Miss Magnolia was born on a beautiful day in early October. It fills our hearts with much thanks and amazement every time a new life is born on our farm. The miracle never gets old. She is independent and quite spunky at her young age. I hope that as a future milk cow she grows to enjoy hanging around people as much as she does the sheep! She is a purebred Jersey with very good milking genetics. There is a bright future ahead, laced with halter training and getting acquainted with the milking stanchion, for starters! Wish us luck!
I fill our fridge with jars of beautiful jersey milk and cream from Olive, Maggies mom! Cheese and yogurt making are now in full swing. The butter that is churned from this Jersey cream is the most beautiful color of golden yellow. We believe and cook by the saying that butter always makes it better
Magnolia minutes old being loved by all of us!
We were invited to harvest some elderberries from a nearby farm recently. It thrilled me with the opportunity to stock up on an important winter staple. I make elderberry syrup every fall to have on hand for those times that we could use a little immune boost. With some extra elderberries, I had fun experimenting with a tea concoction using some fresh mint and raspberry leaves I had harvested from the garden earlier in the week. The tea has become a favorite. There are some great recipes out there, so be creative and curious and see which one you might enjoy. Your local health food store may carry dried elderberries and on-line.
Elderberry Syrup
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh elderberries or 1 1/2 cup dried elderberries
- 3 1/2 cup water
- 2 Tbs fresh ginger root
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1 cup raw honey
Instructions
- In a large stockpot, combine all the ingredients but the honey. You will add the honey at the very end.
- Bring to a gentle boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.
- Strain elderberries and spices.
- Stir in honey while the mixture is warm to allow honey to dissolve.
- Let syrup cool, put in glass pint or quart jars and refrigerate.
- Enjoy a tablespoon daily, if you'd like .
