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An Evening of Pampering
Contentment is happy memories
of things past, enjoyment of
things present, and hope of
good to come
~Harold E. Kohn
By Lucinda Jenkins and Brenda Hyde
We all need to set aside some time to pamper ourselves, whether
to reflect on events in our lives or to escape with the latest
romance novel. It's important to energize ourselves by allowing
a little self nurturing at least once a week.
The following recipes, combined with your favorite book or
magazine, a nice cup of herbal tea and a few scented candles
will assure you an evening of rejuvenation!
Herbal Bath
Combine together:
4 cups of dried lemon verbena
2 cups of dried thyme
1 cup of peppermint
1/2 cup of Epson salt
Mix together ingredients. Place 1/4 cup or so in cheese
cloth or muslin, tie with string or rubberband and add to your
bath. This has a great energizing scent.
Cucumber Mask
You will need:
1 small cucumber
Chamomile and green tea, a brewed cup of each
1 packet unflavored gelatin
1 ounce aloe vera gel
Peel the cucumber and puree in blender until smooth.
Strain the puree through a sieve and reserve the juice.
Take 2 ounces (1/4 cup) each of your chamomile and green
tea and place in a pan. (Be sure to sip the leftover while
preparing recipe). Add unflavored gelatin and aloe vera gel
heating until gelatin is dissolved. Add cucumber juice to the
mixture and set in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or so. Apply
to the face and let dry. Peel off if the skin is normal or rinse
off if the skin is sunburned or extra sensitive.
Lavender Body Powder
Combine together in a bowl:
1 cup of finely ground dried lavender buds
(or lavender buds powdered)
1 cup of bentonite clay
1 1/2 cup of cornstarch
Lavender essential oil
Whisk the clay and the cornstarch together,add your
powdered lavender buds, and then 3-5 drops of essential
oil. Allow to sit covered in the bowl and then transfer to
shaker jar. Enjoy your all-natural body powder
Dream Pillows
Combine together in a bowl:
1 cup mugwort
1/2 cup rose petals
1/2 cup german chamomile
1/2 cup of sweet hops
1/3 cup lavender buds
1/3 cup catnip crushed
1/4 cup peppermint
Mix the ingredients together make cloth bags from a
5x12 inch piece of material fill cloth bags with your
mixture sew the top of the bag shut and sweet dreams!
These also make great craft fair items, inexpensive gifts
or neat items for gift baskets.
About the Authors:
Brenda Hyde is a freelance writer, editor and owner of Old Fashioned Living.com.
Lucinda Jenkins of Glenbrook Farms is a soapmaker, business owner, and
herbalist. You can purchase your herbal pampering ingredients
on her website Glenbrook Farms Herbs and Such.
Glenbrook Farms is our source for all of our herbal supplies, soaps and more.
SeptemberLady "Born and have lived in Southern MD most of my life. My husband and I just finished building a new home on the family farm, where I hope to retire in the near future.
My interests: Doll collecting, cookbook collector (especially old ones), antiques, family/friend get-togethers, cooking/baking, flower and vegetable gardening, bird-watching."
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling Memorial Day signals the start of barbecue season. Everyone wants to light that fire and charcoal that first meal. A few tips might pre- vent your entree from becoming a "Burnt Offering."
Read these tips for plenty of grilling ideas, make this year's barbecue perfect!
Growing and Using Garlic Chives Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum, is a hardy perennial (Zones 3-9) that will grow to about 12 inches high. The stems are skinnier and flat, instead of hollow as are regular chives, with greenish white blooms that are about an inch wide and not as rounded. They bloom in the summer rather than spring. The bloom stalks grow much taller than the leaves, sometimes up to 30 inches.
The stems and blooms are both edible and have a mild garlic onion taste. I've noticed many writers will list this as primarily as an Asian herb, as they are also known as Chinese chives, Chinese leeks, ku chai (China) or Nira (Japan), but it has many other uses as well!
The Perfect Porch Swing Perhaps it is the soothing rhythm or the reassuring creak of the porch swing that attracts us. Perhaps it is the companionable silence or quiet conversation. Or maybe swings simply remind us of more genteel times.
Although porch swings can be purchased in a wide range of materials, the most common are wicker and wood. You can also make your own porch swing from one of the myriad of woodworking patterns available at garden centers, hardware stores, or on the Internet.
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling
Growing and Using Garlic Chives
The Perfect Porch Swing