Scenting Your Cottage...

Make your own air freshener sprays this summer and your home will smell fresh and inviting! It's so easy and you may already have the ingredients on hand.

The refreshing scent of lemon is commonly used to eliminate anxiety and stress. While it does have some energizing properties, it can calm anyone who is in distress. It also has a cleansing effect on the environment and will make your home smell clean and fresh.

Lemon Air Freshener Spray
Ingredients:
2 cups hot water
1/8 cup baking soda
1/2 cup lemon juice

Dissolve the baking soda in hot water and then add the lemon juice. You can use ReaLemon juice for this (and expired is fine so a good way to use it up). Put in a spray bottle and enjoy the scent!

Most people find the scent of vanilla both relaxing and comforting. It elicits thoughts of favorite foods and happy memories of home and childhood. Vanilla is a subtle fragrance and is often combined with other fragrances in pleasing ways. Clove is a powerful, spicy-fruity, warm, sweet aroma. This spray denotes a comforting and warm environment.

Vanilla & Cloves Air Freshener Spray
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup household vinegar (white)
1 TBS vanilla extract
1 tsp cloves

Bring all ingredients to a boil then simmer over medium heat for two minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Strain cloves and then pour liquid into spray bottle, shake and use as needed.
Note: You can increase/decrease the vanilla & cloves amounts to your preference.

Low Sodium Bread Recipe...

Lately I have been on a cooking and baking kick to find some new low sodium recipes that I can add to my collection of favorites. One of the first items I want to replace with the store bought is bread. It's hard to find low sodium bread, and when you do, it is costly. Don't be intimidated by bread baking. It's easier than you think and I actually find it very relaxing (punching about the dough is exercise as well:)This is a very basic bread recipe that I think you will enjoy. It has very little salt, and you can make it with white flour or wheat flour or any combination.

The recipe starts by making a sponge. You mix about half of the flour for the recipe with all of water, the yeast and the sweetening ingredient you have chosen, and let that mixture get to work before adding the salt and kneading in the rest of the flour. This first step lets the yeast get to work in the absence of salt, which inhibits the yeast’s functioning.

Ingredients:
3 C lukewarm water (85°-105°F - not hot or cold on your fingertips)
1 1/2 Tablespoon dry yeast (2 packages) (I like to use quick rise)
1/4 C sweetening (honey, molasses, or brown sugar)
6 C approx. flour (whatever kind you like or have on hand)
1/4 C veg. oil

1 teaspoon salt

Measure the water into a big bowl. Sprinkle in the yeast and stir to dissolve. Add the sweetening. Then gradually stir in about 3 cups of the flour. Beat about a 100 times until the batter is very smooth. Cover and let it rise in a warm place for 45 minutes (more or less).

When the sponge has increased in size and shows some small bubbles, stir in the salt and the oil.

Now add about three more cups of flour. Gradually stir as much of the flour as you can into the sponge. When the batter is too stiff to continue stirring, turn the bread out onto a floured surface and knead the mixture until it is smooth and elastic. If the mixture sticks to your hands work in more flour.

Cover the dough and let it rise until doubled. Knead again, let it rise again. When it has doubled again or is close to double, knead one more time and then split the dough into two equal portions. Shape the dough into loaves and place in 5x9 loaf pans that have been oiled lightly. With a sharp knife make 3 diagonal slashes in the top of each loaf. Let the dough rise in the pans until it is above the top edges of the pans.

Bake in a preheated 350° F oven for 50-60 minutes. Bread is done when it is golden brown. Remove from pans immediately, cool on wire racks.

Yield is 2 loaves. 12 slices per loaf, 100 mg sodium per slice.

Tomato Basil Tart...

It's here! With the Memorial Day Weekend, so starts the beginning of summer. With warmer weather coming, I find quiches and tarts to be perfect meals paired with fruits and salads. This tart is best served at room temperature, so it's great to take along on a picnic. With basil and tomatoes in season, this dish is perfect! If you like, you can also prepare this recipe as individual tarts. Just use your favorite dough recipe, individual tart molds, and divide recipe evenly among four shells.

