I confess winter has become my favorite season. Especially when it is as cold and snowy as this one has been. I love the silence of a landscape blanketed in snow. I love fires and hot tea and snow in my boots. I have finally embraced the fact that winter is not my slow time and that hibernation isn’t really a possibility in this line of work. I have decided to embrace the waxwings and the deer and keep moving like they do. I play like the squirrels with my family and try to keep it as simple as possible, staying close to home. As the year 2016 comes to an end it is time to reflect while gazing into a warm fire and to give thanks for all the good things and good people in my life. I am truly blessed and feeling the abundance.

DIY Elderberry Propolis Throat Spray

This little bottle of goodness has helped many a sore throat. I believe in the power of elderberry and the medicine of the honey bees.

1/4 c raw honey

1/4 c rose hip syrup (see the recipe on how to make on my page here)

1/4 c raw apple cider vinegar

1/4 c (2 oz) elderberry tincture

1 dropper (about 25 drops) echinacea tincture

4 droppers (about 100 drops) propolis (mountain rose herbs carries a good one)

1/4 c strong licorice root tea

Start by making a strong cup of licorice root tea. Save 1/4 c for this recipe and drink the rest yourself.

Measure all ingredients into a 2 cup pyrex pitcher and stir well until combined.

Pour into glass mister bottles. Keep refrigerated until needed. Propolis gets thick when refrigerated and sticks to everything. Shake well before using and use hot water for clean up.

Elderberry Elixir

My favorite for immune stability, a sore throat, or while in the thick of it.

In a glass pyrex pot with a lid or other non-reactive cookware, add the following:

1 c dried blue or black elderberries
1 c dried or fresh mullein leaf
1/8 c dried or fresh yarrow leaf
1/4 c dried marshmallow leaf
1/4 c dried slippery elm bark
1/8 c dried licorice root
1/2 c dried lemon balm
1/8 c dried echinacea root
1/8 c dried ginger root
8 cups water

Heat the herbs and water, covered, over low heat and simmer for about 30 minutes. Leave the lid on and let cool. Smash the berries and herbs with a potato masher or back of a spoon. Strain off plant material with a fine strainer or coffee filter (especially if using fresh mullein) and feed to the chickens. You should have about 3 cups of liquid left.

Add 2 c honey. I had some elecampane honey and a little oregano infused honey that I used for this. Any raw honey will do. You can learn how to make your own infused honey here.

Stir until honey is dissolved.

Add 1 c dark cherry juice, aronia berry or pomegranate juice
Add 1 c of your favorite cordial. I used goji berry and ginger this time. Or use brandy or rum. Or add raw apple cider vinegar if avoiding alcohol.
Pour into dark bottles and store in the refrigerator. I find this elixir almost impossible to resist. Take it daily to keep the viruses away or use as a cough syrup.