Happy New Year!

A very happy, fun-filled, prosperous New Year to all!

Tis the Scent of the Season - The Magical Pine

I always have a live Christmas Tree. I know there are those who don't like having to clean up all the needles or the trouble of remembering to water it - but to me it is the very essence of the Yule season. Bringing in the evergreen,whether it be branches or the tree itself, is an ancient tradition which celebrates the returning of the sunshine. A fir tree fills the house with the scent of the season that refreshes and revitalizes the spirit.

Pines, firs and spruces are all conifers, lovely bright spots of green among the grey and white winter background. There are distinctions between them all, described wonderfully at the Stupid Questions archive (personally, I didn't think it was that stupid a question.)

My favorites are the pines, with the wonderful, heart lightening aroma. But they aren't just the holder of lovely ornaments and lights, pines pack some powerful benefits for health and home.

Pine cones are the home to pine nuts (called pignoli in Italy). These with some basil and garlic and olive oil make fabulous pesto. Pine wood is strong and is used for building of all sorts. But did you know you can make tea from pine needles?

Pine is said to help ease breathing and stimulate the respiratory tract as well as aid sooth intestinal disturbances. You can take the younger, tender needles (make sure it's from a tree that hasn't been treated with any chemicals) and steep them in hot water for about 3 to 5 minutes. Strain and add honey if you'd like. The aroma will open your sinuses and the tea will help soothe you.

Put pine needles in the bedding of your pets. It's said to repel fleas - and it will help it smell good too!

I collect pine needles from my tree outside and from my Christmas tree, let them dry slightly, and put them through my herb grinder. I mix that with some baking powder and use it as a natural carpet deodorizer.

The benefits of pine include the many uses of its essential oil. It is analgesic, antiviral, deodorizing, and so much more. At Celtic Chairde Creations, we use it in our Muscle Rubs for it's ability to soothe sore muscles. It's scent adds that uplifting boost to our Lughnasa Lotion Bar.

I'll be including more information about the wonderful evergreen of the season, whose magic lifts spirits and refreshes the mind. After all, mine is still standing sentinel in the corner, reminding us of all the joy this season can bring.

Joyous Yule!

Have a most Joyous Yule!

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The Tale of the Apocryphal Cookie

From the days before email, there was a wonderful chain letter with the story of the department store cookie. Typically, the store is Neiman Marcus. According to Snopes, it's not a true tale, thus the name of Apocryphal Cookie. Not a true story - but yummy non-the less.

Urban legend has it that a woman and her friends went to lunch at a posh restaurant in a very elegant department store. There the woman had a wonderful cookie for desert. She asked the waiter if the recipe was available. He said yes, but that it cost two fifty. She said that was fine and to put it on her tab. Off she went with the recipe.

When she received the bill the following month, she was stunned to discover that it wasn't $2.50 - it was $250! Despite her complaint, the store insisted that it was the correct price. To protest, she copied the recipe and distributed it to everyone she knew and asked them to do the same.

And so I came into the recipe. In fact, I still have the yellowed photo copy from so many moons ago. This recipe, with a few minor changes, has become a favorite of ours. If you haven't seen it, you'll find it below.


Apocryphal Cookies

* 1 cups butter, softened
* 2 cups sugar
* 4 eggs
* 2 cups brown sugar
* 2 tsp vanilla
* 4 cups flour
* 5 cups blended oatmeal (measure oatmeal and whir in a blender to a fine powder)
* 2 tsp baking soda
* 1 tsp baking powder
* 1 tsp salt
* 24 oz. raisinets or chocolate chips or cinnamon chips
* 8 oz grated milk chocolate
* 3 cups chopped nuts (optional)

Cream the butter and sugars together until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla. Slowly add the dry ingredients of flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Blend completely and fold in chocolate, raisinets and nuts. Drop teaspoon size balls into an ungreased cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove from oven and place on racks to cool. Makes 124 cookies - but you can half the recipe.

Whether the story is true or not, this is a yummy cookie that deserves its place in legendary stature.

There's Something About The Holidays...

I don't know what it is about this time of year, but I do know it's an uncontrollable urge. And once I get started, I just can't seem to stop.

No, it's not shopping, or any thing else you might be thinking. It's baking. Specifically, baking cookies. I enjoy creating in the kitchen all year round - dinners, cakes, herbal creations and new ideas for products for Celtic Chairde. But there's just something about Christmas and this space between holidays that makes me want to fill it with the wonderful smells and tastes of sweet temptation.

I've gone into this baking frenzy for years, staying up till all hours rolling and mixing and baking. For the last 10 (good heavens has it been that long!), Cindy and I have gathered the Friday and weekend after Thanksgiving and baked cookies till we couldn't stand anymore. Our record, I believe, is 23 batches and 16 types of cookies. Now THAT's a marathon! We share our goodies with co-workers, friends, family, and people we just like to say thank you to. We've collected all types of recipes, from the sublimely easy Pudding Cookies (see below for this recipe treasure) to the exotic Rose Geranium Cookies. We have fun discovering new recipes, and laugh at our disasters!

Cookies, whether you're leaving them for Santa or enjoying them with coffee and conversation, are a sweet way to share with friends. Since I can't give you cookies, I want to share a great recipe with you - the amazing Pudding Cookie.


I discovered this recipe on the inside of a box of instant pudding. It's simple, and highly adaptable, giving you a vast variety of delectables with a simple recipe.

PUDDING COOKIE

2 1/4 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 package, 4 serving size of instant pudding - choose your flavor!
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
12 oz of your favorite addition (see combinations below)

Mix the flour and baking soda. Cream the butter, sugars, pudding mix and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs and continue to beat. Gradually add in the flour and baking soda. Stir in you addition. Use a teaspoon size disher, ice cream scoop or regular teaspoons and drop batter onto ungreased baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 for about 10 minutes. Makes about 5 dozen.

If you like your cookies crispier, add an additional 1/4 cup of granulated sugar.

More of a butter cookie fan, add an extra stick of butter.

Here are some suggestions for combinations: Vanilla pudding and dried cherries, banana pudding and chocolate chips (my favorite!), chocolate pudding and crushed peppermint pieces, lemon pudding and chopped dried strawberries, pistachio pudding and chopped pistachios, vanilla pudding and cinnamon chips, butterscotch pudding and toffee bits, and so on and so on.

Add some fun to your holiday craziness - have a cookie baking frenzy of your own!

