If it snows anything like it has been raining in my neck of the woods this year, we are in for a lot of power outages.

Ice is all twinkly and everything and goodness knows there’s nothing like a good snowball fight, but there’s very little fun associated with being stuck in an all-electric house during the dark of winter.

There are many ways to heat without electricity–corn, pellets, wood, coal, even recycled cooking oil. It’s not easy to sort through the heating options for the coming chill. I would love for those of you who have been there to share your wisdom and experience.

Please comment with your favorite ways to heat: your experiences, tips and tricks for keeping the winter at bay.

I’m feeling warmer already.

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First Ballet just received an award!  It’s one of those totally awesome stickers that’s on all the toys I buy!

I wonder if they’ll give me one to wear on my forehead…

And by the way, someone should give TL an award.  I haven’t written a post since the book came out.  Up to my EARS in stuff.  She’s doing all of the projects, posting, and comments.  Give her a big smooch, okay?

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As I was trimming back a few blackberry shoots I got to thinking–Aren’t blackberry leaves Something–you know, something in their own right other than the prickly part of blackberry production?

As it turns out, they are something. High in tannins and vitamin C, they are good for:

• skin
• mouth/gum tissue
• intestinal health
• immunity

Teas and decoctions (concentrated teas) made from blackberry leaves are recommended by herbalists for skin rashes, mouth/canker sores, gum inflammation, sore throat, diarrhea, and more.

Since I have plenty of blackberry leaves, nothing to lose, and can’t resist a good concoction, I was in.

Here’s how to do it:

Remove the newer, fresher green leaves of the blackberry bush. Bruise them by crushing. A rolling pin saves your hands from the prickles:

Lay them out in a thin layer to ferment for 2-3 days. They will develop a rose-like aroma:

Spread them out in a single layer and allow to dry completely.

When absolutely dry, crush and store in a cool, dark place.

To make a decoction, boil a handful of the dried leaves in a quart of water. Reduce by half. Drink a cup or two per day, as needed or desired for prevention or treatment of the above conditions.

The decoction tastes a bit astringent,  but is a nice tea with honey and lemon.

You can also make a simple tea, in the usual way.

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When a favorite shirt became unwearable recently I was asked to fix the snaps. My first thought was, “You can’t fix snaps.”

But then I figured it was worth some research and, whadyaknow, you can fix snaps. It’s easy.

Take a pair of pliers and gently squeeze the post part of the snap. You’re trying to make it a little bit oblong so the fit into the socket is stronger. Just a little squeeze at first. Then try it out. If it’s still loose, give it another squeeze, and so on, until it gives a satisfying “snap” when you try it out in the socket.

I wouldn’t try this out on your designer originals, and you may have to twist the post into the snap to find the orientation of post to socket that fits best.

Now that I know how to fix snaps there’s a blanket sleeper I hope I didn’t throw away that needs fixing, and a couple of onesies, and that other old shirt . . .

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I can’t bring myself to pull up the giant marigold that’s hogging a good one-third of one of my best raised beds so I’m determined to get the most benefit out of it.  One of the uses for this plant is in a spray which is said to combat tomato hornworms, other leaf-cutting insects, plus asparagus beetles.

To make the spray, blend about a cup, packed, of the leaves, stems, and flowers if you don’t mind, in a blender with two cups of water.

Allow the blend to sit for 24 hours.

Strain and add 1/4 teaspoon of castille soap. Dilute with another 6 cups of water and spray on plants in jeopardy.

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Neem oil, if you believe all its fans are saying, will do anything and everything, and has done for millenia. For repelling insects, treating eczema, psoriasis, acne and dry skin, it has a league of admirers. Do a simple search and prepare to be amazed by the breadth of its curative wonders. If it does 1% of what is lauded to do, I’ll be happy.

I made up a recipe which is 8% pure neem oil.  I added an insect repellent blend of essential oils and use it as dog shampoo. It would also be good for a hunter/fisherman/general outdoorsy soap.  Use your favorites to suit your uses. As a dog shampoo bar, I like that I don’t have to wear gloves to wash my dog and wonder what the flea and tick stuff is doing to Rover and me.  It helps, but doesn’t get rid of every sign of fleas. (However, I’ve had similar results with the most “extra-strength” commercial pet flea shampoo).

