FIGS, FIGS, AND MORE FIGS!

 I've deadheaded the purple and yellow Coneflowers, Black-eyed Susans, Shasta Daisies, zinnias, and blanket flowers.  I wait until the flower has totally died and it's starting to seed.  This is the perfect time to cut the dead flower off and throw it back into the flower bed so it'll reseed next spring. Doing this also results in healthier plants and continual blooms for the perennials and zinnias.

 Still have a lot of patio flowers:  begonias, petunias, orchids, wax plant blooms, and the roses, zinnias, and crepe myrtles in the yard.  This is the month my fig tree is busting out with an abundance of rain and producing giant, juicy figs.  

I've shared with neighbors, and I'm also sharing with the bees, birds, and squirrels. It can be a bit dicey trying to pick figs with the bees eating their fair share of these plump figs. 

We have so many figs that we've taken up a new hobby - canning!  

The bees are feasting!

We canned 6 pounds of figs last week and cooked up 
our last batch of 5 pounds today.

Again, this is after giving full baskets to three different neighbors.   

The birds, bees, and squirrels can have the rest.  

We're done for this year! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is the recipe I used for our

FIG PRESERVES

5-6 pounds of figs (a bit more than a full gallon)

3 cps of sugar

2 cps of water

1 Tbsp of cinnamon 

1/2 tsp. of lemon juice in each jar before putting preserves into the jar

-remove caps/stems of figs, cut large figs into halves and quarters,  and soak in cool water for 20 minutes.

-make a syrup by boiling the sugar and water together in a large pan.

-when syrup is clear and just thick, around 15 minutes, add figs and cinnamon.

-bring to a full boil over high heat boiling hard for 1 minute.

-lower the heat ad simmer for 30 minutes.

-there seemed to be extra liquid so I ladled out a couple of scoops of liquid only, from the pot.

-ladle into clean hot sterile jars and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. 

JULY FLOWERS

Pink Lillies

Ferns

Crepe Myrtle

 

JUNE FLOWERS

 

MAY FLOWERS

MY ALOE VERA FACE CREAM RECIPE -

 Every morning after my shower, 
I put a "concoction" on my face, neck and upper chest. 
It's a combination of several ingredients which heals and rejuvenates your face. It keeps your face moist and as wrinkle free as possible. 

1. Aloe Vera 100% Gel is the main ingredient.

I've used this for years and I buy it at WalMart. 

Just a side note --

I've had some Blue Light Therapy done on my face and chest and I was thrilled to find that my Dermatologist used this Aloe Vera on me after the treatment.  Part of her home care instructions was to get this brand from WalMart and use it in the morning and before going to bed in the evening. 

2. You can purchase ROC at WalMart.

3. For a number of years I used cold pressed,
extra, extra virgin olive oil. 
 I read about the properties of grape seed oil and have used this.  I'm not able to tell a difference, so will continue using the grape seed oil until it's gone.  Then will probably switch back to the olive oil since it's easier to obtain.  

You can order it at www.blissofgreece.com

To make your first batch of face cream, pour out a third of the Aloe Vera Gel. Keep enough Aloe Vera Gel so that it sits at the ALOE word on the bottle.
BTW- I use the same Aloe Vera bottle over and over again. When I get low on face cream, I buy a new bottle of the Aloe Vera and pour enough of the gel into the old bottle to reach the word ALOE on the bottle, then add the ROC and Olive/Greek Oil. That way, I'm not throwing away any of the gel.  

Squeeze in the whole tube of ROC
night cream into the Aloe Vera Bottle 
and shake it well, with the lid on. 

Then pour in 1 tablespoon of the Greek Oil 

or the olive oil, if you prefer. 

Again, shake well and wahhh lahhh,
you now have your Aloe Vera Face Cream. 

I don't use powder or concealer.
Due to the oils, they probably would not work well with the Aloe Vera Face Cream. 

Be sure to shake the bottle before using it since the oils tend to separate over a 24 hour period.

I put about a teaspoon in my hand, rub my hands together and spread it smoothly onto my face, neck and chest.  It will absorb into your skin and it makes your skin feel soft.