Google+ Mad Mad me - Part 8
March 29, 2012

Quick Tassels with Yarn

Some things just need an extra, oomph to them. I made a lovely thing, but it lacked something and it took me a bit of looking at it to determine that it needed a bobble, or a bangle or a bead. I chose bobble, and set about making a bunch of tassels for the job.

Here is my photo tutorial on whipping up these bad boys just about anywhere (I was at the zoo, while my kids played, I tasseled):

Here are my tools:  yarn, scissors, yarn needle and a form to wrap the yarn around to make the size tassels you want. I needed small tassels, so this cigarette case worked perfectly! (And I also require my glasses and apparently crumbs from lunch…)

Hold one end of the yarn at the bottom of your form and wrap yarn around, not too tightly, I wrapped 10 times to get the fullness I wanted in the tassel. You can do more or less wraps for your purposes.

You will need to cut 2 more pieces of yarn, at least 8 inches long for easy handling. Next, slip the looped yarn off the form, being careful to keep the loops together. Take one piece of that 8 inch yarn, fold it in half and slip it under the bundle of loops (not through, under). This first 8 inch piece will become the hanging thread for the tassel.

Put the ends of the 8 inch piece over the yarn bundle and through it’s own loop (created by folding the yarn in half) and cinch tight.

Now look to make sure the the cinched yarn is exactly in the center of the bundle. And fold bundled loops.

Take second piece of 8 inch yarn, fold in half and cinch it near the top of the fold and tighten.

Use the yarn needle to weave ends into the top of the tassel, and pull all the way through. This will secure the outer cinch and hid the ends at the same time.

Here is your tassel!

Now you just have to cut the loops open at the bottom…

and trim it evenly with scissors.

Tah Dah! Enjoy adding bobbles to your world.

 

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Sedie Maruska - March 29, 2012 - 3:05 pm

Very cute!

Chelsea Wong - March 29, 2012 - 6:28 pm

Thanks for this! Love your photography, btw.

madme - March 29, 2012 - 7:58 pm

You are welcome and thanks for the kudos Chelsea, come back anytime.

Laura - May 7, 2013 - 3:30 pm

This tutorial was great for making tassels for my kindergarten graduation caps. Your pictures were super helpful and easy to follow! Thanks!

March 26, 2012

Olli Olli Oxen Free! or Childhood Game Garland

These lovely cards have illustrations on both sides and I cannot wait to see them spinning in the breeze.

 

I’m not a soft gooey person. I never make that impression on people. I laugh extremely loud, I’m WAY too opinionated and my own children think I have an “allergy” to ill behaved kids. Though I can be very diplomatic when the need arises, I am overall, unabashedly my abrasive, sarcastic, free spirited, colorful, loud self.

So, I find it really odd that I’m completely attracted to whimsical, demure, sweet, idyllic childhood themes. It’s a strange fit. But I am, nonetheless, drawn to old photos of children playing long forgotten games. Pictures of families picnicking out of glass jugs and paper wrapped sandwiches. Girls riding bikes in dresses, wearing bouncy curls and lips as dark as berries.  As if I’m nostalgic for a time I never knew. Kick the Can and Olli Olli Oxen Free (which apparently means “All ye, all ye, outs in free,” as a way to restore hiding or “out” players back to the game) were long, long gone by the time I was on the playground. We were all about War Ball and bike stunts. The days of tree forts, white washed fences and and string wrapped school primers were part of my Grandmother’s childhood, not mine. But here I am, longing to see glimpses of it and be reminded that those times did, in fact, exist and wishing I could bequeath them to my own children.

As a mom, I find it so important to connect my kids with a past that they are so disconnected from by mere virtue of time and technology. They have not forsaken Great Gramma’s games, they’ve just never heard of them. We tell them stories about what we did when we were little to pass time. I tell about Rubik’s Cube, Atari and poppin’ wheelies on my bike. My Mom tells them about rollerskating and poodle skirts and what a hippie really is. My Gramma tells them about going to a country school, where everyone knew her Mama and all her siblings and cousins were there with her, and again, on Sunday for church.

But some games and antics are truisms of childhood. They supersede time and appeal to all generations. Playing catch, swimming, singing, play acting, reading and story telling, dominoes and cards. At least 5 generations of my family can claim these  (and I’ll bet dozens and dozens more generations that I don’t even know about). So games like Old Maid and Go Fish are sweet, innocent and appealing to that squishy, nostalgic part of me.

I want to incorporate some of this childish whimsy into my adult life. I don’t want to live in a nursery but I love finding opportunities to pull it all out and tap into that time when the color of my barrette was important. I have used Holidays and Birthdays as my opportunities over the last few years and I’ve really focused on handmade, homemade, meaningful and colorful when I decorate for get togethers. When I found these cards, of Old Maid, Go Fish, Slap Jack and Memory, I fell in love with their whimsical drawings and the rich colors. I just knew I had to make something for our family to hang up for parties, but it is just now coming to life. Here is the beginning of my Childhood Game Garland…

I purchased a 1/16 inch hole punch. I tried using a sharp crochet hook, but the plastic coating on the paper would not let the sharp hook pass through without considerable damage to the card. I measured 1/4 inch intervals all around and marked them with and ink pen. When I was done punching, I was ready to crochet.

