Sweet Violets

 

Sometimes it is so cheering to see the sun shine.  This morning the yellow globe in the skies (which I believe has been working overtime in the Northern Hemisphere), braved the shower clouds and sent some glorious rays of bright sunshine down into my little garden. 

However the clouds took their revenge and this afternoon is dreary and grey again, but I did manage to sit outside and soak in the sun for a little while. 

That was when I noticed that my Sweet Violet (Viola odorata) is flowering.

I first fell in love with violets when my eldest son suffered croup as a toddler.  The doctor advised holding him in a bathroom full of steam (running the hot tap into the bath) to help him breathe, but there was little else he could do for him.

Around this time, almost by accident, I found a book on herbal remedies that explained how Sweet Violet flowers can help with whooping cough.  With croup being so similar – and having violets flowering in our garden at the time – I decided to try it (recipe below).

That was one of the best things I have ever done.  The results were fantastic – the syrup cut through the croup and halted it immediately.  He still coughed, but the frightening croup was gone.

For many years afterwards, I kept violet blossoms in our freezer ready to use (both of our boys got croup but our daughter never did).

Nowadays, I just appreciate the sweet scent of the flowers.

Margaret 😊

 

This was the original Violet Syrup recipe that I made up:

Put 3oz of fresh violet flowers into a jug and pour on 5 fl. oz. of boiling water.  Cover the jug and let it stand for 24 hours.  Strain out the blossoms.  Add 4oz white sugar to the liquid.  Bring to the boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved, then remove from the heat and allow to cool.  Cover, and keep stored in the refrigerator.

I used to use a teaspoonful at a time and sometimes would administer another one if needed.  It kept quite a long time in the refrigerator, although now I don’t remember quite how long that was!

Heart Tonic

 

After all these weeks (it feels like months) I am beginning to feel more “normal” again.  It appears I may have been fighting some kind of virus (not covid), as it certainly knocked me back.

There still appears to be some irregularity with my heart (a different issue) and I have completed my hospital tests and am now waiting for the cardiologist to make his report.

Progress on the new bridge crossing the Waikato River near us

I drove myself yesterday, for the first time in ages, and went to the herbal shop and liquor store.  The two places sound a bit incongruous when placed together, but I did have an ulterior motive.

Hawthorn berries are a well-known heart tonic, so I thought I would make up a syrup that I could take.  The recipe I have is completed in stages, one using alcohol to create a tincture-like tonic, and the next to create the actual syrup.  (I will post the full recipe if and when it turns out successfully)

Having bought 150g of dried berries at the herbal shop, I went to the liquor store and purchased some “43% alcohol” brandy.  Two cups were added to the berries and they are now soaking together for four weeks, with instructions to shake the jar each day.

Who knew brandy was so good for your health?  Taken in moderation, it almost appears to be an Elixir of Life!  (Have a look on Google and see for yourself).

Have a happy day 😊

Margaret.

 

HEADER FOR AUGUST 2022

This was the road we travelled on the way out to Cape Palliser Lighthouse and the most southerly point of the North Island, a place I visited in October 2020 while doing a road trip around the Wairarapa.

A Morning of Shopping

This afternoon our temperature has climbed back up into the late 20s so I am glad I did my shopping earlier in the day.

Down the road I was thrilled to see Californian Quail feeding on the roadside.  We have heard them calling but this is the first time I have seen them in this area.

My first stop was at the Herbal Dispensary.  There are not many of these shops around, and we are fortunate to have one located in Hamilton.

I bought some dried oatstraw to make a tisane with, as well as a bottle of Echinacea Root tincture.  They make this tincture themselves and only use two year old roots, so I know it is one of the best around.

Echinacea purpurea is sometimes known as Purple Coneflower and can be used as a medicinal herb to help strengthen the immune system, the roots being the most effective parts of the plant.

It can be used in the treatment of many infections, its action on the body being generally classed as anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial.  The tincture tastes disgusting and leaves an unpleasant tingling in the mouth – but when my body is fighting something, I’ve found this tincture will help me rapidly overcome it.

Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower)

From the Dispensary I travelled to the garden centre and bought a dahlia, some spring bulbs (anemone, ranunculus, Dutch iris and hyacinths) and several annuals to plant out in the garden.   The dahlia is in flower but I am hoping it will transplant alright.  It seems these days that plants do not sell unless they are flowering.

A visit to the supermarket was my last stop, and then home again to find that the mail had brought me a book I ordered recently – Look Younger Live Longer by Gayelord Hauser (published 1960).  He was a popular nutritionist in his day and this book deals with how to remain healthy (and beautiful!) as one ages in years.  I used to own it and another of his books many years ago, but they had long since become victims of one of my major book decluttering sessions.

I have had a quick peek through the pages and most of the information still seems reasonably up-to-date, although the “super foods” he talks about have changed a bit with fashion.

I find I have so many gorgeous sky photos that I thought I would start a weekly posting of them, to link up with Skywatch Friday

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SPECTACULAR SKIES

This week’s Spectacular Skies photo is of a sunrise, photographed at 6am from the beach at Papamoa in 2010.  I love the way the sunlight is spilling forth from the gap in the clouds.

Have a great day,

Margaret.