Valentine's Day is just a couple of days away, and this show is about the holiday from a woman's perspective, whether you are in a relationship or not. I've been married for almost 30 years, and I want to put the holiday into perspective. My friends and I discuss the unrealistic expectations set by society and the impact they can have on mental health.
The greeting card industry created Valentine's Day as a marketing ploy and its history, including the concept of aphrodisiacs. Brenda's guest mentions that she creates boundaries for herself and celebrates the holiday in a more meaningful and personal way, with her family and in a cozy manner.
The show also gets into the topic of aphrodisiacs and the concept of herbal actions related to aphrodisiacs. I share different cultures, including the Greeks and the Chinese, who have documented their beliefs in aphrodisiacs and the use of herbal remedies.
Farm to Bath| Our philosophy is to live a locally focused naturally beautiful life, a lifestyle choice that is infused into the products we make. The ingredients are locally grown and/or acquired and are as basic and pure as nature itself. Each bar is full of fragrant aromatics that provide a rich moisturizing lather with no artificial colors or preservatives added – naturally beautiful!
My Garden Journal: A How To Garden Book For Kids| Gardening is a learned skill – everyone has to start somewhere, and a journal provides the best way to improve your gardening skills to ensure more success and fewer failures.
The intent of this journal is to simultaneously teach basic gardening techniques while providing a place to record your journey with important information about the “how, when, and where” to grow food and flowers.
There are suggestions for themed gardens such as “A Harry Potter Garden,” “A Young Chef's Garden,” or a “Monarch Butterfly Superhero Garden” for budding Naturalists and places to either sketch or photograph your plants to remember their appearance for the next growing season.
You'll be amazed at how much you learn by journaling about your garden!
Music
A special thank you to Alexander Nakarada for writing and producing this music. I am a Patreon Member and support Alexander creatively.
For more information about Alexander, check out his website https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/
Song: Planning – 320bit – September 5, 2021
Social Media Links
We would love to hear about your experience trying out any recipes featured on our podcasts! Please follow us on all our social media outlets so you can stay up to date with all the new recipes we feature. We look forward to connecting with you soon!
Living and Lovin Herbs Website: https://livingandlovinherbs.com/
Instagram: @livingandlovinherbspodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livingandlovinherbspodcast/?modal=admin_todo_tour
Twitter: @Livingandlovin6
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuuHD-5N2tPYDbWwI4wzIJA
Thompson Street Farm LLC: https://thompsonstreetfarm.com/
Brenda J. Sullivan Books: https://brendajsullivanbooks.com/
It's Buddha's Birthday! And to commemorate his birthday, Buddist Temples worldwide mark this day with a ceremony called “The Washing of Buddha.” I doubt there is little coincidence the Monks picked this time by accident over 2,500 years ago. If you are wondering when Christianity was founded, it was approximately 1,971 years ago. Buddism is one of the world's oldest religions, followed by Hinduism, over 4,000 years old.
If you would like to learn more about the Washing of the Buddha Ceremony, here are some links Anne recommends.
How to prepare our bodies for Lent using herbs for renewed energy and vitality.
Join Theresa Velendzas and me today at 10 AM EST as we talk about how herbs have been used historically in the Bible, their spiritual significance, and how all this plays into eating and living a healthier life.
We talk about bitter herbs, meditation, using the time of Lent (Ash Wednesday to Easter) as a time to detox our bodies by eating cleaner. Spring is a time for renewal and re-balancing our life whether it's doing spring cleaning, eating to lose weight by adding bitter herbs for health and wellness.
📰 Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about herbs, promotions, and news we have to share.
👩🏼👩🦳 Join us every Sunday at 10 AM EDT for Herb Talk Live! On Youtube, Facebook, and Clubhouse with my Co-host Theresa Valendzas, she is a health coach, author, and owner of Altraform. Please check her out and subscribe and like her social media as well. You can find her at https://www.altraform.pro/
⚖️ Disclaimer: The information presented in this show is for informational, reference, and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as a substitute for a diagnosis and/or treatment. All health-related questions should be directed to your healthcare provider.
👩🌾🛁 Farm to Bath| Our philosophy is to live a locally focused naturally beautiful life, a lifestyle choice that is infused into the products we make. The ingredients are locally grown and/or acquired and are as basic and pure as nature itself. Each bar is full of fragrant aromatics that provide a rich moisturizing lather with no artificial colors or preservatives added – naturally beautiful!
