A Very Happy New Year to All!

2010 has been a very busy year for all of us. There have been ups and downs, tears and laughs. The year closes out and let us all

Welcome 2011!

We at Celtic Chairde Creations hope that the New Year brings you many more ups and laughs, friendship and joy,!

Time for the Brick High School Marching Dragon Caravan Holiday Craft Fair

The holiday shopping kicks into high gear! We're busy getting all kinds of goodies ready for one of our last craft fairs of the season.

Marching Dragon's Caravan Winter Craft Fair
Saturday December 11, 9 am to 4 pm,
Brick Township High School
346 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick, NJ

This is always a terrific craft fair. Over 100 crafters fill the halls, gym and cafeteria. Music from the Marching Dragons fills the air with holiday spirit. Crafters are carefully selected and only hand made items are allowed.

We'll be there with our lotion bars, dreamy dream mists and all of our skin soothing products. We may even get in a little holiday shopping ourselves.

Shopping for holiday gifts at craft fairs is magical. You'll find unique and interesting items, many with stories and history behind them. You'll meet the people that created these gifts. It adds a little joy and extra twinkle to the holidays.

See you there!

Happy Thanksgiving!

May your day be filled with laughter and love,
good food and good company.


And may you have a very
Happy Thanksgiving.

Get into the holiday spirit by rummaging through Granny's Attic

It's time to get your jolly on at the

30th Anniversary Granny's Attic
Saturday, November 20 9 am to 4 pm
Always the Saturday before Thanksgiving
Thompson Middle School
1001 Middletown-Lincroft Road
Middletown, NJ

This is probably one of the best craft fairs we have ever been to - let alone worked at! We're very excited to be a part of this enormously successful and popular holiday tradition. We'll be in the same space as last year - 135D, which is in a classroom off of the court yard.

It will be like a treasure hunt - come and find us!

Vendors come from all over the tri-state area and only the best are selected for a spot at Granny's Attic. People come from hours away to get that one-of-a-kind item that can't be found at any retail shop. This year, they are bringing back the tradition that started it all by having a few antique vendors selling their original and treasured items.

It you can't come and shop at Granny's Attic, we still have two other events coming up this season. Check here or on our website. And you can always order online! Look for special gift baskets coming soon!

Skin Care Switch Up

Autumn has arrived in its full, beautiful and chilly glory. The trees are in various states of their color show. Some have even lost their leaves already. The crisp air has us turning up the heat inside and bundling up to get cozy.

But let's face it, as beautiful as it is, and however glad we may be to stop sweating after a very hot New Jersey summer, all these temperature changes are wreaking havoc on our skin. So, just as we change out our shorts, flip flops and tee's for long pants, boots and sweaters, it's time to change up our skin care routine a little.

There are certain staples to your skin care routine just as there are to your year round wardrobe. That perfect fitting pair of jeans works no matter what the season. To keep your skin in the best condition possible - staying well hydrated is important year round. Good hydration helps to remove toxins from your body and keep things nice and properly moist from the inside out.

Even if we're diligent with applying sunscreen, our skin can get damaged during the summer. As the days grow shorter, it's more important to exfoliate and remove those dead skin cells. This removes the yuck (OK, that's not a technical term but it does describe it well) and allows new skin cells to show and glow. Our Honey Pumpkin Face Mask is a gentle exfoliant and toner for your face. Sugar Scrubs works beautifully on the rest of your body while leaving a light moisturizing oil to provide protection from harsher temperatures.

Hands take a real beating in cold weather. Keeping them protected with a good wax based moisturizer. Our Lotion Bars are excellent for providing that protection while soothing dryness and itchiness that can occur in the fall.

Another part of our skin that seems to suffer through the cold months is our lips. Keep them moisturized and protected to prevent cracking and dryness. Our Sweetest Kisses lip balm provides that barrier to the elements and adds the softening sweetness of honey. Should you catch a cold or just have a bout of really dried, cracked lips, Tingles will really help. They'll protect and provide essential oils known for their healing benefits. And it will make your lips tingle.

In the fall and winter, I also change my face moisturizer. Before I go to bed, I use a little Jazzy Lavender Body Butter on my face, especially on those laugh line around the eyes and the nasolabial folds (there's a technical term - those are the lines that go from your nostrils to the corners of your mouth). It gives a little extra softening and extra protection from the dry air.

I always like the seasonal switch up, for my skin care and my clothes. A rediscovered favorite sweater and that pair of jeans and a great skin care routine. That's a great Autumn.

The Holly Jolly Holiday Season kicks off Saturday with the Jolly Mouse Craft Fair

I'm sure you're thinking the same thing - how did the holiday's get here so quickly!? Yet here it is, that time of year when the air continues to get crisper and cooler, the days get shorter, and plans begin for holiday get togethers and gift giving.

