Thursday, November 9, 2017

herbs and leaves

The temps finally dipped enough two nights ago where we had a hard freeze. I was amazed to find yesterday that the parsley, sage, rosemary and not thyme, but chives, were still intact and actually looking vibrant.


I know these fresh herbs aren't going to last much longer, especially with tonight's temps going down to 16F, so I gathered what I could.


I froze the herbs using an easy method from Cathy at My 1929 Charmer. Click here for instructions. I know you can finely chop herbs and then put them in ice cube trays with water, but that limits what you can do with the herbs. Sure, it's easy to drop an ice cube into a pot of stew or soup, but what about when I want fresh rosemary for roasted potatoes? Now I can just reach into a freezer bag and pick off what I need, no water involved.

Even the parsley flower buds were put to use...I love the lacey look in an old milk bottle.


The hard freeze made all the difference for the trees. Just a couple of days ago, Brian and I were marveling at all the leaves still clinging to the trees, and yesterday the leaves were fluttering to the ground like raindrops. The huge maple tree across the street is now completely bare, but it sure left a colorful carpet on the ground.


I had put all my leftover baby pumpkins and gourds on a bench in my side yard for the squirrels and with the falling leaves, nature made this beautiful vignette. 



Brian had the day off work a couple of days ago and we took one of our little day trips. We took a walk in our favorite park along Lake Michigan. See how beautiful the trees still were?


And then there's last night's waning light through the now-bare trees, which has a haunting beauty all its own.


It always makes me a little sad to see the bare trees, but then I read somewhere that said we can now see more sky. I try to look for the positives.

It's a cloudy, windy day but I'm bundling up and heading out to the grocery store. I need fresh veggies to make a pot of vegetable soup this afternoon. There's nothing like the aroma of a pot of soup simmering on the stove on these blustery days. And now I'll be able to reach in my freezer and get fresh herbs to use in my soup, too. Doesn't get much better than that.

17 comments:

  1. It is the same here, Melanie. Our long, lovely fall is over and today we have SNOW--not a lot--just spitting snow off and on but it is time, I guess.

    I freeze herbs, too, and have good luck with them. xo Diana

    ps The person above me is a spammer-just so you know....

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  2. I have frozen stems of herbs in ziplocs in the past....and then other years I just run out to the deck and snip a frozen stem right off the plant to plop into broth. Freezers are pretty darned full right now, so I'm not sure what I'll do!! I've been sending home soups and sauces with Sweetie to put in his pretty much empty freezers since mine are busting at the seams! That's a very, very good complaint to have, no doubt, I am truly blessed!

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  3. Everything looks so pretty with the leaves falling. I have some veggies that I need to put out for the deer. It's rainy and cold so it's a perfect day for staying inside, doing laundry and other chores. Hugs!

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  4. I enjoyed this post about your changing season. It has been hot and humid here still, except for the bit of cold after tropical storm Philippe. It went down to 58.

    I could just picture you bundling up to head out into the cold to get some groceries, it sounds invigorating to me as I'm sitting here in the a.c. with bare feet, short sleeves and capri pants. :-)

    Have a nice Friday and a great weekend ~ FlowerLady

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  5. Those cold weather soups are going to taste extra fresh and good with your stash of herbs. Smart idea to freeze them now. I'll have to pop over and check out her method.
    I enjoyed seeing what autumn is looking like in your area. The walk along Lake Michigan looks especially inviting and I love how your gourds look outdoors.

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  6. Fall looks so lovely where you are. Can't imagine 16 C. Brrr! I should have started trying to grow things in September but was still so hot then. Just a week ago I planted some flower seeds and have seen a few little seedlings pop up. Hoping the rest will be successful.

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  7. Good for you preserving those herbs! I doubt anything will be left after our freeze tonight!

    jane

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  8. Hi Melanie, I love what you said about, now we can see more sky. That is a lovely way to look at the bare trees of winter. I am going to try and keep that in mind this winter when I look out and get the winter blues :) I enjoy added herbs to bouquets, they add filler, a touch of green and a lovely aroma. That's pretty hard to beat, right? Here's wishing you a marvelous weekend . . . bundle up and enjoy.
    Connie :)

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  9. I need to do something with my herbs before it freezes here. Soup simmering sounds wonderful, both to eat and smell!
    Brenda

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  10. I love that about seeing more sky through the bare trees. Such a nice lesson in positive thinking. I froze some of my herbs, too -- sage, basil, rosemary. But. . . I didn't freeze them separately first, so I may have just big old clumps! :( Live and learn!

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  11. Isn't it amazing how quickly the weather changes? The walk around Lake Michigan looks lovely. Autumn walks are so invigorating! It's the perfect weather for hearty soups, especially when you get to add your home grown herbs! Have a great weekend, Melanie!

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  12. I love how you harvested what you could :) Lovely post about the quick change in our seasons ( same where I am :)

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  13. It turned very cold here, too. It was rather sudden, but it's November, so I don't know why I'm surprised. Our leaves are still green, which is also a little odd, but I know the bare trees are coming. I will have to admire the sky like you. Thanks for the perspective!

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  14. I've been chopping herbs too. I froze most of it plain but I did make some pesto to freeze too. I love having it ready to eat. The pumpkins and leaves look really pretty, what a fortuitous natural arrangement! I hope you stay warm and enjoy the change in seasons.

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  15. I'm happy you liked the freezing the herbs I did...I really like it since when you add the herbs its almost as if they are fresh. It has been cold this November. With all the heavy rains the leaves have really all fallen off the trees except my Serviceberry shrubs. It is a sad transition and I really don't like the day after Thanksgiving to New Years eve. Wish I could go to sleep and wake up then.

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