I took the air...
Goodness, it’s been a long two weeks in our home. The illness that so many others have faced finally found its way into ours—and it made itself far too comfortable! It certainly wasn’t welcome, and I quickly grew to despise its company.
After tiring of its lingering effects, I decided to take a short stroll through the nearby woods. There’s something about the forest—its ability to restore both body and mind—that I knew I needed. The body was sluggish but my spirit was strong!
For centuries, people have understood the forest’s healing power. In fact, science now backs up these benefits. I put together a list of some of the most fascinating findings, and they’re truly remarkable:
The Forest’s Natural Remedies
Phytoncides: Nature’s Protective Chemicals
Trees release compounds called phytoncides to defend themselves against pests. Breathing in these natural chemicals offers surprising health benefits:
Natural Defenses:
Phytoncides have antimicrobial and antifungal properties, helping fight off harmful microorganisms.
Immune Support:
Studies show these compounds can boost the activity of natural killer cells, which play a crucial role in fighting infections.
Stress Relief:
Being surrounded by trees lowers stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, helping to ease anxiety and promote relaxation.
Mood Enhancement:
Some phytoncides are linked to increased serotonin and dopamine levels, lifting your spirits naturally.
Potential Anti-Cancer Properties:
Animal research hints that these forest chemicals may have cancer-fighting potential.
Sunlight and Terpenes: A Mood-Boosting Duo
When sunlight filters through pine trees, it prompts them to release terpenes—compounds that have been shown to elevate mood and strengthen immunity.
Engaging the Senses
The forest invites mindfulness through its rich tapestry of sights, sounds, and scents. This sensory immersion has a calming effect, grounding you in the present moment.
Restorative Sleep
Spending time in nature, often called “forest bathing,” can lead to deeper, more restful sleep by naturally lowering stress levels.
More Reasons to Head Outdoors:
- Immune Health: Fresh air combined with phytoncides strengthens the immune system.
- Lower Blood Pressure: Simply gazing at trees or walking among them can help reduce blood pressure.
- Sharper Focus: Time in nature improves cognitive function, boosting memory and concentration.
- Quicker Healing: Research shows that patients recover faster when they have views of greenery.
Along my walk I stopped to marvel at a patch of bright, green moss on the side of a rock wall. It made me feel so hopeful!
Moss wall, Paradise Springs State Park
Copyright@MichellePatrickPhotography
*Just a little note about Wisconsin State Park stickers. This year begins a new way of getting the most out of your dollar. State park stickers will now be valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. This is such a relief for those of us who often wait months into the new year and pay for unused months. I have a wonderful tip for you! This is the second year that I began using a cling adhesive to adhere my sticker to my window. This alleviates the need to scrape and scrape to get sticker off. They are called car static cling sheets. *
One of my very favorite family recipes is one I share today with all of you! It is a die-hard favorite for many in our family. We affectionately call it Granny Cake.
Granny Cake
A beloved family favorite—rich, moist chocolate sheet cake topped with coffee-chocolate frosting.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1/2 cup cooking oil
- 1/2 cup butter
- 4 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup buttermilk*
*If you don’t have buttermilk, place 2 teaspoons of vinegar in a 1/2-cup measuring cup and fill the rest with milk. Let it sit for a few minutes.
For the Frosting:
- 5 tablespoons butter, softened
- 5 tablespoons strong coffee
- 5 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
-
Preheat Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a large lidded baking sheet. -
Make the Cake Batter:
- In a medium-sized cooking pot, combine cooking oil, butter, and cocoa.
- Melt over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Remove from heat and stir in the cold water.
- Add sugar and flour; mix well.
- Stir in eggs, vanilla, baking soda, and buttermilk (or substitute mixture). Mix until smooth.
-
Bake the Cake:
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in the middle of the oven for 20 minutes.
-
Prepare the Frosting (While the Cake Bakes):
- In a bowl, combine butter, coffee, cocoa, and powdered sugar.
- Mix until smooth and creamy.
-
Frost the Cake:
- As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, spread the frosting evenly over the hot cake.
Current Read:
"The Secret of Cooking- Recipes for an easier life in the kitchen "by Bee Wilson.
Bee Wilson writes about food in a way that naturally weaves in life, time, family, and everyday moments. This is definitely a book more focused on food writing than recipes. For each recipe, Bee spends several pages explaining its significance, why it holds meaning in her life, and how it found a place in this book. She gives you permission to take shortcuts, adapt recipes, and adjust your own expectations around cooking.
I’ve only just begun this book — it’s 420 pages! — and this type of reading is new to me. I haven’t previously been drawn to food writing, but this book came highly recommended, and I’m excited to continue. What I’m discovering is that the beauty and quality of the food aren’t diminished simply because the author encourages saving time and energy in the kitchen.
I’ll share my final review once I finish the book!
Preparations for March:
On a stroll around the backyard and gardens, I realized I had completely neglected my fall herb garden cleanup! I’m not even sure how that happened. My heart broke just a little, thinking about how I had failed to properly care for something that gives us so much in return.
As I thought back to the fall, I remembered how particularly stressful and busy that season was. So, I’m giving myself some grace — because that’s important. And in the spirit of keeping it real, I’m sharing this with you (along with a picture of my little gardening failure)! This was hard as it was not a glamorous image of success and more of a picture of loss for me.
As the temperatures warm up, I’ll pull out all the annual herbs and trim the perennials down to about an inch above the soil. Later, once the ground fully thaws, I’ll turn over the soil and add a layer of fortified compost. This bed has remained organic, and keeping it that way is very important to me.
I’ve mentioned before how important it is for us to leave space for insects, birds, and other wildlife to have their needs met in our yard. That means leaving perennials standing through the winter, giving wildlife a chance to gather seeds and find shelter. Many insects spend the winter tucked inside dried flowers and seed pods, while birds revisit the wildflower garden all season, picking seeds for food.
This approach isn’t for everyone — especially if you’re a type A gardener who can’t stand the sight of a messy garden. I’ll admit, I struggle with it at times too. But ultimately, the true health of my garden matters far more to me than its appearance year-round.
Today, I found an echinacea with seeds still intact, which I was able to collect. If there are any seeds left when spring arrives and it’s time to trim the stalks, I’ll gather those as well to make sure they don’t go to waste.
I sincerely hope that your garden dreams are awakening in any way that a garden looks to you! Whether it be a few pots at your door front or a small container herb garden.
See you next week,
Warm regards, Michelle