Find the Perfect Gift for the Holidays at The Crafts Extravaganza at Birchwood Manor

Holiday Shopping has almost qualified for an Olympic event. But you can stop the craziness and rediscover the joy of the season by stopping by the Arts & Crafts Extravaganza at Birchwood Manor in Whippany. This spectacular craft fair takes place on Wednesday December 3rd, 2008 from 10 am to 8 pm. The Birchwood Manor is at 111 N. Jefferson Blvd, Whippany NJ. You'll be able to find room upon room of unique handmade treasures from artists and crafters from all over the state.

Whether you're looking for clothes, wood work, candles, and - naturally,

the beauty products from us at Celtic Chairde Creations, you'll find it here. We'll have our lip balms, body butters, bath products and lotion bars, as well as gift baskets and a few surprises. Mention this blog post - and we'll give you a free lip balm!

See you at the Birchwood!

Happy Thankgiving!

Cindy and I, and our families, wish you a Happy Thanksgiving full of good food, family, friends and memories!

Lá an Altaithe Shona!
Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Marsh Mallow ... not Marshmallow

Tonight I was making Honey Pumpkin Face Mask. The last of my pumpkins had been roasted up and we were running low. I gathered up the materials I needed - honey, green tea, milk powder, some other herbs and my powdered marsh mallow root. It made me think of summer on this cold autumn evening for a few reasons.

First, I have a lovely stand of marsh mallow plants that spring up every year. It's one of those tall, stately plants that adds a lovely touch to the back of a garden, but you have to be careful not to let it run wild!

Second, it made me think of s'mores and the other marshmallow.

Marsh Mallows are beautiful, with many healthful and beneficial properties. It has wonderful

healing properties, which are even mention in Homers Illiad. It is emollient, demulcent, and soothing to sore throats and irritations. This soothing quality is the reason it is a part of our Honey Pumpkin Face Mask.

When the dried root is soaking, it creates a gel which helps coat inflamed areas and relieve the pain and reduce redness. And the gel was used to make the original Marshmallows.

I've often thought of making marshmallows the old fashioned way, and I may yet. In the meantime, I'll just rest here with my face mask on, dreaming of summer. And maybe I'll make some s'mores.

Join us at the Wonderful Sea Girt Holiday Craftmarket!

This weekend we run full on into the holiday season. One November 22 & 23rd, you can find Celtic Chairde Creations at the Sea Girt Holiday Craftmarket. Although relatively small, there are over 50 crafters presenting unique hand made items suitable for any holiday shopping list.

The event is held at the Sea Girt School on Route 71 and Bell Place in Sea Girt. One of my favorite parts of this show is the cafe. Eighth graders serve as waiters for some of the finest craft show food I've ever had.

We hope you'll come by and visit. There are only 4 more events that Celtic Chairde will be participating in before the Christmas. So stop by and select the perfect gifts for teachers, co-workers, family and friends.

November is a month of thanks - and it starts with our Veterans

Tuesday, November 11, is the day the celebrates the ending of World War I, at least that's how the day began. But in 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower passed the resolution that changed it to Veterans Day, a day to honor the men and women that have proudly served our country.

There are probably very few families who don't have a military veteran in their midst's. I'm very proud of my father, father-in-law, and uncles and cousins that have served to protect the United States. I thank them, and all the others for helping to keep our land safe and free.

Thank you, to all of you. You are our guardians, and we shall always hold you near in our hearts and prayers.

Kicking off the Holiday Season at the St. Peter's 31st Annual Craft Fair

It's so hard to believe that we've rolled around to another Holiday Season! Yet here we are, busily preparing products for our flurry of holiday fairs.

One of our favorites is the St. Peter's School Annual Craftmarket. This year the event is November 7 & 8, this Friday and Saturday. There are always so many interesting crafts and gifts. It's one of our favorite craft fairs of the season. Friends and family start the holiday shopping and enjoy a good time.

We hope to see you there this weekend!

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Pumpkin Wrap Up

Unfortunately, time and family business kept me from writing more about my favorite squash - the Great Pumpkin!

I did get to carve a few of my dozen pumpkins in time to tantalize our trick or treaters. And I also had the opportunity to start the roasting. This is the time of year that I store up on mashed pumpkin for future recipes of pies, butters, cookies, breads and face masks.

So many people opt for canned pumpkin, when its so easy to roast your own. Simply cut
the pumpkin into halves or quarters (depending on it's size). Scrape out all of the seed and strings (see the previous post for a yummy use for the seeds). Place the pieces, skin side up, into a large roasting pan. Put about 1/2 inch of water into the bottom. Cover with an aluminum foil tent and place into a 350 degree oven. Check in about 25 minutes.

Don't let the water totally boil out. If the shell is soft, the pumpkin is done. Remove from the oven and let it cool in the tent (it will finish steaming that way).

Once the pumpkin is cool, turn over and simply scrape out the soft, sweet pulp. You can freeze this or store in the refrigerator until you're ready to whip up some great and tasty treats. When you defrost the pumpkin, if it's too juicy, simply drain through a few layers of cheese cloth.

There will be a lot of pumpkin juice in the bottom of the pan or when you defrost your pumpkin. I like to mix pumpkin juice and sparkling cider or ginger beer.

So don't let you uncarved pumpkin simply turn into squirrel food or a pile of mush. Roast them up and be ready for Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pies, Pumpkin Muffins, or any number of sweet autumnal goodies.

It's Pumpkin Time!!!!! Getting the seed of an idea.

I LOVE this time of year. I love the crispness in the air, the bright color of the turning leaves, and the suspense that seems to build around the coming of Halloween. Don't love the fact that it starts getting darker earlier, but I'll accept it knowing that it leads to glowing orange globes delighting passersby and trick-or-treaters. You know - pumpkins!

Every since I was a small child, many years ago, I've adored carving pumpkins. There's something so viscerally cool and yet creepy about slicing off the top of these fruits of Autumn and pulling out all those slimy, icky insides. Cleaning and carving transform the simple pumpkin into a frightful - or playful - vision that dances in the long night.

Over the next few days I'll give carving tips, recipes and preserving ideas for keeping the pumpkin going. Today, however, lets get to the guts of the matter.

Pumpkin seeds are little gems inside even bigger gems. They are packed with zinc, manganese, copper, iron and protein. Their sweet nuttiness makes them a great addition to salads or any dish. And they are a terrific snack.

You can easily buy shelled pumpkin seeds, called Pepita's, but making your own is so easy. This is the recipe I typically use, but you can change around the spices to suit your own taste. Sugar pumpkins have slightly smaller, softer shelled seeds. We leave the hulls on for some extra crunchiness.