My Garden Journal: A How To Garden Book For Kids| Gardening is a learned skill – everyone has to start somewhere, and a journal provides the best way to improve your gardening skills to ensure more successes and fewer failures.
The intent of this journal is to simultaneously teach basic gardening techniques while providing a place to record your journey with important information about the “how, when, and where” to grow food and flowers.
There are suggestions on themed gardens such as “A Harry Potter Garden”, “A Young Chef's Garden”, or a “Monarch Butterfly Superhero Garden” for budding Naturalists and places to either sketch or photograph your plants to remember their appearance for the next growing season.
You'll be amazed at how much you will learn by journaling about your garden!
Social Media
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We would love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We’d love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Today I'm sharing some simple recipes you can make using aphrodisiacs. There is a lot of history behind the herbal action aphrodisiacs. Some medicinal herbs have multiple herbal actions. Aphrodisiacs can also include herbs as natural antidepressants, increased energy for women and men, better sleep, and yes, improving sex for men with erectile dysfunction and women who have a low sex drive (or just improve your sex in general). We talk about it all!
Recipes we talk about are teas, easy treats such as energy balls, massage oil that soothes sore muscles after a workout, and an easy decadent chocolate treat. This is a recipe that's been in my family for generations.
📰 Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about herbs, promotions, and news we have to share.
👩🏼👩🦳 Join us every Sunday at 10 AM EDT for Herb Talk Live! On Youtube, Facebook, and Clubhouse with my Co-host Theresa Valendzas, she is a health coach, author, and owner of Altraform. Please check her out and subscribe and like her social media as well. You can find her at https://www.altraform.pro/
⚖️ Disclaimer: The information presented in this show is for informational, reference, and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as a substitute for a diagnosis and/or treatment. All health-related questions should be directed to your healthcare provider.
👩🌾🛁 Farm to Bath| Our philosophy is to live a locally focused naturally beautiful life, a lifestyle choice that is infused into the products we make. The ingredients are locally grown and/or acquired and are as basic and pure as nature itself. Each bar is full of fragrant aromatics that provide a rich moisturizing lather with no artificial colors or preservatives added – naturally beautiful!
My Garden Journal: A How To Garden Book For Kids| Gardening is a learned skill – everyone has to start somewhere, and a journal provides the best way to improve your gardening skills to ensure more successes and fewer failures.
The intent of this journal is to simultaneously teach basic gardening techniques while providing a place to record your journey with important information about the “how, when, and where” to grow food and flowers.
There are suggestions on themed gardens such as “A Harry Potter Garden”, “A Young Chef's Garden”, or a “Monarch Butterfly Superhero Garden” for budding Naturalists and places to either sketch or photograph your plants to remember their appearance for the next growing season.
You'll be amazed at how much you will learn by journaling about your garden!
Social Media
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We would love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We’d love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Living and Lovin Herbs Website: https://livingandlovinherbs.com/
Farm to Bath Website: https://www.farmtobath.com/
Instagram: @livingandlovinherbspodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livingandlovinherbspodcast/?modal=admin_todo_tour
Twitter: @Livingandlovin6
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuuHD-5N2tPYDbWwI4wzIJA
Thompson Street Farm LLC: https://thompsonstreetfarm.com/
Brenda J. Sullivan Books: https://brendajsullivanbooks.com/
Today, I'm interviewing a friend of mine, George Duhart. George is a retired law enforcement officer and turned his passion for cooking into a business by launching George Gee's BBQ Sauce.
I first met George and his family many years ago when he was a vendor and board member at the farmers market I was managing. I've never met anyone as passionate about food as George. We've had some incredible conversations over the years, and this one is no different.
In the interview, George talks about his journey to becoming vegan and how he uses herbs and other vegetables in his Thanksgiving holiday dishes.
He even surprises me by using an herb in ways I would have never thought. I just love his creativity. We also talk about our families and what Thanksgiving means to us, especially during this pandemic. It's a great conversation.
These are affiliate links to Amazon. If you decide to buy any of these products, I will earn a small commission at no extra charge to you. Thank you for supporting the show.
