“It was so wonderful to be there, safe at home, sheltered from the winds and the cold.
Laura thought that this must be a little like heaven, where the weary are at rest.”
-Laura Ingalls Wilder, The Long Winter
Freshly fallen snow has finally arrived {yet again} and our little world is pretty and bright, sparkling and clean. It is easy to to list the negatives in our minds about a chilly winter season or focus on the woes of the colder months, but I take joy in this delightful new season! There are so many blessings to winter … have you seen them yet? Look. You will…
One thing that I love is the added time to work on some homemade projects that time does not allow during the busier summer and autumn season. This weekend, I put together a stove top pot pourri for a friend. It was simple and easy to make and, as you will often find it simmering on the back of our cookstove, I can speak from experience that it will make your home smell cozy and delightful.
As the children eat fresh oranges for their snacks during the day, I save the peels and dehydrate them in the warming drawer of my cookstove. There are so many uses for orange peels – please do not throw them away! 🙂
With a nice collection of dried fruit {apples, cranberries, oranges and orange peels}, you can make a lovely potpourri.
Combine your dried {or fresh, if you prefer} ingredients – such as oranges, apples, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, cloves – in a glass jar. If preferred, drop in 5-10 drops of cinnamon or clove essential oil. This is a very flexible recipe and can be adapted to your personal preference.
To use, add your ingredients to a small saucepan filled with 2-3 cups of water. Place at the back of your stove a low heat setting and allow your potpourri to simmer throughout the day, filling your home with a delicious aroma. This potpourri works particularly well on woodstoves, as you will not be wasting any electricity or money to heat up the mixture. Add more water over time and enjoy your homemade pot pourri for as long as you wish. This also makes a great gift for others.
Another simple project, that will just require a few minutes of your time, is mixing together an essential oil blend that will assist your family in staying healthy.
{Immune Booster} Essential Oil mixture:
2 drops of oregano [antiviral, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory]
2 drops of tea tree oil [anti-bacterial, anti-septic, aids in ridding one of a cough]
2 drops of lemon oil [calming, anti-infection, detoxifying, disinfectant]
2 drops of frankincense [anti-septic, astringinent, disinfectant, calming]
2 drops of cinnamon [anti-bacterial, help treat coughs, sore throats, decreases inflammation]
Fill to the rest of the bottle with a carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil. Shake gently and apply to the bottom of your children’s feet in the evening before you tuck them into bed. This also works great on adults, as well. 🙂
If you have an old essential oil bottle, you could re-use your bottle after giving it a good rinse. Another great option is using a roller ball bottle.
I hope today you can find time to enjoy this wintery day with a cup of soothing tea and perhaps a small homemade project to try …
by Gigi
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