Yarn Bowl & Memories

...or where my summer went.
Anise Hyssop that I grew and dried for use in a Polysporin-type ointment which is on my list to make very soon.

There was a bit more sock knitting. This pattern was free on ravelry by Susan B. Anderson called How I Make My Socks.  The stripes match on these, horrors. ;)  

Back in July when my sisters were visiting we went through Bulls Gap, Tenn. and stopped at Yoder's Country Market. 

First of Good Fences meme photo

They had the typical baked breads, etc. I actually prefer Mountain View Bulk Store in Chuckey, Tenn., but this one is in a different area, of course.

We've lived on our little farm for 23 years this summer and have had loads of fun along with lots of work during that time.  Two of the things I've enjoyed the most here are the herbs that I grew and foraged and used for flavorings, food and medicine and the time in the evenings when I've been able to knit.

  And I've always thought it would be cool to have a yarn bowl that I could use when knitting so when I saw that my blogger friend Kathy had gotten a custom made one from a potter who sells on Etsy, I knew I wanted to do the same.  This was a birthday present from Goodman, and I'm thrilled to have it.

It's not just a yarn bowl though, it's a keepsake of memories from our farm.  In this view there's a depiction of Butterfly Weed that grows wild in our pasture.  It's also called pleurisy root, and mentioned here.

There are two Black Walnut trees on the property, and I've posted about them and what we did with them here and here. 

Pokeberries grow all over the place, and while leaving lots of them for the birds to eat, I posted about dyeing yarn with them here.

Blackberries have been a tasty part of our lives, posted about here and here.  We plan to down-size someday and move to a smaller acreage, but the bowl of farm memories will go along with us. ;)

Back in the spring I took cuttings from my hydrangea bushes, dipped them in rooting hormone and planted them in old plastic pots...

They've grown fairly well even though we've had a blisteringly hot summer.  I'll be planting them as soon as the weather cools a bit. 

Lastly, a view of the John Sevier Plantation Home historical site in Knoxville, Tenn.

Dandy, Just Dandy

This post on Dandelion Coffee was featured at the Good Neighbor Blog Hop

                                                     And Wildcrafting Wednesday

It's that time of year, again, when the frost is on the pumpkins and I sprinkle sunflower seeds on the deck rail...

Carolina Wren

For the greedy, early morning visitors. I could sit and watch them for hours, but alas, there are other things to be done.

Titmouse

I was reading a post over at The Deliberate Agrarian site the other day about dandelion tea and immediately knew I had to try making my own, but I call it coffee since it's roasted, dandelion coffee. It's aroma and taste is not like coffee, but it's not like tea, either.

 I found several in my raised beds and dug them up then...

Cut the tops off and washed the roots...

Cut them in 1-2 inch pieces then...

Whizzed them in the food processor until they resembled brown rice according to the directions in the youtube video mentioned in the post by The Deliberate Agrarian.

Then I dried and roasted the roots to a rich, dark brown (darker than the photo below) according to the directions on the video. The chopped dandelion roots can be dried naturally for a few days or in the oven at 220 degrees for about an hour then roasted at 350 degrees until dark and just beginning to smoke. See video.

This photo shows the color much better. Four good sized roots yielded 1 cup of roasted dandelion root. It should stay fresh for several months if kept in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid.

Time for the moment of truth. Is it palatable or not? I'm an avid coffee and tea drinker so I think I'd be a decent judge of whether it's drinkable or not. The first thirty minutes in the oven they had smelled like green beans do while they're cooking so I wasn't sure they'd make a good coffee... O.O

However, I'm not one to chicken out so I added 2 tablespoons of the "coffee" to 24 ozs. of  hot, but not quite boiling water, and let it steep for 5 minutes.

 I strained it into a cup with sweetener and a bit of milk to soften the bitter taste I'd heard it has.

*sips*  ....
I'm not sure it needed the milk and sweetener. It IS actually pretty good - it has a roasted, slightly caramel bouquet. Goodman and I were pleased that it wasn't weedy or weird. BUT the good part I haven't even mentioned yet... Dandelion root coffee is LOADED with vitamins A, B complex, C, and D as well as a host of minerals. It aids digestion by breaking down fat and helps your body rid itself of harmful toxins. O.O
Not bad for a pesky yard weed I say.  I hope you will try dandelion coffee as it is a powerhouse of vitamins. Also, in this uncertain economy we may not always be able to purchase our favorite normal coffee. I love my regular coffee and plan to drink it still, but dandelion coffee is far and away better for our bodies so I'm adding a cup in mid afternoon for the health benefits. Cheers...

The socks are coming along slowly as I'm practicing the organ for a couple of hours each day. I've learned two songs  - When The Saints Go Marching In and Ode To Joy/Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.  

Have a great week, Y'all!
Linking to... Homestead Barn-Hop, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Encourage One Another, The Thankful HomeAcre Hop, Frugal Ways, Sustainable Days, Real Food Fridays, Farmgirl Friday, The Art Of Home-Making Mondays