Farm to Bath| Our philosophy is to live a locally focused naturally beautiful life, a lifestyle choice that is infused into the products we make. The ingredients are locally grown and/or acquired and are as basic and pure as nature itself. Each bar is full of fragrant aromatics that provide a rich moisturizing lather with no artificial colors or preservatives added – naturally beautiful! https://www.farmtobath.com/
My Garden Journal: A How To Garden Book For Kids| Gardening is a learned skill – everyone has to start somewhere, and a journal provides the best way to improve your gardening skills to ensure more successes and fewer failures.
The intent of this journal is to simultaneously teach basic gardening techniques while providing a place to record your journey with important information about the “how, when, and where” to grow food and flowers.
There are suggestions on themed gardens such as “A Harry Potter Garden”, “A Young Chef's Garden”, or a “Monarch Butterfly Superhero Garden” for budding Naturalists and places to either sketch or photograph your plants to remember their appearance for the next growing season.
You'll be amazed at how much you will learn by journaling about your garden!
Music
A special thank you to Gene Tullio for writing and producing this music. He has given me special permission to use this song for the show.
Gene's music can be downloaded from Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify. For more information please contact him at dreamshipmusic@gmail.com
Album: The Dreamship| The Forge Of Life| Copyright 2018
Social Media Links
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We would love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We’d love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
“Laws pertaining to witchcraft came out of the Bible…Do not allow a sorceress to live. Then it was later changed to “Do not allow a witch to live”. And that’s where the Connecticut law for witches came from” Tony Griego
Tony Griego, Beth Caruso and Brenda Sullivan taping our interview. Picture Paul F. Sullivan (click here to view picture)
This is a different kind of show; it's about getting justice for a group of people who were murdered 300 years ago.
It is surprising to learn that even today, many people don't know about a horrific period when Connecticut was a fledgling colony and innocent people, mostly women who were accused of being a witch.
Witchcraft isn't what you think of it today. It wasn't a religion or belief. The definition of a witch in colonial New England was open-ended. It could be a person targeted by any of her neighbors for any reason or no reason or none for that matter. There was a lot of corruption by church and state, extortion, jealously, assaults, and murders.
The pilgrims who traveled to the new colonies were Puritan Christians. These people agreed to live under a rigorous religious government that didn't allow for a lot of forgiveness. If someone was perceived to violate church law, the punishment was swift and harsh—death, often the penalty. There was no place to escape other than the wilderness or to the colony of Rhode Island.
So how did all this start? It all began in the 1400s Medieval Europe when 2 Catholic priests wrote a treatise called the Malleus Maleficarum. The purpose of the document was to control the masses who the priests felt to have deviant behavior against the church and its authority. They concluded the people must be bewitched!
It became a how-to manual giving the church and courts the legal authority to investigate, prosecute, and execute anyone of witchcraft and the book was widely distributed.
Sadly, millions of women, men, and children over the centuries were executed. According to one historical reference, 85% who were viciously tortured and executed were women.
This manual was in use for over 500 years, and the Catholic church finally discontinued using it in 1939 and during its publication, it had 16 revisions, most during the 1500 and 1600s.
Even though the church discontinued its use, the damage was done. As you'll hear in the interview, many protestant ministers made similar versions to suit their own needs.
I want to share an excerpt that I found by Fia Forsström, a Swedish author who posted a comment on Facebook about the witch trials in Europe and beyond.
I thought it sums up the injustice, pain, and suffering that the church and state inflicted on its citizens.
It was not witches who burned. It was women. Women who were seen as; Too beautiful, Too outspoken, Had too much water in the well (yes, seriously), Who had a birthmark, Women who were too skilled with herbal medicine, Too loud, Too quiet, Too much red in their hair, Women who had a strong nature connection, Women who danced, Women who sang, or anything else, really.
Any woman was at risk of burning in the 1600s.
Sisters testified and turned on each other when their babies were held under ice.
Children were tortured to confess their experiences with “witches” by being fake executed in ovens.
Women were held underwater, and if they could float, they were guilty and executed. If they sank and drowned, they were innocent.
Women were thrown off cliffs.
Women were put in deep holes in the ground.
Why do I write this?
Because knowing our history is important when we are building a new world.
When we are doing the healing work of our lineages and as women.
To give the women who were slaughtered a voice, to give them redress and a chance of peace.
