Guest Author - Phyllis Doyle Burns
Molly Time is an extremely busy lady. With raising all her seven children, keeping her husband, Jistin, and the kids well-fed and cared for, keeping her customers in the "Thyme For Herbs Shoppe" happy, keeping her Magic Gardens and herb gardens thriving and cared for - she always manages to save time for herself, to relax, unwind, dream, and take a "Journey Into Herself".
Molly loves Lavender, Roses, Apricots and Rosemary more than any other thing she grows. The scents of these treasures helps her to feel good and gives her a feeling of taking care of herself. It is like a gift to herself. She orders the essential oils of Lavender and Roses and Apricot from her supplier, Rosie. Rosie and Molly love to chat about home remedies, herbs and general folklore of the land. They like to share stories and remedies and just have a good time together.
When Molly takes her "Journey into Self", she makes sure she has her Lavender flowers and Rose petals handy to add to a warm tub of bath water. She then lights her Apricot scented candles, which she makes herself, and sinks into the warm, heavenly scented, water, lays her head on her little pillow that she stuffed with Rosemary, Lavender and Rose petals, closes her eyes and dreams of her village in the forest where she grew up. Her mind drifts back to the days when she was so young and sat by her Grandmother, learning how to make candles, what herbs to use for particular remedies and listening to the soft, sweet voice that taught her so much.
Grandmother taught Molly how to grow the precious Lavender. Using seeds or stem cuttings, she sowed it in full sun in fast draining soil. It was always planted in the Garden of Love, along with old world roses, violets, vervain, yarrow, rosemary, basil, lemon balm and lovage. The soil and the layout of the garden was done in the manner of the ancient ancestors.
After Molly's bath she smooths Lavender oil over her skin to keep it soft and smooth. Then she takes a short nap with her head resting on a pillow stuffed with lavendar, rosemary, and lemon verbana. By the time the family all start coming back home for the evening, Molly feels refreshed and ready to begin the preparations for supper and a relaxing family chat at the table with Jistin and the kids.
Molly also keeps little sachet bags of Lavender tucked in drawers, linen and bedroom closets, and laying around in pretty dishes all over the house. It seems to bring peace not only to Molly, but her home and family. People who visit Molly find that the scent in her home relaxes them and they enjoy their visits.
Molly makes a Rose potpourri that adds to the wonderful atmosphere in her home. She makes dry potpourri by thoroughly drying petals and leaves of roses until they are crispy, combines them with dried lavender flowers and leaves, dried rose geranium leaves, adds orris root powder for a fixative, and sometimes some brightly colored dried petals of pansy. This potpourri she keeps in small baskets sitting around the house and once in awhile adds a few drops of essential oil of rose to spruce up the scent.
She has an old recipe for a moist potpourri that her Grandmother gave her. It lasts for half a century if made right and properly cared for. This she sells in her Herb Shoppe. Here is Molly's recipe:
Moist Potpourri
3/4 cup non iodized salt
3 crushed bay leaves
1/4 cup allspice, crushed
1/4 cup cloves, crushed
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp orris root powder
1 quart old world, fragrant rose petals, partially dried
2 cups dried, fragrant garden flowers (jasmine, lavender, orange blossoms or whatever smells good)
1 cup fragrant leaves, like rose geranium or lemon verbana
2 Tbsp brandy
Combine salt, bay, allspice, cloves and sugar, set aside. Gently mix flower petals and leaves with orrisroot. In a large crock put some of the petal mix and sprinkle with salt mix. Layer the petals and salt alternately with the salt being the top layer. Pour the brandy over top, place a plate on top to weigh down the mixture and a tight fitting lid to seal tightly. Stir mixture gently every day. At the end of one month, stir thoroughly and pour in small, clean containers with lids. This potpourri will last up to fifty years. Add a little brandy every two years or so or whenever the mix seems to be drying out.
Molly's customers love this potpourri and buy it not only for themselves, but as gifts, too. It makes a wonderful gift for the women folks along with a basket of scented soaps and candles that Molly makes.
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For other remedies or potpourri recipes, Editor recommends the following Herbal books:
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