Morning Farm Work, Before Heading To Work

We are early risers, we like to have our coffee, read and listen to the news and just have some quiet time to ourselves.  There is another motive.  Once lunches are packed and just prior to waking the kids up, there are a few little items to be taken care of on any given day.  The animals need to be tended to, the garden (when it's warm and dry as we have been) needs to be watered, and something is always in need of harvesting, even this early in the season.

This morning, I harvested a fraction of our blooming chive flowers.  It is going to be very warm today and I was concerned that by the time we got home, they would be past their peak.

Once picked, rinsed and spun, I load them into quart canning jars 2/3 of the way to the top.

Then, I pour white wine vinegar over the top of them, turn them upside down once and let them sit in a dark cool place for two weeks.

When they're done the vinegar will be a beautiful pink and perfect for dressing salads or marinading any number of things.  A little taste of early summer to keep!

When I went to buy the vinegar last night, I was struck by this mislabeling of the bottles.  In fact, I needed to stare at the bottles for a second to figure out what was going on, was I seeing  the color properly?   This made me marvel at our brains and how they work as they register things that aren't as they should be.  It put a little smile on my face.

Oh yes, and then I try to get a blog post in before the kids come down to breakfast!  Good Morning!

#reverb10 ~ One Word

 In reflecting on one word that best described me this year, I'm not sure that I can say I achieved balance this year, so what would it be?   I think....

Driven.

Yes, that's it.  Many years ago when B was in the midst of woodworking, and beginning to cycle again he said "you should have some hobbies."  Beyond being a business owner/mom/homemaker I just didn't know what I was interested in.  Well I seem to have found a multitude of  things this year!

I love to write, and my blog has really become important to me.  This year I reached my first year milestone in blogging and I have been so taken with the generosity of spirit in the blogging community.

Though I lurked for the first month, with a little push from Julie, I  committed to the blogcamp 2010 PAD project and found a new love and eye for my budding photography. 

I learned to sew by volunteering to help with costumes for the famed first grade musical at the kid's school and then learned to quilt through a fantastic group of ladies at a quilt a long.  Now, as I continue to learn, I'm trying to pass the small bits I know onto friends who are anxious to pick up this lost art.

I've found that I have a patience, that I never anticipated, for my own mistakes that leads me through projects to their completion.  I am continuing to find new things that I want to learn, and with renewed energy each time.  

Each of these things I've picked up, felt driven to learn, complete, enjoy,  and to do this having minimal interference with my family and our quest to sustainability.  Which I do!  But I think going forward into the next year my word should be moderation, but maybe only slight moderation :).

I once stitched my grandmother some needlework that said "Busy hands make happy hearts".  For me this is most true. 

Please check out Reverb 10 where you too can reflect on this year an manifest what's next!