The Mountain Thymes

 At the end of January I notice the Carolina wren flying to my outside garden shelves.  It was quite early to be building a nest in his cardboard box.  I figured he was confused.  We had some unusually warm days during winter so I thought maybe he was just claiming his territory....homesteading.  Throughout February and March he would show up with twigs and other nesting debris in his beak heading to the cardboard box.  During those days he built two tunnels in the box.  Then everything stopped. Then the geranium window box was set out in April but nothing happened in that box.  There had been no action in either property for weeks. This past week I put my canvas porch swing out for us to relax in.  Cliff had been out relaxing and I had a couple of afternoons to read and swing. There's a lovely breeze through the porch that gently sways us back and forth. Then this afternoon we noticed about every fifteen seconds the Carolina wren appeared wi...

 At 6:15 am it's a balmy 63 degrees.  A close whippoorwill is calling at the north end of the house and is answered by a distant reply somewhere deeper in the woods.  The closer whippoorwill walks and talks as the sound becomes closer and louder.  Sitting on the front porch feeling the delightful spring morning on my skin, I'm hoping to catch sight of the calling bird walk through our front trees but by the sound of the song, it moved away. As the sky shows first light, Carolina wrens begin their morning songs throughout the trees.  Within minutes, the forest is full of song.                                          Spinach growing between the garlic.  Spinach can take the cold nights.                             ...

 GINGER STEAM This is a simple effective remedy very similar to what our parents and grandparents used to clear out mucous and stagnation in the sinuses by avoiding chemicals.  First, lessen the amount of daily dairy intake as dairy causes mucous in the tissues. Steps to create a healing ginger steam. Place a pot of water with several slices of fresh ginger (or shred the ginger with a grater) on the stove and bring to a boil.   Turn heat down and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from the stove and place on a surface where you can sit and lean over the pot.  You can also transfer the ginger water to a bowl. Place a towel over your head to create a tent for the steam to stay inside. Breathe in deeply and let the steam loosen the gunk in your head and chest for as long as the steam lasts. This works. I also use the Neti pot when once a week when I feel as if my sinuses are clogging.  Our parents and grandparents used many natural remedies.       ...