Category Archives: early frosts of spring

April 3, 2020 · 6:48 pm

Healing Remedies from the Kitchen

Merry meet all,

Our health is vitally important. Lately I felt ill. I suffered heachaches, an earache, vomiting, and I believed I had a fever (which two doctors confirmed wasn’t true), and a sore throat- which I still have. I went and was tested for the Corona Virus which I don’t have thankfully. I was confirmed negative. I am fine and I happily bought groceries today.

However, I have excellent health remedies that are simple, affordable and available to all. I am happy to share them with you.

Herbal Teas

I know you all want to reach for a cup of joe/ mocha but hear me out. Caffeine can make you more alert and I drink it too. In fact, I just bought a new coffeemaker today. Limit your caffeine intake though. You have to add cream if you do take your coffee that way. That can exacerbate a cold or flu.

Herbal teas are powerful healing remedies. I have a sore throat and I always make sure I have Traditional Medicinals Herbal teas at hand. The Throat Coat variety is the best for truly soothing an aching throat. It is better than cheap lozenges. I am not trying to replace a medical practitioner though. These herbal teas are organic  and full of potent power to help soothe and heal you. Chamomile tea is good too.  Chamomile is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and has astringent properties. Peppermint tea is healing too. which helps thin mucus and calm sore throats and coughs. Peppermint also has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, which may encourage healing.

Honey is the next best thing to heal your body and soothe a sore throat. Honey is naturally antibacterial. The bees can’t be wrong.

If you are uber muchly into organic remedies. try licorice root for soothing a sore throat. You can try fenugreek and marshmallow root. For an added bonus, these herbs may be in the herbal teas I mentioned above. 

Gargle with salt water. This kills the bacteria present in your throat which can speed healing. 

Dilute 1 to 2 tablespoons of ACV in one cup of water and gargle with it. Then take a small sip of the mixture, and repeat the whole process one to two times per hour. Make sure to drink lots of water in between the gargling sessions.
There are many different ways of using ACV to treat sore throats, depending on the severity of the illness and also your body’s sensitivity to vinegar. It is best to first consult your doctor or healthcare practitioner.

Garlic
Garlic also has natural antibacterial properties. It contains allicin, an organosulfur compound known for its ability to fight off infections.

Studies have shown that taking a garlic supplement on a regular basis can help prevent the common cold virus. Adding fresh garlic to your diet is also a way of gaining its antimicrobial properties. Your grandmother might have told you to suck on a clove of garlic to sooth a sore throat. Because garlic has many healing actions, you might try this, though you may want to brush your teeth afterward to protect your teeth from enzymes and improve your breath.
Cayenne pepper or hot sauce
Often used as a pain reliever, cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, a natural compound known for blocking pain receptors.
Although not scientifically proven, ingesting cayenne mixed with warm water and honey can help with pain relief for sore throats. Remember that an initial burning sensation is common. Cayenne should not be taken if you have open sores in your mouth. Start with just a few drops of hot sauce or a light sprinkle of cayenne, as both can be very hot.

Sore throat remedies for infants and children
Sore throats in infants and young children definitely aren’t fun, but the good news is that they’re rarely the sign of a medical emergency on their own. Still, treating sore throats may be different for infants and children. Here are a few tips and remedies:
Add cool mist or a humidifier to your child’s room. Moisture in the air can help relieve pain from a sore throat.
Keep children hydrated by encouraging them to drink as much as possible. Avoid juices or popsicles with lots of citrus.
Children under 5 years should not be given hard candy cough drops or anything else that might pose a choking risk. Use caution when giving cough drops to children under 10 years.
Don’t give honey to children who are younger than 1 year.
Prevention
To prevent sore throat, stay away from people who are sick with an infectious illness like the flu or strep throat. Wash your hands frequently. Try to avoid spicy or acidic foods, and stay away from chemical fumes or smoke that could cause inflammation.
Over-the-counter treatments
When natural remedies just aren’t cutting it, there are several over-the-counter treatment options. Acetaminophen can be effective for sore throat, and it can be given to young children.
Over-the-counter options like lozenges or numbing sprays can also provide relief. Other potential sore throat soothers include eucalyptus, which you’ll likely find in natural throat lozenges and cough syrups.
Buyer beware
Herbs and supplements are not monitored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for quality, packaging, dosage, or safety. Also, the batches may be different from container to container. Lack of regulation means that each supplement might give you a different medicinal dose. Be careful using these remedies, and be sure to buy from a reputable source.

Bacterial infections, such as strep throat, whooping cough, and diphtheria, are responsible for only a small percentage of sore throats. Most doctors recommend calling a doctor only in cases of severe sore throat, such as sore throat with a fever or when swollen tonsils block the throat.
Trying out some of these natural remedies may help you feel better more quickly and save you a trip to the doctor’s office. To feel your best, make sure you also drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest.

There you have it, Hopefully these remedies prove helpful to you. Be well and stay safe!! 

