Good Morning

On Fridays in August I am treating
myself to a Spa Day at home.

My new book arrived just in time.

I had read this book from the library and loved it so much I ordered it.

I am learning all about hair care. One of the books I read said to treat your hair like you would fine silk. I like that idea. It said never to wash your hair in hot water. It suggested shampoo should be used sparingly and a small dot on the palm first than gently on the hair.
I am working on making my own shampoo. I grow soapwort. It is has pretty pink flower in the spring. The low growing habit makes it a perfect herb to grow in my butterfly garden.

I gathered rain water for my rince.
I used my Rosemary and the rain water.
Very nice.

Rose water makes a nice refresher spray on hot afternoons too.

I sprayed my hair with some this afternoon.

I think I will go spin for awhile and listen to some music!

Mint

I am working with mint this week.

I am making mint syrup.

I harvested 36 stems and stripped the lower leaves off.





The stems with blooms went into vases.

The rest of the stems will be little stir sticks for my tea and coffee.

I cut up 1 cup of mint leaves

and added to them 1 cup of unbleached sugar and 1 cup of water.



On low heat I stirred until the sugar was dissolved.



I cooked the mint sugar for five minutes never allowing the mixture to boil.

I removed the pan from the heat and let the syrup cool

to room temperature.





While the syrup cooled I gathered my container and my cork.

I decided to make a top for the cork from a shank button
that was in my Grandmother's button box.
I cut out a tiny hole in the cork and filled it with household glue.
I wiggled the shank into the glued hole and let it dry.

I strained the syrup, saving my sugared mint.





I use this recipe for all my syrups. I substitute different herbs.

Lavender and rose make lovely syrups.

I patted the sugared mint out on a piece of wax paper.

After it hardens I will break it into little pieces.

It will be mint candy, a pretty garnish.







I use the syrup for many sweeting needs.

It is delicious in tea and my iced coffees.



It is wonderful as the sweetener for lime aides or lemon aides.

Also delicious in yogurt and over pancakes!

























I store the syrups in the refrigerator.
They are so pretty I use them at the table too!




My next mint project is to make mint infused oils!

It is mint time at my house.