Kitchen Cures, new thoughts on old things, great visit from Sis

  I just had an incredible visit from my youngest sis from Nebraska.  Time just flew, always does when its being enjoyed.  She and her hubby helped me out by finishing the top painting I can not reach in my living room and kitchen, got some help with my car and lots of other little things, plus the trips. We went to Hot Springs NC, Del Rio TN, Dandridge TN, and took a lot of drives through the back areas of my mountains. Love to call them mine, such a pretty place to live. It was a great time, sure enjoyed seeing them. 
  This week I have been getting the rest of my garden planted and this morning I clipped a bunch of unruly honeysuckle vines in my back yard. Got almost done before I lost a screw out of my loppers and had to quit til I find another one.   It's been sunny and warm, good for growing, but we need rain. Already using a lot of water to keep the gardens moist.
  This week, lets raid the kitchen and find new uses for things we have there.  These ideas are thanks to Woman's Day magazine.  A is for avocado, mm,  yummy in salads, dips etc but also  draws water into your intestines to keep things moving . So try a smoothie, 1/2 of an avocado, 1/2 cup of raspberries, 1/3 cup almond milk and some ice,  process and drink.  B is for blueberries,  they have substances that prevents bladder problems, so eat them whenever you can. C is for carrot, grate a carrot, wrap in paper towel or cheesecloth and apply to insect bites to sooth and lessen swelling.  D is for deep breathing, guess we all know we need to do this often. E is for Epsom salts, got dry skin? Exfoliate with 1/2 cup Epsom salts and 1/2 cup water to make a paste,  gently massage dry areas. F is for a flowering herb called arnica,  great for achy knees and joints, just rub arnica cream( drugstore) into those parts. G is for green tea, if a cold is coming on, brew a cup of green tea, and 1/2 teaspoon of \salt, keep in frig and gargle  twice a day. H is for honey, dab a bit on blemishes to heal them. I is for ice, apply to bumps and bruises to ease pain and help heal.  J is for java, just had my 2nd cup.  Nice to know its an anti inflammatory, but can also be rubbed into itches to ease them away. K is for kneading,  between your thumb and forefinger rub and squeeze to release stress. L is for licorice, great for digestion, I keep DGL handy for those moments when heartburn or indigestion pop up. M is for midnight snack, well maybe some of you are awake then, try calcium rich food, like cheese or walnuts to get you back to sleep. N is for nutmeg. this is a mild sedative, sprinkle on warm milk  before you go to sleep. O is for olives,  eat for motion sickness before you get  yucky tummy. P is for pick me up shower, switch from hot to cold three times to feel stimulated. Q is for quick stroll,  if you are tired, take a 5 minute walk to make you more alert. R is for a refreshing  rinse, in a cup of water put 1 teaspoon of baking soda and rinse your mouth, fights bacteria. S is for stretch, headaches can be caused by sitting too long so take some breaks and stretch , roll your head etc. T is for tropical fruits, boost blood flow with lemon juice, ginger juice and pineapple juice with a pinch of cayenne and turmeric. Drink for sore muscles, will be doing that one later.  U is for under eye. de-puffer,  brew white tea, stir in 1 Tbsp honey, cool to room temp, add thin slices of cucumber and put in frig overnight, use slices on eyes, cucumber tightens, honey heals and tea de-puffs.  V is for vinegar, there is nothing this stuff can't do.   but try soaking feet in a mix of white vinegar, and water, can add a splash of mouth wash, this kills fungus and gets rid of stains. W is for witch hazel , try patting a dab on hemorrhoids. X  is for x-tra energy, if you are beat, fold a blanket lie on the floor, put blanket under your head and another one under your upper back, deep breathe and relax for a while. Y is for yoga, nuff said, good for ya. Z is for zinc rich foods,  eat some every day to avoid hair loss, things like lentils, cashews,  pumpkin seeds pecans and yogurt. And there you have it, A to Z. If you find one helpful idea, great.
  Time to start lunch, home made cream of chicken soup today. Have a good week, enjoy the weather, nice change from all the long cold winter we have just gotten through. See ya next time!