For the first time since we started this farm adventure we purchased chicks in the mail. We got up early Monday morning after receiving the call from the post office. "Your chicks have arrived. Come 'round to the back door and ring the bell." This really sounded like a covert mission. Come around to the back? Since the kids were already awake getting ready for their virtual classes, they insisted they tag along. So we headed out. I'm embarrassed to say we had never visited the post office in our small town, and we've lived here over 12 years! But we made it. The GPS told us were had arrived about a block ahead of where we were going, but since there's only one main road in town it didn't take us long to figure out which one was the post office. All masked and gloved up, we piled out of the car and scuffled up to the back landing dock and waited. And waited.... before finally someone came out. I told the gentleman why we were there, and he disappeared for a few minutes before returning with a small square box with holes all around. We could hear faint peeps coming from within. I quickly gave my name, he zapped the box with the scanner, and we were on our way. We had to crack the windows all the way home. The stench was almost unbearable. My worst fears were confirmed when we got home and cut the ties to open the box. Ten little peeps chirped away at the daylight they had barely glimpsed during their short three-day life in the world. Swiftly, we picked up each chick, dipped its beak in water and placed it inside the brooder we had prepared. After about the fifth or sixth transfer, we noticed the stiff body of our little buff orpington lying at the bottom, trampled during transit. The kids carried it out to the edge of the wood, dug a shallow hole, and buried it. They even made a little tombstone with scrap wood from the fence project. As they turned to leave, the four-year-old shouted, "Waaaiiiiittt! Don't we have to say something?" Amid the groans from the middle schoolers, she said, "Poor chicken. He didn't get to have life. Amen." ~PennyCandy Thoughts
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Who doesn't enjoy a refreshing cup of hot tea? And well, in the south, we love a cup of ice cold sweet tea- spring, summer, winter or fall. I personally enjoy both. The reality of how much I enjoy tea came about when we were packing up our home in Summerville, SC to move back closer to our family. As we packed up the pantry, I distinctly remember it took an entire 30-gallon trash bag to collect all of the teas I had accumulated during the short time we lived in that house. Yes, I did say a trash bag! How else would we gather all of these boxes, tins and baggies? Today, I wanted to try something a little more natural. We've been growing mint on our property for several years. Besides it being an easy (yet, invasive) plant to grow, there are many benefits to having it around. My dad grew it in our backyard when I was growing up. He would steep the leaves to make tea every now and then, but I was never brave enough to try it. I just couldn't imagine eating "weeds" from a ditch. For a few weeks, I have been researching the medicinal benefits of natural herbs and teas. Peppermint and spearmint were on the list. We have both. Yesterday, I was brave enough to pick a spearmint leaf and chew it up while walking through the garden. Today, we made spearmint tea. Here's how we did it. 1. Pick off a few sprigs of mint and wash them carefully. They are quite delicate, so you don't want to scrub them or use very hot water. The idea is to get any loose dirt washed away. 2. Place the leaves in a sieve or strainer and place the strainer on top of your mug. 3. Bring 1-2 cups of water to a boil and pour over the leaves. Be sure the leaves are submerged in the hot water. 4. Let the tea leaves steep for about 5-10 minutes, crushing them with a spoon to release the essential oils. This will make the tea stronger. 5. Remove the strainer and discard of the leaves in your compost. 6. Sweeten with honey or your preferred sweetener. So, the verdict is in. We have two votes for favorable. One voter shared, "mmm, that's tasty"! One vowed never to try it ever, while one person was all too eager to say it tastes like mouthwash! I suggest you try it for yourself. If you don't have time to pick and brew, just stick them in the fridge in a glass of water. They will keep nicely until you're ready. -PennyCandy Thoughts |
AuthorI'm a wife, mother, daughter, educator, writer and hobby farmer. Welcome to my world of simply living. Archives
December 2023
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