Harvesting lavender

A wind chime jingles in the soft evening breeze. The warm air is heavy with the scent of lavender. 

A farmer tends to her lavender fields, reaping what she's sown- armfuls and armfuls of flowers, as beautiful as they are fragrant. She deposits heap after heap onto the back of a small, black and white horse, who carries the baskets easily. 

The farmer hums as she works, her mares' ears swivel to take in the tune. Here and there cuts the scythe, only the most chosen of stalks. A few small blossoms fall off, the farmer gathers them and makes an offering to the mare. The latter gladly lips up the lavender petals and huffs contently. It is her favourite taste. 

There will be lavender treats to be had soon, teas as well. The farmer was in the habit of having little picnics with her beloved black mare. Be it a well deserved break during harvesting or foraging, or a hike just for fun. Tomorrow, the two will go to the creek and lay on soft moss to eat lavender cookies and watch the glistening waters.

Today, they fill the baskets with their bountiful harvest. Some of it will be dried. Some will be made into perfumes and tinctures by the farmers’ lover. Some will fill pillows. There is much that can be done, and it all begins on this very field.

Farmer and horses both seem to carry the flower's scent year round. But during this period, it is at its most potent. The mare’s short mane is even adorned with petals and stalks of the plant, courtesy of the farmer. She is about to place more when the wind chimes jingle grows more frequent and stronger.

It grows colder. The sails of the nearby windmill begin to pick up momentum. Sluggish for now, but steadily quicker. The farmer gazes towards it- it's her and her horses home, after all. They'd better head over to stow the harvest away, safely in the lower level. Above it, the windmill has been converted into a cozy home. A small barn is attached to its side. Naturally, bushels of dried lavender hang in the black mares stall. 

The two finish harvesting for the day and bring the bushels in. Outside, the winds pick up. Perhaps they'll have to move their picnic to another day. Inside the barn, it's cozy and dry. The farmer grabs a small handheld radio and turns it on, tuning into the weather forecast. There it is- a stormy day is to be expected. 

She brushes down her mare and sees that she and her companions are set for the night. There's four horses total- well, three are ponies. Tomorrow, the group will likely huddle in the barn and forgo venturing out, even if the backdoor that leads outside is open. The farmer won't be quite the same. Rain or shine, she's out and about, caring for animals and at least having a quick check up on the fields.