Stories on herbal care & health

Wild lettuce...
A burned and abandoned house on the East side of Toledo is the backdrop and location of where I pictured the wild lettuce. 
Wild lettuce is often called opium lettuce. 
Known to be mildly sedative and helpful for stress. You can enjoy these benefits from by making an herbal tea or make a tincture of it from the leaves. 
Growing now in NW Ohio. She flowers and they look like dandelions.
Be well and #touchsomeoneshearttoday, jonnie dee

Horsetail...
An interesting looking herb...
Thought I'd share a picture...
jonnie dee #tsht

God...the death of a child should not proceed their parent's death. It's so very hard to understand why it does. The pain overshadows any sense of reality.

I have a friendly acquaintance that shall bury her second child this week.

It is a reminder to me about perspective...I woke this morning looking around at all the chores that need to be done. I looked at my basket of fresh picked heart healing Hawthorn blossoms and was reminded of heart love.These lovely blossoms can help heal our heart.

But what really helps heal a heart is love. Love can be as simple as holding a door open for someone and smiling at them with your eyes. There's a spark of love and energy that passes from your eyes and reaches their heart.

I know that my thoughts are all over the board on this post, but what I really want to say is there are many things that put a dent in one's heart and many things that can heal a heart. We can heal the world by touching one heart at a time.

#touchsomeoneshearttoday #tsht
Love and hugs to those of you whom have lost someone special, jonnie dee

Ingredients:
•2 cups water
•2 cups fresh dandelion flowers
•1⁄4 cup fresh mint leaves (optional)
•4 cups granulated sugar
•1 package (3 ounces) liquid pectin

Instructions:

1. To prepare lids and bands: Place in saucepan and cover with water. Bring to simmer. Turn off heat and let sit until ready for use. Wash jars with hot, soapy water. Set aside to dry.
2. To prepare flowers: Remove any stems, leaves, or brown spots. Gently rinse in colander and pat dry.
3. To prepare jelly: In saucepan over medium-high heat, bring water to boil. Add flowers and any herbs you choose to use. Boil for about 1 minute. Remove from heat, and cover.
4. Let infusion sit for at least 4 hours or up to 2 days in refrigerator. The longer it sits, the better flavor it will yield.
5. Place fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth over mouth of quart jar. Pour infusion through strainer or cheesecloth to remove plant material.
6. In large heavy-bottom saucepan or pot over medium-high heat, combine flower infusion and sugar. Stir in lemon juice, vanilla bean scrapings, and food dye, if using. Bring to hard boil (220 degrees Fahrenheit on candy thermometer).
7. Add pectin and boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Ladle liquid jelly into hot, sterilized jars using funnel, leaving about 1⁄4-inch headspace. Wipe rims clean with damp cloth. Cap with sterilized canning lids and bands.
8. Carefully place filled jars in boiling water in stockpot. Boil for 10 minutes.
9. Using tongs, remove jars from stockpot and place upright on towel. Allow to cool for at least 24 hours.
Recipe courtesy of www.grit.com

 💦🏡🏡🏡🏡
💦A lovely bunch that I'm pressing for picture frames, handmade cards & bath salts. 💦
I may use a few of them on top of shortbread cookies. 💦
💦This hyacinth is said to be edible and tastes somewhat like a grape with a slightly bitter aftertaste. 
This hyacinth is not to be confused with the larger hyacinths. 
💦Always know with a certainty what plants you are harvesting and how and when to use them. 
💦However for today, these lovelies with be pressed and drying like a cherished flower from prom night 🤗 
I love the Spring flowers and when I'm showing and selling houses, I love to see the landscaping that the homeowners have chosen to beautify their homes. 🏠🏚🏠🏚🏠🏚🏠🏚🏠 www.jonniewagner.com I sell houses 🤗🤗🤗🤗
💦Be well, be adventurous, jonnie dee