Goats & Chamomile

A short post, dedicated to Baba & Caitlin, who can appear a bit bulky and knobby, but who have a marvelous sense of balance and grace. I love to watch them lift up on their hind legs to nibble at the maple leaves…

And to the German and Roman chamomile plants appearing in their assigned and unassigned places. Chamomile has long been used to calm the soul–or if you prefer, the nervous and digestive systems. For me, the effect begins when I pop off the flowers to dry them for tea. Their scent is earthy and apple-y and they look so pretty in my palm. Plus I feel no pangs at picking them, as I know new flowers will blossom in their place. 

Here’s a Katherine Mansfield poem, written some 100 years ago, that captures the happiness of this flower.

Chamomile Tea 

Outside the sky is light with stars;
There's a hollow roaring from the sea.
And, alas! for the little almond flowers,
The wind is shaking the almond tree.

How little I thought, a year ago,
In the horrible cottage upon the Lee
That he and I should be sitting so
And sipping a cup of camomile tea.

Light as feathers the witches fly,
The horn of the moon is plain to see;
By a firefly under a jonquil flower
A goblin toasts a bumble-bee.

We might be fifty, we might be five,
So snug, so compact, so wise are we!
Under the kitchen-table leg
My knee is pressing against his knee.

Our shutters are shut, the fire is low,
The tap is dripping peacefully;
The saucepan shadows on the wall
Are black and round and plain to see.

Also: Please let me know if you can come to our Midsummer Night’s Dream reading on June 24! Don’t know what I’m talking about? Go Here: https://www.lonelywormfarm.com/blog/love-in-idleness

There are plenty of roles left… don’t be shy!

dairy goats in the woods

Close up of chamomile flower

Watering new tomato plants