Garlic Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin Seeds - about 3 cups
Paprika: Sweet, Smoked and Hot
Garlic Salt
Kosher Salt
6 tbs. salted butter
Garlic Powder

Take the pumpkin seeds from your carved pumpkin and rinse them off, removing all the strings and any visible pumpkin pieces. Put 1/4 cup of kosher salt in a bowl and add pumpkin seeds. Fill with water to cover seeds. Stir, then cover with a dish towel or saran wrap and let sit for at least 2 hours, overnight if possible.

Drain the seeds and rinse off. Spread on a clean, dry dish towel and pat dry.

Set the oven at 375 degrees. In a roasting pan or cookie sheets with sides, place the butter and put in the oven. In about 5 minutes, remove from the oven. The butter should be mostly melted. Add the pumpkin seeds, 1 tsp of smoked paprika, 1 tsp of sweet paprika, and 1/4 tsp of hot paprika. Sprinkle on garlic powder and garlic salt (about 2 tsp of each). Stir into the seeds and spread them out to a thin layer. Return the pan to the oven.

Let the seeds roast undisturbed for about 15 minutes. After that time, stir up the seeds and check for browning - you want them brown and crunchy, not burned. If needed, put in to another 10 to 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and stir. You can add more garlic salt or kosher salt if you'd like. Let cool completely and put in an air tight container.

Munch away any time you want a snack. These are also great in Nuts & Bolts (similar to Chex Mix). And they're the perfect munch while watching Halloween horror movies!

Tis the Season for Holiday Craft Fairs - Support your Local Crafters & Artists

The Autumn Art and Craft Fair season is winding down. Soon the outdoor events will heed to the chill in the air and move indoors. The hectic, fun and exhilarating Holiday Craft Fair Season is about to commence.

Cindy and I love going to craft fairs and festivals. Not just to sell the terrific products we make, but also to see what other artists and crafters have been creating. It a wonderful way to get to meet the creators of your purchase and find out the history of the item. Even before we started Celtic Chairde Creations, we enjoyed spending a few hours (or a whole day!) going through a fair finding unique gifts for friends and family - or ourselves.

Jane Sandlar from Ducky Life Teas is one of the folks we've been blessed to meet at our fair outings. In fact, we now use some of her marvelous teas in some of our jams and jellies (we love to drink them, too!) Her newsletter from September says it best:

"Craft shows started out as huge outdoor events held mostly in rural towns and usually in the summertime. They provided an outlet for local craftspeople to display and sell their creations. When shows moved indoors (in the early 1970s) and tapped into the holiday gift market by continuing into the fall, their popularity grew tremendously, propelling the crafts industry to new levels of recognition and potential profitability.

For some artists and craftspeople, creating and selling their personally crafted products is a hobby. For many though, it is their main source of income. Shows, fairs and festivals, with their low overhead and growing appeal, remain the ideal marketplace for artists and crafters to sell their unique creations directly to the public.

Art & craft shows, fairs and festivals run the gamut from free, local events held in churches or schools and featuring traditional country crafts and very affordable homemade gifts to large, regional, juried events that charge admission and feature higher end jewelry, art, handcrafted furniture, and pottery.

If you prefer green, sustainable products and locally created and individually crafted goods, these shows are the places to find them. Prices, even the higher ones, are reasonable. For your dollar(s), you get art and crafts made with real materials and personal workmanship.

If you still need convincing to support the people who display their wares at shows fairs and festivals, there's the sense of community you'll feel. You get to actually meet and interact with the person who crafted your necklace, wove your basket or used their hands to form your pottery. And how much more special can a purchase be than when it helps artisans continue to pursue the work they truly love?"

What more can I add, other than I hope to see you at one of our upcoming craft fairs and we can get to know each other!

Count Down to Herb Day - It's Here!

Herb Day is here! Saturday, October 11 is the 3rd annual Herb Day. Herbs are such an intricate part of our lives, it seems appropriate to take a day a celebrate these diverse, interesting and useful plants.

Most of us use dozens of herbs in our everyday lives without even thinking about it. A little basil in the spaghetti sauce, some thyme on a chicken dish, a little mint in your tea are simple things. We at Celtic Chairde use herbs in a myriad of ways - all of our products contain herbal infusions to enhance their purpose, use and fragrance. Many of these herbs grow in my backyard, so I've learned to use the simplest things in new and exciting ways.

You can celebrate Herb Day and enjoy these everyday treasures in new and exciting ways. Here are a few additional ideas to get you started.

1. Make an herb jelly! Mint jelly is probably the most popular, but you can make jelly from rosemary, lemon balm, garlic, geraniums, fennel, violets - any edible herb! The recipe for Rose Geranium jelly is great. If you don't have Rose Geraniums, use the herb of your choice and see what happens!

2. Collect your favorite herbs and use them as a bouquet in your house. Lemon Balm, Pineapple Sage, Mint, Calendula, Feverfew, Lavender, and Basil add fragrant and interesting accents to any corner.

3. Infuse herbs into sugars and vinegars. Any herb you have in abundance can be infused into a vinegar or sugar that will open up exciting new options in cooking. We've told you the secret to sweet success with Herbal Sugars. For herbal vinegars, look here.

4. Learn about a new herb. If you aren't sure what Calendula is, or if you didn't know that oregano can also be used as an antiseptic, try doing a little research and learn something new! The International Herb Association has some wonderful books about past Herbs of the Year. Or just check you local library, book store, agricultural service or garden center!

5. Have a nice cup of tea! What better way to enjoy a crisp autumn day than with an aromatic, enticing, warm herbal tea. It's easy to create your own, or enjoy one of our favorites - Ducky Life teas.

Happy Herb Day everyone!

Count Down to Herb Day - A Lemony Look at the Past

Each year, the International Herb Association select an herb that is outstanding in at least two of three categories: decorative, medicinal, and culinary. This years perfect choice was Calendula, one of my all time favorite herbs, which I've highlighted previously here. I use a lot of calendula in our Celtic Chairde Creations products, around the house for decoration, and even in cooking. But what about choices from previous years? Well, last year was another of my favorites.

Sweet Melissa. Melissa officinalis that is. That's the official name for Lemon Balm. This happens to be one of my very favorite herbs. It's easy to grow, and has so many uses.


Lemon Balm is a member of the mint family. As such, it can be a prolific grower in your garden, spreading its pretty leaves and lemony scent to places you may not want it to be. To help keep it from traveling, plant it in a festive and sturdy container. Another advantage to this is that you can bring the container in when the weather starts to turn chilly. You can then enjoy the calming scent all year round.

