Bitter is Better~ The Forgotten "Taste"

Dear Friends,

Welcome to our cottage today! We hope you had a very wonderful Mother's Day yesterday, and that every day you can find something to celebrate, if you are a mother. We were blessed to be able to gather at my mother's with my brothers and their families, to enjoy fellowship with her (and to enjoy her yard full of beautiful blooms!).

~And we found some catnip that we just might share with the cats :).

~Oh yes, and Frankie found a friend.

Last week, Tasha and I hauled out our tincture press and finally pressed out all the various tinctures and oils that had been patiently waiting for us (Mr. Graham had to help with pressing the last hard bit)~



And Tasha even labeled all of them, so we actually know what is what, instead of having to guess by taste and smell!


What a nice feeling it is to have that done!


We have been doing some herbal studies lately, and wanted to share with you this insightful article that we encountered concerning bitters, and why they're so important in our daily diet. I'm the type of person who is much more likely to do something if it is explained WHY I should be doing it, and this article does just that. It is rather long, being a PDF file, so I would recommend printing it out and studying it when you have time. I really hope you will, for it is so important, and could change the health of your family for the better! I really like what he says about the fact that when we crave sweet foods, we are actually craving bitter, and that if we eat something bitter instead of sweet, that sweet craving will go away. Try it! I would challenge you to add a few more bitter greens to your salads each day. Go ahead, take a nibble on a dandelion leaf and see what your body's response is!

May you have a blessed, wonderful day today, dear friends, in whatever you may be doing.

Love,

Marqueta

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Counting My Blessings

Not once a year, but once a day
I count the blessings that come my way;
The world just showers its gifts on me
If I but pause to hear and see.

There's the rose of dawn, the robin's song,
A tree pointing Heavenward all day long;
There's the kindly rain, the drifting snow,
There's the sunset grand and the fire's warm glow.

There's a baby's smile, a friendly hand,
There's someone who's sure to understand;
There's a memory of those "passed on;"
There's a hope that whispers, "They are not gone."

With benedictions everywhere,
Each day is a joyous, happy prayer;
A grateful prayer to Him above
Who fills this earth with His boundless love.

~Agnes Just Reid