I used cotton floss and a size 7 (1.65 mm) hook. Then single crocheted around the edge and improvised the next row to give it a delicate look.  The finished product looks like a picture frame to me.

Once I’ve made up a dozen of these, I’ll string them together and be so pleased to see them flutter and spin in the breeze.

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Brooke - March 26, 2012 - 7:38 pm

I absolutely adore this idea!

madme - March 26, 2012 - 8:27 pm

Thank you Brooke! I can’t wait to finish the garland so folks can get the full idea. I really want to do it with a set of red Bicycle cards too and some black floss. That would be a fun Halloween decoration.

Elaine S - March 26, 2012 - 9:05 pm

I must fall somewhere inbetween your Mama and your Grandma.

Where will you hang your garland?

Hillbilly mom - March 26, 2012 - 9:09 pm

This is so stinkin cute!! I love it:) I think the little muffin would get a kick out of these…who am I kidding? I would get a kick out of these!! You creativity always amazes me:)

madme - March 27, 2012 - 6:14 am

I’ll pull it out at parties and put it on the umbrella or patio somewhere so the cards can spin and flutter.

Stormie - March 27, 2012 - 2:40 pm

I grew up with those games and my sister and I practically lived outside during good weather playing. ollie Ollie oxen free was played too. I’m only 32, but I grew up in Europe and things have a different pace there.

Lori - April 1, 2012 - 4:49 pm

I love this idea! I really want to add whimsy to my household decor , and garland is a great way to do this. I don’t like tchotchkes (in my house) because it just means I have more to dust (and I HATE to clean…) :)

madme - April 1, 2012 - 6:46 pm

I completely understand Lori! I’d rather be creating something than cleaning something. I would love to be able to afford a housekeeper to do the heavy stuff.

Jenny Bailey - January 17, 2013 - 3:19 pm

You hole punch looks like a dragon with his steely eye and wirey tongue. You better name him.

eva - January 17, 2013 - 7:02 pm

i came across a site showing how to use christmas,birthday (etc.)
cards to make bookmarkers,with that idea in mind and your idea of crocheting cards,i’m going to put those 2 ideas together.i
think my grandbabes and frieds will like rec.’ing them as a gift.
thank-you for the idea! Eva

madme - January 17, 2013 - 7:04 pm

Sounds great!!!! I’m gonna do this with some photos too and see what I get… Feel free to head over to Facebook and share your creations Eva!

March 19, 2012

I Won The Versatile Blogger Award!

It’s not often a girl gets recognition for all her blatherings at once! But today I was awarded the Versatile Blogger Award from another great blog Our Eventual Homestead (and Hillbilly Mom was gonna get me too but Britni got to me first). Thanks to both of you lovely Ladies and Fellow Bloggers. Your hard work does not go unnoticed and the versatility of your blogs is what keeps this Mama coming back over and over again.

As I understand, here are my responsibilities:

  • Share 7 completely random pieces of information about myself.
  • Nominate 15 fellow bloggers for The Versatile Blogger Award.
  • Inform each nominated blogger of their nomination by posting a comment on each of their blogs.

Here are my 7 completely random facts:

  1. Along with being a birth doula, I am a photographer and have THE BEST PHOTO COLLECTION OF HUMAN PLACENTAS ever compiled. Eeeeww, gross, but kinda cool.
  2. I’m a city girl to the core but I am only a couple of generations removed from my farming relatives in Minnesota, and there is a part of me that longs for a deeper connection to them, their lives and how closely they lived to nature and sustainability.
  3. If I could, I would start a commune and live on it ’til I died. Yes, I really would.
  4. I love words, love them. They are a shield, a song, a bouquet, an arsenal, a salve. They can be anything to anybody. They are a dangerous responsibility, an honored stewardship of our race. BUT I CANNOT SPELL WORTH BEANS.
  5. I’ve probably got several disorders, but refuse to be diagnosed. I’ve been asked if I was: bipolar, OCD, ADD, ADHD, manic, hyperactive and others that I cannot remember. I say, if my “disorder” gets this much done, and can learn a new craft every other year, gardens, cleans, crochets, cooks, beads, photographs, eats, loves, worships and laughs this hard on all of life, let’s just leave it alone.
  6. My pinky toes curl under my feet and my dad calls them my ‘dew claws.’
  7. I can throw a ball farther, harder and more accurately than any boy I’ve ever known. I love carnival games!

I hope that’s random enough for you all. Now this is the hard part, I need to narrow down 15 amazing folks to pass The Versatile Blogger Award on to. It’s possible that some of my favorite blogs have already received this award but it’s okay by me if they get it twice! Mine tend toward the crafty, artsy, homey sites. Here we go, not in any particular order:

  1. Hillbilly Mom
  2. Throwback Road
  3. the Royal Sisters
  4. Attic 24
  5. Canning Granny
  6. Rose Hip
  7. Tabiboo
  8. Simply Vintage Girl
  9. Make Me a Mary
  10. Purposeful Homemaking
  11. Sarah Jane Studios
  12. Posie Gets Cozy
  13. Wise Craft
  14. hoffee and a nuffin
  15. Peekaboo Photo Blog
  16. Under the Sycamore  (don’t look now, but I just did a #16 on my list of 15, shhhh.)

