| December Hello friends! Welcome to the last month of 2020! As much as I am grateful for every day, I don't think I've ever been so happy to see a year end! But I'm also thankful for the many lessons it taught me: how little I really need, how much I cherish time with my family and friends, how creative, and kind, and generous so many of us are when faced with hardship. So yes, I'm ready for this year to end...but I will carry these lessons with me into the new year. But first we all have to make it through this year in tact -- so stay safe, wear your mask and we'll see you again in 2021. And please check out Little Lavender Farm's online store if you are looking for lavender products! If you're local to Newberg Oregon, you can even order online for pickup. We are taking all the necessary precautions to make your visit safe! I hope you enjoy our December newsletter! Something Beautiful: Holiday Table Decor A little lavender on your holiday table lends an unexpected color and charm to the usual palette. You can use an existing lavender wreath to dress up a candle or reuse that white pumpkin from your Fall decor as a vase for a bouquet of lavender. If you've done something creative with lavender this holiday season, send me a picture! I'd love to share your creativity with others on Instagram! Something to Give: Lavender Bath Bombs Give the gift of relaxation this holiday season -- either for others or for yourself! Ingredients: 2 cups Baking Soda 1 cup Citric Acid 1/2 cup Epsom Salts 2 tsp Grapeseed oil (sweet almond oil) 2 tsp Witch Hazel 20-30 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (to your preference) Dome Shaped Mold (or any shaped soap molds you have around) Directions 1. BLEND the citric acid, epsom salts, and baking soda in a stand up mixer -- let it go for 5-10 min. This step is really important because if you don’t blend well, you end up with a grainy bomb. 2. Once you’ve blended really well, slowly add the grapeseed oil with the mixer still going at medium speed. 3. Next slowly add the lavender essential oil and blend really well so that the oil is evenly distributed. 4. Now, this is the difficult part. While the mixer is still going on medium/high speed, SLOWLY add the witch hazel. Turn the mixer to its highest speed for about 30 seconds. The mixture will start looking almost like snow. Once the mixture sticks together when squished, it's time to put it in the molds. If you wait too long, the mixture will get hard. If you add too much liquid, it will be too wet and start to grow/fizz. 5. When putting the mixture into the molds, really cram the stuff in there. The harder you pack the bath bombs, the more dense, heavy, and durable bomb you will get. Wait 10-15 minutes and tap them out. Let them air dry for 3 or 4 hours. (I usually let them dry overnight) And there you have it! Wonderfully fragrant, relaxing bath bombs! Something Delicious: Lavender Simple Syrup Ingredients 1 c water 1 c sugar 1 TB culinary lavender buds Directions 1) Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. 2) Turn down the heat and let the mixture simmer for another 10 minutes. 3) Set aside and let the mixture cool for about ½ hour. 4) Strain the lavender buds from the mix and pour into a bottle. Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. 5) Add to your favorite drink and enjoy! Note: If you'd rather purchase your simple syrup, please visit my friend Nicole's website. She makes amazing simple syrup from the lavender on her farm -- Norwood Farm. Lavender Champagne Adding a sugar cube is a common way to add a little bubbly sweetness to champagne, but how about doing things a little different this year? Instead of a sugar cube, add a few teaspoons of lavender simple syrup, both for sweetness and a hint of lavender! (PC Norwood Farm) Something Crafty: Holiday Wreath Wreath making is easier than you think, and adds a festive and personal touch to your holiday decor! Supplies a. A good pair of clippers b. A wreath form c. Florist’s wire d. Plant material. Walk around your yard looking for evergreen plants or any interesting plant that you think would look good in a wreath. Try to find at least 3 different kinds of plants of different textures and shades of green (I usually have 8-9 different kinds). Cut more than you think you will need (I always end up having to go outside and get more). Directions 1. Separate out plant material into piles and cut them down to 3-5 inches. 2. Wrap the wire around the wreath form and secure it so that you can pull the wire tight and it won’t come off. 3. Grab a few sprigs of different kinds of plant material making a small bundle, and lay it right where the wire is secured to the form. Wrap the wire around the bundle 2-3 times, pulling fairly tightly. 4. Grab another bundle and lay it over the exposed stems of the previous bundle. Now wrap the wire around the stems of this bundle. Continue working your way around the wreath form. 5. The last bundle is the most difficult. This is where you get to wrestle with your wreath for a little bit, pushing stems up, over, and down and then squeeeezing that last bundle into place before pulling that wire over the last stems. This might take a few tries. 