autumn vibes + elderberry elixir + fall festivals

fall is upon us in all her glory. the mountains are a blaze with color. i love all the falls i have experienced, but this one seems a little more magical. grooving on the vibes i've been making soups, baking treats, and otherwise tending to simply josephine.....

the elderberries oh my + about a month ago i foraged my favorite berry spot + lots of wonderful creations happened 

i make a lot of tincture, its a popular item in the shop, this time of year.  and for good reason, elderberry is effective and gentle.  just what we want in herbal medicine.  i like to freeze my elderberries for future uses but you can dry them as well, if you don't have the freezer space.  i published a post last spring on how to make an elderberry syrup, you can link to that here. 

elderberry elixir is also lovely, full of nutrients.  I use fresh berries, but you can use dried too. start with a clean half gallon jar. 

fill jar 3/4th full ( a little less than half, if you are using dried elderberries)

2 T grated ginger

1 orange peel grated

2 cinnamon sticks

bottle of brandy

honey to taste

typically an elixir is 3/4th alcohol to 1/4th honey.  i make mine with 1/5th honey.  i prefer my elixirs a little less sweet. none of this has to be exact, i encourage you to experiment and find for yourself what you like.  i sometimes have this available in my shop, but i don't at the moment. if elderberries grow near you, i suggest you reach out to them. you will find they are more then willing to create a relationship with you, the benefits are beyond rewarding.

the road to libby.....haha.  twice last month i ventured down to the other side of lincoln county.  the harvest festival in libby, and the apple festival in troy.  the harvest festival is put on by the montana wilderness association, and the troy apple festival is put on by the troy farmers market  i highly recommend both events, if you are out and about. a good time was had by all, here is the photo gallery.

the music at both events was crazy good, so was the food. there is an abundance of produce, fall squash, pumpkins, honey, garlic, and so much more. 

i have so many ideas rambling around in my head, but for now its time to work on my holiday stashes.  i've been focusing on soaps. trying to figure out which bars will stay, and which ones will go.  something new this holiday season is.....goats milk soap.  i will have three kinds available.  peppermint, lavender, and unscented. i am looking forward to winter, and the holidays.  simplyjosephine.com  is a great way to check out my latest creations, and stay connected.  i am also on instagram and facebook. wishing you all a most fabulous transition to winter, cheers.