To get you in the spirit, stop by
The 26th Annual Jolly Mouse Craft Show
Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010, 10 am to 4 pm
Lloyd Road School, Aberdeen
All proceeds benefit the H.A.M. (Hazlet, Aberdeen, Matawan, Therapeutic Recreation Program)


This is a great fair with a very friendly atmosphere. The coordinating group works hard to assure that all of the products presented are handmade. So you know you'll be getting some unique gifts for your friends, family - and of course yourself.

Our booth is located in the gym. We'll have our full line of skin care products and more - and maybe even a few surprises! If you can't make this holiday craft fair for some reason, just check out our upcoming schedule to the right - or you can stop by our WEBSITE to place your order.

More on that later!

The Pumpkin Aftermath

My archenemies, the evil squirrels, can now munch happily on the carved pumpkin carcasses lying around my front yard. I only managed to carve 8 of them, but I was pleased with the results. The squirrels can pick for another day, and then the pumpkin parts left over will be taken to a back neglected garden and dumped. They'll rise from the dead, I'm sure. Either by nourishing the soil for next season when I try to revive the garden - or a surprise pumpkin or two may appear from the wreckage.

I did have several pumpkin in a few varieties that were uncarved and will find life in a number of ways.

The cheese pumpkins, the beige ones that look like - well, a wheel of cheese, will be roasted and used in pies and cakes and pumpkin butter. They have a lovely, sweet pumpkin flavor and process to a smooth and creamy consistency.

The little grey one in the picture is a Jarrahdale. It's supposed to be a very sweet, stringless pumpkin. Hmmmmm, I'm thinking Pumpkin cheesecake for this little baby.

The white pumpkins seemed to be everywhere this year. I'm not sure if these are Lumina's or Cotton Candy's, but they will be roasted up for some edible goodness. I might trying cutting these into chunks and tossing them into stews or roasted along with the potatoes.

My orange pumpkins will serve in a number of ways. Some will be made into our Honey Pumpkin Face Mask. Some will be dried and ground for some new skin care product experiments ( ;-) ). And some will be roasted and mashed and added to the food of my multitudes of cats and my dog, Rudy. Pumpkin is a great digestive regulator for cats and dogs. Plus they think it's yummy!

I'll also be saving some of the seeds from this collection to roast - and to plant for next year. In fact, looking at this list of things to do with all these pumpkins, I may have to look for a few more.

The Carving Calling

It happens almost every year. I get over whelmed by the urge to hack into helpless pumpkins and turn them into luminous globes of eerie visions. So I put aside my pumpkin cooking craziness for now (it will return after Halloween), and get out the weapons of creation - large and small knives, tape, paper, markers, candles, and scoops.

My collection of pumpkins is very varied this year - large round traditional orange pumpkins, a green pumpkin, a few smaller white pumpkins, cheese pumpkins, more-gourd-than-pumpkin pumpkins, and a few grey heirlooms. The main trick for the past few days has been to beat off the danged squirrels. But with Halloween just a few days away, it's time for the carving to commence.

I am not overly artistically inclined. Mixing herbal and skin care preparations is one thing. But I can't draw. Lazy daisies are about the extent of my abilities. Luckily, carved creations are guided by stencils and patterns gathered from years of collecting and a few choice websites. I'll share those in a moment.

Many sites give carving tips and guidelines. They all offer similar and wise advise - cleaning and saving your pumpkin, how to use patterns, etc. If you're new to pumpkin carving, take some time to scan a few. But there is only one true way to learn about carving - just do it!

Whether it's a traditional pumpkin face or an elaborate carved and sculpted combination it doesn't matter. Grab some weaponry and have at it.

When I was younger, I always did the pumpkin face variations. Not much more than that. Then I discovered Pumpkin Masters and the world opened up. The tools are very good (although some of the fine saws are a little flimsy if you have a particularly thick skinned subject). They have an excellent assortment of patterns.

I've tried extreme to simple patterns and even done some mix and matching. I have also cut through pieces that weren't supposed to be cut through or lost my place and mangled some images something terrible. It's Halloween for goodness sake - gruesome works! If it's that badly botched, just grab a fake hand or some other prop and stick it into the pumpkin to cover up the oops.

This year I discovered The Pumpkin Wizard. Although it is a membership site, their fee is basically the same as a carving book would cost. And they have some excellent tips and fantastic patterns.

I've also found Pumpkin Carving 101 to have some excellent tips for preserving and burial and all around pumpkin carving advice.

Tonight I take another pumpkin and let my Halloween spirit flow. Be brave and take a stab at pumpkin carving and bring out your inner ghoulish artistry. It's fun and you'll be rewarded with lots of smiles.

