The way life should be

more roadside ValerianFor me, there is no doubt about it; Maine is indeed the way life should be.  After returning from a glorious laid back vacation in Maine, I think I figured out how they do it ~ Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)! The roadsides and fields are covered with it, very similar to the abundant growth of Queen Anne’s Lace along the roadside of New York.  I can honestly say I have never seen so much wild Valerian in my life. It was everywhere. It blooms from June through September (just in time for tourist season) and fills the air with a sweet intoxicating aroma (unlike the stinky sock smell of its roots) that will relax the beast in any strung out soul. This wonderful herb helps soothe tension while bringing a sense of calm and liberation from anxiety along with summoning a healing restful night. Yes indeed, that is the way life should be ~ relaxed and mellow.roadside Valerian

 

Cleaning out the pipes

For some reason around this time of the year, all the drains in our house are clogged or are at least sluggish. Perhaps, it is because we live in a house that was constructed in 1859, who knows. The pipes have certainly been updated since then, but nonetheless they get sluggish in the early summer. Therefore, part of our summer ritual is to flush the gunk out of all our pipes.  Some people air out their homes and clean their windows as summer arrives, we clean out our pipes.

unclogging drainHere’s my simple recipe for getting the gunk out. Its fun to watch, too. 

  1. Put a cup of baking soda down the drain
  2. Add a cup of vinegar
  3. Give it 5 minutes and then pour boiling water down the drain. I found boiling water works better then simply using hot water from the sink.

This process unclogs and deodorizes the pipes.  The combination of baking soda and vinegar breaks down fatty acids from soap and glycerin, allowing the clog to easily wash down the drain.

What are some of your spring rituals? Please share and I will continue to share.