Winners in the Garden!

We go from winners of herbal books to beets and one lone carrot!  The Herbal Husband was out in the garden harvesting before we get snow later this week!  I think we had a pretty good harvest this year.   They are already cooked and ready to go for salad.  Now we don't have our own tomatoes or lettuce!!  Always works that way!  We will savor every bite of these lovely vegetables!  Hope you are still enjoying harvests of your vegetables wherever you may be!

And The Winners Are!

The winner of the Bertha Reppert book, A Heritage of Herbs is....

and the winner of the Culinary Herbs and Condiments book is. . .

I will be getting in touch with both of you shortly to get your addresses.  I just want to thank all of you for participating.  I love writing this blog and all of your kind words is the greatest blessing to me.

Thanksgiving Clouds!

Here in western Pennsylvania, we are coming into our gray period, winter.  So on Thanksgiving while the turkey was roasting in the oven, the clouds were on the move!  We actually had some blue sky that day.  We cherish blue sky and sun in the wintertime!  Hope you are enjoying blue sky and sun wherever you may be!

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE HERBAL BOOK GIVEAWAY POSTED ON NOVEMBER 21, 2009!  WE'LL BE DRAWING THE WINNERS TONIGHT!

Guest Blogging for The Herb Companion Magazine!

This was early Thanksgiving day when the pecan pie had just come out of the oven.  Here is my post with my favorite recipe to use your leftover turkey.  Hope you enjoy it!   DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE HERBAL BOOK GIVEAWAY POSTED ON NOVEMBER 21, 2009!  WE'LL BE DRAWING THE WINNERS TOMORROW!

Trying to be Invisible!

The peanut caddy and suet are back on the Japanese maple.  The Thanksgiving feast was enjoyed by bluejays, cardinals, a woodpecker, a crow (He waits below for a bluejay to throw him a peanut.  I know I would not have believed it, but I have seen it.) and, of course, the gray squirrel.  Click on the picture to get a better view!  We need to get a bird cam so that you can see them all in action.  They fly when I come outside to take picutres.  I have tried through the window and it is not the same.  Hope you all are stuffed with good food and stories from family and friends.  We had a great day! DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE HERBAL BOOK GIVEAWAY POSTED ON NOVEMBER 21, 2009!  WE'LL BE DRAWING THE WINNERS IN A COUPLE OF DAYS!

The Christmas Cactus Says "Happy Thanksgiving!"

Once again our Christmas cactus is confused and blooming early!  Natural decor for the Thanksgiving table!  Such a beautiful bloom!  Can I get one more exclamation point in this story?   I guess I can!  The Herbal Husband and I wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!  Will talk to you later.  Have to go check on the defrosting of the turkey!

Our High Wire Artist!

Around this time each year, we have an interesting visitor.  I wrote about it last year.  I said it is in disguise!  It's the black squirrel.  We have all types of squirrels, gray, red and this black one.  I'm always amazed that the animals know how to use those wires to their advantage!  Well, the turkey is thawing in the refrigerator, but still hard as a dented bowling ball!  It will be taking a swim in the pool tomorrow to finish its thaw!

An Herbal Lightbulb Moment-Mexican Mint Marigold in Tea Blends!

Had an herbal lightbulb moment while I was exercising this afternoon.  The Flower Lady and I have been having a discussion about tarragon and tea.  Well, Flower Lady, I came up with the option for you if you want a tarragon flavor in your tea blend, it is Mexican mint marigold or Tagetes lucida.  It dries very well and I used it in my first tea blend!  Duh!  I used it as a highlight.  Sometimes I have so much information in my brain, I can't see the herbs for the trees!  Mexican mint marigold is grown by folks in the south who can't necessarily grow tarragon.  I think it is also easilly grown from seed if you can't find the plant.  I don't always have enough space or time to grow the seeds and I can't always find the plant in western Pennsylvania.  It is becoming more available in our area.  Also I wanted to show you the photo of the book I use as a jumping off point for my tea blends.

Is It Really November?

I do remember picking raspberries into November other years, but this is ridiculous!  We were working in the back 40 yesterday and we found these beauties.  They were savored in our fruit salad this morning!  Delish!  A mostly unusual season, but it has its perks, doesn't it?