The Colonial style Pumpkin Pudding Experiment

Well, it happened. The pumpkin fever has come over me and the experimentation has begun. I warned you.

The other day I had picked up a little sugar pumpkin, about 3.5 to 4 pounds, nicely shaped. It has been sitting on the table, reminding me that Halloween is fast approaching.

Last night was the first night of the full moon and there was a definite chill in the air. As I walked by the little pumpkin, I remembered my Colonial Pumpkin pudding recipe. Perfect! I thought, scooping up the little fellow and dashing to the kitchen.

Husband, cats and dog were wise enough to clear the way.

It didn't go as smoothly as I had hoped, but check out the recipe and results below to see for yourself.

Colonial Whole Pumpkin Pudding

• One 4 to 6 pound sugar pumpkin
• 6 eggs
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp molasses
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 2 tbs butter

This is the basic recipe. Usually, when I find a new recipe I stick to it the first time around. Then, if I like it enough, I'll play with it the next time to make it a little more me. I like playing with my food, but more about that another day.

Prep the pumpkin as if making a jack-o'lantern.

In a separate bowl or large measuring cup, mix all of the ingredients except the butter.

Pour into the pumpkin, careful not to over fill (that's something I learned by overfilling last night).

Top with the butter in a few pats and put the pumpkin top on.

Place in a large baking dish and place in the oven.

Bake at 350F for about 1 1/2 hours until the mixture has set.

Let stand and cool for about 10 - 15 minutes.

Serve from the pumpkin, scraping up the pumpkin meat to go along with the pudding. Should serve about 6 people.

The project wasn't a complete success. It took longer for the pudding to set then indicated. I took the top off for the last 1/2 hour and that seemed to do the trick. I did overfill which made for some spillage.

And it really wasn't very pretty....
But it was pretty yummy! Especially with some ice cream!


More experimentation to come.

Next up - carving!

It's Pirate Time! Meet us at the Toms River Pirate Festival!

We've been to Renaissance Faires,street fairs, country fairs and more. But now, Celtic Chairde Creations will be at

The Toms River Pirate Festival
Saturday, October 16 10 am to 5 pm
415 Washington Street
Toms River, NJ
Admission fee: Adults: $10, Seniors and under 18: $5, Children under 3: Free

This is going to be fun!

There will be music, pirate encampments, storytelling, arts and crafts, food, fun - and did I mention - PIRATES!

Wearing a costume is more than welcome, and there will be plenty for little poppets to do. So stop by and get into the Pirate spirit!

Welcome to Pumpkin Time!!!!

I LOVE pumpkin!!! I just love how bright and cheerful they look. Seeing them begin to populate the grocery stores and farmers markets tells me that Halloween is coming soon with all it's mystery and spooky goodness.

I guess you could say I'm a Pumpkin head - although I prefer Pumpkinaholic. I love to carve pumpkins for decoration, cook them for everything from appetizers to dips to dinner to dessert, make

Honey Pumpkin Face Mask, and just have them around to look pretty and bright.

I also enjoy experimenting with these favorite Autumn squashes. Last year I tried make pumpkin jelly, but it didn't really work. It never really jelled and had a rather slimy and gloppy consistency. It did make a great Halloween prop though!

This year, I'm going to expand my pumpkin experimentation by trying something Native Americans did with pumpkin skin. Native Americans would take the skins, cut them into strips and dry them and weave them into mats.

My other experiment will be the predecessor of pumpkin pie. During the Colonial times, they would scoop out the seeds of the pumpkin, then add milk and spices and place the whole pumpkin in the hot embers to cook. This makes a type of pudding, which is basically the filling of pumpkin pie. In fact, the Colonials used to use pumpkin mush as an ingredient in their pie shells. I don't know if I'll be that brave, but when Pumpkin fever strikes, you never know what can happen! I'll keep you posted!

Renaissance and Harvest Festival Weekend in Cape May - Huzzah!

A beautiful vineyard kissed by ocean breezes. Baskets of fresh produce, harvested that very morning. Music and entertainers, a craft market and Queen Elizabeth! All this to be found at the

Cape May Renaissance Festival and Elizabethan Harvest Market
Saturday and Sunday, October 2 & 3, 2010
10 am to 5 pm
Willow Creek Farm & Vineyard
168 Stevens Street
West Cape May
Brought to you be Access to Art

We're very excited to be a part of this young festival. The entertainment sounds phenomenal - The Renaissonics, bubbles, madrigals, and performances by members of the East Lynne Theatre company. Celtic Chairde will be there to help welcome in the harvest and lend a mighty huzzah! Make a weekend of it in lovely Cape May!

