Enthused and Inspired!

Immersing ourselves back into farm life has been wonderful this week. 

 Vacation always serves to stoke my enthusiasm, inspiration, and creativity.  And so, I have dived, headfirst, into all of the projects that have been swirling around my mind.  Getting my fingers into the soil is number one on my list.  Within the next two weeks, I will get some of my spring seeds into the soil.  For now, though, I am content to give a reboot to some of my houseplants.

In April of 2019, Jack and I took a class at PSU in houseplant propagation.  We came home with a few cuttings and quickly got them started in potting soil.  One of these was a three inch piece of snake plant (dracaena trifasciata).  By year's end the cutting (the part of the plant that is tipped in yellow) had grown a new shoot.

Those shoots continued to make new shoots and soon I had an enormous plant.  Two years ago, I split the plant in two and re-potted them.  Since then, they have continued to grow!

Yesterday I split the contents of those two pots into 6 containers!

This is one amazing plant.  Though toxic to animals and babies (adults, too) (but, only if consumed), they are quite safe if kept out of reach.  The plant is extremely beneficial to the atmosphere inside the home, as well.  It is excellent at absorbing toxic chemicals in the air and exchanging them for oxygen.  They literally purify your air!  Though not the most beautiful of plants, in my opinion, I am more than happy to keep splitting them into more containers and placing them around my house.  They are happiest in indirect bright light and do not require a lot of water - just a drink every two weeks or so when the soil is dried out.

I've had a chance to begin my home flour-milling... 

grinding some whole wheat flour that I used in these English muffins and loaves of bread.

When my Azure Standard order arrives next week, I will have both hard red wheat berries, and hard white wheat berries to work with.  I think it will take a little trial and error to successfully produce my own freshly ground all purpose flour... grinding and sifting.  I'll share what I learn as I venture forward.

After months of soaking in oil, I have two infused oils ready to use for salves and lip balms...

yarrow leaves and calendula flowers.  Both herbs are renowned for their skin-healing properties.

I used the yarrow oil in a peppermint, healing lip balm - packaged in cardboard tubes.  

And the calendula in a lavender scented healing salve.  A few family members and friends use this salve routinely as a moisturizer - thus the need to make some more!

Yesterday gifted us a beautiful sunny day - the storms and winds of the previous days having moved on.  Finally we were able to get back out in the woods with the dogs - something I am sure they missed.

This time of year, when we are just on the cusp of turning the corner from winter into spring, seeing snowdrops peeking through the forest floor is a welcomed sight!

Unless one takes the time to look these precious blossoms in the face, one misses the chance to see just how beautiful they actually are!

It's the same with people.  If we walk with our heads down, we miss the beauty that is hidden in each other's faces and the stories that lie behind each other's eyes.  I cannot take credit for this bit of inspiration... as it was handed to me by Jack, yesterday on our woodsy walk.  I merely put it into my own words.

Tomorrow is Hubbs' birthday.  Some of you have had the pleasure of knowing this amazing man.  He's the light of my life and the best partner I could imagine in this life on the farm.  I could go on and on... 

 Happy Birthday, love!!