Old Road Chapels as Prayers

If you travel in Poland, you can see plenty of chapels at the roads. These are materialised prayers of the people for things that often nobody already remembers.
It is so many of them around, that they just became part of the landscape. Appearing suddenly, sometimes far away from any housings. As you can see - there are still people taking care of them. Often you can see fresh flowers.
We are so much used to it. They are just there. Nobody asks why. Tourists coming to Poland always ask questions. So, to let you know more about it, I will explain shortly.

Chapels around Poland are either wooden or made of bricks and concrete. Can be found in many places. Some of them are very old. Sometimes made by ordinary people, sometimes by nobles or artists. Always this is either 'thank you' for extraordinary help from trouble, or a prayer for help, or just manifestation of religiousness.
Some people still remember stories connected with it. I would love to collect them.

This chapel I saw on my Sunday biking, close to my home.

If you look carefully, you can see little ad on the tree. This is very particular prayer: "Cat got lost" - must be very loved cat, right?

Deadly Hot Pepper and Heaven' Scent

How to recycle metal hanger? Use it for drying the gifts of your garden :) My first capsicum crop. Surprisingly abundant, isn't it? I was not expecting that many. In total I have 5 plants, but not all of them equally contributed to this crop. The longer sun exposure, the hottest spot, the happier the plant. Those growing in pots seem to be more happy than those growing directly in the soil.

2 plants are growing in the beds in half-sun spots. One of them gave just one pepper, second one grew one, but it is still green. So in reality 3 plants gave me 8 peppers. They grow in pots, placed in the hottest spot of the garden.

What surprises me most is the number of coming produce. On one of the plants I counted 11 of new arrivals!

First capsicum crop is like first love. Unforgettable. I have sown the seeds in January and I am planning to overwinter them. 'Cyklon' - the name tells it all. Really as hot, as the name can tell. I decided it will be best to dry it and crush for winter. As I saw in Mediterranean - they dry it on the sun. So, to dry vegetables or fruits you don't need a special dehydrator. Drying on the sun is natural, free and adds special flavour.

Old metal hanger - that is always in excessive amount at home gets great new life :) It is important to place dried peppers in hot oven 140C for 30 minutes to make sure it is healthy and free of any unwanted guests. More information about drying fruits and vegetables you will find here. Next one will be tomatoes - I will dry them on the sun in a little more protected way, but still on the sun :)

Lavender, my second big Favourite will be slowly gone, so in the last moment I decided to do something about it.

I collected flowers and stems of the most aromatic lavender, which is Lavandula officinalis. This is the kind of lavender, that is planted in Provance/South France at lavender farms, because it is most valuable in essential oils and aroma.
Inspired by Yolanda-Elizabeth at Bliss - thank you :) I made the wreath - it is lovely, right? As Yolanda promised it is easy - even if it was my first one - so, anyone can do it. I used little thicker cotton grey thread and metal wire. It smells wonderful!
The afternoon when you seat in the shadow, on the hot day and work with lavender surrounded by its amazing heaven' scent is the moment that will stay with me for long days...
This is one of those moments that nourish the soul in uncredible way - this feeds my soul and creativity. I always get best ideas, after I feed that hungry energy inside.


Now I look for the best place for it to hang. The smell is very sweet, even after lavender have dried.