Rockhouse’s Ginger Syrup

Rockhouse’s Ginger Syrup:

I’ve found my homemade ginger syrup to really deliver a knockout to the nasties that

cause sore throats, sinuses, and mouths.

The recipe is much the same as the tisane (earlier in this chapter), except

that I barely warm the finely chopped ginger in 1:1 sugar to water syrup. At

that concentration, the sugar syrup acts as a solvent to extract the goodies

(like gingerol, which breaks down on extended heating, and boils off with

steam).

Kept at just below boiling for about 15 minutes, then strained through

cheesecloth, the procedure gives a syrup that is so potent, a half teaspoon

can stop coughing and soothe a throat in less than a minute. I sip it slowly

to maximize coating my throat.

It’s also good on ice cream.

If I want to extract even more from the ginger root, I’ll stir in a little vodka

before straining, then stir for about 5 more minutes before straining through

the cheesecloth.

Keeping the ginger extract in a strong sugar syrup extends its shelf life up

to 6 - 10 months (refrigerated).

http://kalaharinight.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/the-pibgorn-cookbook1.pdf

2009's big gardening project....

This year's big project has been to move or dig out the bushes on the south side of the house. This is part of the 10 year plan...the rolling 10 year plan. Ken tells me I'll never be done. He's right of course, as soon as something comes off the list another goes on the list!

First you dig the hole...

Then find the victim...

Can't move the one on the southwest end (one on the far left)...

there are eggs ahatchin'!

Or so I thought until about three weeks later when nothing had hatched. I must have disturbed the nest enough that the parents abandoned the nest. So sad. I didn't mean to do that!

So, the next evergreen over got moved first. The one right by Harley's butt. Being a dog she doesn't mind butt shots. Which puts it at the evergreen in the middle in this picture.

Next you dig...and dig...and dig some more. And when you think it might be enough just dig some more because it is not even close to being enough. Those evergreens can put down some roots...as in straight down with a ton of smaller offshoots to stabilize the bush. This isn't even a tree! It is only a bush and I dug for almost an hour!

Then you need a strong rope, a very strong rope. Wimpy ones you think will work will only break when you use the garden tractor to pull on the bush. So heavy duty electrical cords that someone has cut off the ground plug will do very nicely. Wrap it around the prickly bush twice then around the seat of the garden tractor until you can tie off the cord. Don't take off with gusto!! The front wheels come off the ground VERY quickly! Letting off the gas pedal returns the wheels to mother earth just as quickly. After that is was time to reassess how to pull with the garden tractor. The key is to s-l-o-w-l-y pull the cord taut then give a very small amount of gas. When the bush is tight or pulled over whichever comes first, then get out and dig some more! Once out pull the bush with the garden tractor to the hole you dug in the new spot. Dig at this hole to enlarge it some more since it was not even close to being big enough the first time. Push, pull and finally roll the bush into the hole. Cover this with dirt while the hose is shoved into the hole to water the plant. Stomp off the mud when you are done and rake into the mound around the trunk of the bush.

It does work! This is the first bush in it's new home.

Harley approves.

Then after enjoying the fruits of your very hard labor, (and beauty)...

you have to fill in the hole you left behind!

Then you can start anew with the next bush that needs to be moved.

Hmm, seems like there is a patter here somewhere...

dig a hole, dig around a bush, dig some more, fill in a hole, then dig some more.

Yup, there is. I moved two bushes before I collapsed in pain and exhaustion!

There are still two more to go this fall...I'm in no hurry.

I've got Basil

I finally found the spot to grow basil!! After all there years of trying to grow it in the back yard or garden. It must get too hot cuz it always dies. But.....

drum roll please....

I can grow it in the front garden by the house!!!

I've never had this much basil at one time! I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR! I want a whole area to be basil!

Spring Flowers

Columbine in the driveway bed.

Purple iris in the front bed.

Yellow iris in the front bed.

This yellow iris bloom much sooner than the other colors.

Buster's helping!

One of the tulips in the front bed with the iris.

Yeah, the purple iris finally bloomed!

They never last long enough for me!

One of the yellow rose bushes on the south side.

Labeling

I think I have found an answer to labeling my plants. I wandered around the local Dollar General last week looking for something that would last to mark my herbs. I found cheap - ok really cheap - 3 for $1 cheap - knives, forks and spoons. I liked the pattern on the knives. I'm using permenant marker to write the names on the handles. The blade part goes into the ground. If the permanent marker is not so permanent then i'll try using Ken's dremel tool and etch the info into the handle. This should work with the spoons, too.

More roses on the south side 5-26-09

New rose garden west end of house by our bedroom

More plants on the south side of the house

Garden on the sourh end of the house

Iris

I'm so excited!!! My iris are blooming! I've planted a variety of colors and didn't know which ones would come up or what color they would be.

On the south end of the house the iris are a gorgeous deep blueish purple and a stately white with brownish-rust coloring in it. The yellow iris has already bloomed and wilted on the south side.

The front patch has my favorite the light purple iris. The yellow is in full bloom there as well. I think there is going to be another deep blueish purple one there too. I wil have to wait and see.

Our spring garden...

The gardens need a ton of work this year. I'm working on moving the south end bushes this year as part of the rotating 10-year plan. "The plan" rotates since the yard work will never be completely done.

I've moved the spring bulbs that needed divided also. Some of the bulbs are planted on the west and north sides of the pole barn. Sheli and Mark gave me about 5 bags of bulbs they pulled out last fall...what can I say...I procrastinated getting them...nothing unusual about that!! I have no clue what type of plant or what color they will be. I'll just have to wait until they bloom.

The lamb's ear came from Georgia about 4 years ago.

It is doing well in the front, east bed.

Looking south.

I have no idea what the small tree by the road is called.

It has beautiful purple-ish red flowers in the spring and gorgeous red leaves in the fall with red berries.

I'd forgotten I had yellow iris!

They bloom early spring.

The purple iris is just now getting ready to bloom.

The driveway bed now has pink and purple hiacynth mixed with the white. I can't wait until they bloom next spring!

The yellow tulips bloomed first.

Next were these red ones. Now the purple-ish red ones are blooming!

So if you look by the rocks and behind the grass that needed weeding, you will find the hens and chicks. Four years ago I started with one hen and two chicks. They they this spot in the front, east garden between the rocks.

I think this is an azalea but I'm really sure. I love the pink flowers that bloom. So do the bumble bees!

Tulip Time

Our friend Peggy and her husband have moved to more a temperate climate. What no more wind and snow?? They visited a tulip farm on 4/30/09. I love the gorgeous pictures!

Peggy's e-mail:
"Last Wed. we went to a Tulip farm where they had 40 - 50 acres of tulips here are some pictures."

This is my favorite picture!! I love the candy stripe tulips!

Neat landscaping!

The azalea bush is their yard is in full bloom! Our bush finally came out in bloom almost a month later.