Thinking Outside The Pie

While making pumpkin pie today I was reflecting on life.... Creating food for my loved ones gets me to thinking on things beyond the scope of the kitchen. Don't we all look at folks and make a judgement about their character? We are so blind to reality, we create little scenario's about the people we know in our minds, we think...oh they are so perfect, they have it all together, look at that nice family. Or hmmm, they have issues, you can tell just by looking. Everyone has a story, emotions and reactions to those outside that secretly control them. For some the fear of being "found out" is more than they can bare. For others they tell all, at least the version they want you to hear, the censored one that allows them to share and use your emotions to feed their starving Souls, but they remain hungry, never filling up no matter how many times they try to feed themselves. In the "about me" of this blog I said I needed to share. I do, and I will throughout, sandwiched between experiences and recipes, like the layers of life. It is my desire that the things that have happened to me, my reactions to them, and the things I have done to others will validate all who share my journey, for we are but a small slice of the pie, created from the same ingredients, a part of the whole, so much more alike than different.

Custom Tea

 

      Gathering herbs is an important part of our life here on the farm. Whether its a relaxing walk through the mountains, or in the herb garden, one thing is for sure the harvesting is healing in itself.
      Herbs are picked at the appropriate time and dehydrated at low temperatures so as not to destroy valuable oils and enzymes. Timing is important, whether you pick in the morning or the afternoon, what level of maturity the plant is at. Plants are free to mature on their own time, influenced by the weather, geographic location, altitude and what kind of nourishment is in the soil.

 One of the things I enjoy doing is create custom herb teas for those I love.

  Its fun to take the grandchildren out and teach them about the different wild edibles and have them pick the herbs for a tea party. We like to use the good china for that.

   

 Blending herbs for a loved one is when I tap into the creator, I ask guidance in picking just the right ones for that person at that time, all the while I am praying for that person, and thinking loving thoughts.

    Last weekend my daughter Rosemary was over, she needed something to boost her immune system. So I brought down all the beautiful jars and began blending "Rosemary tea". It contained, Nettles, peppermint, calendula, rose petals, chamomile, lavender and red clover.

I also made her an herbal "coffee" made with roasted dandelion root, chicory, and carob.

Solitude is everywhere

   Harvesting nettles is best done in the spring, picking the most tender leaves. Wearing gloves will protect you from the stingers, but if you do get stung you have been inoculated with folic acid, I try to think on that when I brush up against a plant. When I was young the horse I used to ride was on the ornery side. The hitching post I tied her to was near a huge growth of nettles, several times she kicked at me and my only escape was that nettle patch. I must have had alot of folic acid in my system.  Morning is the the best time to pick, if my plants are clean I dont wash them, just lay on the dehydrator trays and set on 95 degrees. Nettles are diuretic, help with allergies and a great tonic.
   Peppermint should be harvested before it flowers, pick in the morning and dehydrate as you would nettles. Besides being aromatic, peppermint is a stimulant, carminative and stomachic. It is very prolific and I even have some growing out the gravel in my driveway, don't know how it got there.
   Raspberry leaves are a wonderful tonic for women especially. They are strengthening to a pregnant woman and should be consumed all through pregnancy.
    Red clover is an amazing flower, There are three leaves under each flower, suggesting an association with the trinity. It has been used to treat cancer and is a detoxifier. Harvest them through the summer. I like to pick carefully after a rain so they are clean, just the flowers. and dehydrate at 95 degrees. They take along time to dry.
    Chamomile is best known for its calming qualities. but is also a digestion aid, good for circulation, fevers and cramps. It grows wild here, but I cultivate it in my herb garden. I pick just the flowers in the morning and dry at 95 degrees, they take along time to dry as well. Make sure your more dense herbs dry before you store them.
    Calendula a very pretty bright orange flower, I use it on salads and any meal that needs a little color. Added to soap it is healing on skin irritations, internally it is good for inflammation.
    