This Saturday Join Us At the Allaire Annual Fall Crafters Market

Annual Fall Crafter's' Market
Saturday Sept. 25 (Rain Date Oct.2)
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
$2/Adult Under 12/Free
Historic Village of Allaire
Farmingdale, New Jersey

There is nothing as lovely as Autumn in Allaire Village. We'll be returning there for the Annual Fall Crafters Market. This is the largest of the craft fairs in this wonderful location.

Over 100 crafters will gather to bring in the fall season with unique crafts like hand thrown pottery, beautifully designed jewelry, home decor and more. We'll be on the main path across from the General Store, with all our goodies and maybe a few surprises.

Stop by and say hello! Mention this blog post and receive a thank you gift.

Welcome Autumn with us at Allaire!

Huzzah! Time for the Lakewood Lions Renaissance Faire!

Lakewood Lions Charity Renaissance Faire

The shire of Pine Park recreating Renaissance since 1981
Saturday and Sunday, September 18 & 19, 2010
Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm
Sunday: 10 am to 5 pm
Adults - $10, Children under 5 are free
Pine Brook Park, Lakewood, NJ

Stroll the shires Village and browse the many merchants with wares from the corners of the world. Partake of the numerous food purveyors that will please anyone’s taste and thirst. Keep the young ones amused with games and activities, ponies and knighthood. Test thy skill with bow, axe, or knife.

Throughout the day, poets, minstrels, and jugglers will wander the grounds, amazing you with their skills.

Partake in raffles, contests and all manor of outstanding entertainment. See the rousing joust and cheer on your champion!

Return on Sunday to witness the crowning of the Faire’s King and Queen chosen from amongst those aged 10 or younger that have dressed in appropriate Renaissance attire.

It is always a wonderful weekend at the faire! We hope you'll come and visit us there and celebrate the waning summer days with all those wonderful knights!

It's Beach Plum Festival Time!!!!

13th Annual Beach Plum Festival
Sunday Sept 12th 9am-4pm
Island Beach State Park
Ocean Beach Bathing Area #1

This is probably one of the best festivals that we attend each year. It may not be the biggest, but it seems to be one of the friendliest.

Run by Friends of Island Beach, this festival is a wonderful wrap up to the summer. Guests can shop among the many vendors (like Celtic Chairde Creations), learn about the beautiful park and wetlands are home to a wide variety of birds and animals, go swimming on one of the nicest beaches in New Jersey, and even go Beach Plum picking. There will be children's activities, seine netting demonstrations, nature walks and beach plum ice cream! It is the perfect way to wind down to the final days of summer.

Join us at the 13th Annual Beach Plum festival. We've made it a regular part of our summer calendar. Once you see the natural beauty of the park and enjoy the friendly and festive atmosphere (and taste a beach plum or two!), we know you'll make it part of yours, too.

It's Going To Be A Wild Weekend....

And I'm not talking about Hurricane Earl! Celtic Chairde Creations will be at two great end of summer celebrations this weekend.

Garden State Wine Growers Association to Host
“Jazz It Up Wine & Food Festival” at Allaire Village
Saturday and Sunday September 4 & 5 • 12 PM – 5 PM
Admission $20 Per Person
(includes a wine glass for sampling hundreds of wines from NJ growers)
Allaire State Park $5 Per Car Parking Fee Charged Memorial Day to Labor Day

And there's more!

The 28th Annual
Ocean Grove Giant Craft Show
Saturday, September 4th
9am – 4pm
Outdoors on Ocean Pathway in Ocean Grove N.J.
Just steps from the beach!
*No Admission Fee*

These are both terrific events! Make them a part of your Labor Day weekend celebration!

Join Us at the Sharrott Winery Harvest Festival!

The best way to wind down these last days of summer is with music and wine! Join us at the

Sharrott Winery Harvest Festival
August 28 & 29
12:00 to 5:00 pm
This Fall Festival in the Vineyard celebrates the coming harvest at the Outer Coastal Plain's newest grower and producer of fine wines.

•Bring the family, a blanket and lawn chairs
•Live music both days
•Face painters and activities for the kids
•Local food and Crafts

The Sharrott Winery is a relatively new vineyard in New Jersey - but it certainly making a name for itself! This year they won 5 gold medals, 1 Best of Class, 3 silvers and 2 bronze medals in international wine competitions.

Not only are their wines wonderful, but they throw a great party!

Both days of the Harvest Festival will feature wine, food, craft - like Celtic Chairde Creations! - and music. Saturday the Matt Noffsinger Band will keep the place rocking. And Sunday is none other than the wonderful Shorty Long and the Jersey Horns.

So stop by for a great end of summer day.

And if you mention this post - you'll receive a free gift!