It was not witches who burned.
It was women.
XXX
This is Connecticut's story – it's a 30-year reign of terror, pain, and suffering, and injustice.
During those 30 years, 11 people were falsely accused of the crime of witchcraft and executed. In some cases, the reason for how the court came to its conclusion is crazy, and it boggles the mind.
One can only conclude the accusers, the church, and the court was corrupt. It was nothing more than men dressed in clergy cloaks and robes acting as an organized crime syndicate.
Approximately 35 more victims – that we know of – were accused of witchcraft. In one case, a woman was accused several times.
In that day and age, this was a serious business. Any accusation destroyed a person's life and family. Many were forced to flee into the wilderness, often leaving children behind to deal with the fallout.
And for what? Someone owning a prime piece of land? An outspoken spouse? A farmer's crop grew better than his neighbors? A woman had freckles or a mole on her body or, sadly, had a child with a disability – therefore, she must be a witch?
Tony Griego and Beth Caruso, founders of the Connecticut Witch Memorial, present a compelling argument as to why they believe acknowledgment from the State of Connecticut and an official memorial is long overdue. These victims and their descendants deserve to be recognized. They deserve peace, justice, and an official place to mourn their ancestors.
Connecticut Colonial Lawmaking witchcraft a crime, punishable by death. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (click here to view picture)
Hartford Courant December 3, 1904, Annie Eliot Trumbull receives the personal diary of Matthew Grant of Windsor CT from 1635 – 1681. She discovers the name Alice Young and the date she was hanged and realizes this is the unnamed woman referred to at “One Blank of Windsor.” (click here to view picture)
Delayed Justice: Windsor Atones for its Witch Trial History – July 6, 2017 Windsor Town Council, Windsor, Connecticut (click here to view video)
Congregational Church where Alice Young was a member and was accused of witchcraft in 1647. (Website) Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (click here to view picture)
The field in Windsor, Connecticut Alice would have walked through to get the boat to be taken to Hartford for her trial and execution. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (click here to view picture)
Beth Caruso on Windsor Town Green in front of the statue of General John Mason who is responsible for starting the witch trials and the extermination of the Pequot Indians. Picture Brenda J. Sullivan (click here to view picture)
Congregational Church, Hartford Connecticut. This is where Beth and Tony are hoping to place the Connecticut Witch Memorial pending state and city approval since they own the land around the church. Picture Wikipedia (Website) (click here to view picture)
Back of the Congregational Church, Hartford Connecticut. Ancient burial grounds. This is the place they would like to place the witch memorial since all the clergy members who executed the 11 people are buried. Picture Wikipedia (click here to view picture)
Entrance gates to the ancient burial grounds in Hartford. All 11 victims memorial bricks lay at the feet of the statute of Reverend Stone who presided over the witch trials. Picture Wikipedia (click here to view picture)
Connecticut Old State House – This is where the witch trials took place and the second possible site for the CT Witch Memorial. Website Picture Wikipedia (click here to view picture)
Brick next to the flagpole honoring Alice Young. Not pictured is Lydia Gilbert brick. Windsor, Connecticut. Picture used with permission. (click here to view picture)
Farm to Bath| Our philosophy is to live a locally focused naturally beautiful life, a lifestyle choice that is infused into the products we make. The ingredients are locally grown and/or acquired and are as basic and pure as nature itself. Each bar is full of fragrant aromatics that provide a rich moisturizing lather with no artificial colors or preservatives added – naturally beautiful!
My Garden Journal: A How To Garden Book For Kids| Gardening is a learned skill – everyone has to start somewhere, and a journal provides the best way to improve your gardening skills to ensure more successes and fewer failures.
The intent of this journal is to simultaneously teach basic gardening techniques while providing a place to record your journey with important information about the “how, when, and where” to grow food and flowers.
There are suggestions on themed gardens such as “A Harry Potter Garden”, “A Young Chef's Garden”, or a “Monarch Butterfly Superhero Garden” for budding Naturalists and places to either sketch or photograph your plants to remember their appearance for the next growing season.
You'll be amazed at how much you will learn by journaling about your garden!
Music
A special thank you to Gene Tullio for writing and producing this music. He has given me special permission to use this song for the show.
Gene's music can be downloaded from Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify.
