And the Winners of my Final Blogoversary Giveaways Are....

Well, it's the time you all {me included} have be waiting for! I shall be announcing my 1st Blogging Anniversary final giveaway winners! 

I just wanted to say, what an amazing blessing ya'll have been. All of your sweet comments warmed my heart. 

First off, let's give a BIG round of applause to this month's sponsors....

~Featured Shops and Sponsors for the Month of February {for my blogoversary}~

Special SPECIAL to all the sweet and generous people I have contacted through my myriads of emails and Etsy conversations:) and for their being willing to donate a prize. I hope the winners really like their prizes and personally thank these sweet ladies. 

Without further ado, *clearing of throat* drum roll please!

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Alright. Well the obvious winner of the blog makeover generously donated by my dear friend Miss Kendra {you do not have to accept this} is... 

Comment #1 

Awesome! I'd love to enter.
I follow your blog. :)

MISS LIZ B!!!

from:

Congratulations!!! {Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find out how to claim your prize;)} 
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And the second winner of the Teaching Good Things DVD, winner's choice of DVD.

 {Special thanks to Mrs. Brodock for contributing this} 
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Comment #11

Oh my, I have so many favorite crafting arts! I enjoy machine sewing, hand sewing, knitting, baking, and cooking. I would be delighted to learn how to quilt someday!

Miss Jenna!!!

from

Congratulations, dearest friend!!! I am so happy for you. And yes, we really are on a winning streak;). 

{Please scroll down to the bottom of the post to read how to claim your prize}

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And now, the final winner of the $15 shopping spree to the lovely Etsy shop along for the ride 

{SPECIAL thanks to Laura for contributing such a generous prize} 

Is....

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Comment #177 

I followed her blog (2)

Miss Peyton Hardwick 

from

Congratulations, dear! 

{Please scroll down to the bottom of the post to read how to claim your prize:)} 

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Again, congratulations to the winners!!!

Please contact me on this post with your emailing address {will not be published} within this week. 

After contacting me, I will contact the sponsors immediately. {Jenna, I already know your contact info, but please comment below anyway:)} 

 Please let me know if you do not hear from the sponsors or receive your prizes within the next week.

The winners above shall also not be permitted to enter my next two upcoming giveaways. 

And to all of my other faithful readers, alas, I am very sorry I do not have anything to give you. Yet do not despair, for March starts to-morrow sparking a two-week long giveaway by some delightful sponsors.

Blessings,
Grace

A Day Outing {Continuation}~The Cambrian, Spring Garden

 Good afternoon, dearest readers! I see you have joined me in my garden once again. Perhaps, I should show you the bed which are blooming with color in the spring sunshine....

The best place to seek God is in a garden.  You can dig for him there. 

~George Bernard Shaw

I run with playful winds that blow the scent 

Of rose and jessamine in eddying whirls.

At last I come where tall lilies grow, 

Lifting their faces like white saints to God. 

While the lilies pray, I kneel upon the ground;

I have strayed into the holy temple of the Lord.

 ~From In the Garden of the Lord by Helen Keller

A violet by a mossy stone,

Half hidden from the eye,

Fair as a star, when only one 

Is shining in the sky. 

~From The Violet by William Wordworth

Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet,

With charm of earliest birds; pleasant sun

When first on this delightful land he spreads

His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower,

Glist'ring with dew; fragrant the fertile earth

After soft showers; and sweet coming on...

~From Sweet is the Breath of Morn by John Milton

Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed.  ~Walt Whitman

God loved the flowers and invented soil.  Man loved the flowers and invented vases. 

~Jacques Deval

Wild poppies crowd on sunny banks;

A bee booms out the scented grass;

A jay laughs with me as I pass...

~From The Joy of the Hills by Edwin Markham

What is red? a poppy's red

In its barley bed...

~From What is Pink? by Christina Rossetti

Hope you enjoyed your stroll through my garden!

Many Blessings to you all,
Grace

A Day Outing {Part I}~Luncheon and Apothecary Shop

Hello, faithful readers! How good it 'twas of you to stop by; your visits are always so welcomed. 