This recipe yields:
1 large tart or 4 individual tarts
Ingredients:
3/4 cup lowfat plain yogurt
6 eggs
8 roma tomatoes, sliced in halves, seeded
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1/2 cup fresh basil, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
One 9-inch tart pan
One 9-inch unbaked pie crust

Preheat the oven to 375ºF. In a large bowl, combine the yogurt, eggs, 1/4 cup of basil, black pepper, salt and parmesan cheese. Beat well. Place crust into tart pan and trim excess crust from edges. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until very lightly golden brown. Pour the mixture into the tart shell, top with tomato halves and sliced basil. Sprinkle lightly with parmesan cheese and bake for 20-30 minutes or until cooked (the tart should be firm to the touch). Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

An Abundance Of Rosemary...

It started out simple enough, purchasing a small rosemary plant. I imagined having a little herb garden outside the back gate with everything I needed for a "kitchen garden." I planted it in the center of the little plot as a "focal point" as I love rosemary. I had also planned on planting sage, thyme, and some other herbs around it. Then it started growing! I did not plant the other herbs soon enough and my rosemary literally started "branching out." I was so happy to see it grow that I just let it continue. It grew and grew and I kept allowing it. What's more, I planted 2 more rosemary plants of the same small size in 2 more areas and they have become very large as well. Needless to say, I have no room for any other herbs in this area and I have more rosemary than one person could ever use. If your rosemary has gotten out of control as well, and you find yourself in search of ways to use it, here are a few ideas.

Rosemary is an energizing herb. If you find yourself in need of a little lift, simply cut some rosemary springs and place in little vases of water around your home. The aroma will captivate you in no time. If you have flowers to add to your arrangements, all the better!

Cleaning
Boil a handful of rosemary in two cups of water for 10 minutes to yield an antiseptic solution for washing bathroom and kitchen.

Rosemary Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
2/3 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons white sugar for decoration

1. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and 2/3 cup of sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the flour, salt and rosemary until well blended. The dough will be soft. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees F). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
3. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into rectangles 1 1/2x2 inches in size. Place cookies 1 inch apart on the lined cookie sheets. Sprinkle the remaining sugar over the tops.
4. Bake for 8 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden at the edges. Cool on wire racks, and store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Nighty Night Tea...

Both chamomile and honey are sleep inducers. If you have issues sleeping, try sipping a cup of this relaxing tea and slide off to slumber.

Ingredients:
1 chamomile tea bag
1 1/2 teaspoons honey

Heat water to just before boiling. Pour hot water into a teacup over tea bag. Allow to cool slightly and then add honey.

Sweet Dreams!

For The Love Of Bees And Flowers...

When one thinks of the Victorian Age, "abundance" generally comes to mind. Victorian homes were ornate, and full of trinkets from their prosperous age. Their books were full of flowery elaborate prose and their gardens, oh their gardens! They were drenched in blooms. Just as I do, Victorians loved their flowers. They bring cheer when someone is ill, their fragrances can be used to make perfumes, foliage can be used for medicines, and foods and certain scents can bestir a mood.

One of the most pleasant things I find in my little "Victorian Garden" besides my flowers, is the buzzing of bees and wasps among the flowers. It is life in action. The little bees are always so busy, concentrating on each flower and then flying off to the next. At times I have seen their little legs so heavy with pollen they can barely fly, yet fly they do. They are little miracles in action. I have always loved bees and they seem to work along side me and tolerate me when I am weeding and deadheading the spent flowers. They must know I mean them no harm for I have been lucky enough to avoid their wrath.

Did you realize that pesticides have wiped out most of the native varieties of honey bees (and other bee pollinators) in the US? That is frightening! Current bee populations are also under attack by parasites and disease, and they are losing the battle. Commercial beekeepers have to use cloning methods to keep their hives filled with bees. I find this very sad indeed. There are literally thousands of different species of bees, more than 1,600 in California alone. Each species has a different appearance and set of behaviors, but they all do one thing very well, pollinate our flowers, vegetables, and fruits.

