More on the Herbal First Aid kit, Inspiration Board and Soap!

Danielle, of The Teacup Chronicles, suggested to relieve the tedium of January, that we might like to make an inspiration board. I thought it was a lovely idea to make a spot for plans, dream and inspirations, so I follow suit today. I have my list of seeds to order, vinegar ideas to make soon, herbal remedy recipe to make, pictures and memorabilia from friends and little sayings, amongst other things on my board so far.
“There are souls in this world which have the gift of finding joy everywhere and of leaving it behind them when they go”  Frederick William Faber. (I strive to be that sort of person.)
“This whole life of man is but a point of time; let us enjoy it.” Plutarch
“There is no satisfaction that can compare with looking back across the years and finding you’ve grown in self-control, judgment, generosity and unselfishness.”  Ella Wheeler Wilcox
I put my board on one of the apothecary cabinets sides, facing where I work at my table and computer. Right next to my five generation picture. My maternal grandmother, my mother, my only daughter, her only daughter and myself. My ancestors, my present  and my future inspirations all together makes for a powerful influential corner on my life. I am going to enjoy fulfilling dreams and aspirations with the help of this inspiration board! I will take things down as I do them, add new things as I visualize my dreams and aspirations.xx

Today I had several extract tinctures ready to be decanted. I would be using several of them to make the Digestive Distress formula, Others were just ones I was low on or additions for the herbal medicine first aid kit.

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My herb book

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I managed to get a few other things done today, including a few herbal vinegars, other tinctures, and a few herbal oils started. You might notice that I decided to go with the 1/2 ounce bottles for the first aid kit. Things were a bit crowded with the 1 ounces. I will just have to be vigilant to refill things from the home apothecary, as I use them from the kit.
I have exciting news! Remember when I went to my friend Jill Reed’s house and she taught me to make soap for the first time ever? Well, when we picked her up for our beekeeping meeting this week, she shared some of the soap!

Feels, looks, smells and suds just lovely and I am so chuffed to have finally done this! Thanks again Jill!
Now Marci , of Herbal Nature, has been putting together the loveliest, instructional blog posts on soap making for the last couple of weeks. I have learned so very much and am gathering my supplies to start making soap at Comfrey Cottages. Marci and her hubby are wanting to start bees and I am wanting to make soap, so we are exchanging books via the mail. This is so much fun folks! I highly suggest doing this book swap with a friend. Helps you get further along quicker in a subject, than if you were gathering all the books yourself first:) Thanks Marci for all the great posts and for being my book swap buddy! xx

Been enjoying the grandchildren this week. Dylan built his first train track (all by himself), Evan and Lily and I visited our new store that has an old fashioned soda fountain part to it, and we also spent an evening playing Cat-o-poly, which is like Monopoly, only we play for cats, not properties with this game:) 

    

Herbal Hugs to all who visit Comfrey Cottages xx