Carol's note~OT~morning after~On topics~growing in the garden~extracts in ingredient lists~hmmmm~this & that

[Guest guest]

Hi all:

Carol~I always love your notes. Haven't seen many from you lately. This is a

subject that enters my mind often about the morning after drunk driving. A few

years ago, the USA football National Championship was played late into the

night. The morning after watching a local hospital employee hit some folks

head-on on the main road~state hwy~ not far from our rural area. DOA's. I was

sooo mad about it especially the lack of sensibility on how late folks have to

watch these games, most times during the weekdays, normally in a party scene,

and then get up early to go to work the next day not up to par. Don't get me

wrong, we love to watch football, but I sometimes think that officials, etc., do

not think things thru to have such a large game the day after all the holidays

and on a weekday. Anyhoo, I love your posts, don't be a stranger & a lovely

holiday season to ya.

 

Don't always get to send in notes, so they tend to get a bit long. <grin>

 

Late update on my gardens: What is growing now: A few Broccoli plants~2

almost ready, 2 a bit later. Garlic~purple & elephant & French shallots for

Spring, Saffron Crocus~Bought 6~all coming along nicely with side shoots, was

expecting them to deliver this first year, but they were sent a bit late to me

as per their policy. I tend to buy a lot of my seed and such from Nickels? in

Oregon, they have lovely assortments, plenty of organic seed, and have been in

the biz for generations. Two types of curly endive, one Belgium, several

lettuces:red romaine, buttercrunch, bibb, etc., Rosemary~two types, 'off' and

creeping, one lavender still puttering, winter onions, some other green onions,

Valerian, one Helichrysum~heavily mulched and under sheets part of the time,

lots of French tarragon, 1 large Russian Tarragon, Bok~pak Choi~2 types, giant

hybrid spinach, New Zealand Razzle Dazzle Spinach, Ruby Red Swiss Chard, corn

mache salad, a few late Fennel, parsley, peppermint

still alive, & Parsnips, a couple of leeks that survived the transplanting &

shock of different shades. Note: In the Wintertime here in East Tennessee, I

learned many years ago when raising rare breeds of birds to use cotton sheets on

greens & lettuces to help protect them from extreme cold temps so they would

bounce back. I highly recommend the process, we take them off when temps are

rising or rain is coming and put them back on when we're going to get a cold

blast. Works well for the tender ones. French Tarragon does not like the

sheets tho. My apple mint is still struggling tru with some help with a

sheet at times as with the fennel, oregano. Per. Marjoram tends to stay green

for the most part with or without help. A few other things going, but all in

all a good assortment~thank goodness as I have been quite busy and unable to

collect some of them. Feeling blessed~for sure. Have been doing a bit of

volunteer work with the Master Gardeners with landscaping

of the Habitat for Humanity houses, and did a show & tell with the Jr. High

last week on Culinary, Medicinal herbs, Medicinal & Culinary Herbs, plus greens

& lettuces. Think they are going to take advantage of me and I will have to do

this monthly. This is a bit of a stretch for me as I normally would rather work

with the elderly.

 

My pet peeve this year is: The loose use of calling ingredients 'Botanical

Extracts' in Professional products. So many of them are using essential oils and

calling them extracts that I stay in a state of aggravation. Anyone else notice

this? In a conversation with a supplier, it was mentioned that there are many

ways of doing herbal extracts. We did not get into their secretive ways, but

from all of my studying, I've always thought that pure herbal extracts should be

done one of a few different ways such as: with alcohol, glycerin, and even a

water extract, etc. Yes, I know that some folks use glycol. To use a tincture,

which is my book is not the same as a pure extract, or an oil infusion which is

definitely not an extract or a tea infusion is not. Hmmmmmmm

 

Where or what the heck are these professionals talking about when saying there

are all these ways of making extracts, but are being so secretive that they

don't tell you, but will use them in an ingredient list??? This is my question

of the year. I hope some of you will address it to give me a bit of insight and

calm my aggravation down a bit! tee hee

 

Preservatives in one ingredient not mentioned in the whole of a list. Yes, I

have been reading from suppliers that you don't have to mention it, such as

aloe, but I have never done it. We have used a few preservatives in products

such as germaben, optiphen, etc. Only use optiphen now, and I tend to use it in

most everything~with water as a ingredient or not. Due to making short life

products like Jewell weed ointments and such, I believe their lifespan is

elongated much by the use of optiphen. I do have a useless~to me~2.75 lb, quart

size bottle of Sodium Hydroxymethglycinate aka Sutticide that we paid over $40

plus shipping for that I would love to sell at a reasonable price to someone

that can use it. Contact me if interested. Otherwise it's going on ebay. I was

talked into buying it. (((((((

 

My biggest challenge this year was finally putting together a recipe and

making a stinky Native American 'Black Salve'. I have a couple of folks that

will get it as part of their Christmas goodies. Some folks will get my Lovely

Lady Oils and/or the eo's in Dead Sea Mudd, or in a heavy duty Ointment Balm.

Some will get Extracts~alcohol ones that are needed, others will get herbs,

eo's, soap, etc.

 

My biggest work this year was planning and executing a Reunion with some Jr

High & early high school gal friends due to the request of on that has been

fighting cancer for over 2 years. They all got bags of my products as their

gift bag, the guest of honor gal got one of the Floral arrangements in an

antique pitcher in addition. It was an overnight stay with lots of food, games,

etc., and a big brunch the next day with a visit to the guest of honor.

Unfortunately, she had to spend the night before in the Emergency room in

Knoxville and did not get to come at the last minute. (( We took her bags of

goodies, a big brunch, and a tape of the evening before, and had a photo

session. I highly recommend doing something like this for someone you love and

to get together a reunion of folks you haven't seen in a while. It was very

rewarding and we have all stayed in touch since then.

 

Here's hoping your Holiday season is very Blessed & my wish for you for 2008

is: May your happiest day of your past, be your saddest day of your future~in

other words: May all of your future days be better than the one before.

 

May you have a most Fragrant Merry Christmas,

deb

 

 

 

 

 

 

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