Happy New Year everyone. Today’s show is my holiday show and yes, I certainly blew the deadline. It was the second week of January 2020 when I record this and since I’m the creator and make the final decisions on what stays and goes. I decided to go ahead and post this show.
The topic of the show is managing Holiday Stress (and stress in general) with herbs. Yes, the title of the show says Coping with Stress. I changed it because I'm posting it so late.
I debated with myself if I should scrap this show and move on to another subject, but then I thought, just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean people’s stress magically disappeared. For some, the first of the year is a trigger for stress for a variety of reasons.
December bills are due, and the shock of how much
all that merry-making cost is a huge reality check.
The first of the year also marks other life-changing events. Such as trying to buy or sell a home, starting a new semester at school, or starting a new job.
For others its all hands on deck planning that spring wedding. Here in the Hartford area, there are bridal shows scheduled for the next 3 months. That's just the Hartford area – there are other locations around the state – and CT is a pretty small state. So it appears we have a lot of blushing brides in Connecticut!
Then for some, the new year brings a new set of stressful challenges in the form of legal problems. Usually, attorneys advise their clients to wait until after the first of the year to file their petitions for bankruptcy, or divorce.
In addition, if you’ve been paying attention to the national and international news – well, what can I say… It's pretty scary out there.
So my point is – people’s stress didn’t go away after the first of the year and it seems for some, things maybe a bit rough. So I went ahead and posted the show.
In the last segment of the show, I’ll share with you my Lavender Harmony Tea Recipe which is a nice tea to drink all day long. If you wish to purchase the tea scroll down to the Reference section and I posted information on how you can find me to buy the tea.
Articles mentioned in the show have links to the primary sources for more research. I also list organizations for those seeking professional help in the areas of mental health and money management.
Finally, if you are feeling overwhelmed, right now – please reach out to a professional for help, just scroll down to the reference section and click on any of the mental health links.
Thank you for being here and enjoy the show.
What does the perfect holiday celebration mean to you? There are strategies to help you get organized and be less stressed. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan
When colds hit our house we reach for these products. photo by Nate Solberg – Scout Collective
The best way to help reduce stress is to create a plan. Then create mini checklists to move you towards your goals. (to view picture click here) photo by canva
The Mayo Clinic suggests the following 10 Strategies
This is an excerpt from the article Stress, depression and the holidays: Tips for Coping (link to full article below).
Acknowledge your feelings
Reach out
Be realistic
Set aside differences
Stick to a budget
Plan ahead
Learn to say no
Don't abandon healthy habits
Take a breather
Seek professional help if you need it
11 Ways to reduce stress in your life
1. Take frequent breaks from social media and news outlets – and/or don’t engage at all.
2. Create boundaries on topics you aren’t willing to discuss.
3.Get a good night's sleep or try and take a nap if you need one. Being overtired only adds to your stress.
Skullcap, chamomile, and lavender or a combination of these herbs can help with sleep. Have a cup of tea 45 – 1 hr before bed.
4. Cut back or eliminate coffee or caffeine and switch to herbal teas.
5. Stop eating sugar, and foods high in carbohydrates. They are not your friends.
Switch out a bowl of mashed
potatoes with a high fiber food such as wild rice, quinoa with mushrooms or
smashed cauliflower with herbs mixed in.
By adding more fiber to your diet its the perfect way to level your blood sugar out. Fewer mood swings and feeling sluggish and overtired.
Trust me! You’ll feel better after eating.
6. Start drinking more water. It helps keep things moving!
7. Start a routine where you can sit for 20 minutes at some point in the daily and have a cup of tea.
Herbs used in our Lavender Harmony Tea are from the nervine herb class. Nervines are herbs that help relieve muscle tension, crazy thoughts, wakeful nights, and in some cases help with mild depression. Herbs pictured: Lavender, milky oats, lemon balm. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan
Examples of Nervine Herbs:
– Milky oats
– Chamomile
– Lemon Balm
– Lavender
– Valerian Root
–
Skullcap – This one I’d take just before bedtime.
– St. John’s Wort
– Rose
This is not a complete list
– there are others you can take, but I picked these because they are common and
can be found in most health food stores around the country.
And since I’m talking about medicinal herbs versus culinary herbs, I have to add this statement.
