Monday, August 8, 2011

We Love (the tastes of) Summer

It's such a plentiful time of year. The gardens are fresh and swollen, just ripe for the picking. Crops in the fields are grown plump and eagerly await the coming harvest. Flowers spring from every planter; wild blossoms choke even the smallest fallow bits of ground. Animals sate themselves on the rich growth; they grow big and strong. Plump, too. The table is never without fresh dressings. The smell of herbs and newly-picked vegetables waft from the kitchen throughout the house. Farmer's markets offer everything you could ever dream.


Local farm-fresh chicken, fresh local bacon, local organic zucchini and red onions, and our own home-grown broccoli from our garden. Also, homemade macaroni-n-cheese with some local Amish sweet mustard thrown in---the best there ever was!


There are few things in the world more delicious...


- Jacinta, for the Meyers family

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Sunday, August 7, 2011

Flowers

Shame on me! I forgot to mention that the flowers I posted yesterday came from two wonderful local farms: Wyn-De-Elm and Garden Hill.


They are so beautiful! Thanks for brightening up our home, ladies. :)


- Jacinta, for the Meyers family


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Something Old, But New

We've taken up a new hobby here at Great Bend Bakery Farm. Allow me to introduce you to our first batch of old-fashioned, hand-made, goat's milk soap:


It's an oatmeal and mint soap, made with olive oil, honey, a little bit of soy oil, goat's milk, organic oatmeal, and our own home-grown mint. The scent is very subtle---something that appeals to me, personally, because I am allergic to most scented soaps. It feels wonderful on the skin; the mint leaves a refreshing coolness while the oatmeal gently and naturally exfoliates, making this a fantastic choice for a morning facial cleansing. It's also nice for work-roughened hands; artists and gardeners can use it to clean caked-on grime off of their fingers and palms. The honey and olive oil are hygroscopic, helping to prevent infections and promote healing. While it may not look pretty, it's really good for your skin.

This is really my fiance's hobby; he totally loves it, along with cheese-making. But we're all doing our part to help him out. I was put in charge of packaging. I chose a plain brown parcel paper.


Then I made up some labels, variations on our blog themes!


We are still trying to figure everything out. For instance, how and when to cut the soap so that it's more even. (We priced these by the ounce, and rounded down because of the imperfections in this first batch.) I brought a bunch to the Watertown Farmer's Market to sell from a basket on my jewelry table, and everyone seemed to love it!


Up in the corner of this last picture, my fiance (David, by the way) is cutting up our third batch of soap---coconut mocha, made with coconut oil, coconut milk, goat's milk, olive oil, and coconut essence. It's also got curls of our second soap mixed in---cocoa powder, olive oil, goat's milk, and pieces of ground-up coffee beans. Very decadent! I think it's my favorite so far. It certainly smells the best!

Looking forward to making more. :)


- Jacinta, for the Meyers Family

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Saturday, August 6, 2011

"Already Home"



Glimmering sail on the horizon.
Frail light, but I can see the new day.
Little dot brightening, dawn is on its way.

It’s been a cold and bitter winter
My cheeks raw with wind.
Nascent light, soon it will be spring.

Time left me standing at the bus stop
Stamping my feet to keep my toes from freezing.
When I landed at your doorstep
I had no key, I couldn’t get in.
There was nobody home.

I thought that we would be together
'Til earth kissed its longest day.
But the heat must have melted you away.

And it’s been a cold and bitter exit
My heart still raw with love.
Absent nights, yes this would be enough.

Time left me stranded in your shadow
Building up hope, looking on the bright side.
You left me shivering under scaffold
The weather got in, though the walls were sure there.
It was no home.

Time left me stranded at your doorstep
Stomping my feet, keeping with the season.
And when I finally saw you in the window
I didn’t knock. I didn’t go in.
I was already home.

I thought that we would be together
'Til earth kissed its longest day.
But the heat melted you away.

It’s been a cold and bitter winter
My cheeks still raw with wind.
Nascent light, soon it will be spring.



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Above the song lyrics is a picture of the first farmer's market bouquet we've had all summer. I've always loved flowers; they brighten the home and add a softness to daily things. Blossoms for smiles, bright rainbow colors... who could be sad? Maybe it was a frivolous purchase, but I feel better for having brought them home and placed them on our table. It was also wonderful to help support local growers and the amazing work that they do. There is something about a beloved task, a toil accepted without remorse. I feel a kindredship with these people who kneel on the ground most days under a merciless sun, who plow their fingers into the earth and coax green things. How beautiful.


 - Jacinta, for the Meyers family

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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Hottest Trend?

We call it the Chicky Bonnet, but in some parts they just might call it the Chook Hat. ;)
Mother Meyers models it below.


Note the haylike tones in the hair. Yep, this look is definitely in for summer!


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