dandelion redemption. 10:21am

i have always strongly disliked dandelions. the feeling would become especially acute every time i found myself in our yard, yanking up bucket-fulls of cheery, hardy looking dandelions. what made it worse was the thought that these new dandelions were simply results of failed previous uprootings. 

i set out this spring with a new goal.

i would redeem the dandelion.

so, i did just that this year. i researched the medicinal and dietary benefits of these ground leeches

and was quite surprised to find that they are in fact, a well respected healing herb. it is actually quite beloved.

in my research, i found that the leaves are diuretic, high in potassium and extremely high in vitamin A. i found that the roots are liver-strengthening, blood-cleansing, blood building and are high in iron! redemption complete. i spent the day yesterday washing, chopping and drying a 5-gallon bucket full of this crazy plant. 

now, i have expanded my herb shelves by adding new jars full of dandelion tinctures and dried leaves for tea! 

The dandelion has been redeemed!

An Explanation Of Absence.

Well, it feels as though it has been ages since I last posted! Apologies! My explanation is as follows: In the last 9 months, I have been very busy. I have become increasingly distracted by my growing relationship with my best friend,

Taylor Reavely.

To put it plainly, I have been very busy with the process of becoming engaged to be married!

Currently, I am in the throws of wedding planning and will most likely persist in my blogging absence—at least until my new life season begins. (I have been in this state since saying "yes!" on June 22nd)

I am getting married in 40 days.

"On June 22, his parents' 27th anniversary, Taylor asked Andie to be his wife, and she said "YES!" They were sitting in the back of his truck by a fire in the mountains in Trout Lake, WA, rehearsing again their love story that began in 5th grade. They had just finished reading letters passed back and forth over the past 13 years when Taylor got on his knee and asked Andie to marry him. The tears that ensued were long in coming and full of inexpressible joy."