Taking Some Thyme

About a 2 weeks ago, I started drying herbs. I started with 2 little bunches of thyme. Now that I've been growing thyme I realize that I could have taken much bigger chunks (that thing grows like crazy!) but it was one of my first clippings so I was afraid of taking too much.

Getting a good set up was key. This is what it looks like:

I strung twine across from bookshelf to bookshelf and over my bureau. I like it, I think it's cute! 

And then I use pink close pins to hang the herbs.

I also attach a little note to each bunch stating what it is and what date I hung it up.

It came out quite nice!

So if you have some thyme on your hands, try drying it!

Got My First Job! Working with Equine Therapy

I am so happy to report that I got my first job! 
I have had a lot of road blocks in my life and at some points working seemed like an unattainable goal. I have always wanted to work, but my mental and physical health have held me back.
I have been volunteering at an recreational center for people with disabilities in the equestrian assisted therapy unit.

What is equestrian therapy?

Equestrian therapy or equestrian assisted therapy is a form of therapy that works with horses.
It can be very good for people with physical limitations as the gait of a horse is much like the gait of a human. It can strengthen muscles. It also can provide internal massage to organs that are normally massaged by walking, but someone unable to walk regularly can gain benefits this way.

It is also very good for mental illness. The brain waves of a horse are much slower than a human's. By being around horses your brain waves slow down to match their's, giving you the sense of calm. It is also a great confidence booster for people with low self esteem and with people who have ADHD as it gives a fixed task to concentrate on.

How did I get into equine therapy?

I actually started as a student. I have struggled with chronic depression and anxiety, along with many learning disabilities. I really feel like it saved me. I was in a really bad place when I started, and I have grown so much since then. I am so happy to be able to help others with this now that I'm in a better place. It truly is a beautiful thing.

I would highly recommend this as a good option to lots of people, whether it's receiving therapy or volunteering. Most places that run these programs are non-profits, so volunteers are always needed. 

Would you like Chives on that?

Whats better then a nice breakfast to start your morning?

My mother made me this beautiful omelet with vegan cheese, spinach and fresh chives and thyme from my garden. It was so yummy!

Seven Arrows Farm

So my next adventure was to a place called Seven Arrow Farms.

It was really cool, it had plants, animals, crystals and even a tea room! I definitely look forward to going back and exploring it more!

One of the things I found interesting about the place was that they like to have plants that you don't see everywhere. They had a good selection of things I had never even heard of before! The people there where very nice and helpful, even setting me up with a good fertilizer and such.

So here is what I got!:

Up Atop a Hill

My windowsill garden

It's spring, the grass is green and the flowers are blooming. There are a lot of garden shops around and open. So where to get my herbs?

My Grandmother had met someone 9 years ago at the visiter center of Rhode Island. She said that she had an herb garden and was very friendly. I looked her up.

And that's how I found myself on a little gravel road tucked away in Smithfield Rhode Island. At the top of the hill was "High on a Hill herb gardens".

It was beautiful. It was the sort of place that you imagine fairies inhabiting.

The woman who owned it, Ruth Pacheco, was so sweet and friendly and answered my questions on some different herbs and showed me around. She seemed to know exactly what I was looking for. She guided my amateur self and treated me kindly, offering all sorts of guidance on this new adventure. I hope to go back soon.

Here are the herbs I got:

And my little helper 

A New Beginning in a Familiar Place

Mental heath is a tricky slippery slope. I have dealt with mental heath both in myself and in my work. Actually, I believe I work with it because I had to/and am still working on working through it.

I have been volunteering with equestrian therapy for several years now, as that was my light at the end of the tunnel. I love the animals, the people I help and I really enjoy it. Finally after 3 years volunteering at one place, I was offered part time work.

But I hit wall. My mental health was not good and I wasn't able to face my life, everything I built up to was suddenly overwhelming and scary. I wanted to run away.


And I think thats really how I ended up with Minty, my mint plant.

I was taking some time off due to medication changes and life changes and all sorts of changes that I just couldn't deal with. I was grocery shopping with my mother and found one of those mint plants they sell in the supermarket (well, Whole Foods actually). 

I'd always wanted to try my hand at gardening, but sadly I have a history of inability with plants. But I felt the need to take care of something. I have a bunny (named Fern) and oh is he a handful, but he alone, though patient he can sometimes be, was honestly too much for him. And frankly, I don't blame him. Sometimes there is a thing called too many snuggles before one of us gets mad at the other.

I just wanted something to take care of, and as a plus have something I could see quick progress with. Having ADHD, I tend to get sidetracked easily, so I wanted a plant I would see immediate progress with. So when I saw this Mint plant, I thought, "Why not? Even if it doesn't work out it will be delicious"

This inspired me to start reading some books I had abandoned about Medicinal Herbs. I had had an interest in them before, but the circumstances were just wrong. Reading, I felt a strong pull to make my own medicinal herb garden, focusing on growing and making things to help mental health. I'd also like to make a little sensory garden at some point, as sensory work has done a great deal for me. But that is all in the future.

So starts this new adventure.