Archive for July, 2010

Is it just me, or has it been near impossible to find time to read this summer?

I just want my laundry to be done (for once), and to have a quiet hour to read under the shade of a tree.  I ask you, is that too much to wish for?

I’ve been trying to read, oh so slowly, My Antonia by Willa Cather.  This book is breathtakingly lovely, by the way.  It’s a book to savor, if only I could find the time.

I’ve also been listening to The Help on my iPod, which I’m also enjoying immensely.

Does anyone else like to listen to recorded books?  It is a wonderful way to pass the time while weeding.  If you saw the weeds in my garden, you would know I haven’t had time to listen (or weed) much either.

So on the lucky chance that you have more leisure time than I do…

I thought I would share a few of my favorite books from summers past.

I first read this book when I was in high school.  It was recommended to me by my favorite teacher, Miss Lees, who taught English and Humanities.  I loved this book so much, I’ve read it several times since.

Katherine is a historical novel that is both romantic and beautifully written.  If you are looking for a book that is hard to put down, this is your book.

What can I say about The Book Thief?  It floored me.  I carried it with me for a long time after… figuratively of course.   The characters are unforgettable … Liesel and Rudy, Hans and and Rosa Hubermann, and… Death of course (yes, Death is a character in this book.)  This book is a must read.

All the Pretty Horses gave me goose bumps more than once.  Cormac McCarthy carries you away to the harsh and beautiful landscape of ranch life in Texas and northern Mexico.  The land, the horses and the characters are exquisitely rendered.  If you haven’t read it… you need to.

So there are a few of my favorite books.  I would love to hear your short list.  When I finish My Antonia… I don’t have anything I’m dying to read next.

Far and away, the most useful flower in my garden is lavender.  I use it for a number of different projects including Lavender Eye Pillows, Lavender Bottles and Sachets.  I love they way it smells… clean and not too sweet.

Lavender sachets are not just for my lingerie drawer.  A sachet is wonderful in a linen drawer, or even in a desk drawer.  Your stationary will take on the slight scent of lavender.

If you don’t want or have time to sew, a sachet can be made from a lace handkerchief.  Put the lavender in the center of the handkerchief, pull the corners up to the center and tie a ribbon around the bundle.

If you have a small amount of fabric and a couple minutes, it’s easy to sew a sachet bag.  My favorite kind of sachet are ribbon closed bags, because it’s easy to open the bag and refresh the scent by adding a few drops of essential oil.  Or when it gets too old, it’s easy to replace the lavender altogether.

Here’s how to make sachet:

To dry lavender from your garden, cut the stems on a dry morning.  I place rubber band around the base of the stems, then tie a piece of twine in a slip knot around that.  I hang them in a cool dry place (my basement) for several weeks.  Once dry, they are ready to use.

The quickest way I’ve found to remove lavender from stems is to lay the dried lavender on a clean dishtowel.

Fold up the towel and roll it with a rolling pin.

Unroll the towel and discard the stems.  This method doesn’t remove every flower from the stems, but it’s fast and does a good job.  Shake the flowers from the towel into a bowl.

For a sachet, I prefer fabric with 100% natural fibers, such as cotton, linen or silk.  I’ve even cut up old linen bedding for sachets.  (Even when the bedding has some holes, it’s easy to find enough good fabric to make many sachets.

Cut a piece of fabric 11″ x 8″.

Fold the fabric in half lengthwise, right sides together.

Using a 1/2 inch seam, stitch along the long side and bottom of the folded fabric.

Fold the top of the fabric down a little more than halfway.  There will be no need to stitch the fold into place, as it will be tucked down inside the bag.  This method makes the top of the sachet very clean.  I’ve made them before with a hem at the top and it looks messy, this method is much better.

Press the top of the fold.

Turn the bag right side out, using a chopstick to make the corners crisp.  Fill with about 3/4 cup of lavender.  You can also substitute other herbs or spices that you love such as: cloves, lemon peel, cedar shavings, or cinnamon sticks that have been crushed.

Tie the top of your sachet with ribbon.

It’s ready for the drawer.  If it stops smelling as strongly, I give it a squeeze, which releases some of the oils.  A lavender sachet in a drawer will last for at least a couple of years…. sometimes longer.

Sachets are a great way to use up your supply of lavender from the garden.  And if, like me, you have a copious amounts of lavender, sew extra sachets and put them away for last minute gifts.