Who would have thought???

Clover! White Clover, actually. The stuff that comes up in the lawn and is doused with weedkiller by so many. The stuff that is planted in fields for cattle to munch. The stuff that, as kids, we made into necklaces by looping the stems together. Yes, that white clover. I never have been one to worry that there might be weeds in my lawn, they are there for sure and for that matter they are in the gardens. White Clover seems to be everywhere! BUT..did you know that White Clover is actually another one of those often overlooked plants in our yards that is edible? The flowers and the leaves of this much maligned plant could very well wind up in dishes on my dinner table! The leaves are tastiest before the clover blooms and can be used in salads or soups and can even be cooked like spinach! The flowers and seed pods can be used in salads or dried to be used in rice dishes. They can also be infused in herbal teas and will give a "vanilla" taste to the tea. To make the tea, simply bring a cup of water to a boil and pour over about 1/4 cup of fresh White Clover leaves and flowers. You can include the seeds! If you use the dried plant to make the tea, use only about 2 teaspoons of the plant. After letting it steep for about five minutes, strain it and sweeten with honey! I am wondering if it would give the same "vanilla" taste in baked goods. I will have to try that!

This same clover is used often in herbal cures as it helps to cleanse the blood. It also is used as in tea form in the herbal treatment of bronchitis, arthritis, sinus problems and fever. A tincture can be made to be used topically in treating gout, boils and psoriasis. I cannot vouch for the healing abilities of White Clover in each of these cases, but it intrigues me to the point that I will try it if the need ever arises. I have masses of it! Now, I have a reason not to cut grass! Hmmm? Could work!

We had a wonderful breeze on the Bayou compliments of a wanna-be Tropical Depression. Again the day started with rain and progressed into scattered showers. In between these showers, I decided to do a little trimming with the weedeater. Yes..mine is electric so this was probably not the wisest of moves. The extension cord I was using had been repaired several times but seemed to be usable even though it kept falling out of the back of my weedwhacker! It would come unplugged..I would replug..it would come unplugged..I would replug. This went on for about an hour..then I was ELECTROCUTED! When I felt the cord fall, I automatically reached down with my left hand and grabbed it. BIG MISTAKE! Yep..the end of the cord was still in the weedeater Unbeknownst to me, it had not just come unplugged it had broken! My hand closed right on the two bare wires exposed on the end of the cord! OWWW! I let out a yell and tried to throw down the biting wire..I couldn't let go of it. My hand would not open! OWWW! Knowing I had to get it out of my hand, I stomped on it with my right foot..BIG MISTAKE!! True..the cord went flying but so did I. I lost my balance and fell backward. OWWW! I felt a sharp stab in the back of my left leg just below my knee. When I had tried to catch my balance, I had fallen right into the Kumquat tree. Now this is a seedling Kumquat not the cultivar from the plant nursery. Seedling Kumquats (those grown from seeds at home) are usually covered with wonderfully sharp thorns that are almost three inches long. Yep..you guessed it..I had literally "nailed" my jeans to the back of my leg. Not a happy thing at all. So ended my trimming for the day. I had been electrocuted and stabbed and I think that is enough for one day. Tonight, my leg has a nice knot on the back of it where the thorn pierced in about an inch deep and my left arm is sore all the way to the shoulder. I also have a lovely tingling feeling pulsating through my fingers of my left hand but things could have been worse, I suppose. I think tomorrow if I do any yardwork, it will not involve broken extension cords and tonight..I think I will have a cup of White Clover tea to see if it might help!