Blessings, Spiderwitch

 

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March 28, 2020 · 12:44 am

Social Media and our Health

Merry meet all,

I think we’re in the midst of a Stephen King movie. It sure feels that way. I just washed my dishes, swept and washed my floors. My place feels so clean!! My cat is siting on the floor near me. She is giving me THE LOOK!! anyone who has a cat knows that look. It means… serve me now, human. 

While you are all in self-isolation, what are you doing with your time? I am taking this time to catch up on projects I have been meaning to do for a while. I just bought a sewing machine. I have projects to complete so that will be fun. Nothing makes me feel better than finishing something. I plan to do a lot of cooking too. I want to use up the food I have before it spoils. I made vegetarian chili for supper tonight. Yum!

I hope my seeds come up soon. Every day for a week I have checked and there’s been no sign. I have to be patient. I also have writing projects to finish. Wow me bored? Naw. 

How are you all going to spend your time? Well I can make a few suggestions.

Spring clean, prepare for Beltane, sort out your unwanted items and have them ready to donate them later, clean your pantry, clean the litter box, see? There are things to do. We can all still practice our Craft. 

To stay sane in this troubled time, my best suggestions is to avoid bad news. Yes this means the news on social media. I know how attached you all are to your laptops, phones and tablets. But I know I feel a lot better avoiding Facebook mostly and instead posting cute cat pics on Instagram. I live with severe anxiety so I have to avoid bad news. That bad news can be anything but if it was serious enough, then by all means read it. Then you can just send the bad energy away. Like you are blowing out a candle and you see the smoke fade away? That’s sort of a similar idea here. You don’t have to follow all the news. It fills your head with nasty unpleasant negative energy. Is that what you really want? 

Essential oils carry naturally antiseptic, antiviral, and cleansing properties. The best oils to use to disinfect a working space if you work from home or are at work are lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint, and tea tree oil. Don’t ingest them or rub them on your skin. However, you can dampen a paper towel and use a diluted essential oil in water to clean a desk. The regular cleansers they sell in stores contain toxic chemicals. So I prefer to use essential oils and they smell great!!! 

Essential oils can be used in diffusers as well to clear a room of negative energy, rid a room of a bad smell or relax you. So it may be wise to invest in a few. Just be sure to pay a reasonable price!

Please do protect yourselves and your loved ones. 

Stay safe, everyone. Blessings and health wishes to you all,

Spiderwitch

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March 15, 2013 · 12:24 pm

Ostara Crafts- Ostara Tree

Merry Meet All,

That came as a surprise. It is snowing out when just yesterday I was admiring my snowballs and crocuses that bloomed in defiance of winter. It is not time yet for plants to emerge, brave as they are trying to be.

While we wait with bated breath for the true arrival of spring, we can be preparing for Ostara. Find out if there is a public ritual to be held by like-minded people in your area.

Make an Ostara Tree

You will need:

several tree branches
florist’s foam
a flowerpot
acrylic paint
spanish moss
spring decorations

Paint the pot with spring images such as flowers, rabbits, birds, insects or eggs or use stickers. Allow the paint to dry. Cut a chunk of florist’s foam, and insert the branches into the foam to form a tree shape. Hang the decorations on the branches. Use the Spanish moss to cover the florist’s foam in the top of the pot. You can paint the tree branches with acrylic paint and glitter, if you want the tree to look fairyish or leave the wood natural. Sprinkle glitter on the brnaches and decorations. Ask the faeries to assist you as you empower the Ostara Tree. Place the tree on your altar and use it in a ritual, or as a tabletop decoration.

Try to use branches that are already on the ground.

Good luck with your Ostara Tree!

Blessed Be,
Lady Spiderwitch

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March 9, 2013 · 2:12 pm

Ostara Eggs

Merry Meet All,

Ostara is all about fertility and rebirth. This post shows you how to dye eggs naturally. The photo above shows how eggs look after they have been dyed. I took this photo of the Ostara eggs I made last year.

Try this on three to four eggs at a time. This gives the eggs room to bob around in the pot. Prick the egg with a needle or small pin first. That keeps them from cracking as they boil.

Start your water boiling. Use enough water to cover the eggs an inch over the tops of the eggs. Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar and bring the water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add three to four eggs using a slotted spoon. Do not just drop the eggs in the water. Now you can add the colouring material.

To colour the eggs, add one of the following items. You can experiment to get different shades of colour. Once you add the colouring, allow to simmer for twenty minutes.

Red/ pink: paprika
Purple: grapes or grape juice
Yellow onion skins
Gold: curry powder or tumac
Beige: coffee grounds
Light green: chopped spinach
Blue: frozen blueberries

After the eggs have boiled, remove them from the pot with your slotted soon and leave on a paper towel to dry. If you want them darker, let them sit overnight in the pots, but that can weaken the shells. Dab on some vegtable oil to polish the eggs and give them shine.

Keep your eggs refrigerated once you have dyed them. Never eat eggs that have been sitting at room temperature for more than two hours.