I love to watch all bees at work, and as much as I enjoy the chubby little bumble bee, I also don't mind having the wasp around. Did you know the wasp is actually a beneficial insect for humans and the environment? They are one of the major natural scavengers, and they eat insects such as flies and caterpillars that are often considered pests to humans. They should be left alone if they are in a location where they are not bothering anyone. Some wasps pollinate plants and crops, but most do not. The benefits of wasps in the garden are not so widely appreciated. In the spring and early summer, wasps feed their grubs on other insect pests and so help keep the level of insect pests down. It is only necessary to treat wasp nests that pose a particular danger to you or your family, for example, nests that are close to doors or windows or inside your home, or are in a part of your garden that you regularly use. An old nest need not be treated as wasps will not return to an empty nest.

Please share your garden with the bees this summer and avoid the use of chemicals and pesticides. These are harmful not only to the bee population, but to pets and wild animals, and often to humans. Try to use natural controls like soap mixes, barriers, and organic baits that help control pests while not discouraging or harming the beneficial insects.

Finally, if you are worried about bee stings, you can rest easy. Honey bees will sting if stepped on or otherwise "attacked," but they are not aggressive. Most other species of bees don't even have the ability to sting! Once you have created a friendly space you will start to see not only bees but butterflies, hummingbirds, and other creatures will also make themselves at home. Your flowers and vegetables will thank you with a beautiful display!

See you in the garden!

The Kelpie...

If you have seen Celtic artwork, I am sure you have seen this image, but did you know the meaning of it? It is of the Kelpie. The Kelpie is a supernatural water horse from Celtic folklore that is believed to haunt the rivers and lochs of Scotland and Ireland. The name may have orginated from Scottish Gaelic cailpeach or colpach 'heifer, colt.

It's hide is supposed to be black (though in some stories it was white), and it will appear to be a lost pony, but don't be fooled, you can identify it by it's constantly dripping mane. It's skin, like that of a seal, is smooth, but is as cold as death when touched. The horse's appearance is strong, powerful, and breathtaking. Water horses are also known to transform into beautiful women in order to lure men into their traps, and vice versa. It is understood that the nostril of the horse is what creates the illusion of grandeur. The water horse also creates illusions to keep itself hidden, keeping only it's eye above water to scout the surface, much like the illusion of a fish's pupil. (Could this be what is in Loch Ness???) It is wise to keep away from them.

As the fable of the Kelpie differs depending on the region in which it is told, other versions of the story says that the Kelpie is "green as glass with a black mane and tail that curves over it's back like a wheel" or that even in human form they are always dripping wet and/or have water weeds in their hair.

The creature can take many forms and has an insatiable appetite for humans. It's most common guise was that of a beautiful tame horse standing by the riverside, a tempting ride for a weary traveller. Anyone foolish enough to mount the horse, perhaps a stranger unaware of the local traditions, would find themselves in dire peril, as the horse would rear and charge headlong into the deepest part of the water, submerging with a noise like thunder to the travellers watery grave. The Kelpie was also said to warn of impending storms by wailing and howling, which would carry on through the tempest. This association with thunder, the sound it's tail makes as it submerges under water, and storms, may be related to ancient worship of river and weather deities by the ancient Celts.

In an Irish tale, towards the end of the mystical period of Ireland, a water horse fails to travel to Tír na nÓg with its fellow mystic folk, and instead rises above water, seeking a wife. However, after attempting to court a clever girl, who consults the wiseman about the situation, he is captured and forced to work in order to be taught compassion. After learning his lesson, he is given the choice of departing to Tír na nÓg, or drinking a magic potion that will make him a real man. The water horse, now full of love decides to drink the potion which erases the memories of his life as a water horse and gives him the chance to live with the clever girl with whom he has fallen in love.

