduced slightly, 4 to 6 minutes.

4.  Return the pork chops and any accumulated juice to the pan and simmer, turning to coat, until heated through 1 to 2 minutes.  (I cooked them for about 10 additional minutes.)

Serve the chops topped with the sauce and garnished with the remaining 1-1/2 t. chives.

The Herbal Husband loved them and so did I.  The Jets beat the Patriots!  One more game in Pittsburgh!  Here we go Steelers, here we go!  The quote of the day from Mrs. Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal:

A garden is the mirror of a mind.  It is a place of life, a mystery of

green moving to the pulse of the year, and pressing on and pausing

the while to its own inherent rhythms.

-- Henry Beston

Hope you had a great day wherever you may be.  Talk to you later.

Under the Snow

We haven't had much snow this year. That's good and bad. Good, because the roads are clear and travel is easy. Bad, because the perennials don't have the insulation to protect them from the cold. Even so, I saw a few frosted violets the other day in a sheltered area that never gets a snow build-up. This is how it looked out the back door just a few days ago....It has been cold though. We lost three guinea hens in the past few days. Not really sure what happened to them. Two cuddled up against the wall of the barn and expired together (odd that they didn't seek shelter and died at the same time...), the third seems to have just disappeared - which probably means it is down in the woods.
More snow is in the forecast, so I took a moment to go outside and see what was going on in the garden. It's interesting to see what happens out there.
Today the snow has melted back from some of the plants.
The horehound is very busy growing. Not as vigorous as it would be in the summer, it still continues to grow, unperturbed by the lack of sun and warmth. That is one stubborn little plant!
The rosemary is still kicking. It remains to be seen whether it will make it through the winter. There are three of them out there, and usually at least one survives. It all depends on which way the wind blows, the amount of snow, and how cold it gets for how long.
Sage leaves are also continuing to grow through the winter. We think these plants are dormant, but as it turns out they are not completely asleep.
The chickweed has made a nice carpet close to the ground under the conifers. There is always plenty of that around here as it seems to really love the climate under the boughs.
It felt good to go out and poke around in the ground. We've been staying pretty busy with indoor pursuits in the past few weeks, and are just about to dive into the next issue of The Essential Herbal (Mar/Apr '11). With more white stuff on the way in the next few days, it was now or never. I think I'm starting to wake up from my mini-hibernation.