So - it was up to me to get all the animals fed and watered, which in this kind of weather is a wonderful leisurely job and easily accomplished, but for the evening, I had a whole bunch of time on my hands that was "all mine." I decided to work up a double batch of my Granny Juice, which is what my family calls it, but it's actually Elderberry Cough & Cold Syrup. I also made some Echinacea Spray for Sore Throats and some Get Well Soon Spray. I was a busy girl. The reason I got all caught up in making these herbal cold medicines is because when hubby called to say he was working late he also said, "If you can get your granny juice made up, please do. I'm getting sick." When he came in that evening I could tell. Indeed, he was getting sick. Today I am going to try two new recipes, DIY Herbal Cough Drops: Sore Throat Remedy and Homemade Natural Vapo-Rub Recipe. I will put both on my Recipes page along with the Get Well Soon Spray when I get the opportunity. I'm going to have another fun day here at the ranch!!!
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This morning I pulled out the crockpot and also a whole chicken that I had thawing in the refrigerator. I'm making crockpot chicken and dumplings tonight. This particular recipe only takes one-half of a chicken so I put everything in the crockpot, halved the chicken and laid one-half right on top. I put the other half on top of that one so I could pull that half out for use later to make chicken noodle soup or chicken sandwiches. What's left in the crockpot is 1/2 of a chicken which I deboned, homemade chicken broth, carrots, onions, celery, garlic, herbes de provence, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Thirty minutes before we eat I'll top the chicken and broth with yummy dumplings.
I then went out to the herb garden and did more weeding. You can't let days like these go by without some kind of outdoor activity. I weeded the anise hyssop, winter savory and meadowsweet. I picked some fig leaves to dry and parsley too.
Oh my gosh!!! I can't wait to sink my teeth into that!!