Use this versatile herb in the kitchen to add a light citrus note to salads, teas, or chicken and fish dishes. Add Lemon Balm last when cooking, as it's flavor dissipates tremendously when heated. It's a perfect compliment to tea, either on it's own or as that little lemon burst in regular tea.

The aroma of lemon balm provides a calming effect, while revitalizing the inner spirit. For skin care, it acts as an insect repellent. Bit already - chew on a leaf a bit to mash it up and rub it on the bite area and sweet melissa will help calm that buggy nibble. It is also a wonderful hair rinse, freshening your hair without stripping out the oils. We use lemon balm in our Mela Tae - Lemon Bright Hair Rinse. Combined with nettles and chamomile and other herbs, this tea makes a refreshing and brightening rinse for tired hair.

The article in the Herb Companion can give you lots of information about the 2007 Herb of the Year.

If you are lucky enough to already have Lemon Balm growing in your garden - just brush your hands through the leaves and take in the lovely, lemony fragrance. Despite the nippy weather, you'll be reminded of a wonderful summer day.

Count Down to Herb Day - Preserve the Harvest

As we approach the end of the harvest season, that age old question comes to mind - now what do I do with all these herbs?

There are a number of methods to keep the taste of summer going all year long. Below are some quick suggestions to help you keep the flavor and fragrance of your herbs until you start harvesting next seasons crops.

The North Carolina State University website has some wonderful guidelines for harvesting your herbs at their peak.

Freezing: I use one of two methods for freezing herbs. One is to rinse them off, then roll them in paper towel to dry them off. Discard that paper towel and place a new one in a zip lock bag and freeze. Then when you need fresh herbs, break off a hunk and use! Another method is to coarsely chop the herbs. Place them into an ice cube tray and barely cover with water. Freeze and use when needed!

Drying: I have some wonderful friends. Last Christmas time they gave me a wonderful dehydrator. I use it for flowers, fruits, and herbs.

If you don't have a dehydrator, try drying them the old fashioned way. Take bunches of your favorite herb. Tie the ends together and hand in a cool, dry place with good air circulation. A closet or the attic are good places to do this. Drying in this manner works really well with lavender, chives, dill, sage and thyme.

If you are lucky enough to have a gas oven, you can also dry your herbs by laying them out on a layer of paper towels that have been placed on a cookie sheet. Let them sit on the lowest rack of the oven to dry.

Preserve in oils or vinegars: Infusing oils and vinegars with the fresh taste of summer herbs is easy and fun.

For more information about preserving herbs, check out this great article in the Herb Companion, and start saving all of your hard work!

Count Down to Herb Day - A Touch of Polish with Horsetail

Horsetail, also known as shavegrass, dates back to prehistoric times. It's a basic plant, whose delicate looking stems are sturdier than you'd imagine. Don't let it's simple appearance fool you - it is a true work horse that is packed with silica crystals.

Although it prefers damp, swampy areas, it's quite adaptable to a variety of soil and light conditions. I have small stand of these interesting reeds growing in my garden, and their stately presences is a real treat. But they can get to be invasive, so I have to watch these wondering wonders.

Shavegrass was once use the sander of choice for wood workers and pewter smiths. Just gather a bunch of the reeds and tie the ends together and you have a fine sander that gives wood and metals an beautiful patina. I've seen walking sticks that have been polished with horsetail that were so smooth and silken to the touch, it was hard to believe a simple herb did this. Whenever I chip a nail while I'm gardening

(which is more often than I'd like to admit), I grab a piece of horsetail and use it as a nail file.

The silica properties in Horsetail also make it a wonderful addition to hair rinses. It's a key ingredient on our Mela Tae Bright and Moon Hair Rinses.

I've never tried using Shavegrass in a tea, although it is said that it is said that it is a good diuretic and antispasmodic.

To find out more about this herb that adds a dramatic touch to your garden, check out Well Sweep Herb Farm, or A Modern Herbal.

Count Down to Herb Day - Herbal Sugars for Sweet Success

Saturday, October 11 is Herb Day! The herbs around us are intricately woven parts of everyday life, whether you realize it or not. From cooking to medicine, beauty care to cleaning, herbs serve purposes besides beauty in your garden.

The first Herb Day was celebrated only a few years ago, in October of 2006. It was the inspiration of 5 herbal organizations: American Botanical Council, United Plant Savers, the American Herbal Products Association, the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, and the American Herbalists Guild. It's a day to learn and celebrate herbs of all kinds.

As an herb enthusiast and student, I thought I'd share an herbal idea everyday to get you thinking about all the great uses for herbs of all kinds.

Today: herbal sugars.

Making flavored herbal sugars is easy and fun. A great family project, too, because children can help create these multi-use treats.

You'll need:

• 1 large, well cleaned dry glass jar with a lid. Quart mason jars work well or cleaned out spaghetti jars (Well cleaned out!)
• 1/2 to 1 cup (loosely packed) of your herb of choice - see some suggestions below.
• Sugar to fill your jar.

1. Rinse your herbs and make sure the are thoroughly dried off.
2. Lightly crush the herbs to help release some of the oils.
3. Put about 1/2 inch worth of sugar in the jar.
4. Place a layer of herb on top of the sugar.
5. Place a layer of sugar, followed by a layer of herbs.
6. Continue layering until you reach within 1/2 of the top of the jar.
7. Seal the jar tightly.
8. Let this sit for at least two weeks, but the longer you let it sit, the stronger the flavor.

Yes - it's that easy. Some wonderful herbs to use in your sugar: lemon verbena or lemon balm (my favorites), rose petal, lavender, rose geranium leaves - or any of the edible geraniums, mint, sage, marjoram, calendula petals - what ever grows in your garden! You can also do this with spices like vanilla beans, allspice, nutmeg, or coriander. Or try adding the dried rinds of oranges, lemons or limes.

Now what to do with this abundance of sweet flavors? Use them in hot or cold teas or punch. Sprinkly them on French Toast. Use when making a glaze for meat or chicken. They are terrific when baking, adding a wonderful depth and mystery to your usual cake or cookies. Whatever you would use sugar for - make it more flavorful with an herbal sugar.

If you have ideas for using your herbal sugars - feel free to share!

The Nip of Crisp Air Marks the Change of the Season

The light has subtly changed. There's a briskness in the air. Blankets come our for snuggling under in the evening. The days are growing shorter - but candles come out to warm and lighten the night. It's autumn, and it's wonderful.