Free gift is only for in person purchases at the Sharrott Winery Harvest Festival on

August 28 and 29, 2010.

Join us at the Rutgers Gardens Open House!

Join us this Saturday, July 31st at the
Rutgers Gardens 45th Annual Open House Festival
10 am to 4 pm
112 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, NJ

This is bound to be a terrific day. The weather should be wonderful. There will be

a wine tasting (a slight extra charge), a farmers market, classes and tours, music and of course vendors - including Celtic Chairde Creations!

But the star of the show will be the amazing Gardens at Rutgers. Tours of the gardens will be conducted throughout the day, including a tour of the Donald B Lacey Display Garden which reflects “Now and Then in 2010”.

We hope you'll stop by and wander the grounds of one of the best kept secrets of central New Jersey. The staff and volunteers at the Rutgers Gardens are helpful, knowledgeable and generous when sharing their time and information.

Stop by the Celtic Chairde booth as well! Mention this post and receive 10% off of your order of $10 or more.

Summer Craft Market at Allaire this weekend!

It's time one again for the

Annual Summer Crafter's' Market
Saturday July 10 (Rain Date July 17)
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Admission $1 Adults • Children Under 12 Free • State Park Parking Fee $5.00


We love going to Allaire. The setting is beautiful and everyone always seems to have a good time.

Along with the crafters (and there are over 100), there are the fascinating historic buildings to investigate. The volunteers at Allaire are always happy to chat with visitors about life in the Village during the 1800's.

There is a rain date for this event. If you're uncertain, call the Village Office at (732) 919-3500. See you then!

It's National Blueberry Month!

Time to get on your Red, White and Blueberry!!!

This succulent little blue berry has been gaining quite the reputation. Filled with antioxidents, manganese, vitamin K, beta carotene, Lutein + zeaxanthin, vitamin C, vitamin A, choline, potassium and so much more there are one tasty little healthy and nutritious berry.

And did you know that cultivated blueberries are not that old? And that the first cultivated blueberries were developed right here in New Jersey? Yep, the international phenomenon of the blueberry all began with Elizabeth White in Whitesbog, NJ in the early 1900's. Whitebog Village is a wonderful place to visit if you're looking for terrific blueberries from their "home field", and a great historic place to visit.

Recipes abound for blueberries. I always have some in my freezer. Some of my favorites things to do with good old American blueberries are:

Include a handful in smoothies.
I like to use them in my barbeque sauce for a little extra sweetness.
Munch them straight from the freezer or refrigerator or container!
Add them to sun tea.
Sprinkle over ice cream.
Make Blueberry Lime Sorbet. There are some great sorbet recipes in the Herb Companion Magazine.

What are you favorite ways to indulge in the summer time yumminess of blueberries?

National Rose Month Round Up

One month doesn't seem enough to celebrate our national flower, the rose. It provides beauty, fragrance and grace to the garden through out the summer season (depending on the type of rose you have, of course).

But it is not just the harbinger of love, beauty and friendship. It is also a valuable assistant to good health and wellbeing.

Rose petals are uses in Ayurvedic treatments as a laxative, blood purifier and tonic for the digestive and reproductive organs. In fact, the Romans used rose gallica to treat over 30 conditions.

The petals are mildly astringent, providing a cooling and soothing effect. They are wonderful in summer teas.

One of my favorites is a sun tea. Put tea (green preferred), ripe raspberries and rose petals in a big glass jug of water with a top. If you don't have the top, the sweetness and lovely fragrance will attracted unwanted to proteins to the party (aka - bugs). Then put the jug in a bright sunny spot for at least 2 hours and up to 6 hours. Sweeten with some rose honey, or a dash of agave syrup. This is fragrant and so nicely cooling.

If I don't have time for that, I make up a batch of Ducky Life Rosie's Rose Melange Tea and chill. A nice hint of mint adds some extra digestive tonic power. You can also use the petals as a quick burn poultice. Just take a handful of fresh petals, mash them up well and apply to the burned area. Their cooling and antiseptic abilities will help ease the pain and redness.

Of course you can also use rose petals to make rose petal jelly, rose vinegar, infuse them in wine, dried for potpourri, or make them into beads for jewelry

That's just using rose petals! Rose hips, essential oils, waters and floral essences can also provide health and spirit lifting benefits

But do you want to know the best thing you can do to calm your nerves, raise your spirits and enjoy this month long celebration? Just stop and smell the roses.

More Rosy Goodness

The roses continue to bloom brightly, encouraging the other flowers of the garden to wake up and blossom. The bees buzz happily, doing their little bee dance in the roses, then buzzing off to the hive to make honey. Summer, June, and National Rose Month, are carrying forward.