I hope you enjoy browsing these blogs and let them know who sent you!

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Elaine S - March 19, 2012 - 8:54 pm

Congratulations, my friend. You absolutely deserve this award. You cram more in a day than I can in a week, and sight unseen, I’m sure you do it all well :) And you live to tell us all about it. Blessings on you!

madme - March 19, 2012 - 9:01 pm

Elaine, you are pure Sweetness, thank you.

Sedie - March 20, 2012 - 8:41 am

Loved finding out more about you! Congrats!

madme - March 20, 2012 - 1:21 pm

Thank you Sedie!

Jonna - March 20, 2012 - 1:38 pm

Just wondering if I could join your commune, help deliver babies, and start our own baseball team?? Pretty pleeeeaaaassseee?

Nina - Tabiboo - March 20, 2012 - 2:16 pm

Hello and thank – that is ever so kind of you. I’m not great with awards as I never know what to say, but I will give it some thought.

thank you again,

Nina x

madme - March 20, 2012 - 2:19 pm

You are in!

madme - March 20, 2012 - 2:19 pm

I just love your blog and wanted to let you know. You are welcome Nina!

Lynne - March 20, 2012 - 8:33 pm

Congrats! My friend Sarah told me that your blog is one of her favorites, so I came over to check it out for myself and haven’t left! I really enjoy your blog each day!! I’m glad you won!

madme - March 20, 2012 - 9:00 pm

I love Sarahs, they are the best. Thanks for stopping by AND sticking around!

heidi - April 3, 2012 - 12:22 pm

just found you for the first time today,and I just wanted to let you know that I can completely relate to your whole life,disorders(or just the personality traits of an artist) and all! I sympathize,and understand how it feels…just be grateful to those who accept,love,and understand this,and go one step beyond tolerating our obcessive and compulsive needs to create,no matter the time of day or night,sometimes involving the exclusion of anyone else’s needs or wants! You just go girl,I am already in love with all you do…and thank you for your generous acts of sharing who,and what you are!!

March 16, 2012

A Colorful Week

Some weeks are colorful, just as some days are Smelly. This week has been particularly colorful. But the proof’s in the pudding…

 

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Sedie Maruska - March 16, 2012 - 9:19 am

Quite colorful and lovely indeed!

Elaine - March 16, 2012 - 12:07 pm

God is Good. All the time. :)

Britni @ Our Eventual Homestead - March 19, 2012 - 6:44 am

Love the photos!!

I just nominated you for a Versatile Blogger award! Swing by my blog to pick it up :)

Alison Madigan - September 7, 2012 - 11:55 am

I have to ask…is the Pansy your design? Do you have a pattern for it?

My late grandmother said they were her favorite flower because HER mother loved them so. She was also a fantastic crocheter & she would have LOVED this little piece.

Thanks for sharing :)

madme - September 10, 2012 - 2:46 pm

I just copied a pic I saw, I did jot down the pattern but I need to test it before I pass it out to anyone. Stay tuned.

March 12, 2012

Medicinal Sweets or I Wish I Had a Sore Throat

Awhile back I shared a post about Candied Tangerines and how delicious they are in the bottom of a cup of tea. But I wanted to make something a bit more medicinal that still had that ‘yummy’ quality to it. I’ve been fascinated by herbal anything my whole life. Imagine! The created things on this planet combat disease and infection, promote healing and life and can manage to do it in a gentle, easily accessible way. It’s such a perfect system!

Everyone knows that when you have a sore throat, you are supposed to have hot water, lemon and honey. Why? Well the hot water soothes and reduces swelling, while breaking up any lingering congestion in your throat. The lemon will cut through mucus (because of the acidity), kill bacteria, and also help numb tender, sore spots. The honey coats your throat and sweetens up all that acid that’s working in the lemon. Honey has been recognized by every culture as having a multitude of healing properties and modern medicine is even starting to research this natural wonder for its curative powers. It is important that you use RAW HONEY, pasteurized honey cannot claim the same health benefits. Come to find out, the Koreans make a medicinal “marmalade” with just fresh lemon and honey. I just had to try this.

I cut up 2 lemons, dropped them in a small mason jar and poured honey over them until it filled up about 1/3 of the jar. You can immediately see the juice from the lemon being drawn out by the honey and the two swirling together. I just made mine, but if I let it sit in the fridge, over the next couple of months the lemon will darken and the mixture will thicken. The peels and pulp will break down as well and leave behind a golden, lumpy marmalade that I can scoop into a cup and poor piping hot water over. Oh, it almost makes me want a sore throat! (To speed up the process, you can also store this in a cool cupboard rather than the fridge.)

Because I enjoy getting the most out of what I make, and I know that there are other medicinal jujus that can help me with a sore throat, I’m going to add a heaping Tablespoon of fresh chopped ginger and let that candy along with the lemon. When the hot water hits that, I can breathe in the steam and get some benefit in my sinuses as the ginger stimulates circulation and will allow me to breathe easier, while at the same time, be soothing to my stomach, which will also be a bit stressed if I’m sick.