I love this time of year. The Autumn Equinox the other day marked the beginning of the dark season, but there's such a rush to the end of the calender year, that it's not so bad. After all, tis harvest season - one of the yummiest seasons of them all.

Right now my home is filled with the smell of warm apples getting ready to be made into Lughnasa Butter (apples, fall raspberries and currants - yum!) Very soon I'll be picking pumpkins to carve into dozens of scary and festive scenes for Halloween. Some will be saved for Pumpkin Butter, pumpkin pies and cakes and cookies, and of course our Honey Pumpkin Face Mask. Even the veggies know the time has come. They've suddenly put on that last burst of ripening to fill my table with tomatoes, zucchini and peppers.

The herbs are drawing the bees as I finally let them flower before harvesting them up for the long winter. The rush is on to finish up the gardening and gathering before frost and winter make us huddle up in our homes.

The moral of this story - get out there and enjoy! Season's pass quickly so watch for those leaves changing, celebrate the warm days, and enjoy the change that is Autumn!

Heritage and Beach Plums - Where we'll be - and won't be - this Weekend

It seems Hurricane Hana has had her way with Lavallette already. The Heritage Day Festival, which is typically a wonderful day, has been cancelled for this Saturday, September 6. With an 90% of rain and thunderstorms, the committee wisely chose to not have the event. There's nothing worse than a soggy Mummer. Sad, but wise decision.

However, Sunday, September 7th, promises to be much better - maybe even sunny. And what better way to finish up the summer season than with the Friends of Island Beach State Park Beach Plum Festival! This even is always fun, festive, educational and entertaining.

If you've never had the chance to attend, you should take the opportunity this year. There are kayak tours available, beach plum picking, a wide variety of educational opportunities, dozens of handcrafted items, and the best view of the beach you could have.

Island Beach State Park is an amazing resource, and probably one of the most beautiful spots in New Jersey. There are 10 miles of beautiful beaches, swathed in a gentle, inviting, natural maritime park. It's like stepping into another world. Definitely a spot worth investigating.

The Beach Plum Festival runs from 9 am to 4 pm at the Ocean Beach Bathing Area #1. We hope to see you there!

Have a Little Honey, Honey, it's National Honey Month!

As you may have gathered from our previous post about honey - which you can find here
- we're a little sweet on honey. What's not to love!? Honey is a natural sweet treat that's nourishing for your outside as well as your inside.

In celebration of National Honey Month, here are two honey based recipes to get you venturing into the wonderful world of honey.

For your outside:

Honey Hair Shine
Honey's softening power will keep your hair soft and shiny.

5 cups of warm water
2 teaspoons of light honey
Optional: a squeeze of lemon juice, strawberry, or a few teaspoons of chamomile tea

Stir the honey into the warm water. Add option of your choice. After shampooing, pour the mixture through your hair. Don't rinse, just dry and style as usual. Not only will your hair be soft and shiny, it will smell wonderful, too!

For your inside:

JP's Glazed Carrots
This is a family favorite - particularly my son's. He started making them with his grandmother when he was about 5 (he's now 25).

Carrots:
2 pounds baby carrots
water to cover

Glaze:
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup pineapple juice
4 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
Optional: just a pinch of hot pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.

Directions

Carrots:
Cook to carrots in the water until just fork tender but still firm. Don't over cook them or they'll be mushy. Drain carrots and return to put.

Glaze:
Set heat to low and add the butter to the carrots, . Add honey, brown sugar, and pineapple juice. Stir until well combined. Turn up the heat to medium when sugar has dissolved. Let simmer in the glaze until the liquid cooks down and thickens (usually about 5 to 7 minutes).

Place into a bowl, toss the option of your choice, if you'd like. The glaze with thicken slightly as it cools. Yum!

For the best in local honey, check out Herbertsville Honey or E&M Gold. They have wonderful information, terrific products, and are great people.

Have a little honey every day and celebrate the sweetness of National Honey Month.

The Joy of Well Sweep Herb Farm

Several times a year, including in the winter, I take a pilgrimage to one of the most interesting and beautiful places in New Jersey. Well Sweep Herb Farm is one of those amazing spots that you can get lost in, and I love getting lost there.

I don't remember quite how I discovered Well Sweep (and yes, it is Well Sweep, named after the water fetching devise for the well). I think it was on the Internet about 3 years ago. In search for a close location where I could look over the herbs I was studying, I came across what sounded like a slice of heaven on earth. Little did I know the education I would get, and the delights I would find.

The real treasure of Well Sweep isn't the multitude and vast selection of herbs and perennial plants, it's the Hyde family that runs the farm. Louise is chief cook and bottle washer, charged with running the events the farm offers throughout the year. Last time I was there she made a wonderful Rose Geranium punch. I'm still trying to duplicate it at home. Cyrus is the herb aficionado. You can always find him in the gardens, and he gladly give advice, history, and lore of the plants you can see that he clearly adores.

Well Sweep and the Hyde family have been honored by the Herb Society of America, the International Herb Association, as well as the New York Botanical Garden. Their plants range from the everyday basil to the exotic frankincense.

If you like herbs, or plants, or gardening, Well Sweep is a stop you must make. It's educational, peaceful, and a true celebration of the wonder of herbs.

There's still time to Stop the Globilization Act of 2008

Congress may still be on it's summer sabbatical it won't be long before work begins again in full swing. In a Presidential election year, all politicians are out to prove something, and this year is no exception. So if you want to be heard about something - now is the time to do it.

The FDA Globalization Act of 2008 is draft legislation which, if put into action, would impose such enormous fees on small cosmetic businesses - like Celtic Chairde Creations - that many of them would go out of business. This would mean fewer choices for you, the consumer, and higher prices from those choices you do have. But there are things you can do to keep this draft from going any further.

1) Sign the petition. If you go to the Indie Business Blog, you can sign the petition and joins hundreds of others in opposing the Globalization Act of 2008.

2) Write your Congressmen and Senators. Below is a sample letter that you can use, also from the Indie Business Blog:
Dear Representative [or Senator] Name:

I own a small cosmetics business in [state] and I am writing to you because I am familiar with your commitment to small businesses in our state. The draft discussion of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 is now being marked up in the House Energy & Commerce Committee and I am strongly opposed to it.

The stated purposes of the draft law are to provide FDA with funding and to protect consumers. But cosmetics have a stellar safety record and there is no need to pass laws that would hurt small businesses while offering no safety benefits consumers.

If passed, the new law would impose fees on my business of from $2,000 to $12,000 per year and require me to comply with burdensome paperwork and manufacturing requirements that no small business can afford.