Neem Soap

60 oz. olive oil

25 oz. coconut oil

8 oz. neem oil

7 oz. castor oil

13.85 oz. lye

30 oz. water

Follow safe soapmaking procedures. I always refer people to Kathy Miller’s site, and there are many good forums and other helpful sites online.

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1.  Signed copy of  FIRST BALLET

KAT

2.  Kitchen Goodies

DIANE

3.  Spa Happy

ALLI

Congrats, ladies!  Send us your addresses at littlehousemail@gmail.com.

Each of our winners put in several chances by signing up for email subscriptions, tweeting, facebooking, blogging, posting on a message board, or getting a friend to sign up for the email updates.

And though the randomizer didn’t chose them…honorable mentions must go to Kalinda and Erin from Long Island for their amazing, whopping six entries each!!!  Send us your addresses too, and I’ll send y’all a little treat.  You pick: a bar of TL’s soap or a luxury lotion bar.

Hurray for all our winners!!!!!

Now, anyone who has talked to me for five minutes knows that I am NOT.  A.  SALESWOMAN.  (I can’t even do girl scout cookies, which people seem to really want.)  But, since I’ve been asked so many times to set this up…

To get one or more signed copies of FIRST BALLET, order from Amazon here (or anywhere else you like) and have the package mailed to me at 98 N Main St, Collierville, TN 38017-2616.  Send four dollars through Paypal to caswelldeanna@aol.com to cover shipping and the padded envelope.  (May be less, I’ll go check today at the PO.)  Please remember to include your address and how you want your book inscribed!

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It’s very fancy.

A little bit of Carnivale in my backyard.

I have no idea what it is.  I think it came in a packet of Fedco mixed salad greens, but, of course, it could have been dropped from the heavens by a tropical bird.

Something like this:

Compared to the cabbages and the lettuces it looks like the guest who didn’t get the news the fancy dress requirement for the party had been canceled.  Bridget Jones at the garden party in a Bunny outfit. I can’t bear to pull it up. It will just have to stand there all gorgeous until frost and I’d love to know what it is.

Any help?

Identified!: Amaranthus tricolor, Early Splendor possibly

New pic:

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My car doesn’t smell bad to me, but someone was making a stink-face every time we had to go somewhere.

Enter child-labor. What we did:

Draw (or have someone draw) the motif of choice. Someone wanted a star. Cut out pattern and pin to felt of choice and cut out:

Make two:

Pin together and stitch around the edges with favorite colored thread. Leave an opening:

Soak a cotton ball (or dryer lint) with essential oil, 1/2 to 1 teaspoon:

Stuff in center of freshener-to-be:

Sew closed and secure thread:

Have someone choose favorite ribbon and sew on for a hanger:

To refresh, slip a dropper in between the stitching and squeeze in some more essential oil, or just pour some directly on the felt.

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I heard the stories about 100% olive oil soap, that it was so gentle and mild, yet “slippery” and “low suds.” I made up a batch and have been very pleased with it. Here’s the deal on the “low suds” issue–it’s true to some extent UNLESS you use one of those scrubby plastic bath puffs. With the puff, it is unbelievably sudsy. Also very sudsy as a shampoo bar. I love it. It’s a little bit of a water discount and it sets up very fast and gets hard as a rock in record time. Don’t wait too long to unmold and slice into bars–8 hours or so is all mine needed, but check your batch and make the call depending on your best judgment.

Olive Oil/Castille Soap

100 oz. olive oil

12.6 oz. lye

30 oz. water

Makes about 24 big, chunky, creamy-white, 4-plus oz. bars. Yum.

Follow safe soapmaking procedures.

This site has excellent instructions on how to make soap.

I added no essential oils to this batch, but a general guide for most essential oils is to add .5 oz. eo’s per pound of soaping oils. For this recipe you would need approximately 3.125 oz. of your favorite essential oil(s).  Round up and use 4 oz. for extra oomph.

I bring mine to a fairly thick trace so I can make some swirls reminiscent of the hot process ones.

Let your soap cure for about 6 weeks for the hardest, mildest bars.

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