Is The Pixie's Pocket Closed for Business?

Our new friend Sandy, Eric, and a very happy Swamp Pixie.
Not pictured: Akasha, Queen Kitty.

Well....while it might seem that way, that isn't the whole truth.

Eric and I have been blessed with full-time jobs that we enjoy, and that benefit us in more than financial security.  That blessing has left me with much less time to devote to packaging things and sending them out, and as I'm sure a few of my last customers could attest to, I was doing a less than stellar job.

My website, PixiesPocket.com, is still up and running.  I am offering divination services there, and will also likely be listing excess wildcrafted herbs from my yard and organic garden this year.

It is not likely that I will be listing the herb-infused honey anytime soon, as that is the most time-consuming and high-cost items for me to create.  I still make small batches, but not enough to stock a shop with...and when I was most busy and "successful," I found myself no longer enjoying the process.  But if I have a few spare jars of yummy to share, I will post them for sale there!

I'm happy to hear any questions, concerns, special requests, custom orders, etc.  Feel free to hit me up here via Swamp Pixie Herbal, or through the site.

August Wildflower Mead - A Success and Recipe of sorts

In August 2012, I took it upon myself to wander around the yard and gather some lovely flowers

Queen Anne's Lace
by Modern Scribe Photography

together to make a gallon of wildflower mead - affectionately referred to around my home as "yard-clippin booze."

Into a pot went just about 3/4 gallon of filtered water, and as it came up to boiling, I added in:

One handful each of Primrose flowers, Queen Anne's Lace flowers, Chicory flowers, Red Clover
Four dried Hibiscus flowers
1 small dried slice of Lime
Roughly 1/8 cup dried elder flowers
1 fingertip sized nubbin of ginger

Once boiling, I turned off the stove and to the hot water, I added 3 lbs of local honey (just about 4 cups).  I stirred it until mixed, and strained and poured the wort into a waiting sanitized gallon jug.  I added cold water to fill to the neck of the jug, and once it was cool enough, I added one packet of bread yeast and a fermentation cap.

It bubbled happily for a while, and then ceased.  I allowed to sit on a dark spot in my kitchen until early March.

I used a straw to taste the mead.  It was good, but I know that most people prefer a sweet mead, and the yeast had eaten all the sugars away, making it a nice dry mead with a hint of flowers and honey flavor.

I bottled just one swing-top wine bottle of the dry mead, as it will one day pair nicely with a fish dinner. YUM.

To the remainder, I added a simple sugar syrup.  I re-sanitized the fermenation cap and let it sit until this weekend, when I was sure that there was no more fermentation.  I bottled up the rest, and I must say, it is one of my most favorite meads so far!

My camera is broken, so no pics I'm afraid, but take my word for it when I tell you that it is the clearest, cleanest, most well-rounded mead I've made yet!

Next on the list?  A five gallon batch!

5 Days Left for the Festival of Legends Kickstarter!

 
This is a great event, and Eric and I will be attending and frolicking as merry fae must when spring arrives!

If you are in North Carolina or nearby, consider visiting this fun festival.  You have 5 days left to get VIP tickets via Kickstarter, which is a good deal.  Eric and I are getting VIP parking, swag bags, and Festival of Legends beer stein and shotglass.  Whoo!

If you do come out, look for a faun and a kender running around causing mischief.

Happy Spring, lovelies!

Farewell, Bok the Chicken.

Pretty Bok
Image by Modern Scribe Photography

My sweet love had to put down our last chicken today; the poor biddy was sick and dying and he wanted to shorten her pain.

He spoke her a sweet eulogy:

"Rest in peace, Bok. All life is made new. All life is forever. Now feed the grandchildren of the worms you ate. Feed the blackberries whose fruit you loved. Restore the damaged soil. Return to us within the sweet black juice and we will remember you in the summer sun."

Our next step is a revamping of the chicken coop and run area, and so it may be a while before we have chickens sharing space with us again.  

The spring snows are still moving in, but we are looking at our yard with eyes towards growing season - planning to feed ourselves with raised beds and a potted garden this year.

Keep warm, think of spring, and have a good time!

Winter Reading and Project Round-Up

Click the image to get your
free sample issue
of Plant Healer Magazine!

Whether you have snow on the ground or not, now is the time to start looking for Sister Chickweed hiding the in shaded moist areas of your yard!  I've been keeping a pot of the sweet greens blooming in my window for constant pruning and adding to salads.  Revisit my profile of Chickweed here.

Are you familiar with Elizabeth Gowing and her wonderful blog, 100 Days of Honey?  The author has beautiful tales of traveling around Kosovo and tasting different honeys straight from the hives.  She shares her experience, and delectable recipes, such as Irish Honey Mousse!

Mountain Rose Herbs has announced their three non-profit organizations that they will support this year.  Visit their recent blog post to find out more about Friends of Trees, Long Tom Watershed Council, and Predator Defense.

Finally, the awesome Plant Healer Magazine has a FREE ISSUE for download!  Visit the following link to get the PDF, and if you want to subscribe to Plant Healer Magazine, you can do so here!