If you have made some rose honey, or are in the process of making it, I told you I'd give you a few suggestions for using those honey laden, still sweet smelling, rose petals that you might have strained from the infusing jar. These are two of my favorites.

Honey Candied Rose Petals

You can create these little treasures either in a dehydrator or in a low oven.

Oven method:
If you are using the oven, put a silicon mat or piece of parchment on a cookie sheet. Let the oven warm to no more than 200º, then turn it off. Put the cookie sheet in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove and, if you'd like, sprinkle the roses with sugar (white or colored sugar work best). Return to the oven for about 20 minutes. Test them to see if they are drying. Take them out of the oven and let them cool completely. You can put them in the refrigerator to help speed the process.

The dehydrator method is done much the same way, and it's the method I prefer. Spread the petal out on one of the fruit leather sheets. If you don't have one, put some wax paper or parchment on the regular rack. Set the dehydrator for the lowest setting. Let dehydrate for about 1 hour, then test for dryness.

Store these rosy treats in an air tight container, with layers separated by wax paper, and refrigerate. They'll keep for up to 3 months. You can also freeze them. Use them as a snack, or as decorations for cakes and cupcakes, or to float in tea or punch.

Honey Rose Face Toner

Put all of the honey macerated rose petals into a medium pot. Cover with filtered or distilled water so that there is at least 3 inches of water above the petals. Cover and simmer on the lowest setting for about 20 minutes. Remove the lid and simmer for another 10 minutes, making sure that the water doesn't get so low the petals burn. It should be a very low simmer, just warming the liquid. Turn the heat off and let it sit until completely cooled. Strain the liquid into a bottle, making sure to squeeze out every bit of liquid from the petals that you can. (I use a potato ricer lined with cheese cloth to squish everything out). Store in the refrigerator. This will keep for 6 months or longer.

I use this as a delightfully refreshing toner and moisturizer. It's wonderful in the summer - cool, fragrant, softening and soothing. It feels particularly nice on sunburned skin.


Roses give us so much - beauty, fragrance, health and with that a little happiness. Stop by again soon and I'll tell you about some of the other wonders roses have to offer.

June is the time of the Rose

It's easy to believe that June is National Rose Month. I don't know about you, but my roses have been prolific since the end of May. And the garden smells fabulous for it.

Roses come in all shapes and sizes, colors and strength of scent. My favorites are Rosa Rugosa, a carefree rugged grower that doesn't need much fussing to produce beautiful fragrant blossoms and huge, juicy rose hips. I have 4 in my yard, and every year or so have to give them a hearty pruning to tame them.

I was never a rose fan until I saw these growing along the sand dunes of Normandy

Beach and Island Beach State Park here in New Jersey. They captured my heart. 2 of my rose bushes are from rose hips I picked at the shore and just stuck in a few pots to see what would happen. They are VERY happy here.

Not only are these beauties spirit lifting treasures in the garden, they have bountiful uses in the kitchen and medicine cabinet. One of my favorite things to make is Rose Honey.

Twice Kissed Rose Honey

• Large clean dry Mason type jar with lid (pint or 8 oz)
• Rose petals - untreated by any pesticides. The more fragrant the better. Enough to loosely fill the jar the first time. You'll need fresh petals in a week or so for the second fill.
• Local light colored honey

Fill the jar with the rose petals. Make sure they are dry. I like to let them sit for an hour or so to wilt slightly, removing some of the water.

Now fill the jar with the honey to just below the lid threads. Give a stir to make sure all of the petals are coated. Cover tightly and let sit for at least one week. Every few days turn the jar over (that's why the lid needs to be tight fitting).

After a week or so you could use the honey as is, even with the petals. I like to strain through a regular wire strainer. Then I add another batch of petals to the jar and recover with the honey. Cap and let sit for another couple of weeks, repeating the turning process.

Again, once the few weeks have passed you can either strain out the petals or use the honey with the petals in it. The uses? You can add the honey to tea for some extra relaxing properties, pour on pancakes, pour on ice cream over toasted pound cake, add to salad dressing or use straight over fresh fruit, or you can add it to your favorite spritzer recipe - the possibilities are endless. You could also add some to your bath, or use a little to soothe bug bites, scrapes and burns.

The scent is luscious, relaxing and evocative. Check back in a few days and I'll give you some other ideas for your roses, as well as what you can do with the strained rose petals!

You can also check out our newsletter for additional rose stories this month. To subscribe, just fill out the subscribe box to the right or drop me an email.

May your month be rosy and bright!

Spend the Day by the Beautiful Barnegat Bay

Join us this Sunday at the wonderful

Barnegat Bay Festival
Sunday, June 6, 2010
10:00 am to 4 pm, RAIN OR SHINE
Waterfront Location! Wanamaker Complex in Island Heights

The theme for this year's Barnegat Bay Festival: THANK YOU BARNEGAT BAY!

