Went out to try to find black raspberries today, but, of course, found blackberries instead.
We obviously got here pretty early, but we still took home a good amount
Tomorrow we will make a little cobbler! 🖤 thankful to be on planet earth
This Saturday, I gathered violets from the field across the creek to make into violet syrup, to make into lemonade, just like last year. I went right as the sun was touching the horizon.
Last year my dad made us a bonfire and and we all shared the bright purple elixir around it.
All in all I harvested about a half cup of petals this year.
I stripped the petals from the sepals and washed them. I found this guy in the process..
After washing the petals, I brought one cup of water to boil on the stove, and put the petals into a mason jar. I then poured the boiling water over the petals and covered the top of the mason jar with a bit of foil and a rubber band.
The color immediately begins to seep from the petals, making deeper streaks of blue every second. It's magical to watch.
The whole of this violet lemonade making process is magic to me. Picking the purple flowers, which stand out like jewels in the lush green grass in the field, seeing the precious purple pile inside your basket as you move through the field, taking a few flowers here and there. Stripping the petals and feeling their delicate and alive, skin-like softness. Watching them give color to the water, in such an explosion you almost wonder if it's natural, but of course it is! Making it into simple syrup, where the heat may turn it's delicate blue color a bit green if you aren't careful, but I don't mind. And then the best part, pouring your violet syrup into the fresh squeezed lemon juice and water and watching the pH of the lemons change the color of the syrup, literally like making a magic potion. A dazzling spring ritual.
I miss you Dad! ♡
It's dropping back down into the thirties, brrr.
Just put some pinto beans into the crock pot; I have turnip greens that I'm going to add to them near the end. :)
I almost want to go to sleep until they're ready.... I hate to wait :P
Update:
It's almost ready! Just mixed in the greens!
Time it was, and what a time it was
It was
a time of innocence
a time of confidences
Long ago it must be
I have a photograph
Preserve your memories
they're all that's left you
- Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel
~
Today I looked out and up at the right moment and saw the great blue heron fly overhead.
Yesterday the sun shone and lit up so vividly the blooming dead nettle, spring onions, and dandelions right outside my bedroom window; it was like a heavenly vision I awoke to. (yes, the sun was quite strong and I woke quite late) Maybe I can recreate the feeling in a picture later this week... (I know they will mow it down any day)
I put saffron perfume in my hair this morning. My cat seems to love it 
Sowed the big bluestem seeds in my mom's yard this past week... hopefully the birds don't get to all of them. 
And I didn't plan the best with the temperatures, but oh well, we will see what happens. Also planted some tall tickseed by her tall shuttered front windows; I think they'll look so beautiful if they come up! 
Put some prairie dropseed in the ground as well, even though I understand it has a really small chance of coming up, but I just wanna see!
So, overall, I'm trying!
It's been so windy. Today the windows and doors are rattling. It's warm, but the air is dirty from all the construction sites near us. 
In any case, I can't wait to spend more time in my mom's garden next time I visit her ♥