I write to ask you to vote against the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 when the time comes. At a time when small and family businesses like mine are dealing with increased shipping and materials costs, as well as increases in consumer prices, it is unfair and unnecessary to enact new laws that would put small businesses out of business. Please refer to a Petition that a trade group I belong to [am familiar with] has prepared to help spread the word. At the link, you can watch a short video, read the Petition and then read the comments of literally thousands of people across the nation, many in our state, who oppose this new law.

I would like to request a short telephone conference call meeting with a staffer in your office who handles important issues affecting small businesses. Please call or email to let me know who to contact about this urgent issue.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

[signed]


Most businesses have started out small, with a dream for something bigger and a desire to provide something unique for customers. This legislation, if passed, would kill more than small business owners dreams, it would kill a part of the American Dream.

Next stop - Jersey Fresh Food and Wine Festival

We are VERY excited to be participating in our first Garden State Wine Growers Association wine festival. Won't you join us at:

JERSEY FRESH FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL
FEATURES HUNREDS OF WINES,WINE EXPERT SEMINARS AND GOURMET RESTAURANT FARE
August 9 & 10, 2008 (Noon to 5:00 p.m.)
at Hopewell Valley Vineyards
Pennington, New Jersey

We've heard such marvelous things about these festivals, and what could be better than spending a day sampling wines, shopping and enjoy a beautiful vineyard on a lovely summer day?

Now, I'm not a wine drinker. Oh, I'll have a well watered down glass of sangria once in a blue moon, and some champagne on New Years. But, in general, I really don't drink - well anything. Cindy, on the other hand, is very knowledgeable about wines. We both enjoy cooking - and adding wine to different dishes makes for a wonderfully unique flavors and depth. So we thought - why not mix pleasure with pleasure. We love getting

to see all of our customers and talking about our products, and we love learning about wines and food and all the wonderful products and farms available in New Jersey. This one event pulls all of that together.

There will be executive chefs giving cooking demonstration, professors and farm experts talking about organic farming and how to be a wine expert, samples and so much more. Plus there will be an amazing array of culinary treats and samplings. Me - I can't wait to try gelatto from The Bent Spoon. Ever since I read about them in edibleJersey, I've been dying to try some of their interesting creative confections.

How does all this food and wine go together with amazing skin care products? Can't you picture settling in for a nice warm bath with our Soft Skin Soak or Lavender Champagne Bath Vinegar, and sipping some fine wine to help relax away the day? Or enjoying a deeply softening Honey Pumpkin Face mask with a glass of sangria and maybe some Bent Spoon sherbet? Sound like a match to me!

Hope to see you Hopewell Valley Vineyard in Pennington, NJ on Saturday and Sunday. Check the Garden State Wine Growers Association website for all the details.

Fáilte Lughnasa - Celtic Festival of the Harvest

Welcome to August! Summer begins to wind down and the fruits of our gardening labors are ready for picking. In Ireland and the Celtic nations of old, this was a great festival time - the end of summer growing, the start of the harvest.

As with most Celtic festivals of old, there was a lot of celebrating going on. Lughnasa was a day to honor Lugh, a Tuatha De Dannan king who is often referred to as an ancient god of light. There is some wonderful information about the Irish and Scottish celebrations of Lughnasa - both ancient and modern - at the All Saints Parish website.

This is a wonderful time of year to enjoy the fruits of your labors and cherish the

warmth of summer. I'll spend Lughnasa baking some bread, making yummy tomatoe sandwiches, and visiting our local farmers markets.

With the harvest comes lots of work - putting up fruits and herbs into jams and jellies, drying herbs, making herb vinegars and tinctures, freezing fruits and veggies. After the dog days of July, August begins the flurry of activity that leads to the cool of Autumn.

So Happy Lughnasa everyone! Let the celebrations begin.

Amazing Arnica's Muscle Magic

Arnica, small bright yellow-orange flower, packs a powerful punch. A native of mountainous areas in Europe, Arnica has long been used for various medicinal purposes. But it's true magic is it's bruise, sprain and muscle strain healing properties.

In compresses or ointments, this dazzling summer flower helps speed up healing by improving the local blood flow and increases the reabsorption of internal bleeding. That's some strong power for a little flower.

This amazing healing ability of Arnica is why we use it in our Muscle Rubs. It's a great gift of the garden (which seems only fair since I get so sore working in the garden!)

With this great gift comes a caution. In earlier times, an Arnica tea was used to help with fever, arthritis, pain and a number of other ailments. And, indeed, it can help reduce bruising and speed recovery from injuries. Studies have shown it can be poisonous if not used correctly. So it is best if Arnica is not taken internally unless under the wise guidance of a homeopathic professional. Even externally, be careful. Extensive exposure or overuse can cause contact dermatitis or other skin inflammation for those with allergies.

But with a little common sense, and a little care, this magical remedy of the ancients can be put to use for you today. These profiles at Mountain Rose Herbs can give you more details, as can this article at The Herb Companion.

Farmers Market discoveries are more than just Food

I told you about the wonderful Farmers Market at Rutgers Garden. The handmade kielbasi is killer when grilled! But the best part of this market is that everything is local. And the nice thing about New Jersey is that local covers just about the whole state!

While I was at the farmers market this past week, I came across an interesting looking magazine. I freely admit that I'm one of those folks who collects all the papers and business cards from fairs and expo's and conferences. So, naturally, I picked up this magazine, called edibleJersey. After I brought my collection of cheeses, fruits and veggies home, I pulled out edibleJersey. I was enthralled from the cover all the way through to the last page. Informative and entrancing articles are partnered with wonderful photographs to create the perfect picture of the charm and enchantment that

the farms and restaurants of New Jersey hold.

I happened to pick up the summer issue. The style is charming and inviting, with stories of successful vineyards next to information about basil and enticing recipes for its use. This is a true magazine reflecting all the great things in the Garden State.

I could go on and on, but I encourage you to take a look for yourself. edibleJersey is a delight and much needed publication that boasts the good and has something for everyone all over our state.

Fresh From the Farm is the Way to Go

I love summer. I love the hot summer sun, gardening, going to the beach, barbecuing, warm sultry nights, walking in the woods, and - most of all - the lovely, fresh fruits and vegetables found at farms and farm markets.

The gardener in me loves to pick fresh tomatoes off the vine, the never ending supply of zucchini, and bright tasting blackberries nibbled from the the bushes. This year we're trying for cucumbers again - if we can keep that rascally gopher out of the yard. He seems to have a true passion for my cucumbers.