I want to stress herbalism is a way of life when using herbs for
medicinal purposes to treat certain conditions. You need to be aware:
There are no magic bullets
No quick fixes that will result in a specific health outcome.
The secret to using herbs is the accumulation of what I call conscious healthy living and eating.
Understand your body and its limits and don’t be afraid to seek medical
treatment if you’re not feeling better.
Most importantly do your homework before taking herbs medicinally. Make informed decisions based on facts and
not someone’s opinion or marketing tagline.
My goal is to teach you how to enhance your health and environment with
herbs that will bring you over-all wellness. I offer you detailed information
along with primary sources so you can research on your own.
However, I still have to give you my disclaimer so we’re clear…
I’m not a doctor, and if you have questions about your health, please consult a licensed medical professional.
Some herbs interact with certain medications negatively and if you’re on
a prescription drug ask your doctor if the herb you’re interested in taking is
safe.
In addition, pregnant and nursing Mother’s please consult your doctor to
make sure the herbs you’re taking are safe for you and your baby.
The information discussed in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat anyone.
Forest Bathing – Woods near our home that we frequently walk. Screenshot of the Alltrails app. The data is recorded in my walking journal. Date, miles, elevation, and hiking time are things I track. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan
8. Go for a walk. – indoor our out. Just move!
Doing our indoor walk together. It was too cold to be outside. In the house, I use the Argus App which tracks my steps/miles and time. (click here to view picture) photo by Paul F. Sullivan
9. Meditate – According to Harvard Medical School article titled.
What Mediation can do for your mind, mood, and health.
They concluded that:
“Taking a few minutes to focus your mind each day can reduce stress, pain, depression, and more.”
Writing in a journal has been scientifically proven to have mental health benefits. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan
10.Keep a gratitude journal.
According to an article in Psychology Today Article.
There are 7 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Gratitude.
1. Gratitude Opens the Door
to More Relationships –
2. Gratitude Improves
Physical Health
3. Gratitude Improves
Psychological Health
4. Gratitude Enhances
Empathy and Reduces Aggression
5. Grateful People Sleep
Better
6. Gratitude Improves
Self-Esteem
7. Gratitude Increases
Mental Strength
11. Practice Yoga. There are free and paid apps if taking a class is not your style. Youtube has several yoga channels you can watch and follow as well.
Blend together and use 1
heaping tablespoon per cup. Let steep for 5 – 8 minutes before drinking.
Just remember, sometimes the simplest things can make the biggest impact on you emotionally. Find a quiet place for about 20 minutes, even if it's sitting in your car – just be still and have a cup of tea with yourself.
For those wanting to buy this tea, I offer it for sale at the South Windsor Farmers Market during the growing season. During the off-season, orders can be picked up at my home. For more information email me – brenda@thompsonstreetfarm.com.
Note: Please do your research. I have not used any of the debt counseling resources. I've read Rich Dad Poor Dad and thought it was worth recommending. The author offers basic money management tips. However, there are many great books on money management. Many local libraries carry best selling titles – make sure to start there first.
Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki This book is in most libraries or online for free somewhere. Check first for free versions before buying the book.
AllTrails Pro App Paid App and I use this to record my hikes and walks. Has thousands of trials and reviews by walkers and hikers nationally. I love this app and highly recommend. Available on iTunes. https://www.alltrails.com/
Lavender Harmony Tea available from Thompson Street Farm LLC www.thompsonstreetfarm.com email me for information on pickup times. Local sales only.
Show's Sponsor
Farm to Bath| Our philosophy is to live a locally focused naturally beautiful life, a lifestyle choice that is infused into the products we make. The ingredients are locally grown and/or acquired and are as basic and pure as nature itself. Each bar is full of fragrant aromatics that provide a rich moisturizing lather with no artificial colors or preservatives added – naturally beautiful!
Counting Starfish| A Thompson Street Farm Learn and Play Series Volume 1
Children learn by experience and are stimulated by imagination. Counting Starfish is designed to build both basic concepts and what better way to learn than from the natural world? Counting Starfish was inspired by starfish (or sea stars) living in a tidal pool off the coast of Alaska. This interactive book teaches children the fundamental concepts of counting to ten with coloring pages providing the opportunity for each child to create their own imaginative version of a colorful Counting Starfish Book.
