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?

Another Honeycomb of Tea! (UPDATED)

Well, I was busy again over the weekend.  I did not get much dried herbwise this season.  Sooo I'm taking what I dried last season and I am making tea bags.  Lemon Verbena Lady Blend II is made up of lemon verbena mostly, a little orange peel, orange mint and rose geranium.  I had some last night and mostly got lemon verbena and rose geranium in the flavor.  I'm going to have a second brew this afternoon or later this evening and maybe I'll have a different opinion.  I'll let you know.  UPDATE:  I did have a second brew of the first tea bag and my opinion hasn't changed, mostly lemon verbena (a favorite) and rose geranium and the first time around there was a hint of orange mint.  Because I have GERD (reflux disease) I shouldn't have too much mint!  Mint and herbs are forever connected.  It makes it tough when you want some in your tea blends.  So I use one herb as a foundation and a couple of other herbs as extras or highlights.

Came Up With A Name For The Cat!

This is our cat for the moment.  It resides somewhere around our garden.  It is here most every day.  Sometimes chasing birds.  The Herbal Husband does not like that.  The other day I drove down the driveway and it was stalking a squirrel!  The squirrel escaped up into the dogwood tree and flipped its tail at the cat!  Like take that!  It was funny.  So the moles, voles, mices and other vermins, including a few chipmunks are under control.  Which is a good thing!  Oh, my name for the cat is Kitty.  Can't get too attached with that name.  Made some more tea bags yesterday.  Will share them with you tomorrow. 

An Herbal Book Giveaway!

Just in time for the holidays, I'm giving away a couple of herb books.  Actually this first book I bought in the early 1990's, but it was first written by Bertha Reppert in 1976.  The bottom description on the cover reads: "Includes step-by-step instructions on herb gardening, over 75 modernized antique recipes, a how-to list of 50 useful herbs and summaries of over 230 native herbs."  Some of the chapters include:  "The Herbs The Colonists Found Here", "Early American Gardens", "Colonial Herb Gardens", "Heritage of Herb Gardening and Recipes", "Today's Public Herb Gardens" and "Garden Herbs at a Glance."   This book was won on one of the fabulous bus trips of The Rosemary House.  It is a reprint of the 1976 original.

The other book is a Dover reprint of a 1934 edition of Maude Grieve's book Culinary Herbs & Condiments.  It has three different parts, "Part I-- Sweet or Culinary Herbs--Their Cultivation and Propagation--Plant List", "Part II--Herb Beers, Wines, Liqueurs, and Teas" and "Part III--Condiments, Etc.  It will be a great addition to any herbal library.

Please post a comment on this post.  This contest is open to everyone.   One entry per person.  Please note which book you are interested in and give me your contact information.  The winners will be drawn at 10:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on Sunday, November 29, 2009.  GOOD LUCK!