But my very favorite thing is to go to a farm or one of the local farm markets to

gather those sweet fruits and essential vegetables that I don't have the room (or patience) to grow at home.

And New Jersey is still packed with great farms and markets to satisfy any whim or craving. Interestingly, farms are making a come back, thanks in large part to the return to green we all seem to be feeling. Bouts of bacteria tainted produce that's been shipped in have heightened the desire to return to local choices for our produce. It's a nice thing - for the farmers, the economy, and our tables.

Two of my favorite spots are the Rutgers Garden Farm Market on Ryders Lane in East Brunswick. Nestled in a field among the trees, this market offers a wide selection of goods - not just produce either. I picked up some terrific Kielbasi from Stefan's Pure Blends while I was there, although I was too late for the bread from the Village Bakery - he had sold out already. You can bet I'll be there earlier this week! There were some amazing sheep cheeses from Valley Shepherd Creamery. I didn't even know New Jersey had any place that made cheese! It was a wonderful adventure that I look forward to attending again this week.

My other favorite stop for fresh and fabulous is Terhune Orchards. They have an amazing selection of pick-your-own fruits and veggies. Cindy and I always run down for apple picking in September, but there are some outstanding picks early in the season - including blueberries! Not always having time for the thrill of the hunt, their farm market offers a full selection of the farms finest. The staff is always wonderfully helpful and knowledgeable. It's a wonderful place to visit and learn and spend a sunny summer day.

I hope you'll make it a point to go local when you can. Maybe I'll see you at one of the hot farm spots this summer. Feel free to share any of your favorites in the comments section below. Right now, I'm going to go grab a Jersey Fresh Peach and have a healthy, summer munch!

We're Back at Allaire - and you should be too!

It's time to return to the Historic Village of Allaire for the Annual Summer Crafters Market.

If you couldn't join us in the spring, you'll definitely want to join us on Saturday. The weather promises to be absolutely lovely, and what better place to enjoy a great day.

Allaire is a beautiful, historic village in a pastoral park setting. The village was once an active manufacturing community, making bog iron for the Howell Works Company. Volunteers and docents demonstrate how people lived their lives back in the early to mid 1800's. And on Saturday, it's market day! Over 100 crafters will be selling their wares and

demonstrating their skills. What a perfect opportunity to learn a little history - and get a some great gift!

Celtic Chairde Creations is delighted to be at Allaire again. We just love it there. Our booth will be over by the blacksmith shop, so come by and say hello. Mention THE COMHRA and get $2.00 off a purchase of our new Sugar Scrubs!

Annual Spring Crafter's' Market • Saturday May 10 (Rain Date May 11, 2007) 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. • $2/Adult Under 12/Free • 4265 Atlantic Ave Wall Township, NJ 07727-3715

Celebrate your Freedom... and Stop the Globilization Act of 2008

The Fourth of July is a time when we think of barbecues and beaches, fireworks and family, the birth of our country and the freedoms that we have. I love the Fourth of July. But this year, even more than others, I can't help but think about the people that have helped make our country great.

My one set of grandparents were from Poland. They came to America to escape the Nazi's (something my great grandparents weren't fortunately enough to do). They came to participate in the opportunity this country had to offer. My grandfather opened a bakery, a rather successful one at that. What better way to celebrate the freedoms he had in America that he didn't have in Poland.

My other grandparents were first generation Americans. Their parents had come from

Hungary on my grandfathers side and Ireland on my grandmothers side. My greatgranpa Stephen owned a bar in Perth Amboy for years. My other great grandfather worked the trolley in Philadelphia. Again, they were here for the OPPORTUNITY this country had to offer.

Why do I keep mentioning opportunity? Because that is truly what America is about. And it is what we must fight to maintain. Government, no matter how well meaning, often creates rules and regulations that take away opportunities from business - particularly small business. That's what's happening right now, with the Globalization Act of 2008.

Below is information from the Indie Beauty Network blog. Please take a moment to read it and go to the blog to sign the petition. This proposed legislation would cripple so many small businesses, like Celtic Chairde Creations. And not just small handmade beauty product companies, but small farm markets and grocers as well.

So while you are celebrating this fine countries birth, remember the opportunities we have, and how many small businesses you deal with. And remember we need to be ever mindful to keep both to remain the strong, wonderful country that we are.



This video summarizes the Indie Beauty Network's position against the Discussion Draft of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, the legislation that would put thousands of Indies out of business by forcing them to pay outrageous registration fees and comply with burdensome paperwork.

If passed, this law would drive consumers back to the days when they could only choose between a few huge, faceless, nameless big box stores and brands for their cosmetics and personal care products. And fewer consumer choices always leads to higher prices.

Tell Congress you want none of it by reading this Petition and then leaving your comment below as your signature to the Petition opposing the draft law.

Petition

We are the owners of small cosmetics companies, and the customers who love their products.

We understand that laws must be in place to protect everyone from unsafe products, but we are outraged by the Draft Legislation that would require small cosmetics companies to pay thousands of dollars a year in registration fees and comply with burdensome paperwork that would serve only to put them out of business.

If passed the legislation would deny thousands of families the ability to earn an honest living, and also deprive consumers of the variety of cosmetics and personal care products available to choose from.

We oppose this law and condemn any companies that support it as being interested only in creating an unlevel playing field where small and family owned businesses will be forced from the marketplace before they even get a chance to start out.

We urge you, as our representatives in Congress, to stop this law which would serve only to make it even harder for families to support themselves. We call instead for a real and meaningful discussion about how Congressional goals can be accomplished without enacting unfair laws that make it impossible for small businesses to survive.

In signing this Petition, we formally request that the Discussion Draft of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 be marked up so that the legitimate concerns of small businesses and the consumers they serve can be translated into reasonable laws that protect consumers without also killing small businesses by making them pay unfair fees and comply with burdensome paperwork.

We sincerely thank you for your time.

Spread the Word!

Please feel free to post the video at your blog, myspace page, website and anywhere else it can help spread the word against this anti-small and anti-family business legislation.

Please send your customers and colleagues to this blog post to sign this Petition so we can easily keep count of the number of signatories.

After you sign the Petition by leaving your name and comments in the comments section below, you could even cut and paste the Petition text and send it to Virgil Miller at virgil.miller@mail.house.gov. Mr. Miller is a Professional Staff Member with the House Energy & Commerce Committee.

Our goal is to collect 100,000 signatories to present to Congress. Support small businesses! Support a vibrant marketplace! Make Your voice count!

American Premier of THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT at Monmouth University Shadowlawn Stage

Chairde means friend - and we always love sharing news about our friends.

