It's hard to ever have a day of rest on a farm. Obviously, there is no rest from caring for the animals, whether it's a Sunday or holiday. But beyond that, especially this time of year, there always seems to be so much to do it's hard to take a break, even for a day. So when Dan left this morning and asked what my plans were, I wasn't sure, and he suggested to just take a day off, not to worry about making pickles or weeding the garden. But I'm not really one to sit & watch TV or anything like that so I had to find some more productive way to entertain myself, and cleaning the house just isn't fun, so I decided to tackle some other worthwhile but often put-off projects!
The barnyard this time of year is pretty. Not that the barn itself isn't always something to look at...built in 1894, it's a wonderful, irreplaceable structure that in many ways is the heart of the farm. I think it's picturesque in any season, but right now the scenery is nice because of the thousands of blossoms in the barnyard. While they look like tiny branching daisies, in reality they are actually chamomile. Chamomile is a herb best known for a soothing tea. It also can be used as a dye and has cosmetic & medicinal uses, including as a compress for wounds or eczema or as a facial steam & hair tonic. This pretty and useful plant is a perennial. I have no idea who planted it or how long ago, but it's been here longer than the 25 years the farm has been tended to by the Stevenson family. It has spread over the entire barnyard and can also be found in patches near the garden and in the turkey run. The livestock don't really bother it, and just walking through it released a pleasant, floral aroma.
I always have goals, and one of mine this season is to make better use of the large food dehydrator I have. So many herbs, veggies, and even mushrooms can be dried for use later when the growing season is over. I also got some pretty colored canning jars for my birthday, and the tinted glass helps keep sunlight out, which keeps dried foods more flavorful. The chamomile is in (or at least near) full bloom, so I decided it was a good morning to go out and pick some. It's a fairly pleasant way to spend the morning, me and my pretty little basket and a pair of kitchen shears, making use of something that grows abundantly and with no assistance on my part. Too many seasons I don't make time to do these little, but meaningful things, and I am trying to be mindful and change that. I cut enough to get a good start filling the dehydrator, under the curious gaze of a few of the cows who couldn't figure out what I was doing. Finni & Pixie quickly decided that it was not anything that was going to result in a snack for them, so they wandered off to find some shade, as we are getting some real hot & humid July weather.
I always have goals, and one of mine this season is to make better use of the large food dehydrator I have. So many herbs, veggies, and even mushrooms can be dried for use later when the growing season is over. I also got some pretty colored canning jars for my birthday, and the tinted glass helps keep sunlight out, which keeps dried foods more flavorful. The chamomile is in (or at least near) full bloom, so I decided it was a good morning to go out and pick some. It's a fairly pleasant way to spend the morning, me and my pretty little basket and a pair of kitchen shears, making use of something that grows abundantly and with no assistance on my part. Too many seasons I don't make time to do these little, but meaningful things, and I am trying to be mindful and change that. I cut enough to get a good start filling the dehydrator, under the curious gaze of a few of the cows who couldn't figure out what I was doing. Finni & Pixie quickly decided that it was not anything that was going to result in a snack for them, so they wandered off to find some shade, as we are getting some real hot & humid July weather.
So now it's 11 AM on a Sunday. I feel good about having the dehydrator humming and am also checking off another of today's goals, sitting down and taking the time to write a blog post. It's 89 and sticky, so I'm thinking I will leave outside Sunday projects like tending to my flower bed or painting the chick pens to another time when it's not so unpleasant. But it's nice in my sewing room, and the basement produce cellar is cool and could use a little tidying....but I've also been meaning to research how to make fermented pickles, or...well, sometimes the hardest part of the day "off" for me is just choosing what I'd most like to do next.