Catching up

I feel so bad because I disappeared for so long and didn't show anyone my hard work that I've been so proud of. So here we are all my hard garden work:

That happy lady is my momma after we finally put the mulch down and had officially finished the planting part. This section is allll done. But Chris did see it and say something about giving me the front yard to work on too sooooo very awesome right? I'll put up the before and afters after the plants have come up and flowered.

On a similar planting note, these were my presents from mom that you can see in the full garden shots. these are the stones between the larger rocks, 6 in total! And this is my garden snail!

Its all very exciting and I also have pictures of the other things she gave me, but you never know where I might post them!!!!

And in the spirit of spring I am starting my very first essential oils project and I am stating with the smell OF!!!!!

I just figure that there are lots o them to practice with so wish me luck!!!

Christmas smells great!!

You know what I realized? Pine is an amazing smell. I mean I just got home from Florida and let me tell you something, I love that warm weather, but something about walking through the pine tree section at Menard's just makes my heart flutter. Its all the right time of year for pine trees and know what? All the more right time for Basil! Yes I know its been ages, but well to be perfectly honest, it doesn't matter. All my plants have passed on by now, I had to allow them to take their last breathes before leaving on vacation, but that didn't stop me from drying the final plants and guess what this happy camper got to bring home with her for Christmas?

A MORTAR and PESTLE!

That's right! My dad bought me that gorgeous little stone there that says very sweetly, 'Bless this Garden.' I was very wobbly eyed when I received it because as we all know this little hobby of mine really matters to me and it makes my heart light up to see that others notice that as well. The mortar and pestle were a gift from my grandma Judy. Who let me get it while we discovered a quaint little cooking store at the mall in Bradenton. Its small and perfectly fits in my hands. And that's right you know what I made with it? I made Christmas presents!

Sure I can't buy things since we all know that aside from being rather frugal I am also about to lose my job and can't really afford gifts, but! I can make gifts. I took that little pestle and ground up that basil and mixed it with my mom's favorite generic tea blend and repackaged it for gifting to whomever it fits best. As we are playing secret santa this year I have to be careful who I gift to because I don't want to seem unfair. I think my person will enjoy them though... I hope. Speaking of gifts though!

I am sending Dad the basil oil. I made it and now it has someone who will appreciate it. He was very excited when I mentioned it because he likes to cook. One of the best cooks I've known actually, so I am gifting him a bottle. Bottle two went to friend Josh, as he now eats only organic foods and thought it was super cool. At least I hope he thought so... Bottle three is going to my sister. We all knew that was coming though right? The culinary queen should certainly have a bottle. So that covers that.

Now as for this tea, I'm hoping that I did it right, but I'm pretty certain that I did. I first, slowly took apart a tea bag and emptied it's contents. Afterward I used a teaspoon scooper to figure out how much was in there and replaced it 2/3 with basil and 1/3 with the original blend, so its still tea like of course. The next kind of basil I grow (hopefully a bigger variety), I'll try mixing with chamomile and that might give it a nice blend. All I know is it smells amazing!

That's it for now on the gardening end of things,
I'll update you all later with the outcome!

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The Gardening Bunny.

Preparing for Christmas

Well since not many people actually read my blog, I don't have to worry about people who are receiving these actually reading this. BUT! I spent all night last night working on making the basil oil for the specialty little containers I bought at Michael's. I plucked 8 tablespoons of fresh basil from the first plant, and was overly surprised to find that that there is at least another 8 tablespoons on that plant if not 16 and the same on the other plant. With the addition of extra virgin olive oil, my basil oil is not 'setting' in the cold dark closet for the next 3 weeks. Every weekend I am suppose to shake it up and return it to the closet. After that I put the oil into the bottles and put in a few fresh leaves and they should be ready for gifting. Apparently the longer it sits, the better the oil is infused.

Anyway I found the recipe online and with aid, figured out how to bruise my basil leaves without a mortar and pestle, though that doesn't stop me from needing one. Any way after that I was inspired to find the uses of my basil oil and I was happily excited to find that my Sunflower's favorite food, (aside from gyros and mozz sticks), that we cook here at home actually is seasoned often with basil oil so I am really excited to give him some tasty basil oil pasta! It appears its also good for our tummy aches so I'll have to try it this weekend.

Speaking of this weekend! My grandmother's burial is on Friday afternoon and I'm thinking basil tea for everyone might be nice. Well... for those that will drink it. My uncle John and his family are coming up for this as well, so I hope that everything goes well.

Goodnight all,
Tine.