A cautionary tale

Today I rubbed down 2 hop bines and harvested the dried hops. Kitchen smells delish, I have sticky yellow fingers and was nodding off in an impossible to ignore way this afternoon......

woke up later on.

Memo to self, when picking hops , wear a mask and gloves. And do it in a well ventilated , large room, like I see around here a lot. They are called Hop Barns. They are big buildings, With big open doors and very high rooves........I rather think they might just be like that for a reason......

Can testify that my hop pillows WILL work, though ! Personally tested by me.....

Felt like I had taken a powerful sleeping pill.

Which, of course, effectively I had...

New companion cat.

This is Cassiopea. She is a new rescue kitten, come to live with Tom, Tabitha and Cleopatra.

She is adorable, about 5 months old and so friendly!

Hens

The feathery laydies are enjoying all sorts of treats from the orchard and veg patch at the moment!

Spinach which has gone to seed...

And apples..lots and LOTS of apples!

Mabon celebrations

It is the Autumn Equinox . A day of balance, of light and dark. A day to celebrate the harvest and a day I spent some time, teaching in my wood, showing adult carers ways to have fun outdoors, make dens, fire, and do all sorts of fun stuff outside with children.

A day to honour the God and Goddess, of the Harvest, of the Woods, of the Fields, and all manner of wild things and tame.

I decorated my house and especially my lovely Green Man, with hops, drying and fragrant, redolent with promise of beer and merriment at Yule.

I harvested Apples and Pumpkins and more good things from my garden, wood and orchard.

I collected another rescue, companion cat. She is adorable!

I gave thanks.

Hop harvest

Some pictures of the hop harvest here recently at Compost Mansions.

I harvested the hops a few days ago and they are now hanging up to dry, scenting the house and the barn with their fragrance.

I shall use some in brewing beer and some to make Hop pillows and craft items. Some may be ground up to add to soaps.