Vintage Spice Salt Recipe...

This is a vintage recipe for a salt and spice blend that is easy to make and have on hand for beef or chicken dishes. I think it would be nice displayed in a lovely vintage salt shaker.

Spice Salt
Four ounces of salt; one of black pepper; one
each of thyme, sweet marjoram, and summer savory;
half an ounce each of clove, allspice, and
mace; quarter of an ounce of cayenne pepper;
one ounce of celery salt.

Mix all together; sift three times, and keep covered. Half an
ounce will flavor a stuffing for roast meat; and a
tablespoonful is nice in many soups and stews.

Poem For The Housewife...

This poem was taken from the Yankee Kitchen Cookbook, 1969. Enjoy!

Blessed is she whose daily tasks are a labor of love; for her willing hand and happy heart translate duty into privilege, and her labor becomes a service to all mankind.

Blessed is she who opens the door to welcome both stranger and well-loved friend; for gracious hospitality is a test of brotherly love.

Blessed is she who mends stockings and toys and broken hearts, for her understanding is a balm to humanity.

Blessed is she who children love, for the love of a child is more to be valued than fortune or fame.

Blessed is she who sings at her work; for music lightens the heaviest load and brightens the dullest chore.

Blessed is she who dusts away doubt and fear and sweeps out the cobwebs of confusion; for her faith will triumph over all adversity.

Blessed is she who serves laughter and smiles with every meal; for her buoyancy of spirit is an aid to mental and physical digestion.

Blessed is she who preserves the sanctity of the home; for hers is a sacred trust that crowns her with dignity.

Author unknown-

Homemade Tomato Catsup

This recipe is from The Housekeeper’s Encyclopedia by Mrs. E. F. Haskell, 1861. If you have alot of tomatoes from your garden this year, perhaps you would like to make some for yourself and for gifts. Everyone loves gifts from the garden!

Ingredients:
1 gallon tomatoes
3 tbsp. salt
3 tbsp. ground black pepper
3 tbsp. (dry) mustard, or ground mustard seed
1 tsp. ground allspice
4 peppers, type unspecified but “sweet”, not hot
1 onion (optional)
1 quart horseradish “juice” (roots grated and liquid pressed out)

The recipe:

Select tomatoes not overripe. Skin and strain the tomatoes; to every gallon add three tablespoons of salt, three of ground black pepper, three of mustard, and one teaspoon of ground allspice; mix the spices in a part of the tomato, and strain them through a sieve; put in a small bag four large pods of sweet peppers and, if relished, one onion, and boil them with the catsup while it is being reduced; add the expressed juice of one quart of horseradish, and reduce it until it is of the proper consistency to pour from the bottles without difficulty; let the catsup remain in the bottles, with a piece of cotton cloth tied loosely on the neck, for three months to ripen, when cork and seal tightly.

“Pepper pods” are simply whole peppers, not divisions thereof. Slicing them into strips will both free up flavoring elements and reduce the space the pepper bag takes up in the boiling pot. Depending on the type of pepper used, which is not easy since even producers of “heirloom” vegetables today often trace their varieties back only as far as the late 19th or even early 20th century, you may wish to remove the core and seeds before boiling.

Bath Treatment For Varicose Veins...

Although most often associated with women, bulging, enlarged veins can be a problem for both sexes. The condition is largely hereditary, but a case of varicose veins can be made worse by bad habits; standing for long periods of time, wearing tight clothing, and sitting with the legs crossed (I cannot seem to break this habit).

Herbal baths can help, although you should be careful not to take baths that are too hot (extreme temperatures can exacerbate the problem). Whole herbs that you can use in a bath to help boost circulation in the legs include geranium, ginger, juniper, lemon, peppermint and rosemary. Tie this recipe up in some cheesecloth and drop into your warm tub and soak away your varicose veins!

2 tb Dried ginger powder *OR* 4 tb Fresh gingerroot; chopped
4 tb Dried juniper
2 tb Dried rosemary
4 tb Dried lemon peel *OR* 1 Whole lemon; quartered

Slugs And Snails Invading Your Garden?

