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When I was little, I was taught to stand up when adults entered the room. I was told to listen when spoken to and not to interrupt. I was instructed to write thank you notes when I received a gift and to say" thank you," or "you're welcome,", as opposed to "no problem," when appropriate.  This was called good manners. I was considered a sign of respect for one's elders. To be sure, despite being taught to respect others, no one thought to teach me to respect myself. My grandmother would have laughed and thought it a joke that my feelings or desires ought to be respected.

I do not remember much changing in my life when I was growing up. My parents living room furniture never altered. The house looked the same except that once after years of my mother's complaints it was painted red. We never moved; my father kept the same job, the list goes on. World War II brought certain kinds of changes, yet nothing close to what we have recently gone through with the advent of Covid 19.

 This experience could be called a kind of war, yet the conflict is not between peoples but between all of us and an invisible, yet deadly foe. The rapid changes we have all endured have been part of the battle, weapons to fight this insidious and life-threatening enemy. The normal days we have all been living have been whisked away, replaced by a new normal that includes masks, frequent hand washing, and social distancing.

Solstice Melody

How about a nice tall glass of lemonade on a hot summer day? If you make up some sugar syrup ahead of time, you can make some for yourself any time you wish. Simple syrup in your fridge, fresh lemons close at hand, ice cubes and a tall glass and you're good to go. Mix half to a whole squeezed lemon into a glass or perhaps a frosty mug, add simple syrup you make yourself, to sweeten, stir well and add ice.

            In the centuries before medicinal drugs were common, herbs were the most important healing medicine we had.  Women were usually the ones to use them, and often a village that had a Wise Woman, as these healers were often called, was very fortunate and often healthier than those that did not. In many homes herbs are still in use for their healing properties and can supplement whatever other medicine may be in use. Also, many medicines have been originally derived from herbal sources. There are those who feel they may be more effective in their original form, rather than isolating the primary healing agent. However, opinions differ.

Many years ago, I was a young mother with mouths to feed and appetites to satisfy. I began to read up on herbs, both for cooking and ultimately, for their healing properties. Being occupied with caring for my little family and eager to keep my mind growing, I began reading up on and experimenting with what I had in my kitchen. In time this led to my giving lectures, writing articles, and learning about the many benefits of the wild herbs many think of as weeds, have to offer. Eventually, I even crafted and sold my own herbal teas and blends at a farmers' market.

          The phrase "waste not want not," sounds as though it might have come from the Bible, however it did not. It also sounds like old fashioned New England thrift. My mother being German, definitely learned the concept from her experience. I have found it useful in trying to utilize whatever food I might have left over from any meal. In my book, wasting food is not to be done.