Nature is peaceful and healing

I have been pottering in the kitchen today, but not at the pace I had hoped for as last night I received news that a very good and once close friend had passed over last week after a long battle.  That has saddened me but most of all because we lost touch with each other.  I have therefore taken some time in the garden today just being quiet, still and in the moment thinking of happier times and sending love to her loved ones left behind. I have also gathered some more items even though in small quantities for doing something for the Pantry shelf with.

Today I have collected the last of the Rhubarb - I intend to use this for a chutney;

A small bunch of Lavender; it smells gorgeous. I am just going to simply dry this in a small bunch. Next year I intend to have more Lavender and different varieties.  It is one of my memories from being a child and  there was a big bush in my mother's garden.  One of the first projects we did at school was a Lavender bag made for Mother's Day.  The one I made was bright green Satin using a remnant of fabric that had been from my Mum's 21st birthday dress. It was in a heart shape and trimmed with tiny ruffled white lace which set it off beautifully.  Fresh Lavender sachets were added yearly and that little heart went on for years scenting the linens. A lot of people cannot cope with Lavender but I love it.  I shall dry what little I have collected, I have let the Bees have it this year, but if I increase my plant stock, then I will not only help the Bees and bring the pollinators to the garden I will be able to make some lovely items from it and use it in my cooking as well.

Lemon Verbena, to be dried in the first instance.  If I gather enough some will be made into potpourri and the other will be used for tea/tisane and some may be added to an Apple jelly for the Pantry shelf.  Yet again I am going to increase the stock of these very important herbs.  There is also a cordial recipe and a liqueur type drink that I want to try as well.

More Pot Marigold heads which are being dried to use as poor man's Saffron and also to macerate in some oil to be used in homemade toiletries.  I am very much playing this year and I think the quantities of plants are going to be increased quite a lot as I have a lot of use for items like this.  I have always fancied having a drying room/Still room for both herbs and dried flowers as well as for drying and making things for the Pantry shelf.  Maybe one day, something I am promising myself if things turn around.

Rosemary to be dried and used in cooking whether on the stem or just the leaves.

A little Chamomile with some flowers for drying.  This is something I will definitely increase in stock for next year as I have a use for this as well. Very good as a rinse for fair hair.

Wild Blackberries self set in the garden.  Have picked what I have been able to find and I intend to dry these and add them to Muesli or Granola over the winter months.  I also intend to dry different berries in order that I have a mixture of berries and not just one particular type.

The new Dehydrator is to have its first use today and I am going to be putting quite a few things in there to dry.  I also intend to put my natural herb driers up at the windows as well.  It will be good to get a little supply of Lemon, Orange and Lemon slices as well as apple slices dried for use in cooking and drinks and Christmas decorating.  They can also be added to mulled wines and for simmer pots to scent the home.

I also have Chives, Thyme, Rosemary, Celery, chilli peppers and mushrooms to dry

Purple Sage leaves to be dried and then used in homemade stuffing mixes.  Cannot beat a homemade stuffing mix it has so much more flavour to it.

I have also picked more courgettes; another large ball Courgette, a yellow Courgette and a green one.  There are more flowers on the plants and there are a couple of more Courgettes on the plants as well. However it may be a week or so before I am able to pick more.  Will see how it goes, but at least I am getting a little bit.

I have picked the first of the Black Peppermint for the start of this year's homemade Mint Tea mix.

I have French Tarragon, Chocolate Mint, white Sage (ordinary Sage), Lovage, Apple Mint to harvest from shortly.  Also Chives and possibly some Chive heads which will go to make Chive Blossom Vinegar.

I need to add Thyme to the Herb plant collection for next year as I use an awful lot of this in cooking too.

I also would like to get hold of some Lemon Thyme plants as well. Delicious when used with roasted glazed carrots.  A lot of flavour.

Next year there will also be Angelica plants and Borage plants as well.

I am also looking forward to when my Nasturtiums I grew from seed end up flowering as they will also be used in some preserves. I am keen to try a Nasturtium jelly, and also an oil dressing for salad leaves.  Also intend to dry some as well. Such colourful cheerful flowers.

Tea tonight is a cooked meal; because of the hot weather we have not been having hot meals however this evening I decided that we were in need of one.  I have a Chicken and Bacon pie being served with new potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots and peas.  That should do very nicely.  It was lovely.

G is fishing tomorrow in a match which means I will be home alone with the animals.

Not sure what I will be doing tomorrow as yet but it could be that I go into the back bedroom and start in there and then go back into the kitchen on Wednesday.

I did manage to get some stuff done in the kitchen today, not much but every little helps.

Before I settle down for the evening I am going to sort out the Dehydrator and get that filled and on the go to make the best of the ingredients I gathered today.  I am quite pleased with what I had found and gathered together.

Hope everyone has a lovely evening.

Take care and look after each other.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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