I’m excited to try this and I’ll be taking some finished product pictures as well to share with you.

After I published this article, I ran across this article on the medicinal powers of honey.




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Elaine - March 12, 2012 - 9:34 pm

Lemon Honey Ginger Tea…mmmmmmmmmmmmmm :)

Kathy - March 12, 2012 - 10:20 pm

A cup of this sounds heavenly…….can’t wait to make this. How will you store this, and how long could it be kept?

Kathy - March 12, 2012 - 10:20 pm

A cup of this sounds heavenly…….can’t wait to make this. How will you store this, and how long could it be kept?

Gail - March 12, 2012 - 10:52 pm

I love lemons and the pictures are so beautiful–glass and lemons and honey…I’m sure the medicinal marmalade is wonderful too!

tascha.piatt - March 13, 2012 - 6:45 am

that looks/sounds heavenly! how long does it keep? and how long before it’s ready to use? I am definitely doing this :) visiting via the linkup at becoming a strong woman of God.

madme - March 13, 2012 - 7:30 am

Honey does not rot, and the acid in the lemon is a preservative, so in reality, it could keep for years if you kept it in the fridge. Thanks for stopping in!

Cara Louise - March 13, 2012 - 7:43 am

Charissa-
marvelous- thank you so much for sharing.
this is my prime allergy season, and with it comes sore throats.
i love to sip tea- and this, well THIS is just wonderful.
lemons and honey are going on my shopping list!
yay!
love and prayers dear!

madme - March 13, 2012 - 8:00 am

Oh Cara, I’m so glad! Yes we are always dealing with some form of sinus or throat irritation around here and I’m sure it will get worse with the Spring pollens coming so I wanted to whip this up to be able to use in a few weeks.

madme - March 13, 2012 - 8:02 am

Thank you Gail. I must say, I have as much fun taking the pics as making the stuff on the blog. Sometimes I forget what I’m posting about because I obsess over the photos too much. Oops.

Kelli Kurfurst - March 14, 2012 - 8:47 am

This is very close to my families old recipes. We added the honey ,lemon and Rum. This would help with the sore throat and help you sleep. Never thought of adding the ginger. That sounds great.

Jacqueline @ Deeprootsathome.com - March 14, 2012 - 10:12 am

Mad, Mad Me, I love your blog!!! This is my first visit, but I don’t know why it never happened :) I always love your statuses… Anyway, thanks for linking up today. Your concoction (marmalade looks just SO yummy and good-for-you! I’ll be back :)

Amy - March 14, 2012 - 10:43 am

I too have always been fascinated with all things herbal, for just the same reasons you stated!

We love honey over here for treating sickness, and I thought I should mention for anyone who tries this that you should definitely use RAW honey, because if you just use standard honey from the grocery store it won’t have the same healing benefits.

I’m definitely going to try this! Thanks for sharing!

madme - March 14, 2012 - 12:59 pm

I could go for the rum myself, but I’m not sure the kids would like it! Thanks for commenting Kelli.

madme - March 14, 2012 - 12:59 pm

You are right about the raw honey…I’m going to go edit the post right now. Thanks for reminding me Amy!

madme - March 16, 2012 - 11:23 am

Oh, I’m so glad you came my Jacqueline! I enjoy your blog and posts too.

Sara Shay @ YourThrivingFamily - March 19, 2012 - 11:33 am

Would NEVER wish for a sore throat, but I will have to get this ready for the next time. How long do you think it’ll keep?

jasmine - March 20, 2012 - 1:00 am

Excellent. Thanks for sharing on Domestically Divine. Wanted to feature it, but couldn’t copy the lovely picture. Maybe next time. Such lovely pictures, friend.

Blessings,

Mrs. Z - March 20, 2012 - 7:44 am

I am reading this sipping on my hot tea with lemon and honey added. Yep, it’s allergy season and I’ve got chest congestion and a sore throat. :/ I am going to make some of this marmalade right now so that we have it around this spring! Thanks!!

madme - March 20, 2012 - 8:17 am

Thank you so much! I’ll send you those pics just in case you would like to feature that article in the future. Happy Spring!

madme - March 20, 2012 - 8:28 am

This is supposed to help fight allergies if you use local raw honey! I just found this out and need to add it to the article. Apparently, because the local bees use local pollen, the honey has natural is like an inoculation against the local pollens. Eating local honey has become part of immunotherapy practices to fight allergies.

Helen MacAndrew - March 20, 2012 - 6:28 pm

Hi!
I was just wondering roughly how much honey you used?
Thanks,
Helen
P.S. It sounds great :)

madme - March 20, 2012 - 9:03 pm

I filled the jar about 1/3 with honey, and then the juice started just flowing out of the lemons. It made enough liquid to cover all the fruit.

Lisa B - March 26, 2012 - 4:52 am

Thanks for sharing with such beautiful pictures. I have a sore throat this morning, wish I had some lemons.

Congrats on being Homestead Revival’s Featured Homestead this week also.

justine@sew country chick - March 26, 2012 - 12:00 pm

Your photos are sublime!

madme - March 26, 2012 - 1:20 pm

Thanks for all the compliments on the photos guys. I love my camera!

