I loved reading about your desire for rest and slow mornings on my last post. I have been spending a lot of time on Instagram in recent years and gosh everyone feels so young over there. There can be a bit of a disconnect with my seasoned, mellowed ways and the young vibrant energy found there. Hello to all you 50+ ladies. We’re still here!
Unfortunately, the day was a collection of bad news after bad news. By early afternoon I knew sunshine on skin was the best remedy at my disposal, so I dug some russets. Careful, slow, steady. I did pierce one perfect baker, which I took inside to cook with a piece of salmon. More vitamin D. Butter, fresh chives. Now that’s a nice lunch. Feeling better, I set out to organize my herb cabinet and get it all set for winter. There’s something about washing down all the jars, checking quality, and making note of what needs replenishing. I looked over our remedies and was pleased to find a full quart of St. John’s Wort tincture I’d made a few years back. These days, I’m the one who preaches you probably don’t need to make a whole quart of tincture for family use, but this was made before I wised up. I’d been sharing with a friend that we didn’t seem to have a single blossom of St. John’s Wort growing this year, and I was bummed as it was high on my list to replenish. So I really did strike gold. Mostly I’m a tea person whenever possible, but the shelf life of tinctures is hard to beat. I’m grateful to be reminded yet again of their value, and working in the herb cabinet, preceded by a good dose of sunshine, lifted my spirits considerably.
Night came early, as it does in late September, and I capped the day with a magnesium rich brew of cacao tea. Let’s try again tomorrow.
10 Responses
I really want to get into making more herbal teas for myself, and not just using the ones I find at the grocery store. Any recommendations for a few tea herbs to start my collection with?
I also just got some Rosemary Gladstar books out of my library, looking forward to reading those and taking some notes!
I’m one of you’re slightly younger followers (35 with a 10 year old and a 9 year old), but I really cherish your calm approach and wisdom!
Rosemary’s books are a great place to start. I’d probably start with lemon balm, chamomile, oatstraw, hibiscus, linden. Fun to think about! Rosemary’s book will give you lots of ideas, too. If you’d like to go a simpler route to get started, check out the company Farmhouse Teas. They are wonderful.
I’m over 65 but don’t feel it, most days! I’m happy you are sharing your wisdom with all of us. Yesterday I realized I needed sunshine to reset my mood too!
Oh, Heather, please share how you make your cacao tea.
Love your blog, as well as Hearth and Home!
So simple! I put 1-2tbsp cacao husks (you can purchase in bulk from Mountain Rose) in my small French press. I think it’s 12oz. Fill with boiling water and let steep for 5-10 minutes. I use the press plunger and pump it a few times to agitate, then pour into a mug, add cream and maple to taste. Or honey! Such a nice elixir.
Hi Heather! Cacao tea sounds interesting. I jumped over to Mountain Rose Herbs and they do not list cacao husks, but they do have roasted cacao shells. Would this work as well? Or is it totally different? I did read in the description that it does work well for tea.
Yes, same thing!
Thank you! I’m ordering some to try. Thanks so much for the recommendation! And I’m batch-cooking your Harvest Moon soup that you posted over on Hearth and Home. Enjoying that platform so much, also.
I have read your blog for years and years! I’m so happy to see you back here. I’m not an IG kind of girl. Ha. Lady? I turned 53 this summer. But I have always loved your blog, newsletters, and Hearth & Home. They’re just my speed! And so pleasing to my quiet-living-in the country-soul.
I miss blogs! And even if I don’t comment…the feeling in your writing and photos is so mutual that it feels like kindred spirits. This world is chaotic and having a quiet kindred space to visit is such a gift!
Spending the rest of the day with a mason jar of lemon balm tea, painting an old book shelf, processing our raw goat milk, and checking on the little seedlings for my fall crop of kale, mixed lettuce, spinach, and carrots. I’ve never planted a little fall garden before. I’m usually pretty ready to be done by this time of year. We’ve had a brutal summer in the Midwest. Heat and drought…sigh. But then a little reprieve that opened a window to a fall garden invitation and I took it. And the time outside in this seasonal shift was exactly what I needed before I settle deeply into winter.
Thank you, Heather.
I love your daybook style of blogging. Reading a blogpost feels a bit like paying you a little visit and discussing the day over a cup of tea.