The Mint Needle

One of our favorite family soups: Stinging Nettle and Yellow Dock This deliciously simple and delicate soup is a wonderful way to grab so many important nutrients. Yellow Dock, a powerful, perennial herb, is known for clearing out bacterial and fungal infections in the body. It has great anti-inflammatory agents, that can help combat arthritis, dermatitis, rashes, and psoriasis.  It can be used in salads, soups, and teas. Stinging Nettle might sound a bit tougher. Packed in Vitamins A, B, C, and K, it also has many minerals important to sustaining good health. Inflammation, cancer, allergies, enlarged prostate, and elevated blood sugar are all fought when we consume Stinging Nettle.  Stinging Nettle has a very sharp burn if you touch it with your hands. Yes, you will feel it for hours. That's why I always snip mine using rubber gloves and little trimmers.  And.... while my rubber gloves are still on, my herbs will be washed thor

Happy fourth of July fellow crafters! It's hard to believe that half of the year has already gone by even though Summer has just arrived. In Ohio, we're battling humidity, lots of showers, and small gardens. No joke. But that's no reason to frown! I've been spending my good days sewing about and creating all those things I never had too much time for when I was a working gal. So.... take a look at my latest completion! Another Ogden Cami! Isn't that fabric the sweetest! It reminds me of summer nights as a child. Riding your bike till the sun set, catching fireflies in glass jars, and carnival cotton candy! It's no surprise that  Hawthorne Threads  named this collection Gumdrop! This rayon is so soft and drapey, perfect for summer wear! More Ogden Cami's are in the works. They're the perfect go to top whether you're wearing a skirt or jeans.  A beautiful rainbow after a storm. The front porch

Who doesn't fall in love with the bath and body section of any store? I mean, even if you have no intention of making a purchase from that section, you will always find yourself sniffing about all those lovely fragrances.  And what's the most notorious smell for summer....the rose! I love roses so much and find myself continually picking and taking pics of all the roses we grow. I try breaking off the stems and restarting new plants. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.  But the most hardy rose to grow, similarly comparable to 'weed' strength is the classic fuschia pink tea rose. In previous posts, like one here.. http://mintneedle.blogspot.com/2012/05/ .... you can even find a recipe on how to make rose tea jam & syrup! So... for today, we're heading the spa route and we're going to make the simplest rose  petal bath salts perfect for those late evening soaks! What you'll need: Rose petals....dried a coffee g

I knew when I was ready I would do this. And today, is the day. It was the beginning of May when I found out I have rectal cancer. The good news would come later on when I'd find out that it was Stage 1. This was a huge hurdle.... an idea that I had to overcome. I have cancer. One word : Denial. I never knew how hard this would be to grasp. As a nurse, you think you're invincible. I admit, at times during patient care, I thought this could never be me. Yet, here I was, 4 days before my 38th birthday, getting diagnosed with a 'highly treatable' cancer. Geez.... I didn't want this post to be an "i'm pulling the cancer card" thing but this is MY little space I created on the internet. And something just didn't feel right about not sharing with everyone, the reality of what's going on behind the scenes. Currently I'm undergoing a combination of chemo and radiation. So far the bad days have been manageable but I hear it only gets worse.

Beautiful Bloodroot found in the woods The weather is finally warming up here in Ohio and all I can say is thank goodness! I was beginning to feel as if mother nature completely forget about our neck of the woods. It was literally an overnight event.... the flowers coming up, tiny leaves appearing on trees, and bugs! I've never been so happy to see insects flying about. The first cut of grass has been done and the sweet smell melted my heart. It's amazing how something so simple has new meaning after a long winter. So what's been going on in the crafty corner? Just the usual - 20 wips and counting. But I did finish this little number! How adorable it that?!? I love browsing ebay and finding really cool vintage patterns. Even though this one was purchased a looooooong time ago , it was finally put to use! The instructions were simple and foolproof. The only thing that threw me off was the seam allowance. But that was altered anyway because I