Consider using stencils or patterns from herbs onto your dyed eggs. I hope you have fun with this project. Do not leave the boiling eggs unattended.

Blessed Be,
Lady Spiderwitch

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February 8, 2013 · 3:42 pm

Early Frosts of Spring

Merry Meet All,

I know, I know those piles of muddy snow linger like mouldy newspaper to street corners. How many of you are hit with an early rush of spring fever? I bought a blue hyacinth plant and it now rests next to my lovely orchid plant on the windowsill. Yup. Spring is on its way.

Tulips are available now in the grocery stores- where I got my hyacinth. Now is the time to stock up on seeds for the year and plan your garden. I usually wait till my perennials have hogged their homes in the garden before I welcome other plants. Only my garden is full of lovely plants leaving little room for other green budding hopefuls.

Here is some information on growing seedlings to help you plan for spring.

Snow clings to the earth yet we all know spring is around the corner. It is time to start thinking about growing seeds indoors for spring. This post will show you how to grow organic seedlings for your garden.

It is crucial to maintain an earth-friendly perspective when honouring the earth. Pesticides and chemicals impact our health and the wellbeing of the environment. Organic plants don’t contain the harmful pesticides like nonorganic plants. The organic plants retain the properties that herbs are so prized for.

Herbs can be grown in pots on the windowsill if you don’t have room for a garden and if they need to be overwintered indoors. Growing your own organic herbs reduces the toxins that may otherwise be present in the plants and you will know where they came from. You will no longer need to purchase processed herbs from the grocery store.

Use clean earthenware pots to grow your herbs in. Wash them and store them in a shed or your basement. Avoid using PVC plastic pots, which contain lead. Plastic pots end up in landfills. Herbs grow better and look better in earthenware plant pots. The peat and wood fiber pots can be stored in the soil and are biodegradable. Earthenware plant pots are a welcome sight to the eye. Use your imagination when selecting containers for your plants.

Coir pots are available at gardening centres. The biodegradable pots and planters use dextrose from natural resources such as corn and bamboo instead of petroleum, preserving natural resources. The coir pots break down, which gives roots room to grow, and lends more oxygen to the soil.

Miracle-Gro sells organic potting mixes. If the herb you buy is not organic, you can still use organic practices. The tools needed for gardening are gardening gloves, sharp scissors, and a boline to cut herbs with, shovel and trowel, hoe and plant pots.

Add some pebbles or rocks to the bottom of the plant pot for drainage. Put organic potting mixes into a peat pot or clean sterile earthenware plant pot. Do not add compost to potting mixes because that causes damping-off of the seedlings, causing the seedlings to die off. Put the plant or seedling into the soil, leaving room for the roots, and water generously. Feel the texture of the earthenware pot. Set a clear quartz crystal into the surface of the soil. If the plant seems to wilt when the crystal has been there a few days, remove the crystal.

You can grow herbs from seed in your home as early as March. You will require seeds and containers. You can use either freshly bought soil or indoor potting soil. It should be in good condition. This will ensure you grow happy, healthy plants.

If you saved your seeds over the winter, here is one way to ensure the seeds are viable. Count out some seeds from the packet. Moisten a paper towel or a Kleenex and set it on a flat dish. Place the paper towel into a plastic bag, and seal the bag. Label the bag with the type of seed and date the bag. Leave the bag in a warm area, such as a windowsill or a shelf. If some of the seeds are sprouted, save them and put them into a pot with soil. Discard the rest of the seeds. You can test your seeds for viability the same way every year. That technique is called pre-germinating.

Scarifying means scarring or roughing up the seeds. You can nick the seed gently to trigger the germination process. When the seeds have sprouted, thin the seedlings and repot the strongest seedlings. Don’t overwater your seedlings. This will prevent root rot.

Plan to start your seeds in early spring. The usual time is four to six weeks before the frost date. Consult a guide or an almanac to learn the right times to start plants indoors. Some herbs can be started indoors earlier than others.

Reflect on what grew well and what didn’t. Keep a gardening journal to keep track of what grew well. Save seeds if you grew herbs from a garden and winter the herbs indoors from the garden to save money. For instance, a geranium can be overwintered indoors by drying out the root upside down in a paper bag or grown in a pot on a south-facing windowsill. I have a a sage plant growing at a south-facing windowsill.

It is exciting to see seedlings bloom in their small pots. When they are ready, move the small plants to large, attractive pots. Hold a seed trade day with your friends and neighbours. Share plant pots and tips while you all sip herbal teas and swap gardening success stories. You can obtain great plants that way.

Nature is a marvel to behold. Always possess a sense of wonder when gardening and growing seedlings. Empower the plants and herbs by holding the pot in your hands. Feel the energy coming from your hands into the potted herbs. Place the pot on a sunny windowsill or your garden and allow the roots to settle in their new home. It is a joy to watch herbs grow if you need a sprig for cooking or making incense.

Blessed Be,
Lady Spiderwitch

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