Music
Special Thank You To Gene Tullio!
The music used in this show is used with permission and is created and produced by Gene Tullio.
Gene's music can be downloaded from Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify. For more information about his music, please contact him at dreamshipmusic@gmail.com
Album: The Dreamship| The Forge Of Life| Copyright 2018
Social Media Links
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We would love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We’d love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Today is my Thanksgiving show, and I wanted to do something a little different.
I realize everyone is busy and I thought it would be fun to read to you a delightful short story by Louisa May Alcott – Its called “An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving” published as part of her collection of stories titled “Aunt Jo’s Scrap Bag” in 1882.
This is a story is about a family living on a New Hampshire farm and the day before Thanksgiving their parents are called away for an emergency.
The children are left alone to manage the farm and they decide to make the “Big Dinner.” As you expect – things don’t go as planned.
This story does have an herbal theme to it and as I read it, pay attention to the ingredients collected for the meal. I’ll explain why later –
In the second half of the show, I’ll share my favorite gluten-free stuffing that I’ve been making for years. It's full of aromatic herbs, vegetables, mushrooms that are from my garden – well almost all of them. Some ingredients I get from local vendors.
So go get your cup of tea and settle in and I hope you enjoy Louisa May Alcott’s 1882 story “An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving.”
1 tablespoon nondairy butter spread. ( I use Earthbalance)
½ teaspoon salt
2 medium onions chopped
2 – 3 celery stalk
1 – 2 carrot chopped
3 garlic cloves
2 – 3 Granny Smith Apples (or local tart apples) diced
1 lb of fresh chopped mushrooms (shiitake, oyster,
chanterelle all work) if using dried mushrooms reconstitute in a half cup of
hot water and dash (or more) of Sherry).
A good size bunch of fresh sage – chopped – if using dried
sage – use 2 tablespoons
A good size bunch of thyme – stemmed – if using dried thyme
– use 2 tablespoons.
2 loaves of sliced Gluten Free Bread – (I try and buy them
from a local Gluten Free bakery. If they’re out of stock, I use Udis Gluten
Free Millet-Chia bread – cut into cubes and toast in a low heated oven (approx.
250 degrees).)
8 oz of stock – can be Turkey stock from simmering the
giblets, or vegetable stock. Don’t forget to use the mushroom / Sherry broth if
reconstituted dried mushrooms.
¼ cup Sherry
½ teaspoon salt and pepper
Directions:
Melt nondairy butter in a large skillet. Add onions, celery,
carrot and garlic and sauté until vegetables are just about soft but not quite.
Stir in apples and cook for approx. 2 minutes. Don’t over
cook them.
Add the mushrooms – if fresh, cook until they are giving off
liquid. If using reconstituted dried mushrooms cook until warmed.
Add Sherry, sage, thyme, salt and pepper and cook until
liquid is almost evaporated. Then remove from heat.
Combine vegetable mixture with toasted bread cubes into
large bowl. Add enough broth to moisten bread. If there isn’t enough add
additional sherry. But don’t soak the bread cubes.
Stuff turkey with the stuffing and roast as directed.
If not stuffing a turkey: Transfer stuffing to a well greased baking dish. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Take off foil and bake for another 15 – 20 minutes or until stuffing is lightly crisp on top.
When I can't get fresh gluten-free bread from a bakery I will use Udi's – (click here to see picture) photo by Brenda J. SullivanGet your bread cut and ready to toast in a low oven photo (click here to see picture) by Brenda J. SullivanOops! Talking on the phone with Mom and burned the first batch! (Click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. SullivanMaking sure I watch those bread cubes by leaving the oven door open a little – can't afford to mess up! (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. SullivanOn to the veggies (click here to view picture) – photo by Brenda J. Sullivan
Using my paia pan to saute the veggies. Added some olive oil so as not to burn the vegan butter spread. (click here to see picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan
Earth Balance Vegan spread – soy-free-dairy free! Love this stuff. I highly recommend it! (click here to see picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan
Don't forget the Sherry – Yeah, its the cheap stuff instead of the “Cooking Sherry” 🤢 (click here to view photo) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan
Time to mix veggies and toasted bread cubes and wet with stock and sherry. Be careful not to soak the bread cubes too much they will turn to mush. Once everything is mixed well stuff your bird or put in a well-greased oven bake dish and bake. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan
She's a beauty! Mmmmm! Let rest for 5 – 10 minutes then carve. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan
From my family to your's Happy Thanksgiving! Please let me know if you tried my recipe by posting on any of our social media outlets.