Barb - March 26, 2012 - 1:59 pm

I made Lemon/Lime Honey “Tea” this morning and am drinking it right now. It’s delicious…..and it makes my throat feel oh so much better. Thanks

Kristine - March 26, 2012 - 6:43 pm

This might be a silly question but can you cut the rind off the lemon or is there a reason you leave it on?

madme - March 26, 2012 - 6:46 pm

You would want to leave it on since the essential oils of the lemon are contained in the rind. The entire lemon works together to give you the potent medicinal benefits.

nancy - March 26, 2012 - 10:41 pm

Great idea!

diane wyatt - March 27, 2012 - 1:01 pm

If you use honey from the region where you live it will also help your allergies.

Jami Leigh - March 27, 2012 - 4:23 pm

Wow! That looks fantastic!!! My mouth doesn’t know if it should pucker from the lemon or drool from the honey ;)

wefarm - March 30, 2012 - 1:54 am

Cinnamon is another natural ingredient that can be added to the lemon/honey mixture to help with coughs and sore throats. “back in the olds days” my parents would also add a good shot of whiskey to the hot tea to ensure a good rest for whomever was ill. They would also lay hot cloths on our chests and neck — as hot as we could tolerate. Then they would add in the mentholadum and wrap us in flannel.

madme - March 30, 2012 - 7:16 am

I am very familiar with the hot clothes and menthol for colds! My mom used to do that to me all the time and now I do it for my kids, they think I’m crazy but it works. I’ve been reading recently about the medicinal benefits of cinnamon and cocoa powder and I’m working on coming up with something there too. Thanks for the feedback and suggestions Wefarm, I really appreciate you stopping by.

Chris Schlossin - March 31, 2012 - 11:58 pm

Love the lemon & honey

Michelle - April 12, 2012 - 9:47 am

No need to wait … this goes great on German pancakes.. or any type of pancake I am sure.. it is also great on chicken! In the post is says ” The peels and pulp will break down as well and leave behind a golden, lumpy marmalade… ” and it is so true… you can use it just like a marmalade… great on toast and pork chops too.. it is just good on everything!

madme - April 12, 2012 - 10:04 am

Thank you for the ideas Michelle, and for stopping by.

Malissa - May 7, 2012 - 8:18 pm

Do you know how long it will keep in the fridge before it should be tossed and restarted?

madme - May 7, 2012 - 8:27 pm

I’m told it will last for a couple of years! The honey and the acid in the lemon are natural preservatives, so it has a long life.

Jew - May 17, 2012 - 11:13 pm

Thank you, will try this remedy.I’m very prone to sore throat.

J-girl - May 18, 2012 - 4:00 am

Thanks for this great idea.
I have a lemon tree in my yard and struggling to find enough things to do with my lemons. This is on the top of my list to do this weekend – and might make jars for the whole family! :)

Mel Stanley - May 19, 2012 - 8:16 pm

can you tell me how much of the honey/lemon mixture you use and how much hot water? thanks

madme - May 20, 2012 - 1:43 pm

Mel, I used enough honey to cover about 1/2 of the lemons. The second the honey hit the lemons, it started drawing the juice out and pretty soon there was enough liquid to cover all the lemon and ginger. I didn’t use any hot water in the recipe itself, but when I use the marmalade I drop between 1-2 Tablespoons into the bottom of an 8oz tea cup and fill it with water to sip.

Elena - June 11, 2012 - 12:43 pm

Should I grate the ginger or slice it??

madme - June 11, 2012 - 5:10 pm

I finely chopped mine, but I’m not sure it really matters. I’m a lot of help huh?

Gloria - June 12, 2012 - 12:22 pm

My Dad use to make this when I was a kid. Except he use to add whiskey to it. When he felt a cold or something coming on he made this and put an end to his sickness right quick!

madme - June 12, 2012 - 7:57 pm

Then it really would taste like cough medicine!!

Dianne Schimmel - June 24, 2012 - 3:26 pm

Cool i like holistic meds!

Cathy - June 27, 2012 - 1:22 am

hello, thx for your information! i made this for my boyfriend who is coughing and he found this really works to sooth his sore throat:) may I know around how long I can keep this in the refrigerator?

Cathy - June 27, 2012 - 1:29 am

oh…I found the answer above:D
and I am going to make a couple of jars of lemon and honey for my family and friends:) thanks!!

madme - June 30, 2012 - 10:38 am

Yay!! I love natural remedies and have discovered that many times, they work more quickly than medications. Thanks for trying this out!

Genna - July 7, 2012 - 8:20 pm

This sounds amazing!!! def going to get started on making it for the weather change. one question… did you put the ginger in the jar all together or right before it all goes in the hot water?

madme - July 11, 2012 - 10:23 am

I put the ginger in with all the jar ingredients (but I did it after I took the pic…).

Coni - July 11, 2012 - 4:02 pm

I may have missed the answer to this question, how long before it’s ready to use? I just made a jar, and you aren’t kidding that once the honey hits the lemons it starts juicing right away! It already smells wonderful!