On Wednesday, Mother and I along with a few of our friends went on an afternoon luncheon in a charming nearby town to celebrate a friend's 18th birthday and Mother's friend's birthday as well. {They share the same date!:)}  

Robins is such a delightful restaurant in which to dine! So cozy and charming with a tint of old-fashion, European flare...

Red and yellow roses atop the wood mantel, bring an essence of cheer to the atmosphere. 

They always have fresh flowers throughout the restaurant.

Our friends enjoyed opening their gifts...

And we all chatted gaily while sipping cool, cucumber water...

The restaurant always serves the most delectable treats!

This mouse is quite scrumptious {so dense and rich and yummy:)}!

After luncheon, we of course had to linger into the apothecary cross the lane... 

The chimes gave a sort of whimsy atmosphere while the decor sparkled in front of the white-trimmed, cottage-like structure. 

A painter outside of Heart's Ease painting...

Welcome to my beloved herb shop...

When you step through the threshold, a mingled aroma fills your nostrils as the hardwood floors creak beneath your feet....You have stepped into another century!

The delightful sight of bundles of tied herbs drying on the wooden beams...

I love how this turned out! Reminds me an old-fashion post office only the cubby holes hold sweet-smelling soaps.

Give me one ounce of civit, good apothecary, to sweeten my imagination...~Shakspeare

The wooden shelves hold lovely trinkets and herbs alike...

Ooo, I was tempted to purchase this lavender honey! I am sure this would be quite scrumptious drizzled on a warm buttered biscuit with a cup of tea...doesn't that sound lovely to break your morning fast? 

There is a table full of clay bins containing a colorful arrangement of potpourris and lavender. I love using the Cabrian Rose {maroon potpourri mixture above} in my letters; gives such a sweet scent to parchment notes. 

{To Be Continued}

Hope you have enjoyed your visit! 

Many blessings to you all!

With Lots of Love,

P.S. A reader this morning left a some-what offensive comment on this post concerning my grammar it 'twas  at the beginning of the post, which is not proper English and I deleted their comment because they did not sign their name and it was an Anonymous user. Even though they said not to take offense to their comment, I just wanted to say to them this: "Thank you for you kindness to correct my grammar. It was good to know that 'twas is a combination of it and was. 

I think as well that good grammar is essential and cannot stand when things are misspelled, yet I am no old-fashion grammar expert although I strive to do well in modern-day English class. Again, thank you for correcting me, but please next time sign your name, even with an initial, if not with your Google account."  

Sincerely, 

Grace    

Just a Little Something I Thought I Would Share

To those who do not know already, I am a seven-year in playing violinist {who should practice more}, and am going to be learning this piece, La Folia, by Corelli. When I saw these two girls play this piece as a duet, it blew my mind away!!!:) They are SO talented! 

So I just thought y'all would enjoy!

Also, I am working on a novel called The Locket {read a few glimpses into it on my forsaken, writing blog} right now about a young lady, living in World War II era Italy, with a heart, talent, and soul for the violin, intertwining a bit of intrigue, mystery, and a sprinkle of romance {with no mush!:)} into the novel. It is really fun to be listening to Concertos by Corelli, Vivaldi, Bach, and more while writing about them!

A Touch of Summer, a Bit of Cheeriness

Dearest Readers~

For me {because I live in a state with the balmiest of weather}, winter can be a depressing with its glum weather, cold, nipping wind, and depressing grey skies. Of course, I do love a cold, "at home" {raining day} once in awhile, weeks can be filled with nonstop chilling wind and rain. Ugh!

So I sit down and glance at my shelf full of last year's lavender harvest...

 And I twist the lid open...

Ladies fair, I bring to you
lavender with spikes of blue;
sweeter plant was never found
growing on our english ground."

Caryl Battersby

And a lovely, potent aroma fills my nostrils {more my room and the whole rest of the house!=D}... 

Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived...