Show Sponsors
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Music
a Special Thank You To Gene Tullio!
The music used in this show has special permission to use the music created and produced by Gene Tullio.
Gene's music can be downloaded from Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify. For more information about his music, please contact him at dreamshipmusic@gmail.com
Album: The Dreamship| The Forge Of Life| Copyright 2018
Social Media Links
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We would love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We’d love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Welcome to my first podcast of the year. This has been a very long process trying to learn many different software programs and so, ready or not, here we are! I'm excited to finally launch!
The show is not perfect, and I'm aware of my mistakes. Please know that I'm a one-woman show and there are many moving parts to produce a show like this, and things got missed. I will continue to edit the blog as I get comfortable with the software programs. We are a work in progress!
About The Show
The goal of the show is to share my love of herbs combined with my love of the outdoors. I'll be introducing an herb(s) and/or traditions related to them and share ways you can incorporate them into your life.
Whether it's using it for health/culinary purposes, growing medicinal plants in your garden, using them in bath and body products or creating a chemical-free home. These are topics for future shows.
I'll do some storytelling about the history or tradition that's related to herbs because who doesn't love a good story! In addition, I'll recommend books and resources that might be helpful to you so you can do more in-depth research on your own.
My goal is to demystify herbs, their uses and make it easy for you to incorporate them into your daily life.
Today's Show:
Today's show is a solo show and since Halloween is almost here I'll be doing a deep dive into an ancient tradition called “Souling” and what the druids, the church and the dearly departed have in common.
I'll also share a recipe (link below) for a traditional cake that is made for this occasion called “Soul Cakes”. These cakes are filled with herbs, nuts and/or dried fruits. However, my recipe has been updated and is gluten-free and dairy-free.
I'll discuss the meaning of the tradition and how it evolved over the centuries.
So click on the show bar below and settle in with a nice cup of spiced herbal tea. And scroll through the pictures following the story of this ancient tradition called “Souling”.
“Soul! Soul! For an apple or two! If you have no apples, pears will do. If you have no pears, money will do. If you have no money, God bless you! ”
1981 copyright “A Witches Brew” by Adelma Grenier Simmons| Caprilands Herb Farm, Coventry Connecticut. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan
1981 copyright ” A Witches Brew” by Adelma Grenier Simmons| Caprilands Herb Farm, Coventry Connecticut pg 94. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan
1981 copyright “A Witches Brew” by Adelma Grenier Simmons| Caprilands Herb Farm, Coventry Connecticut pg 95. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan
Brenda's Gluten-free dairy-free Soul Cake Recipe below. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan
Gluten-Free Dairy-Free “Soul Cake” made with Thompson Street Farm Pumpkin Pie Tea, nuts, and dried fruits. Recipe below. (click here to view picture) photo by Brenda J. Sullivan
1/2 cup non-diary milk (I used Almond milk – also note I did not mention this in the podcast. After I recorded it I make the cakes again and adjusted the recipe.)
4 tablespoons vegan butter substitute melted ( I use earth balance)
Dry
Ingredients:
2 ½ cups gluten-free flour (I used gluten cake flour in this recipe – but not necessary)
3 tsp baking
powder
Directions:
Make tea and let steep for 5 minutes – then strain into 1 cup and pour into a mixing bowl.
Add cranberries, walnuts grated orange peel, brown sugar, nut, and salt to a bowl and let soap for 25 – 30 minutes.
Add egg and melted butter substitute – mix well in the tea mixture.
Add gluten-free flour and baking powder and mix together.
Fill greased muffin tins ¾ full with dough and bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 20 – 22 minutes.
The music used in this show is used with permission and is created and produced by Gene Tullio.
Gene's music can be downloaded from Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify. For more information about his music, please contact him at dreamshipmusic@gmail.com
Album: The Dreamship| The Forge Of Life| Copyright 2018
Social Media Links
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We would love to hear if you tried the recipe or if you celebrate/honor the CatholicDay of Remembrance,“All Souls Day”, how do you honor your loved ones?