  
  

Peaches, lovely peaches

  My husband and I went to Eastern Washington for our anniversary. Just a day trip since daily milking makes it complicated to leave longer.
  Going to the "eastside" is one of our favorite things to do. They have a wonderful climate for growing peaches, apples, apricots, tomatoes and on and on. Its very hot and dry there, and lots of open space, amber waves of grain (wheat) grows abundantly. We were in an area closer to the cascade mountains, where they grow mainly fruit.
  We explored the side roads and small towns enjoying the people.  We stopped in a little town called "Plain", and plain it is.  If I remember correctly, it has a grocery store/gas station, hardware store, school, and church. I always tell Paul I would love to live there. We checked out the hardware store, talked to some folks, gassed up and went on to look for fruit.
  When we arrived in Wenatchee, we saw a sign for peaches in a small orchard. We like to support small business, so stopped there.   We enjoyed a short visit with "Grampa" before buying several boxes of beautiful freestone peaches.

  After that we went to Leavenworth, a small Bavarian town in the mountains. We had a lovely dinner and then off to the farmers market in the park. We got carried away with an amazing display of organic hot and sweet peppers. I bought bags full of beautiful colored hot peppers to make jelly and salsa with later.
  On our way home, we stopped high in the mountains for a short hike.  We found a stunning view of the peaks and valleys there. I meditated on what I was seeing for awhile, making sure to imprint the image so I could recall it later.
   Now my husband and I are well into our sixth decade, when we were young and the children were at home having time and solitude for romance was always an issue.  While at home there are always so many things to do, and that is always first and foremost on our minds. Even when the children are gone and you age, romance is still important. I would encourage you to get away, as far as it takes to separate yourself mentally from your responsibilities, whether it be in the mountains, a hotel or the hayloft and "become one". We were designed to be intimate, to heal, refresh and develop a bond much deeper than a friendship.
    It was starting to get dark when we left the mountain and had a long drive.  Still vivid, with the smells and colors still fresh in my mind.  I was thankful for the day and the lingering memories, as we drove home, crowding out the encroaching darkness outside.
 
A week later my peaches were ripe and it was time to can them. I love the golden jars. Of course you cant can peaches without baking a pie.

 Now this winter when I open a jar of those peaches I'm going to remember that warm day, I will bring to my mind the pictures and emotions that I stored away for a cold winter day.

Fall Intensity

  Fall is when the harvest comes to a head. The beans have been canned, the sauerkraut is in the crock, multitudes of jams and jelly's have been created, the chickens and turkeys have been harvested and are in the now overflowing freezers. Wheels of goat milk gouda and manchego cheese are aging.
  The house smells of the spiced applebutter cooking on the stove. What earthly treasure could be more rewarding than the aroma of fresh picked apples.
  Our neighbors gave us some venison from last years hunt, and I feel so blessed. Since the freezers are full and the meat is already one year old, I will extend its shelf life by canning it. Venison tastes wonderful canned and is great to have for a quick meal when I need it.
  This time of year I hit a "harvest wall" where I think I can't do it anymore, winters rest is calling my name, but...just a little longer, a little more to put up.

  One of the most mind clearing things I love to do is take a walk and search for medicinal herbs. Where we live there are many. Right now the rose hips have had a couple of light frosts and are just right for picking. There are still a few red clover to pick, though not at their prime. Elderberries are among my favorite herbal treasures and are ready now as well. The dandelion roots are needing to be unearthed and roasted in the oven for a tasty "coffee" substitute, lovely with fresh warm goat milk for a latte.

The most rewarding part of my life is my children. They are truly amazing people and my best friends. Last weekend my daughter Rose, and children Hanna and Caleb surprised me with a visit.

 


Watching the grandchildren play on the farm delights me so. They always find a frog, or insect of some sort to amuse themselves. Caleb found a caterpillar. Hanna took pictures of everything of interest to her on the farm which I will share.

 photo by Hanna Wagner

Later that day my son Josh and wife Mandy stopped by with children Hunter and Jake. My husband Paul took them out to play in the hayloft and for a ride on the lawnmower. Jake who is 3 attempted to milk Mocha the goat, and Hunter gathered the eggs.

Later I went out and picked every root vegetable that I could find in the garden and made a hamburger stew. It gives me a good feeling to share an all organic home grown meal.

  Soon the garden will be at compete rest with its cover crop blanket for the winter. I too will have some time to rest from this years harvest and dream of springs new birth... newborn kids, freshly tilled ground with the fresh smell of warming earth, and baby chicks and turkeys chirping in the barn.