It’s a rainy day today…after a week of glorious weather (which might explain my absence this last week!) and we are hunkering down for our first freeze. A bit early for our area! With the threat of a freeze, it was time to gather the last of the basil from the garden. I believe I picked about a bushel and a half!
I use a lot of basil in cooking and in a creamy basil dressing I make, but I also use it for medicinal purposes and even in one of my soaps. So…we grow a lot of basil over the season! After being washed, dried and picked, I ended up with quite a few bags of basil for the freezer and a bit left over to be dried. I pack 2 cups of basil into each bag!
It’s been a busy fall! Josiah got married last month at a friend’s farm and the weather was glorious! Here’s the happy couple just after they shared their very first kiss ever…
The wedding was beautiful, another son left the nest and I gained a lovely daughter! My little family is growing!
All of my family has been too busy this summer and fall so we’ve started a new tradition Family Camp Outs! We used to camp together when the kids were little and it’s time to start again!
We had our first one last weekend. The kids came last Friday evening, pitched their tents, we shared a meal and then enjoyed a bonfire together complete with smores! The weather was perfect! Don’t you just love bonfires?
Eventually the boys went off for some “brother time” and the ladies gathered to watch [easyazon_link asin=”1433684829″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”tnfarmgirl-20″]Moms’ Night Out[/easyazon_link].
This movie was done by the same church who did Courageous and Fireproof. Cute movie with the important underlying message that what a stay-at-home-mom does is valuable and important. It’s easy, as a mom, in the hum drum of wiping noses, changing diapers and cleaning up yet one more mess, to forget that our Father gives great value to the sacrifice and service moms give their families.
We spent Saturday together around the fire, hanging out, laying in the hammocks and enjoying each other. We had supper together and made plans for Thanksgiving and Hanukkah. It was some necessary downtime for everyone!
We have decided to do this again for Hanukkah, only we don’t plan on sleeping outside. Instead my home will be full and we foresee a lot of fun, laughter, board games and the general craziness that ensues when my 4 sons get together!
I’m in the process of creating two new soaps that reflect Appalachia…can’t wait to share them!
My fall soaps are on sale until Monday morning! Hope you ordered yours…once they sell out, they won’t be available again until next fall!
The chicken coop has been winterized – a thorough cleaning tomorrow and the addition of another heat lamp should ensure healthy hens, and plenty of eggs all winter long!
We have some projects on our list…cleaning up a barn, cleaning out a shed and mowing the fields along with a bit of greenhouse repair from a hailstorm and we will be ready for winter!
Elijah and I have picked out some hikes to explore in the Smokies over the holidays and I’m really looking forward to that!
Life is busy and full of joy and I thank Abba for every moment of it!
Are you ready for winter? What’s happening on your homestead?
Blessings,
The Essential Herbalist 
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