6. Add a bow or ribbon if desired and hang proudly on your door or on a wall in your home! Something Useful: Household Cleaner Lavender is well known for its antibacterial properties, so it is the perfect addition to your cleaning regimen -- both disinfecting and dispelling the winter blahs by transporting you back to sunny summer days. All Purpose Deodorizer (From The Lavender Lover’s Handbook by Sarah Berringer Bader) 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar 1 teaspoon borax Distilled or purified water ¼ c liquid castile soap 10 drops lavender eo 5 drops of lemon essential oil or 1 tsp lemon juice Mix the white vinegar and borax together in a 16 ounce spray bottle. Fill the bottle ¾ full with hot purified or distilled water. Shake well until the borax is dissolved. Add the liquid castile soap and the essential oils (or the lavender oil and lemon juice) to the solution and shake well. Use as you would any other all-purpose cleaner Something To Think About: A Very COVID Christmas This is certainly a holiday season like no other. Usually, right after Thanksgiving -- after we’ve gathered with friends and family and stuffed ourselves with turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes and the many many other required delicacies of the day -- we are off to the holiday shopping races...that frenzied time between Thanksgiving and Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa where we plan, and budget and make lists and shop and make cookies and send holiday cards and shop and gather for parties and eat more and drink more and shop and keep going, going, going until we finally flop in front of the tv on New Year’s morning half watching football in between naps and shoving those chips and dips and an occasional carrot stick into our yawning mouths. Exhausted. And many of us promise that next year we will focus on what is really important, make more of our gifts, send more than just a photo card, slow down and really savor the season. Could it be that the universe is calling our bluff? Continue reading I hope you've enjoyed our December newsletter! Please feel free to send article ideas and I will try to include them in future newsletters. Happy Holidays! Pam Baker, owner of Little Lavender Farm |
Hello friends! Welcome to the last month of 2020!
As much as I am grateful for every day, I don't think I've ever been so happy to see a year end! But I'm also thankful for the many lessons it taught me: how little I really need, how much I cherish time with my family and friends, how creative, and kind, and generous so many of us are when faced with hardship. So yes, I'm ready for this year to end...but I will carry these lessons with me into the new year.
But first we all have to make it through this year in tact -- so stay safe, wear your mask and we'll see you again in 2021.
And please check out Little Lavender Farm's online store if you are looking for lavender products! If you're local to Newberg Oregon, you can even order online for pickup. We are taking all the necessary precautions to make your visit safe!
I hope you enjoy our December newsletter!
| |
|
|
Something Beautiful: Holiday Table Decor | |
|
|
A little lavender on your holiday table lends an unexpected color and charm to the usual palette. You can use an existing lavender wreath to dress up a candle or reuse that white pumpkin from your Fall decor as a vase for a bouquet of lavender. If you've done something creative with lavender this holiday season, send me a picture! I'd love to share your creativity with others on Instagram! | |
|
|
Something to Give: Lavender Bath Bombs | |
 |
Give the gift of relaxation this holiday season -- either for others or for yourself!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Baking Soda
- 1 cup Citric Acid
- 1/2 cup Epsom Salts
- 2 tsp Grapeseed oil (sweet almond oil)
- 2 tsp Witch Hazel
- 20-30 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (to your preference)
- Dome Shaped Mold (or any shaped soap molds you have around)
Directions
1. BLEND the citric acid, epsom salts, and baking soda in a stand up mixer -- let it go for 5-10 min. This step is really important because if you don’t blend well, you end up with a grainy bomb.
2. Once you’ve blended really well, slowly add the grapeseed oil with the mixer still going at medium speed.
3. Next slowly add the lavender essential oil and blend really well so that the oil is evenly distributed.
4. Now, this is the difficult part. While the mixer is still going on medium/high speed, SLOWLY add the witch hazel. Turn the mixer to its highest speed for about 30 seconds. The mixture will start looking almost like snow. Once the mixture sticks together when squished, it's time to put it in the molds. If you wait too long, the mixture will get hard. If you add too much liquid, it will be too wet and start to grow/fizz.