Is your garden riddled with slugs and snails? When I lived in the Pacific Northwest, slugs were the enemy. Here in Southern California, it is the snails I battle in my garden. I have attempted to be humane and pluck them off of my delicate plants by hand and relocate them to other areas but to no avail. Them or others like them, always find their way back to my lovely flowers. I have had to resort to other measures, and at times for this I have felt evil. There is no choice however, if your desire is a lovely flower or vegetable garden. Here are a few ways to control snails and slugs and keep them from feasting on your plantings.

Spray
1/3 To 1/2 c. nonsudsy ammonia
1 c Water
Combine ingredients in a spray bottle; squirt on slugs. I will try this on snails too, but with their ability to retreat inside their shell, I'm not sure how it will fare.

Sand
Distribute playground sand around young plants early in the Spring. Be generous with the sand. Slugs hate it as it's not conducive to their underside.

Mulch
Mulch around the area to be slug-proofed using pine needles. The pine needles are acidic and slugs and snails prefer alkaline environments.

Copper Strips
While these are expensive, they are also a good alternative for protecting small areas or individual plants. They react electrostatically with the slug or snail slime. The pests dry up.

Coffee Grounds and Egg Shells
Place used coffee grounds (the stronger the better) or broken egg shells in a circular perimeter around the plants you are trying to protect. The snails and slugs will not cross the line.

Also, to keep your garden as slug and snail free as possible, practice these tips:

Pull the weeds from your garden, as you pull each weed, you remove a potential slug and snail outpost.

Keep all decaying matter cleaned out of your garden beds. While leaves make a good mulch, once they begin to compost they become food and shelter for slugs and snails.

Prune the branches of any shrubs which are laying on the ground. Keep the old leaves and such cleaned out. By doing this you will have destroyed yet another haven for these eating machines!

Cultivate your soil regularly to keep the dirt clods broken up, and unearth any slugs which may have burrowed under the surface.

The shaded areas beneath decks can be a slug and snail arena: keep them weed and litter free.

Just about anything can become their home. Boards, rocks, pots etc. should be kept out of the garden.

Keep the lawn edges trimmed. Slugs will congregate under the umbrella of unkept grass.

See you in the garden!

Addendum:
A canine friend of mine desired an addendum to my suggestion of coffee grounds in the garden or where dogs might ingest them. I would like to keep our pets safe so here is the tip. His request:

Any chance you can make an addition to the coffee grounds/snail blog? Not many people are aware that coffee grounds are toxic to dogs if ingested. If possible, perhaps you can put a special note that if dogs are in the areas treated not to use coffee grounds, but instead the egg shells.

Thank you Luigi! I had not thought to add the warning regarding canines and coffee grounds! Stay safe this summer!

Beautiful Variscite...

The belief that gemstones have special powers goes back centuries, and almost every society from the beginning of time has some mention of them.

It is believed that gemstones and crystals represent the healing energy of the earth and can be used as powerful magical healing tools. Gemstone energy medicine uses the body's inherent healing force to nourish and heal us in multiple ways. Each type of gemstone embodies a unique energy that can focus and amplify this healing force and produce specific therapeutic effects.

Variscite is a relatively rare phosphate mineral that is sometimes confused with chrysocolla or the greener forms of turquoise. High quality specimens are often used as gemstones and for carvings. It has a waxy luster and takes a fine polish.

Used to connect and align the ethereal and physical nervous systems, it stimulates the heart chakra. It is thought to bring love and reason to any situation. May help to elevate feelings of despair to calm and peace and helps to provide courage to continue to the invalid, promotes power to deal with difficulties, and has been used to treat abdominal problems, constricted blood flow, and in restoring elasticity to skin and veins. It is said to help with remembrance of past lives and is a good meditation stone. Also helps with virtue, self-reliance, moral courage and success.

You're Never To Old For...

