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. 

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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*