update

A quick update: made butternut squash soup (squash, stock, carrots, kale, red peppers, corn, bacon, leeks, celery) and put a ton in the freezer for lazy evenings. No spices or salt necessary and it tastes great, but I'm thinking of adding cinnamon or nutmeg to some of the individual portions to see how it contrasts with the salty, smoky bacon. It simmered for about 1.5 hours on the stove and the house smelled grand. Everything but the bacon and the corn came from the farmer's market yesterday. (note the food and wine cookbook in the background. 2007 is my favorite edition so far)



Also, created a new potion: lavender mint sugar scrub. Made it with extra oatmeal so it can be used for the face (sugar itself is too abrasive for a facial scrub, I think). This is one that could be great as a body scrub as well, with only a few minor modifications needed. Tried grapeseed oil as the base for the first time. I'm giving Leah the equivalent of 2 servings tomorrow to see what she thinks. The lavender and peppermint essential oils together seem like a great combination. If I was naming the potions, and so far I haven't, this one would be something about early mornings, or the weary traveler. If anyone is any good at coming up with catchy names for the potions, let me know!

On a personal note, I am submitting my first manuscript of a study I did oh, forever ago, to a journal tomorrow. Polished and finished it today. My labmate and I wrote a paper last year that was published this month in a good journal, so I'm hoping, just maybe I'm actually on an academic roll.

Happy Sunday!