Irish writer Niall Williams, the author of the international best-selling novel FOUR LETTERS OF LOVE, will be on the Jersey Shore this coming week to attend the opening night performance of the American premiere of his play THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT at Shadow Lawn Stage on the campus of Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ. The play runs June 27th thru July 13th (www.monmouth.edu/shadowlawnstage ). Williams, who co-authored with his wife Christine the popular non-fiction book series O COME YE BACK TO IRELAND: OUR FIRST YEAR IN COUNTY CLARE (about the couple's "reverse immigration" odyssey from NYC back to their home country) will also appear at the Spring Lake library the evening of Wednesday June 25th to talk about his career and to sign copies of his works.


This looks to be a great evening of theatre at a wonderful venue. And I'm delighted to say that two of my good friends, Georgette and Bill Timoney, are also appearing in the show. That's where the Chairde comes in.

But they aren't just friends, they are wonderful performers. Bill and Georgette have appeared in a number of plays together, including productions at Shadow Lawn and at the Celtic Theatre Company. Bill has a long career on stage, television and movies. Plus - they're nice folks.

This is the American Premier of a show that has received high praise in the Emerald Isle.

For more information or to make reservations, you can call the theatre at 732-263-6889.

The Sun in the Morning and the Moon at Night

June has some fabulous days coming up for us. For those in school - vacations are about to start. And Thursday is World Sauntering Day. Yes, a whole day that says walk slowly, observe your surroundings, take a gentle stroll and smell the roses.

Or maybe smell the strawberries. After all, it is strawberry season - and a strawberry moon is rising. The full moon is on June 18th and Native Americans tribes of the New England and Great Lakes area called it the Strawberry moon because the succulent berries are in season.

But that's not all this week has to offer -

right at the time of the full moon we have it - the official start of the summer season. June 20 is the Summer Solstice. Day is at it's fullest and longest. I always like to try to see both sunrise and sunset on this magical day. Plus we'll have the joy of an almost full moon, so if the clouds stay away. It will be a bright day all around.

Snappy Salad for a Steamy Summer Day

First, I have a confession... I watch the Disney Channel. Yes, I'm a grown woman with grown children, but sometimes I just need harmless brain candy. You know, something to focus your eyes on that requires no thought or processing.

They have a segment called Pass the Plates, which actually has some interesting and unique recipes from around the world. I was watching an episode about banana's that got me thinking. The recipe the talked about was Durban Curried Banana Salad. I'm not fond of curry, but the inspiration for creation struck.

So here's my nutritious, very different, summer salad for a hot day.
________________________________________
Spinach & Banana Salad

For the salad, you'll need ....

• 1 medium, ripe banana, cut into 1/2 to 1 inch slices
• 1 cup of baby spinach leaves
• 1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
• a hand full of pine nuts (optional)

For the dressing, you'll need...

• 4 tablespoons Hotpricot Jam (apricots and hot peppers). You can also use 4 tablespoons apricot jam and add a dash of hot sauce or a small amount of diced hot pepper of your choice.
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• salt and pepper to taste

Toss the salad ingredients together. In a glass bowl or glass measuring cup, warm the apricot jam on low for about 1 minute. Watch it as microwave temperatures vary. Carefully remove the bowl (use a pot holder as the glass will be hot).
Whisk the jam to keep in lose.
Pour the jam over the salad and toss.
Next add the yogurt to the salad and toss.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
__________________________________

I know it sounds a little strange, but it was really good. Surprised even me! Sweet and savory, warming and refreshing all at the same time.

For the original recipe, you can go to Disney Channel Pass The Plate and click on South Africa. And if you've got any unusual recipes you'd like to share - feel free!

A Rosy Celebration all Month Long - National Rose Month

I must admit, I was never a big fan of roses. Oh, they were pretty enough and they smelled OK. My grandmother had some roses in her garden, as did my mother and father. Most everyone I knew had some kind of rose. But roses always struck me as prissy, fussy flowers, requiring tons of attention and care. I was young, what can I say.

Now, I have 4 rose bushes in my yard that are true joys. I'm still not a true rose gardener, though, because I can't tell you the names of the roses. I can, however, tell you a little about them.

One of the oldest roses in my garden is a lovely, lavender colored hybrid rose. It struggles desperately every year, as I do have a problem with black spot in my yard - and three huge apple trees. Just when I think this little gem is done for, it comes back with some beautifully colored blossoms.

My climbing rose is extraordinarily happy growing up an old clothesline pole. It has tiny peppermint striped flowers that bloom heavily throughout the season. I really need to cut it back this fall, but it just looks so happy! And I always have birds nests in it.

My real pride and joys are my two rugosa rose bushes. They only thing I have to do with them is pick off the Japanese Beatles when those little buggers come around. The smell from these bushes is almost as magical as the wafting scent of my lilac.

These garden delights do not get treated with any chemicals or even fertilizer other than some compost once a year. Occasionally, they'll get a garlic oil and baking soda spray to help fight fungus. I USE my roses for so many things, I want to make sure they are safe and sound.

For example, dried rose petals are used in our So Soft Bath Salts. I also add dried flowers to a mix of cornstarch and rice flower for a lovely scented powder.

Fresh rugosa petals are infused into vinegar and honey to make our Honey and Roses Bath Vinegar. They are also infused into the vinegar of our Do Greiné Sunburn Spray. We use infused rose water in a number of body butters, and Rose scent in Moonlight and Roses Body Butter.

We also make rose hip jam and jelly from those wonderfully plump rugosa rose hips (rose hips are the berries of roses - I don't dead head my roses either, so I can get lots of berries). I mix the rose hips with beach plumbs and wild raspberries for the delightful Jersey Shore Jam. I've even made beads from rose petals! If you go here it give wonderful directions to make the beads - with pictures!

Roses are rich in history and grown around the world. About Flowers has some wonderful trivia facts, although it is on their Valentines Day page. Even if you aren't the biggest fan, take some time to celebrate the national flower of the US - the rose! You can find out more about roses at The American Rose Society or The National Home Gardening Club websites. There you'll find great tips to help with troublesome roses, if you're into that kind of thing ;)

Or find ways to celebrate on your own: Give a rose bush or some cut roses to an elderly neighbor or friend; try making rose petal jelly; research the many legends about roses; send cards to friends with pictures of roses; press some roses to use later for cards or pictures; or visit public gardens or rose gardens; look for the best roses or rose gardens in your neighborhood and tell the owners how lovely their roses are.

Or.... just stop and smell them.

Happy National Rose Month!