5. When putting the mixture into the molds, really cram the stuff in there. The harder you pack the bath bombs, the more dense, heavy, and durable bomb you will get. Wait 10-15 minutes and tap them out. Let them air dry for 3 or 4 hours. (I usually let them dry overnight)
And there you have it! Wonderfully fragrant, relaxing bath bombs!
| |
|
|
Something Delicious: Lavender Simple Syrup | |
Ingredients
1 c water
1 c sugar
1 TB culinary lavender buds
Directions
1) Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes.
2) Turn down the heat and let the mixture simmer for another 10 minutes.
3) Set aside and let the mixture cool for about ½ hour.
4) Strain the lavender buds from the mix and pour into a bottle. Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
5) Add to your favorite drink and enjoy!
Note: If you'd rather purchase your simple syrup, please visit my friend Nicole's website. She makes amazing simple syrup from the lavender on her farm -- Norwood Farm.
| |
Adding a sugar cube is a common way to add a little bubbly sweetness to champagne, but how about doing things a little different this year? Instead of a sugar cube, add a few teaspoons of lavender simple syrup, both for sweetness and a hint of lavender! (PC Norwood Farm) | |
|
|
Something Crafty: Holiday Wreath | |
|
|
Wreath making is easier than you think, and adds a festive and personal touch to your holiday decor!
Supplies
a. A good pair of clippers
b. A wreath form
c. Florist’s wire
d. Plant material. Walk around your yard looking for evergreen plants or any interesting plant that you think would look good in a wreath. Try to find at least 3 different kinds of plants of different textures and shades of green (I usually have 8-9 different kinds). Cut more than you think you will need (I always end up having to go outside and get more).
Directions
1. Separate out plant material into piles and cut them down to 3-5 inches.
2. Wrap the wire around the wreath form and secure it so that you can pull the wire tight and it won’t come off.
3. Grab a few sprigs of different kinds of plant material making a small bundle, and lay it right where the wire is secured to the form. Wrap the wire around the bundle 2-3 times, pulling fairly tightly.
4. Grab another bundle and lay it over the exposed stems of the previous bundle. Now wrap the wire around the stems of this bundle. Continue working your way around the wreath form.
5. The last bundle is the most difficult. This is where you get to wrestle with your wreath for a little bit, pushing stems up, over, and down and then squeeeezing that last bundle into place before pulling that wire over the last stems. This might take a few tries.
6. Add a bow or ribbon if desired and hang proudly on your door or on a wall in your home!
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Something Useful: Household Cleaner | |
|
|
Lavender is well known for its antibacterial properties, so it is the perfect addition to your cleaning regimen -- both disinfecting and dispelling the winter blahs by transporting you back to sunny summer days.
All Purpose Deodorizer
(From The Lavender Lover’s Handbook by Sarah Berringer Bader)
- 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon borax
- Distilled or purified water
- ¼ c liquid castile soap
- 10 drops lavender eo
- 5 drops of lemon essential oil or 1 tsp lemon juice
- Mix the white vinegar and borax together in a 16 ounce spray bottle. Fill the bottle ¾ full with hot purified or distilled water. Shake well until the borax is dissolved.
- Add the liquid castile soap and the essential oils (or the lavender oil and lemon juice) to the solution and shake well. Use as you would any other all-purpose cleaner
| |
|
|
Something To Think About:
A Very COVID Christmas
| |
|
|
This is certainly a holiday season like no other.
Usually, right after Thanksgiving -- after we’ve gathered with friends and family and stuffed ourselves with turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes and the many many other required delicacies of the day -- we are off to the holiday shopping races...that frenzied time between Thanksgiving and Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa where we plan, and budget and make lists and shop and make cookies and send holiday cards and shop and gather for parties and eat more and drink more and shop and keep going, going, going until we finally flop in front of the tv on New Year’s morning half watching football in between naps and shoving those chips and dips and an occasional carrot stick into our yawning mouths. Exhausted. And many of us promise that next year we will focus on what is really important, make more of our gifts, send more than just a photo card, slow down and really savor the season.
Could it be that the universe is calling our bluff?
Continue reading
| |
|
|
I hope you've enjoyed our December newsletter! Please feel free to send article ideas and I will try to include them in future newsletters.
Happy Holidays!
Pam Baker, owner of Little Lavender Farm
| |
|
|
| |
|