The Barnegat Bay Festival is the perfect way to truly get in to the mood for the upcoming summer season. And there's so much to do for everyone in the family:

• Scavenger hunts
• Bay Friendly Gardening Workshops
• Crafters
• Sailing and Kayaking
• Native Plant Sales
• Exhibitors including: Jenkinsons Aquarium, NJ Lighthouse Society, Master Gardeners, Tuckerton Seaport and more!
• Music
• and even more!

For all the details, check out the Barnegat Bay Estuary Programs website.

Make sure to stop by and see us. Mention this post and you'll receive a free gift!

Join Us this weekend at Blues & Wine Weekend

The festival season kicks off in royal style. Join us at

The Garden State Wine Growers Associations

ANNUAL BLUES & WINE WEEKEND
TO IDYLLIC NATIRAR PARK IN SCENIC SOMERSET
Saturday and Sunday, May 29 & 30, 2010 (rain date May 31
Noon to 5:00 pm
at Natirar Park, Somerset County, New Jersey

This is a great way to kick off the unofficial start of summer. Some good wine, good shopping at the many vendors (including yours truly, Celtic Chairde Creations), good food and good music. There will be 23 of New Jerseys world class vineyards represented at the festival. And it is a setting that is just magnificent.

Natirar (Raritan spelled backwards)was an elegant convalescent facility, and a one time home to the King of Morocco. It's over 1,000 acres are now a beautiful public park. The elegant tudor mansion now hold Natirar Resort & Spa - a celebration of elegance.

We hope you'll stop by the Wine & Blues Festival. It will be a treat for your body, mind and spirit - and one heck of a party!

Mention this post when making your purchase at our booth and receive a free gift!

Happy Mothers Day!

Lá an mháthair faoi shona dhuit! Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Arbor Day!

Happy Arbor Day!
Today it is officially OK to hug a tree.
Or better yet, plant one for future hugs.
To find out more, go to The National Arbor Day Foundation.

Art & Music Make a Song; An Emerging Artists Showcase

Chairde means friends in Irish. So we love to share news about great projects our friends are working on. This promises to be lots of fun with some great friends!

The third and final installment of
Art & Music Make a Song; An Emerging Artists Showcase
will be on Friday April 23rd at The Nutley Museum.

Artists showcasing will include photography by Ken Miller, painter Caren Frost Olmsted, music by Jillian Tully & Mandy Heck (Akwarian Sea Rebel), poetry by Devyn Joseph Michael Barat and Candice Tomlin, and a film to end the night by StrangeDog Film entitled Kill Your Friend.

Please come and enjoy some great wine, great cheese, and more importantly, GREAT ART!

Date: Friday, April 23, 2010
Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: The Nutley Museum
Street: 65 Church Street
City/Town: Nutley, NJ

Suddenly Spring

What a difference a week can make. Last weekend, the east coast (and here in New Jersey) was battered bitterly by wind and rain. Very "March like a lion" type of weather. But the last few days, and into this weekend, Mother Nature gave us the wonderful gift of sunny, warm, bright, soul lifting weather. Thoughts suddenly turn to spring, which officially arrives tomorrow, Saturday, March 20.

This gift puts us in mind of frolicking in the garden, pulling out the tank tops and tees, forgoing jackets and reveling in the spring time. My advice - don't do it! Well, a little but not to the extent that our winter weary spirits are telling us to.

Now is the season of the cold and flu. Our eagerness to banish the winter can make us let our defenses down to soon. Trust me on this one. Even as I write this I'm battling a cold (so far, it's a tie but I think I'll win). So though I may go out in the warmth of the day and do a little yard cleaning, I'll resist the urge to pull out the seeds and full on garden equipment and have at it. I'll still wear long sleeves, though they may be lighter than my winter wool sweaters. And I'll keep my neck covered up, since so many cough and cold seem to emanate from this area. Instead, I'll sip my elderberry syrup and start to bring the spring inside.

This is the perfect type of weather to help air out the house and chase away the trapped in staleness. It may not be the full on spring cleaning attack. Consider it the first foray of the battle.

Just opening the windows and letting the air circulate helps freshen things up. I also like to simmer some mint - either a handful of dried mint on a very low simmer on the stove, or a few drops of essential oil in a diffuser - to brighten the air and chase away any germs that might be looking for a new home. I also spray our Mint Ceo Brionglóid (Dream Mist) on the linens to open up our breathing while we sleep.

The carpets will get a good vacuum too. This is my favorite recipe for a fresh smelling carpet deodorizer (which the carpet really needs after last weekends soppy mess).