Roxane - July 11, 2012 - 4:40 pm

Thanks so much for this post! I am definitely going to try this!!!

madme - July 11, 2012 - 8:30 pm

One week, but it get’s better over the first few weeks.

doreen - July 21, 2012 - 6:21 pm

This sounds great! I can’t wait to make it. How long does this last in the fridge or pantry. Want to make sure I have it ready for winter but don’t want to make to soon.

madme - July 24, 2012 - 8:27 am

Mine took forever! But, my second batch, I heated the honey first, about 150 degrees, and it sped up the process. Within 6 weeks I had a marmalade like product. I’m still working on the best way to do this. But even when the batch is fresh, it makes a wonderful tea.

Katie - August 13, 2012 - 6:42 pm

That looks great! What’s the shelf life of something like this?

madme - August 13, 2012 - 7:14 pm

I’m not sure, but it will naturally ferment if it last long enough, and once fermented it would be good for at least a couple of years. It’s really an amazing natural remedy.

Bridget - September 4, 2012 - 3:49 pm

So, what does the end product look like now? (I noticed you made this post in March?) =) I found your site while hunting for this recipe which is the same as another I found. They said in the other recipe that the shelf life in the fridge is about 3 months.

madme - September 5, 2012 - 7:01 am

Mine has darkened, and according to the Korean family that showed me this, the shelf life is about 3 years in the fridge. At about 3 months the juices will start to ferment, that’s when most folks throw it out, but the Koreans are into the fermented foods and they keep it and let the fermentation break down the rind. It will continue to thicken, and eventually, become a tangy jam. Here in America, we chuck stuff in the garbage the second it ferments, not so in other countries where the cooking and remedies were established pre-refrigeration. The strong alcohol taste in mine has mellowed considerably, and now it tastes like a strong, thick cough medicine.

My best friend is Korean, and her fridge is like a wonderland to me, and her pantry is so mysterious!

Thanks for stopping in,
Charissa

Bridget - September 5, 2012 - 12:35 pm

Excellent! I like your information better ;) I was told by friends when I asked exactly how much lemon and how much honey, they replied, “Just add more amounts as you start to run out, you really can’t get it wrong.” I was also told you can use lemon juice if you don’t have lemon. I am currently trying it that way and it seems to be working fine. It has gone dark already (the day after) and is thick. Also, honey is a natural antibiotic, known to kill bacteria, which makes me think this is why it would last longer in the fridge as well. Thanks for your response! =) Guess who is starting to come down with something..Yup, I will be going to the jar today or tomorrow. ;)

Kirie - September 6, 2012 - 9:35 pm

Finding mason jars in my area is a bit rough. Would this work in tupperware as well? Really want to try this out as my husband gets the WORST sore throats (and he’s such a baby about it too!) and loves honey lemon cough drops and the such…figure this would be great for him when the time comes.

madme - September 10, 2012 - 2:51 pm

I do think Tupperware would work! Let me know how it goes for you.

Elisa - September 11, 2012 - 8:45 pm

Juices up lots. Also the lemons rise to top. I’ve been turning over daily. It’s sealed but some air is in it as I didn’t want to over flow the mixture before closing with seal. Is this okay?

Caitie - September 13, 2012 - 6:03 pm

I just made three jars of this wonderful concoction! I’m a kindergarten teacher so between talking all day long and being exposed to so many germs I almost always have a sore throat! I’m taking a jar to school to keep in my desk! Thanks for sharing this! :)

Anna - October 3, 2012 - 2:40 am

A splash of unpasturised apple cider vinegar to your hot drink makes this the best bug fighting sure of all time!!

madme - October 3, 2012 - 9:05 am

Good tip!!

Kristi - October 5, 2012 - 7:54 am

I’m addicted! Sore throat not required!
I’m a singer in a band and this little diddy is excellent to keep my throat soothed during performances! :)

Marie - October 17, 2012 - 9:15 am

Love this idea but when I made it maybe I did something wrong. I used 2 lemons, but I slice it really thin, with raw honey. I let it sit in the refrig for about 2 weeks, it never thickened up, and it had a bitter aftertaste. Not sure what I did wrong, any ideas?

madme - October 17, 2012 - 7:35 pm

You did nothing wrong!!! BUT, depending on the ripeness, variety and flavor of the lemon (and peel) you may end up with an extra bitter batch. If you wanted to make another batch that was less bitter, you could use less peel. Perhaps you could use the pulp from inside, and just the colorful outer rind sliced off with a knife and discard the pith (the white spongy portion) of the peel. This pith is where the bitterness resides in citrus and can be very strong in some varieties. The Meyer Lemon has a thinner peel and less offensive rind but we don’t always know what we are getting from the grocer. I hope this was helpful, thank you for taking the time to comment Marie.

