Nov 14, 2008

Home with a cold









I'm home for the second day with a nasty cold and cough. Some hot tea and a lovely bath (while listening to a Harry Potter audiobook) improved my outlook, if not my health.

My Icelandic Moss bath elixir provided me with a happy discovery. When I googled Icelandic moss to learn about its different uses, I found not one, but several interesting Icelandic blogs, all by the same individual. From Icelandic Cooking, Recipes and Food Culture I learned the following:

Iceland moss (Cetraria islandica) is very versatile. In spite of the name, it isn't a moss at all, but a lichen. It's used in cosmetics (especially creams and ointments), medicines and nutritional supplements (it is an excellent remedy for coughs and digestive problems), and as food. In the past it was also used for colouring wool.

Bibliophile, author of the Recipe blog, has another food blog: Matarast: Love of Food. She also has an online Bookbinding Journal, photos, and a blog called (Another) 52 Books (Books and author reviews, a reading challenge, and anything else related to books and reading). Go, Bibliophile!

3 comments:

Shannon said...

I was just thinking of you yesterday and wondering how you've been. Now I know and I hope you feel better soon!!!

Darien Fisher-Duke said...

Thanks. My daughter sent over some eucalyptus bath salts that knock your socks off! They might even clear up my congestion. When I use them, you'll probably notice the scent of eucalyptus in Chesapeake!

Bibliophile said...

Thanks for the links :-)