Mindful Monday
Updated: May 18, 2020
Happy Monday! I don't know about you but, this weekend went by too fast. I would like longer weekends with my family, and time to get more things done.
This past weekend I foraged for goodness on the acres. I found Wild Chamomile, Lambs Quarters, Peonies, Yellow Wood-Sorrel, Clovers, Dandelions, Cleavers, and my first patch of Stinging Nettle.
Here's a pic of my foraging basket!
For the Lambs Quarters we love to add it to a raw salad! It is rich in beta carotene, vitamin b2, calcium, and iron! It's an excellent source of vitamin A, and high in protein! A perfect wild edible "weed". I love picking the dandelions to make an herbal oil for salve, and use the fresh flowers in a foraged, herbal maple syrup cake. The white clover flowers are a perfect sweet taste to a salad or smoothie. I also like to add the yellow wood-sorrel to a salad, or smoothie. The peonies I collected were eaten raw, and added to a homemade herbal tea. I also made some heavenly body scrub that is listed in the shop! I usually LOVE to look for four leaf clovers. The most I have found at one time was 16! This past weekend I wasn't looking for one, and one just found me. That one is is in the basket. Do you spy it? The Wild Chamomile is being dried for herbal tea, and the other half is going to be used as a salve so I'm making an herbal infused oil.
Are you familiar with these foraged "weeds?" What are your favorite ways to use them?
I updated the Shop store, and added new 100% homemade salves, along with the flower body scrub.
Look how big the Lambs are getting!
The Lambs make evening chores so much fun! Here in Kansas, we have had many rainy days, and lots of cloudy weather. Making that evening sky with the sun shining in on the Shetland Sheep that much sweeter!
We also moved our barnyard chicks we hatched, and turkey chicks from their brooder to a chicken tractor. They're fully feathered, and enjoying the grass.
Now that you are caught up on a few things that we did this weekend on the farm... I'd like to challenge you to start off your week with some Mindfulness.
I do truly believe it will help you get through the week so much smoother!
As a busy mom of two, and small business owner, and homesteader... I like to get into the habit of practicing mindful Monday's with myself, and my family! What a great way to start your work, school, or farm week. It doesn't have to be anything complex, it can be about balance, positive thoughts, and even just your posture.
I like to remind myself.... Today I am choosing to continue to be mindful. Mindful in my thoughts... Then I ask myself.... "What am I choosing to reflect on?" "What am I choosing to be mindful of?" "How am I managing challenging emotions with work, school, home, or farm life?"
It's great to try to be mindful of where you are in your thoughts. They can change your perspective, and effect your feelings on an experience.
By practicing mindfulness you will experience a variety of health benefits, such as decreasing anxiety, reducing depression, improving your focus, and boosting your immune system. One way I like to practice mindfulness is starting my day off with gratitude.
Today, I'm grateful for the our families health to start off with. When you start counting your blessings, and not your problems. You already become more pleasant to be around. You begin to emit that good energy to those around you. I'm sure you have noticed being around your loved ones more that energy is contagious. If your grumpy, how does that make your child feel? If you're having a bad morning, staying negative..how does that affect your relationships? I saw this one this weekend, and It's just perfect for what I was aiming for.
“You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That's the only thing you should be trying to control.” Elizabeth Gilbert
I will leave you with this question to ponder...What is one thing your grateful for this week?
