Old time remedy for a head cold

Since both of our boys have head colds, I would like to share a great recipe for clearing up sinus, cough and stuffed up head kind of cold symptoms.

1. Boil some water.
2. Put about 4-6 drops of Eucalyptus Oil into a bowl.
3. Add fresh lavender and rosemary (crush in your hand first).
4. You can use essential oil for the lavender and rosemary if you don't have fresh herbs.
5. Pour the boiling water over the oil and herbs.
6. Put a towel over the head of the person coughing, hacking, sniffling and generally being miserable.
7. Have them breathe in the aroma for as long as possible.  They might have to come up for air every so often.
8. Switch to a hankie to save on tissues - hankies work fine.
9. Tune out all complaining.
10. Sick person enjoys a couple of hours of easier breathing.
11. Repeat as necessary.
12. We also use the Olbas line of products - Olbas Oil, Olbas bath, Olbas Inhaler and Olbas sports cream are staples in our household (kind of like Vicks without the petroleum).  I get them from Vitacost - fast and cheap. 
13. You might also take a high quality beta glucan - we use one called Immunition.  I know they are expensive - we only use them when necessary.
14. Both of these are really what we use - I'm not endorsing anything.... this is just what we do along with links to where we get them.

Winter and Spring weaving together

One of the best things about living in California is the way you have beautiful spring days when everything is blooming, the sky is intense blue, the air is warm and it appears that Spring is here.  Sunday was just such a day.

Monday was also gorgeous, and the guys had time to disk the orchard.  We want to grow better greens... the plan is to turn grass into protein - chicken and milk.  We need to improve our grass and the beautiful day allowed us to continue that process.

It rained on Tuesday and by Tuesday night, we had snow.  We woke up to a beautiful blanket of soft snow.  Probably enough to freeze the plums and peaches and cherries.  Every year I remind myself I need to replace those trees with later blooming trees.  They are quite beautiful, though.... a cheerful wave in the beginning of spring.  It is just the rare year we actually get fruit from them.

Spring continues inside, though.  We have our tomato and peppers coming along nicely, the daffodils we picked the other day looking cheerful and the calendula brightens up everything.

In honor of our granddaughter, ETA: early June, we have violets to plant.  Grammie intends to have a big bunch of violets for the baby.