What I'm Digging

Happy Friday friends! Hope your week has gone well. Ours has been characterized by unusually warm weather and a sniffling, sneezing, coughing baby. We've been making the most of the balmy days, taking walks down the driveway to the creek that runs alongside our driveway's entrance and opening up windows in the house during the day (in JANUARY! It boggles the mind...).

As for Huxley, I've been giving him this herbal children's tincture mixed with this cough syrup. I've combined those things with hot showers with me during the day (during which I shake some of this along the shower walls for inhalation purposes) and steamy baths at night, after which I rub a little combination of lotion and this balm on his chest and back. Coupled with loads of nasal bulb intervention on his tiny nostrils, it all seems to be helping. I'm also excited to try out this essential oil blend that Katie sent. It smells AMAZING!

Here's a round-up of tidbits that made me think, made me smile, and made me hungry this week:
*Totally smitten with Camille's rural northwestern Oregon off-grid homestead.
*Forest gardening has completely captivated me.
*Waste wood into recycled furniture!
*The future of food is a radical one.
*Finally, a way to recycle old gift and credit cards!
*Picked up a box of these biodegradable trash bags (I'll give a progress report soon).
*The cove really needs a wood-fired hot tub (via here)
*Eat your wild greens!
*Lisa's farm photos are exquisite.
*Winter citrus is here!
*A thrifty, low-fi means of creating mini-greenhouses outdoors (thanks to Meri for the link!).

The weekend forecast looks pretty nice, so I'm imagining more walks are in store. I'm also plowing my way through a mountain of kumquats, Key limes and Meyer lemons my sisters brought during their recent visit. Nine half-pint jars of my Kumquat 5-Spice Marmalade are done, with many more to come. I think I'll make some of my Meyer Lemon & Lemon Verbena Curd next (both recipes can be found in my book).

Wherever you go this weekend, whatever you do, may it be grand!


*I can't get over these constellation jammies Huxley has been sporting. They glow in the dark, lighting up our bed at night like a tiny map of the universe (albeit one punctuated with starry guitars and elephants!). They're insanely cute and fit really nicely. I highly recommend them, should you encounter a pair (although it looks like only size 3-6 months is available).