7 Quick Takes

 1.

We've been practically living on quiche recently.  Quiche and crepes and anything involving eggs..but not fried eggs, nor omlettes, nor poached; I'm feeling very done with eggy eggs but the chickens are so proud! 7 - 9 a day and once a horrifying 13 eggs in one day (we have 9 hens, but two are old and rarely lay. Last night's quiche was cheddar, chard, kale, basil, fennel, and sun-dried tomato (because we have other abundances to work through as well). I made 2 full size and 5 portable (tartlet) quiches and we ate them with a salad all our own! They make fantastic leftovers!

2.

Yesterday began my month long retreat and observance of the Dormition fast. For this fast, we're just avoiding meat, alcohol, and sugar..but my retreat will extend the fasting (apart from the excesses of the Dormition itself!) through the month, and add to it with scheduled reflections, more time for play with Yarrow, ora et labora.. and a full-body cleanse, a spending fast, and lots of time in the garden! I began well yesterday morning, but later in the day Yarrow completely disregarded line 7: '11:00am: Yarrow Nap.' We battled it out for 3 hours. I made Yarrow sit on her bed after nursing failed. And she sat, clutching Da and Jesus, Mr. Elephant and Mr. Lion. Crying a little, laughing a lot, and refusing to sleep. I'm grateful at least that I could tell her 'stay' and she'd stay while I went back and forth to the kitchen, baking quiche, and halfway to the stream to haul water for the pigs. Retreats are never perfect though, when there isn't an awake toddler, there's a woman chewing gum constantly, or an old man praying loudly and five words ahead of everyone else. 

3.

I have to make pickles soon! And start eating cucumber with every slice of quiche.. 8 came in yesterday, 4 on Tuesday, and the weekend looks terrifying! I've stocked up on spring roll wrappers in anticipation; and there are plans for cucumber water, cucumber sandwiches, cucumbers and hummus..but pickles are essential too! I love the thought of pickle jars all along the kitchen wall, waiting to be eaten on snowy winter afternoons.

4.

Retreat Cake #2

Summer Country Cake

I made this yesterday, it's an edited form of a fantastic British recipe. I didn't have enough clover blossoms, and I'm avoiding real sugar. So here it it, I was really impressed with the result!

2/3c. very soft butter

1/3 - 1/2 c. honey

4-6 fresh clover blossoms, separated (optional)

3-4 fresh bee balm (monarda) blossoms, petals only

2 eggs

1 c. white flour

1/4 c. whole wheat flour

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 c. finely grated carrots

1/4 c. milk

Grease an 8" cake pan. Beat together the butter and honey, add flowers, then eggs and beat well. 

sift together flours and baking powder. add grated carrots then fold into wet mixture. Add milk and mix gently. Turn into the pan and bake at 350 F for 35-40 minutes. Until cake is well risen and springy.

We served it plain, but it'd probably go well with a light icing, or with dollops of cream fraiche, or a tiny smear of lime curd..It pairs wonderfully with tea!

5.

Facebook is official out of my life! For August. I will go back after the month ends, but with an altered relationship..I've mentioned it before, but I think increased honestly would be helpful on facebook, so long as it's combined with Charity. I'll be using it more to share things that may cause discussion..and I've recently distanced myself from groups where deep discussion is not supported. Overall though, I think August will give me a 'facebook cleanse' as well as physical and spiritual one and prepare me to go back in a better way.

     6.

Current Detoxifying Tea :

1 part Dandelion Root

1 part Burdock Root

2 parts Nettle

2 parts Milk Thistle

1 part raspberry leaf

A little over a tablespoon makes a pot, which gives me about 4 - 5 cups a day. It's nourishing and detoxing, and very mild..sometimes I'll add a sachet of my 'Cinnamon Sunrise' tea to kick up the flavor a bit.  The habit of drinking tea is in itself a healing one. I've given up coffee for the month, but for the moment, I don't really miss it at all!

7.

Tonight's Detoxing Bath:

Epsom salt

Dandelion root

Burdock root

Lavender leaves and oil

Rosemary leaves

To be enjoyed with Non-detoxing tea, beautiful music, incense, and restful reading..

Blessed weekend! And check out Conversion Diary for more of these!