Over the weekend I found myself having to slow down and take it easy more than I really cared to. It seems the pesky head cold I recently got over decided to settle in my left ear and by Friday night I was dealing with a fever and quite a painful earache. And I thought only children get earaches! Ha! This one sure did force me to take it easy. As of today I am feeling quite a bit better thanks to some needed downtime as well as some homemade herbal preparations.

Nearly every year I make an herbal oil out of mullein flowers, garlic, and calendula flowers. Who knew this year I would be the one needing the oil! { For some great info on making herbal infused oils be sure to check out this post found on the Mountain Rose Herbs blog.}

Throughout the weekend I placed 3 drops of my oil in my ear four times a day. I really should be treating both ears but am not (hope I do not regret this.) Within about 24 hours of using my herbal eardrops I noticed a significant difference in my ear. I am going to continue the drops for a few more days to make sure everything clears up well.

I should add that as well as using the herbal eardrops I have also been drinking large quantities of liquid which includes herbal teas made from anise seed, thyme leaves, elder flowers, lemon balm, and echinacea root. All of these herbs are good for congestion as well as the immune system. I know the earache stems from congestion building up so it is very important that I focus on ridding myself of it. On top of all of this I have also upped my Vitamin C intake to also help support my immune system (which has obviously taken a beating this year!)

I intentionally moved at a slower pace all weekend to force rest upon myself. This has not been an easy thing for me to do lately as there has just been so many things piling up needing my attention. I tried to focus on my knitting and spinning. I finally got back to work on Ariella’s sweater and made some progress on it. I also got a little bit caught up on my reading that I have fallen way behind on. And I was finally able to finish spinning up this yarn that I have been desperately trying to get around to finishing.

Isn’t it pretty? It is 4 ounces/210 yards worth of superwash BFL that I dyed with cochineal prior to spinning it. I decided to 2 ply it and am glad I did for it looks so lovely. It is about a sport weight and I am thinking it might make a really lovely pair of fingerless mitts. I so badly need a pair of fingerless mitts! My hands are always so cold. It seems I am always knitting some for everyone else, now I think it is time I knit myself a pair!

Hope everyone is well and healthy. Are you as anxious for spring to get here as I am?

XoXo, Cynthia

Do you remember my sea of cosmos that once took over my herb garden? I had let some cosmos go to seed the first year we put in our garden and the following year the herb garden was surrounded in cosmos. For the next couple of years, much to my confusion, the cosmos have been slowly not coming back. I have not really understood this as I always let them go to seed and self-sow as they wish. This year not a single cosmos sowed itself. Or so I thought!

While cleaning up the garden last week I found this little baby cosmos plant just starting to bloom. And so late in the year too! The weather we have had this year must have confused this little seedling as much as it confused me.

Has this ever happened in your gardens? Do you have some plants that reseed themselves like crazy for years only to disappear one year. I am baffled as to what might cause this to happen. Perhaps the little finches that find the cosmos seeds so delightful have something to do with it? Or could it be something to do with the weather? Whatever the case may be I have noticed this happening with several of my plants. Another one to do this disappearing act is my German Chamomile. It was once all over the garden- to the point of almost being ridiculous. This year I only have a handful that self-sowed and they are not doing all that well either. I find it very interesting and have noted it all in my garden journal.

So many memories are found in the soil of my garden. As I look back through my journal records for the past five years one thing jumps out at me: I will miss this garden.

In the picture above, clockwise from the top: tansy (large pot), shasta daisy ‘sunny side up’, viola, passionflower, yarrow, goldenrod

This afternoon I finally got out to the garden to do some clean up and to decide once and for all what plants are coming with me when we move and what plants are staying behind. I am trying to be very disciplined with myself and not take transplants and cuttings of everything. This is not an easy task for me as I tend to get very attached to my plants. For example, I have had the same oregano plant, chives, and mint for nearly 10 years now! Some plants are easier than others to dig a bit up and take with you.

hollyhock in flower

I am willing myself to take mostly seeds and only a few transplants. I’ve gathered seeds of hollyhocks, chamomile, calendula, and some other favorites. I decided to dig up a few of my dye garden plants such as goldenrod, madder, and tansy. I just couldn’t part with them entirely.

I dug up this pretty little viola and potted it up. It was just too pretty for me to leave behind.

this sweet little viola is self-sown

Although both can get weedy when it comes to self-sowing, I still have to take some seeds from my borage and Queen Anne’s lace. I just love them too much to not grow them in the new garden.

borage in flower

It may self-sow like crazy but the bees love borage. Because of this I always plant some by my tomatoes.

Queen Anne’s lace seeds

I still need to dig up just a few more plants before the big move. I am also wanting to take some Egyptian walking onions with me as well as some of my French tarragon that has been with me through four moves.

I get excited when I think about starting over with a new garden but as I went through this garden today I could not help but feel a little bit sad. So much of one’s heart and soul go into raising a garden. It is very hard not to get extremely attached.