Beatrix Potter! I'm not sure why, but at this time of year when I am toiling away in my little gardens, my mind always wanders to Beatrix Potter and Tasha Tudor. Perhaps it is their beautiful gardens, the animals I must fend off from destroying my delicate plantings, spotting a rabbit now and again and imagining taking one as a pet. I become lost in thought and can daydream the day away just imagining the life of Tasha Tudor and how happy she was in her garden with her corgi (my favorite dog) bouncing around her.

If you love Beatrix, or you have little ones that do, you may enjoy purchasing the DVD with Niamh Cusack starring as Beatrix. You can find it here on Amazon.com. I will be purchasing it for my young granddaughter and will delight in viewing it with her.

If you would like to plant your own Beatrix Potter garden, the plants listed below are shown or mentioned in the Beatrix Potter’s stories.

• Bleeding-heart—The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies
• Calendula—Yours Affectionately, Peter Rabbit
• Candytuft—The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies
• Chamomile—The Tale of Peter Rabbit
• Cowslip—The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse and The Tale of Mr. Tod
• Dandelion—The Tale of Mr. Tod
• Dock—The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
• Foxgloves—The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck, and Yours Affectionately, Peter Rabbit
• Germander—The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies
• Lavender (rabbit tobacco)—The Tale of
• Benjamin Bunny and The Tale of Mr. Tod
• Marsh marigold—The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher
• Mint—The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
• Mustard—Yours Affectionately, Peter Rabbit
• Nasturtium—The Tale of Peter Rabbit
• Oregano—The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
• Pansy—The Tale of Johnny Town Mouse
• Parsley—The Tale of Peter Rabbit and The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
• Pink—The Tale of Johnny Town Mouse
• Primrose—The Tale of Little Pig Robinson
• Rose—The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies, The Tale of Johnny Town Mouse,and Yours Affectionately, Peter Rabbit
• Rosemary—The Tale of Benjamin Bunny
• Sage—The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
• Sweet marjoram—The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
• Thistle (down)—The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse
• Thyme—The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
• Violet—The Tale of Johnny Town Mouse
• Watercress—The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher
• Water mint—The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher
• Willow—The Tale of Mr. Tod
• Wood sorrel—The Tale of Mr. Tod
• Yarrow—Yours Affectionately, Peter Rabbit

Fried Apple Pies...17th Century Recipe

This is a vintage recipe from the 17th century for making apple pasties. It's from an English book called "A True Gentlewomans Delight, 1653." It's interesting to try to figure out what some of the words mean, and the misspellings make for an interesting read. Do you love vintage recipes? Do you collect recipe books as I do? What is your oldest recipe? I'd love to hear about it!

To fry Applepies:

Take Apples and pare them, and chop them very small, beat in a little Cinnamon, a little Ginger, and some Sugar, a little Rosewater, take your paste, roul it thin, and make them up as big Pasties as you please, to hold a spoonful or a little lesse of your Apples; and so stir them with Butter not to hastily least they be burned.

Make Your Own Lavender Ink...

Surprise someone with a handwritten note this spring! In this day of emailing, how many of us are able to enjoy visiting the postbox and spying anything but bills and perhaps the odd magazine or catalog now and again? I know when a personal missive catches my eye amongst the day's delivery, I am overjoyed. (Thank you to my daughter and daughter-in-law :)

If you love letter writing and calligraphy pens as I do, you can make your own scented ink and announce your correspondence as soon as the recipient opens their postal box.

Scented ink will give a delicate, intangible fragrance to your personal letters, a fragrance that will waft out as soon as the envelope is opened and that will linger mysteriously over the pages.

Ingredients:
1/2 oz (15g) dried lavender flowers
6 tbsp water
1 small bottle ink

Crush the lavender and put into a saucepan with the water.
Bring them to the boil and simmer for about 30 minutes or
until you have 2 tablespoons brown, opaque liquid left.
Strain, pressing down well.
Mix the liquid with the ink.