~Helen Keller~

And reminds me of the summertime! Of the evenings and barefoot mornings, my feet wriggling in the soft, dew  kissed grass, as I hear the lovely 'snip, snip' of the clippers as they clip the woody, potent stems...
{Pictures may be found at this post}

No bought pot-pourri is so pleasant as that made from one's own garden,

for the petals of the flowers one has gathered at home
hold the sunshine and memories of summer,
and of past summers only the sunny days shuld be remembered.

~~By Eleanor Sinclair-Rhode. 1920.~~

Oh, how I miss the whimsical sight of bundles of freshly cut lavender, hanging on the home's eves, swaying gently in the warm summer breeze...

Nothing compares to Homegrown Lavender!!!

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Of course, why not bottle the delightful scent? You cannot sprinkle lavender buds on a bed {although you may stuff sheets with them for sweet dreams just like in Colonial times!:)}, for the method will result in a horrid mess!:) Yet there is a simpler method to enjoy the beautiful aroma...

Indeed, I have done this for years now. 

~Simple Lavender Linen Spray~

{This lovely mpray bay be used as linen spray, facial toner, perfume, air freshener, etc.}

~Ingredients~

Lavender Oil

Try to find a good brand that sells strong, pure lavender oil and actually smells like true lavender. 

Do not purchase concentrated. And yes, lavender oil at the time, is very expensive, but use sparingly and it is worth it!:)

Witch Hazel

May be purchased at a drug or health food store. It is an astringent like that of rubbing alcohol but more gentle. 

Water

Spritz Bottle

~Preparation~

Add 1 part Witch Hazel and 1 part water into bottle. Add 15~20 drops of lavender oil; I like my lavender water strong, but you may add as much or as little to your liking. Cover, shake well before using, and enjoy!

 I have added actual lavender blossoms to the mixture, but after time, the buds break down, resulting in a not-very-pleasant looking concoction!:) 

Optional: I have also substituted lavender oil with cinnamon for a Christmasy scent. Substituting the oil {or blending them} would a fun experiment!

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Perhaps, you might enjoy a relaxing bath full of lavender buds....

{Photo credit}

There are a few methods of making a lavender bath. The "tea" method: to hang a handful of blossoms 

{or more} in a muslin bag and hang from the faucet as the bath fills, or adding lavender salts and allowing them to dissolve, or dropping direct lavender oil into the water, or just adding a handful of lavender blooms into your water. 

My fav. are a combination of lavender salts{recipe below}.   

{Photo credit}

I also, really enjoy making my own Epson salts which are lovely gifts and a wonderful treat to pamper yourself!:)

~Simple Homemade Lavender Salts~

~Ingredients~

Epson Salts or Coarse Sea Salts

May be purchased at Walmart in drug department

Selected Lavender Oil

Optional: Fresh or dried lavender buds

Measure about a 1/2 cup of Epson salts and pour into bowl {Make sure you do not use plastic container. Plastic absorbs the scent of the oil and will stay there for awhile!:)}. 

Add 5~10 drops or to your liking of lavender oil. Add a sprinkle lavender buds. Stir all together.

Store in a glass jar for about a week. 

This may be used as a bath salt or lovely for a foot soak especially with fresh, aromatic, summer rose petals!:) 

Add to mildly hot bathwater or tub, stir gently until salts dissolve. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Other tutorials and helpful links:

http://www.lavendershoppe.com/lavender.php

http://www.lavendershoppe.com/lavender.php

~Books~

Lavender by Jessie Hawkins

~Recommended Lavender Oil~

Now Lavender Oil 100% Pure and Natural

Lavender: A reminder of your first herbal lesson. It speaks to you of devotion and virtue-two things you will always need if you are to become a true noblewoman. It will cheer you on a gray day, with its purple colour, and its aroma will add beauty to the room you sleep. ~Oma from Dr. Oma by Ethel Her 

Hope you enjoy your visit in my lavender garden!

Lots of Love,

Grace

P.S. I am going to be posting a special little something soon, so stay tuned!!! You will want to be one of the first people to know and read my upcoming post! So keep checking back here!

Here's a hint:

Hmm....*mysterious smile*