Trina - October 20, 2012 - 9:14 am

I have always used honey and lemon in my tea when I have a sore throat or when my children/spouse does. I am going to try this as this will be so good in both hot water and in tea. Thanks for sharing!

sandy sherman - October 27, 2012 - 3:47 pm

how long does this honey lemon sore throat stuff last?

madme - October 30, 2012 - 7:10 am

If refrigerated, I’m told it can last up to three years.

lyn - October 31, 2012 - 5:04 pm

Thank you so much for all the info and the beautiful pictures! What do you think of adding garlic?

madme - November 2, 2012 - 2:05 pm

I think it would be effective, but more like a soup or broth. That is an interesting idea… as a matter of fact, you could add some pepper and salt and make it a medicinal broth. Black pepper increases circulation. Now I think I’m going to have to toy with this idea. Thanks for sharing…

Lyn - November 2, 2012 - 8:06 pm

There is a garlic tea that I make when I feel a cold coming on. It is about 5 or 6 cloves of garlic, one lemon, honey and fresh ginger root. I just thought it would be nice to incorporate all those things in this marmalade. So easy when you’re sick to just put some in a cup and add water. I did make your recipe yesterday and added about a tablespoon of fresh ginger root to each jar. I cannot wait to get sick! Wait. Did I say that out loud?

Berkeley Elisabeth Oberheu-Pycz - December 2, 2012 - 9:19 am

Love this tip and this blog. Looking forward to learning so much more from it!

MarjorieElaine Peirce - December 7, 2012 - 11:07 pm

When my children were babies (literally under 1 yr old – they are now in their 40′s) their doctor told gave me a ‘natural’ cure for colds and cough. (he was into more natural medicine in place of prescription) It went like this: Equal parts lemon juice, honey and hot water. The hot water would melt down the honey and then add the lemon juice and stir. The only other thing he added was a teaspoon of booze. (hard not wine or beer). I found adding Orange Gin removed the ‘alcohol’ taste. He said we could give this to a baby as young as 2 days old and until the day we die. (he did add that we might want to increase the amount of booze as we got older!!! lol Anyway, I would make up a large batch in Sept and store it in the refrigerator. It has been a yearly event since. This year, I have not made it up yet, so I will have to try yours with the actual lemon and raw honey.

Another help for sleeping – that I got from the doctor – take a regular blanket (no quilts unless on the smaller size). Fold it length wise so that it is about 2″ high – 3 for adults. Place this under the head portion of the mattress of the child or adult. (between box springs and mattress if not a crib). This elevates the bed just enough so that the mucus does not collect in the sinus. But it is not enough elevation to make it uncomfortable. This is far better than trying to sleep on 2 pillows.

madme - December 8, 2012 - 2:11 pm

Good tips and advice! I remember stories of my parents being told to put a couple of tsps of booze in my bottle for teething!

Amber - December 10, 2012 - 11:35 pm

I made this recipe and remembered that you said we could stick it up on a shelf to speed up the process. Well, I forgot about it for three weeks. My son was sick the other day and I remembered my honey and went to get some. When I took it off the shelf the lid was bulging and we had a hard time opening it. Once it opened a huge amount of gas shot out the lid. It has obviously fermented which from reading here is supposed to be a good thing. My question is how do I know if it fermented in a good way or fermented too much and could make us sick. We live in southern CA so it wasn’t exactly on a cool shelf. Thanks for the help.

madme - December 11, 2012 - 1:36 pm

Don’t use it!!!!!!

It should not do that. The process should be slow and cool, or you risk bad bacteria growing right along side the good.

If you really want to make this and have it usable instantly as a marmalade, you can cook it for just a few minutes on the stove top, low simmer.

If you cut the lemons up finely, then you can use it fresh without the ‘break down’ process.

I hope this helps and thank you for asking.

Georgiana - December 18, 2012 - 3:07 pm

I think the antibacterial properties in the honey would take care of the bad germs…anyway, that’s my thought.

Have you thought about adding essential oils to this mixture, like clove oil or anything like that?

Mary - January 9, 2013 - 10:24 am

I just made my first batch! I wish I had done it months ago when I pinned it so it would be ready now!!

@Kirie, you could always used an empty glass jar if you don’t have a mason jar!

Janice - January 12, 2013 - 9:23 pm

I made one batch and used a canning lid to cover the jar, after a few weeks it started to mold. I made a second batch and have it in the fridge uncovered. Should I seal the jar up and hope it doesn’t mold again? The first jar was kept on a shelf in the garage but it was during colder weather. What did I do wrong???

madme - January 13, 2013 - 7:51 pm

I don’t think it’s going to mold in the fridge, and I’d put a lid on it just so the fridge doesn’t pull the moisture out of it. It’s possible that it just got too warm, or that there was very happy mold in the garage!

Gretchen Popovski - January 17, 2013 - 6:30 pm

A note about honey’s properties: Although it is a bacterial inhibitor, that doesn’t mean it can KILL all bacteria. Adding high water-content ingredients makes it less effective at inhibiting bacterial growth, so that bulging lid is definitely a sign of unsafe food. If you want to store it on a shelf, use the waterbath canning method for 15 minutes to seal. Refrigerate after opening. My waterbath treated recipe was perfectly fine today (15 months after I canned it), but it is now in the fridge until I use it up.

madme - January 17, 2013 - 6:57 pm

Good tips!!! Thank you Gretchen.

madme - January 17, 2013 - 7:01 pm

Gretchen, how did you find your way to this site? I’m curious because this particular post has been viewed 2000 times today and I’d like to thank the person that shared it.