That's all there is to it!

It's Pedicure Season...

And we have this lovely, vintage style manicure set that would be perfect for assisting you in doing your own fingers and toes this spring, summer, and beyond!

A lavish crystal ornament graces a faux leather case filled with essential beauty tools for your manicures and pedicures. Stainless steel tools 6" x 3". Step inside the shop and have a look! Only 1 left and it's on sale so don't delay! Take a look here.

Tips For The Bibliophile...

Books. I have always had a love affair with them. Hardbound or paperback, classic literature or recipe books, short story or full length novels, they have always been my passion. No Kindle or the likes for me thank you. I will take the old fashioned book. Worn pages, faded ink, cover unraveling from years of wear...ahhh I will treasure them, take care of them, lovingly display them on my bookshelves for all to admire. If you are like me, you will purchase them anywhere. The bookstore, at fleamarkets, estate sales, and used bookstores. Wherever there are books, there are people like us who love them. The problem with books is if they are not properly cared for, they can smell. There is nothing worse than finding a book you've been searching for (or not searching for but just have to have!), opening it up, and getting hit in the face by a smell so overwhelming it will make your eyes water. Here are some tips that will help freshen up that treasure you uncover at your next used bookstore, fleamarket, estate sale and the like.

The single most useful thing you can do to preserve your old books is to store them in a place where the temperature is constant and away from sunny windows.

1) Brush each spot off, page by page, with an absolutely clean, dry cloth or cleaning tissue. Open the book and air in a dry, sunny place. If mildew is exceptionally bad, sprinkle French chalk on the page. French chalk is made of a soft white variety of talc, used by tailors for marking fabrics and by dry cleaners for removing grease spots. (You can usually find it fabric stores.) Close the book and several days later brush the chalk out.

2) Purchase a box of non-scented dryer sheets. Cut them into 1/2 page pieces and place them throughout the book you want to freshen. Place the book in a ziploc bag and seal. After a few days, open the bag and check the book. The length of time it will need to be sealed will depend on how bad the smell is. Please be aware, most dryer sheets contain a slight oil, and so should not be used when dealing with important or rare books.

3) Get a large bucket and place a layer of charcoal (not the briquettes used for grilling) in the bottom. Find a smaller container, the size of the book, and place it inside the larger bucket, adding additional charcoal around the outside making sure that nothing falls into the small container. Carefully place the book so that it rests slightly open, inside the smaller container, then seal the large one. Place to the side for at least 2 weeks. The charcoal will freshen the book without any chance of damaging it. Again, length of time will vary depending on how bad the smell is.

4) Repeat the last tip, but instead of charcoal, use kitty litter. The kitty litter is designed to remove or mask odors, and most contain an odor-absorbing ingredient such as baking soda. By placing the book into a separate container, you are preventing it from being damaged by any chemicals contained in the litter, yet still allowing it to be affected by the freshening agent.

The Lovely Cowslip...

Shakespeare made seven mentions of the cowslip, a flower so beloved by Englishmen that they considered it a favorite of the fairies. European cowslip was held in equal esteem by herbal practitioners. The 17th-century English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper claimed that any woman who used an ointment, or the distilled water of cowslip would become more beautiful. To this day, herbalists make a skin cleansing lotion from the herb.

Cowslip blossoms are said to be loved by fairies, who use them for umbrellas, and they protect the plants.

Shakespeare had a fairy saying of cowslips:

"And I serve the Fairy Queen,
To draw her orbs upon the green.
The cowslips tall her pensioners be,
In their gold coats spots you see:
Those be rubies, fairy favors:
In those freckles live their savors.
I must go to seek some dewdrops here,
And hang a pearl in every cowslips' ear."

Edmund Canterbell wrote, "That they do dwell within the cowslips hollow is truth for I have seen them fly out in intoxicated abandon." Cowslips are used in fairy magick. They are considered helpful in finding fairy treasures, and keys to unlocking the secret location of hidden fairy gold.