• Sprinkle plain baking soda on rugs or upholstery. Let sit for 10 to 30 minutes, then vacuum. To add some extra punch, take a large jar and fill with baking soda. Add a few drops of lemon or orange essential oil, then cover and shake. Let sit for at least 24 hours before using. If you don't have essential oil, you can add dried lemon rind or dried orange rind and let sit for at least a week or grind it up and add it. The baking soda will then be infused with the citrus scent and add an extra uplifting note when sprinkled and vacuumed.

Do take some time to revel in natures glorious weather, but don't get carried away. That will be coming soon enough!

Celebrate Your Irish Side

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Duit!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

March is the month to celebrate the wee touch of Irish in all of us - and Saint Patrick's Day is the pinnacle date of that celebration. Many people celebrate with parades filled with Friendly Sons, bagpipe band and firetruck filled parades. Quite a few enjoy a good brew or spirits of a harder nature. I've been doing some of that, but I have a few other activities to help me remember my Irish roots.

My dear old grandmother was a lively Irish woman. Catherine Bridget Dalton was even born on March 17th. I still use her Irish Soda Bread recipe every year (and not only in March!). It's wonderful. Imagine my surprise when I found out her raisin and caraway seed filled treat wasn't traditional. It's her version of Irish Soda bread though, and that's good enough for me.

I'll also be taking some time to look for the signs of spring. Bulbs are starting to come up, the forsythia is getting buds on it, and the heather blooms look lovely. I'll be gathering some of them for tea and for Mela Tae Eye Bright sets.

Speaking of tea, I'll probably enjoy a nice cup of Rose Melange tea and add a dash of heather for a nice relaxing and refreshing look at the day.

For dinner we'll have some of that soda bread and probably some good home made Sheppard's Pie. Then it will be off to create some some new body butter or maybe a rose scented sugar scrub in honor of gram.

Whatever way you celebrate, take a moment to lift your glass and thank those daring Irish lads and lassies who came to America so very long ago. They've added wonderful traditions to American life, and enriched our history.

Slainte!

March Forth! on March Fourth

Even though it is National Procrastinators Week (more on that another time), today is March Forth - Do Something Day!

Today is the day to look at your goals,whatever they may be. Have you been putting something off? Are there too many steps to get you there? Well, today is the day to take a step and do something to get you there.

Let's say your goal is to clean up the garage. If your garage looks like mine, that can seem an insurmountable task. But if you just take 15 minutes and pick one spot to work on, you've started. And maybe you'll be inspired to continue more. Fly Lady is a pro an inspiring and breaking things down into simple steps.

Or maybe travel is your target, but funds are short right now. Make a bank (Cool old jar, soda bottle, whatever) to throw your change into and start saving. just do something to help you get there.

Trying to get in shape? Take 10 minutes to do some exercise. Or make a really healthy meal.

Want to start a business? Write out the steps you need to take, or sign up for a class.

Sometimes, all it takes is that first step to get you moving towards your goals and dreams. They aren't impossible to reach. Make today the day you just March Forth and Do Something!

Snow Moon Sunday

Full moons have many names, depending on the culture and location of those gazing up at it.

February's full moon is called The Snow Moon. It seems so apropos this year. Native American Indians called it this because this is the time for the heaviest snow storms, as we've seen. It is sometimes called the Hunger Moon, because food stores are running low.

Wolf Moon was the name for the English used for the February full moon, as the wolves would be on the prowl. But this year - I think Snow Moon suits it best.

What can you do on a Snowy Day - Bake for Family Fun!

Snowy days tend to keep us bundled up inside - except when we're out playing! There is something wonderful and hearth warming about coming in from the cold to some home baked goodies. After all - it is Bake for Family Fun Month!

And baking can be done by the entire family. Even the youngest children can help ice a cupcake or decorate a cookie. If you're afraid that you'll eat all of those yummy treats, then save some to share or take part in the Great American Bake Sale!

Just to get you started, here are a couple of my favorite recipes that are quick and easy and perfect for a snowy day:


Better Box Brownies
Whenever I make brownies using a packaged mix, I substitute applesauce (plain unsweetened) for the oil required. For a little something extra, I'll also add some dried cherries. Just bake as usual - yummy!

Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Cookies
1 box chocolate cake mix
1/3 cup water
2 eggs
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup mashed ripe banana

• Heat the oven to 375°.
• Mix 1/2 package of the chocolate cake mix with the eggs, peanut butter, mashed banana and water until well blended.
• Add the other 1/2 package of cake mix and mix thoroughly.
• Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Dip a fork in some flour and press lightly onto the top of each dough ball to make a little criss cross pattern.
• Bake or 10 minutes until lightly browned.
• Remove from oven and let cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes.
• Remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Don't worry about the snow. Gather the family and bake up some fun!