Through the Windowpane

A Harvest Full of Herbs

A cold front swept through Northern Illinois last week, prompting me to gather in the herbs. Even though fall nudges summer to step aside, her smells and textures linger in the flower beds around the house. Perhaps the fragrant thyme will plead for a reprieve or the globe basil a stayed sentence as trembling bees sip the last drops of precious nectar… in remembrance.

This summer, as I strolled past the kitchen garden, I would often snatch a sprig of lemon thyme and rub its pungent oil into my fingers. Other times, I would snip off a few stems of lavender and tickle the little girls under their noses. But now it’s time to store those precious memories in air-tight jars. Even though it hasn’t frosted yet, the colder temperatures warn us of things to come. Time is of the essence, and the herbs seem to whisper to me through the windowpane, “Preserve us before it's too late!”

With a chill wind at my back, I cut bunches of sage, lavender, basil, thyme, lemon thyme, dill, and rosemary, arranging them in separate bundles. After making a loop with garden twine and wrapping the stems together, I give them a gentle washing and hang them out on the clothes line to dry. Once inside the house they will dangle from teacup hooks above the kitchen sink until they’re brittle enough to “put up.”

Soon the temperatures will really plummet and we’ll welcome the seasonal change by liberally sprinkling a harvest full of herbs into pots of winter soups and stews or gingerly stirring them into lumpy herb-and-cheese scone batter. The sun-drenched days of summer and the joy of growing herbs under our kitchen windows will be remembered as flavorful aromas issue forth from our stove.

As I sit in the living room writing about the change in weather, I notice Elizabeth standing in the dark kitchen in front of the sink. The light above her head silhouettes the freshly hung herbs against the windowpane. She reaches up and rubs each bundle, then smells her fingers. I’m in awe….Suddenly I realize I haven’t only grown a garden full of herbs this summer, but another herb gardener as well – and the harvest is very sweet.

“…Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." John 4:36-38

October Family Writing Project

      If you’re like me, you have skills or hobbies that you want to impart to your children – gifts and talents that you hope will become the fiber of their very being. Your wisdom and knowledge in these areas is invaluable .
     Set aside some precious moments this month to share the story of your favorite gift, talent, or hobby with your children. Write a letter, including the background of how you came to love a particular skill or hobby. Discuss the people who taught or influenced you to develop and pursue your interests. Even include some of the “how to’s.”
    After your children have read their letters, store them in personal binders or “Note Chests,” and pass the story of your expertise on to the next generation.

The Gift of Family Writing

9:22 PM - Sep. 27, 2006 - post comment

Your Herbs
Jill, the pictures are beautiful.

Maribel
www.APMFormulators.com

Anonymous - 7:12 AM - Sep. 28, 2006

Beautiful!!
You herbs look so wonderful!! And I can smell them from here....

I hadn't heard of a note chest. Ike, my oldest, is 9 and Chloie, my youngest, is 3 months old... I suppose it's never too late, or too early, to start a chest. That will be an investment I will have to make. Perhaps I will buy nicer ones and give each kid their own for Christmas -- filled with a note or two to start them off. Thanks for the fabulous idea!!

Blessings, Beckie
:o)
LittleEblingsAcademy - 8:52 AM - Sep. 28, 2006

Untitled Comment
Your posts are issues of fresh air through my weary mind. I am especially partial to the picture of the herbs hanging in your window...it just makes want to stand back, look and give a big "ahhhhhhhh" as I take in their wonderful aroma. In my mind's eye, pictures like that are my fairy tale idea of "home."

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><
Buckeyeblog - 9:03 AM - Sep. 28, 2006

I always feel like...
I have stepped back in time when I read your writing. You capture the most delightful things in writing, and I admire all of the old time things that you and your family do. I keep moving myself in this direction, but I've got so far to go. Thank you for the inspiration.

Btw, I'm reading the book and just loving it! Thanks again for all your hard work!

cellomom
cellomom - 12:58 PM - Sep. 28, 2006

Herbs
Oh Jill...
I have to say that today was the longest-day-of-homeschooling-in-the-history-of-the- world(or at least my world!) and to open my email and find your blog on the herbs was such sweetness to my soul. I actually waited till I was finished with the longest-day-of-homeschooling-in-the-history-of-the- world so that I could relax and enjoy a window into your world.

Thanks for brightening my day and reminding me that even the longest homeschooling day is time well spent. Our harvest will be plentiful! It is amazing to think that many things start as a little seed (like homeschooling) that is burried deep in the earth and we can't see how God is working on it but He is! Im so grateful that the growing of life and spirit isn't up to me. As God breathed life into Adam He is daily breathing life into those we love and teach. And we will reap the harvest in due season if we don't grow weary (Gal. 6:9). I have this verse in my kitchen to remind me that there are going to be days like today and to help me adjust my perspective!

