8.17.10 beginning harvest & an average chicken

The weather has changed quite a bit. It's still hot and still humid but feels 20 degrees better than it has lately. It had been in the high 90's for days and days, but for the last few days it's been in the 80's. It feels so very good.

There isn't nearly as much to harvest as past years but there is still something and I'm very thankful for what we have. The bath is filled with freshly rinsed bundles of English Mint, Wormwood, Catnip, Basil, Wild Daga, Cinnamon Basil and Feverfew. Smaller bundles of Rosemary, Sage and Thyme hang over the kitchen sink. On the porch there are bundles of Mugwort, Mullein and Melissa. When they've dried a bit from rinsing I'll rebundle them all into smaller bundles to dry fully.

This early evening I'll be gathering Anise Hyssop, Peppermint, Ginger Mint, Yarrow, Soapwort (if I can find it), and a bit more of some things I gathered yesterday.

I have to search to be sure but it looks like several more things in the herb gardens have been lost this year as well. The Lavender patch is usually very easy to fine but I couldn't see it at all and I couldn't find any St Johns Wort. The Echinacea didn't do as well as most years but there was still a fair amount, which is all but gone for the goats.

Speaking of goats ... all, even Anya, are improving. I'll be sure to post what it was and how I treated it another time.

I had closed all my shops while I was away but all but one is open again now. I'm trying to raise enough money for something very important to me and to cover what was lost by shutting them down for a week. So if you feel so inclined, please do have a loot. Financially it hurt us much more than I expected. But that's one of the few downsides to living off so little. I used to have a bit in savings to cover such things but I used it several months ago when our renter lost his job and didn't work for several months. I know things will work out tho, they always do.

I seem to have lost almost 20 pounds over the last two weeks. It wasn't a healthy loss (depression, stress, dehydration) but my body is strong and I heal and balance quickly. Amazingly Nik seemed to find his physical balance as soon as we got home. A blessing on the young people.

And now the chicken .... On Sunday I made an oven roasted chicken on a bed of rice with chili pepper, herbs and other spices, corn and homemade bread. It was Family Feast and quite delicious.

On Monday I took the leftovers and made chicken fajitas. Homemade tortillas with rice, chicken, corn and cheese, a little ranch dressing on mine.

Today I'm using the leftover leftovers to make potpie. The rice, corn and chicken plus thick gravy, carrots and peas with a biscuit topping.

Three good large meals from one average sized chicken. All three of these meals fed 3adults (we're feeding a neighbor).

Things are starting to find their right place again, now if I can just keep from losing the Burrow completely, all will be well.