Ecologia Design Tours June 22nd, 23rd and 29th. Month of Beauty.

 

If you are interested in Sustainability and Local Food and live near Frederick County (Maryland), write down June 22nd, 23rd and 29th from 5-6:30 pm on your calendar.

These are the dates of the tours Michael Judd from Ecologia Design will be giving of his wonderful Homestead near Frederick. His beautifully designed Gardens, require no weeding and almost no watering.

He is interested in re-introducing fruit trees and bushes that thrive in this climate, as well as introducing new edibles like the Hardy Kiwi. You can grow Kiwi in Maryland or Virginia? Who knew?

During the tours, you will learn about creating Food Forests, Herb Spirals, Raised Bed Gardens, Rainwater Harvesting Gardens and how to grow Gourmet Mushrooms among much, much more.

Michael Judd is a dynamic speaker and is doing really great work. (He designed all the gardens at Volt).  He learned a tremendous amount working with indigenous farmers in Central America. His book will be coming out soon...I can't wait.

Tickets are $20 and all proceeds will go to Project Bona Fide, a program Judd started in Nicaragua.

I have written about Ecologia Design before in this post and this one.

Struck Down

Every member of our family has now gotten this cold that's been floating around. Even our now 6 week old!

We were really lucky with Nye-Nye because she didn't get her first cold until she was 3 or 4 months. Her first two years were surprisingly healthy (considering her rough start). This experience of having a newborn with a cold is a completely new (and scary) thing for us.

When my husband first complained of getting sick, I started giving him, myself and Nye-Nye a teaspoon of Elderberry Syrup every hour. This older post of mine explains how to make it.

The Elderberry didn't prevent any of us from getting sick, but I believe it has lessened the severity of the cold. My husband was on the mend within two days. My poor Mother didn't take any Elderberry and yesterday was a very, very rough day for her.

I also started giving Nye-Nye some home-made "onion cough syrup." Here is the post on how to make onion cough syrup.

I have been "gargling with Sage tea" which has seemed to help my sore throat. I got a Acupuncture treatment just as I was feeling the cold coming on, so I'm sure that also helped a bit.

The new baby appears to be doing okay (knock on wood), just some congestion and a little snot. Hopefully, all that Elderberry in my milk will keep her from getting much worse.

Anyway, I had another post planned, but I figured I share some of the herbal cold remedies we use in my family (just in case your family gets sick this Summer, too). Hope this helps!

Month of Beauty. C & O Canal Lockhouse 6.

 

 

 

One of my favorite places in the DC/NOVA area is the "Lockhouse 6" on the C&O Canal. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning there two years ago. Here is my previous post about Lockhouse 6.

 

It's a gorgeous, relatively inexpensive Getaway right in our own Back-yard (you get two bedrooms that sleeps 6 for $150). It's got a cool 1950's vibe. I can't wait to go back. Maybe this time I'll go by myself for some Mama Time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Post-Partum Mamas. Lemon Balm Tea.

According to Susun S. Weed, "Considered a specific for helping one cope with life situations that are difficult to accept, such as the many unexpected changes a new child brings to its parents, Melissa is an old favorite for depression, melancholy, and hysteria. One or two cups of the good tasting infusion, mellowed with milk and honey, every day for a week or two will suffice."

When I remember, I brew myself some "Lemon Balm Tea" and I'll often add some Nettle and Peppermint or maybe even some Catnip. The last few weeks have been tough adjusting to having an active toddler and a newborn. I can use all the help I can get, including a little boost from some Lemon Balm. Like it's name, it tastes mildly of lemons. Yummy.

Lemon Balm is part of the mint family and grows like crazy. (In fact, my Mother's Rock Garden is in danger of being taken over by it). If you are pregnant or are already a Mama, think about planting this pleasant-tasting, easy-growing herb in your garden. Then, you can have this refreshing Little-Pick-Me-Up whenever you need.

Here is an earlier post on how to make an infusion.

A Sandbox For Under $15

 

 

 

 

 

One activity that is guaranteed to bring my 26 month-old tons of Joy is her DIY sandbox. It's not pretty or fancy, but it works. Plus, it cost less than $15 to make. Have you seen the prices of really nice sandboxes? Yikes.

 

I just used an organizational bin that we already had at the house. The kind that you put under the bed seem to work the best. It's nice and low and enabales the child to easily reach into the bin.

 

I bought 50 lbs of sand for $5 from our friendly neighborhood Hardware Store. So far we have only used about 1/8th of the bag.

 

I gathered up a variety of spoons, scoops, cups and shells and added them to the box. And, bam...hours and hours of fun!



 

 

 

 

Barmstorming Tour This Saturday, June 8, 2013, 10 am - 4 pm

 

 

 

One of my favorite things to photograph is an old Barn. I love the textures and shapes and the light you can find when inside a Barn. If you are like me and think such things beautiful, you are in luck because this Week-end in Frederick County, MD there will be a Barnstorming Tour.

 



 

 

 

 



 

According to Frederick County Landmarks Foundation's website, "Frederick County Landmarks Foundation will present the 7th Annual Barnstormer's Tour and Plein Air Paint-Out on Saturday, June 8, 2013, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

This popular annual self-guided tour calls attention to these beautiful old structures and their importance to our agricultural heritage. The tour provides a rare opportunity to gain access to some of our most scenic and private farm properties. This year's tour will feature barns at seven farms in the Urbana, Monrovia, and Ijamsville area, south of Frederick, Md."

 

Here is my blog post about the Barmstorming Tour from last year.

 

All photos courtesy of Priscilla Rall.

 

 

Professional Photos of My Bright Eyes and Big Sissher

 

 

 

I am so in love with the beautiful photos that the very talented Hilary Flynn took of my daughters. My Bright Eyes was only 2 1/2 weeks old when Hilary came to our house to shoot these photos.

 

It wasn't the easiest the Shoot with an active 26 month old running around wanting to be part of the action. Hilary was incredibly patient with Nye-Nye and so very sweet with Anala. Bright Eyes wasn't really cooperating by falling asleep like most newborns, but Hilary took her time and was a calming influence on everyone. She's fantastic with children (which is what you want from a photographer who specializes in family).

 

She is based out of Alexandria, VA and offers some very reasonable packages. She can be reached at www.hilaryflynnphotography.com.

 

It's so hard for me to choose the photos I love the most. Which ones are your favorite?