Your encouragement is a blessing, Heather W. Tacoma WA
Anonymous - 4:19 PM - Sep. 28, 2006

Wow!
My first visit here, as a new homeschool blogger myself. I shall be returning, however! Love the photos and inspiration. I am also a free lance writer. Peace and good to you and yours.
~Wilda
peacelovingmama - 10:28 AM - Sep. 30, 2006

Thanks Jill
Oh Jill, I always find it a treat to come and read your blog and I am always blessed. I love herbs and have started to grow my own in my tiny garden, funny enough today I planted thinned them out and planted them in new containers so they can grow larger as we head into summer. I have thoroughly enjoyed the Gift of Family Writing and will write the promised review in time...I have been through what seems to be a desert spell, I just haven't been able to put my thoughts down for it, or even for a simple email to a family member...I have just been trying to cope with life, seeking the Lord....do you ever feel like this? God bless you dear friend...you are in my prayers. ~ Colleen ~
abidinglove - 8:35 AM - Oct. 1, 2006

been getting to know you...
Hi Jill,
I am very new to the world of blogging but God is even here in this "cyber world "directing my steps and giving me sweet gifts as I am lead by His hand to ladies such as yourself with so much "HEART" to share. I feel like "Anne Shirley" when she exclaimed "We are kindred spirits!" I have been reading over your blog from page 1. No... not word for word... but just flittering like a butterfly and stopping to taste your words as they drew my in from spot to spot. My heart ached with you as your shared the precious life of Nicholas and yet, I found myself rejoicing with you that we can truly thank and praise God for the gift of each and every child however they come knit together and no matter how brief their sweet presence may have been in our family.I have also been reading your book "The Gift of Family Writing". I have almost finished it in two days as I began reading it at about 4:00am yesterday morning and read till about eight am and again this morning app. the same hours. It is an amazing thing how words can connect you to the heart of someone you have never met!
I love the garden photos and your drawings, you are blessed with such talent and share it beautifully with others. You have encouraged me to try blogging and to not be afraid if my attempts are obviously those of an amatuer! May God continue to use you to get the attention of families, especially us moms. And to open our ears and our hearts to what life is really about. What is the important stuff in the midst of all the temporal pursuits that will wither and fade away. May He continue to use you to teach us what treasure lies held in the simple everday moments of life.
larkspur - 5:41 AM - Oct. 3, 2006

Longing for Family Culture
Wow! I am so full of admiration and inspiration. I'm looking forward to reading your books, digging deeper into your blog and breathing in all you have to offer. It seems you are building an awesome culture in your family and leading others to do the same.

I grew up in a home with very little family culture. Don't get me wrong, there was certainly love in our home, but little culture that defined us. I didn't learn how to cook or clean or sew or garden or pursue any kind of hobby. I simply woke up, got dressed, had some whole grain cereal and O.J. for breakfast, went to school followed by cheerleading practice (or drama, or a job in my later teens), came home, did homework, ate a simple dinner (i.e. chicken breast, steamed veggies and rice), watched some TV, played cards with my grandmother or talked to friends on the phone. Then I went to bed and did it all over again the next day. That's it!

On the weekends I baby sat, slept at a friend’s house and watched movies. We lived very close to Manhattan, so occasionally we'd spend a Saturday in the city walking around, seeing a show or visiting a museum, but after taking it in we never really did much to preserve it, process it, comment on it or in anyway grow from it.

The few minutes I've spent in your blog reminds me that I yearn for a richer sense of life. But at the base of my yearning is a strong force of intimidation. Where to start? Who will teach me? How will I learn? I know so little about cooking, crafting, gardening.... But I want to know. I want to make a turn in our journey of life and walk down a road that inspires, full of creativity, full of culture.

Could you offer a suggestion for a first step?

InkTraveler - 8:15 AM - Oct. 21, 2006

Inspired
Dear Jennifer,
Your comment stirs so much in my heart that I want to write a post about. If you'll be patient I will respond to this.

Yours,
Jill
JillNovak - 8:39 AM - Oct. 21, 2006

Love the idea of a family notebook!
I wish I would have come across this the year my dh was mobilized. We had a lot of notes shared via email that I now wish I would have printed off to have a years worth of communication. We do have many stories to share with our 6 children about that year, like their daddy made it to dd #2's birth with 1 hour to spare! Thank you for all you are writing!
Blessings,
Kelly
SixSprings - 11:50 PM - Oct. 24, 2006

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Jill Novak shares from her heart and the pages of her journal about God's faithfulness through life's everyday teachable moments.Jill encourages families to write and draw from life. She and her husband Robert have been married 28 years and are the parents of five children. Together her family has founded Remembrance Press, publishers of The Pebbly Brook Farm Series: Character Building Stories for Boys and Girls, Becoming God’s Naturalist, The Gift of Family Writing, and The Girlhood Home Companion.

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