7.24.2013

garlic harvest


I didn't plan on harvesting garlic today, but, well, the baby was sleeping, the weather was good, and we all needed to get outside. Out came the gloves, out came the digging fork, and out came the garlic! The haul was not quite as good as I'd hoped for...I put off the planting for too long last year and ended up with some half-rotten seed/cloves at planting time. One variety didn't sprout at all in the spring, but most of the other two pulled through and turned into some beautiful, big, fat heads of gloriously stinky garlic. Now it is emitting all of its glorious stinkiness in our garage until it's done curing (4-6 weeks from now). I love growing garlic. It's really one of the easiest things you can grow...it just takes thinking ahead.


7.13.2013

drying it up


The time has come, my dear Max. He's gonna be 1 (one!) next month, and the month after that my parents are coming for a visit. They asked if we'd want to go on vacation while they're here. You know, by ourselves. Without kids. ALONE.

YES!

So this kid's gotta wean. It's a new thing for me... Lizzy nursed for 6 weeks and Maren nursed for 10 months, and both were happy to stop without any fanfare whatsoever. This guy, though? It's gonna be rough.


In addition to cutting out some feedings, I've started drinking a hot cup of sage-parsley-yarrow tea three times daily. Those are the herbs that (are supposed to) dry up milk supply. To make it, I pick a fat bouquet of sage, parsley, and yarrow from the garden. The yarrow is optional; it would be perfectly fine with sage and parsley from the grocery store. I like to stick everything in my dehydrator for an hour or so just to wilt the herbs a bit, but it's not necessary. Alternatively, just leave the herbs on the counter for a few hours. (The reason for this step is that wilted or dried herbs make a more potent brew than just-picked herbs.)

After everything's nicely wilted, I chop it all up and put it in a saucepan with 6 cups of cold water. Cover, then bring it slowly to a boil over medium heat. Once it's boiling, turn off the stove and let it sit for a few hours. Strain and refrigerate. Three times a day, heat up a cup and sip away. I'm not gonna lie, it isn't tasty, but a little honey works wonders.

Anybody have any other awesome tips for weaning a baby?