Stephanie - January 18, 2013 - 8:37 am

Madme:
I saw you’re wondering why this has been viewed so many times. It’s because Ball Canning and Recipes shared your post on their Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/BallCanning
That’s how I found this and I plan on trying this out!

madme - January 18, 2013 - 9:23 am

Thank you so much for letting me know, I wanted to thank someone. I hope you enjoy it!

madme - January 18, 2013 - 9:24 am

Thank you for letting me know. I wanted to thank someone! Enjoy your medicine (it’s not hard with this stuff).

madme - January 18, 2013 - 9:27 am

Thank you Erin, I’m gonna head over there and thank them.

sharon sherwood - January 21, 2013 - 12:47 am

Just made some for my hubby. He has the cold. Love the taste.

shana - January 22, 2013 - 10:50 am

WHen it ferments I assume gasses are created? Has anyone ever experienced a exploding jar? I have had mine in the cabinet for about a month now and the canning jar top started to bulge up?! I was afraid it was going to blow so I loosened it and allowe dsome air to escape, I am afraid somewhat though that it will blowup in my cabinet while i’m not being attentive to it. Aprreciate any feed back

madme - January 22, 2013 - 11:03 am

Chances are it got too warm! This is a slow process, it can take a couple of months for it to turn dark and thick and the fermentation is very slightly noticeable, it at all. If you wanted to speed that process up, you can set your jar in a pot of simmering water (about 2 inches deep) and heat it. But I would not over heat since you don’t want to kill off the good bacteria in the lemon and honey.

suzy - January 23, 2013 - 8:08 pm

works fantastic!!!!!!!

Sara - February 7, 2013 - 7:55 am

I have made this before and I love it!!!! The site I saw added the ginger in with the lemon and honey and it is the best for sore throats or cold mornings. I will definitely be sharing with my friends!!

Anna Menchaca - February 8, 2013 - 3:26 pm

If you use raw honey and then heat it up to can the jars it defeats the purpose. Heating (pasteurization) destroys the natural medicinal qualities of foods. Also, people with exploding jars, you are supposed to leave it on a shelf for a few days not months. Maybe leaving the jar a little loose and then tightening it up after a few days, kinda like making fermented tea (kombucha) or any fermented foods. I’m trying to find one that I used before for menopause using oranges.

madme - February 9, 2013 - 11:16 am

Brilliant lid suggestion Anna, and yes, agreed, I don’t heat mine up since I want the natural benefit of the raw honey as well.

angie m. - March 12, 2013 - 4:06 am

This winter I kept myself from getting the funk going arund by dosing myself with a concoction of green tea, honey, cinnamon, turmeric, and cayenne. The taste was quite pleasant and the warm tea was soothing to my throat.

» Sore Throat Remedy JoJoBozo's - March 18, 2013 - 2:19 pm

[...] “I cut up 2 lemons, dropped them in a small mason jar and poured honey over them until it filled up about 1/3 of the jar. You can immediately see the juice from the lemon being drawn out by the honey and the two swirling together. I just made mine, but if I let it sit in the fridge, over the next couple of months the lemon will darken and the mixture will thicken. The peels and pulp will break down as well and leave behind a golden, lumpy marmalade that I can scoop into a cup and poor piping hot water over. Oh, it almost makes me want a sore throat! (To speed up the process, you can also store this in a cool cupboard rather than the fridge.)” – Mad Mad Me [...]

Honey, Lemon and Ginger to Soothe Cold Symptoms | Gardeners Know the Best Dirt - March 18, 2013 - 8:39 pm

[...] heard about this remedy before and went in search of information about it on Google.  I ran across a great article on the subject on a website called Mad Mad Me.  I will not attempt to duplicate her post here as I would encourage you to go there and read the [...]

GG - April 26, 2013 - 11:07 pm

I pinned this from Pinterest about a year ago & I wish I would’ve actually read it & made it then!! My 5 y/o frequently gets sore throats because of allergies & sinus issues. She was just crying earlier today because her throat was sore & I tried giving her a lil tea w/honey which she hated & took only a tiny sip. She hates honey but loves lemons so hopefully she’ll enjoy this the next time she has a sore throat & I plan on using it for myself as well!! Ty soo much for this recipe!!

Linda De Lao - May 18, 2013 - 4:35 pm

Can organic agave be substitute for raw honey in the recipe?

Pam - May 18, 2013 - 5:30 pm

If you use your local made honey, it will have all of your local allergens in the honey and will help with your immunity.

madme - May 20, 2013 - 10:12 am

I’m certain that it would work to achieve something of the same consistency, but you would not receive the health benefits of the honey itself. Agave has NO health benefits. It’s actually quite processed, much like corn syrup, and would not offer the benefits listed in the post. Agave sugar only serves as an alternative to cane sugar or corn syrup but itself is not a healthy alternative to sugar. It’s really frustrating to see the way it’s being marketed as a health food when it is certainly not any different than corn syrup.

I use all types of sugar, including corn syrup, so I’m not apposed to using sugar in moderation, but I am apposed to an entire industry falsely promoting simple sugar as a health food.