Amy's Place ... Poetry and Potpourri ...February, 2008

2-1-2008 | JustAmy and MamaBear

[DollyCali]

MAKE YOUR OWN POTPOURRI / SACHETS

You can use almost anything in your garden to make an aromatic potpourri mixture. Traditionally, potpourri is a mixture of dried fs and other ingredients, placed in open containers, like small bowls or cups and placed to allow their aroma to delicately scent the room. Sachets are usually small cloth "pillows" containing potpourri, which can be used almost anywhere. Sachets have the advantage of being portable, you can place them in drawers, pin them to pillows, or carry them in your purse wherever you go.

Generally, potpourri ingredients should not be finely ground, petals of fs should be lightly crushed. Ingredients such as cinnamon sticks or orange peels should be broken into small pieces or finely chopped.

Some fs that are especially good to use in potpourri are roses, carnations, hibiscus, violets, sunfs, and lavendar. Some herbs that work well in potpourri are chamomile, lavender, thyme, sage and rosemary. Eucalyptus leaves are a nice addition to any potpourri. You shouldn't limit yourself to this list however. Experiment, use your imagination and whatever you have at hand.

For all the following recipes, start with bone dry fs, leaves, herbs and spices.

POTPOURRI RECIPES:

Essence of Rose

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pink rose petals
• 1/2 cup red rose petals
• 1/2 cup white rose petals
• 1/4 cup chamomile fs
• 1/2 cup crushed statice (blue or white)
• 1/4 cup eucalyptus leaves
• 1/4 cup oakmoss
• 20 drops rose oil

Gently combine petals and leaves in a large bowl. Scatter drops of rose oil over the mixture using an eyedropper. Stir gently. Place mixture in a brown paper bag lined with wax paper. Fold and seal the bag with a paper clip and leave in a dry, dark, cool place for 2 weeks. Every other day, stir the contents gently to blend and disperse ingredients and scents. Place in glass bowls or candy dishes. Top with small white or pink rose buds.

Floral 1

Combine 3/4 cup calamus root, 1/2 cup caraway seeds, 1/4 cup ground cloves, 2 cups lavender fs, 1 cup marjoram, 1 cup mint, 2 cups rose leaves, 1/2 cup rosemary and 1/4 cup thyme. Mix well.

Floral 2

Combine

• 10 marigold blossoms
• 6 geranium leaves
• 5 rose blossoms
• 2 tsp dried lavender
• 2 tsp orrisroot
• 2 drops rose fixative

Spice

Combine 1/4 cup orrisroot, 4 cups lavender fs, 3 cups patchouli, 1/4 cup ground cloves, 1 cup deerstongue leaves and 1/2 cup ground allspice. Add 10 drops oil of rose, 10 drops oil of lavender, 12 drops oil of neroli and 1/4 tsp. oil of sandalwood. Mix well.

Cassie

Combine 4 cups cassie fs, 1/4 cup orrisroot powder and 1/2 cup starch. Mix well.

Pine

Combine:

• 1/2 cup bayberry leaves
• 1/2 cup snipped balsam needles
• 1/2 cup miniature pine cones
• 1/2 cup rose hips
• 2 tsp orrisroot
• 2 drops pine-scented fixative

Mix the bayberry, balsam, pine cones and rose hips in a large bowl. Add the orrisroot and fixative and stir gently. This makes a great Christmas potpourri!

More stuff...

Processed Corn Cob Additive - Put some ground corn cob material (sold as cellulose, or litter material at your Walmart or pet store) in a jar. Add several drops of essential oil, place lid on jar and shake. Shake jar about once every day or so for about 10 days. Add it to your potpourri to give body and help hold the scent.

Potpourri Filler - If you don't have enough dried fs to make potpourri, or if you just need some filler, remember you can use almost anything in your mixture. Pine cones (whole or just the petals), bark, leaves, etc. Orris root is commonly used as a filler/fixative. Another alternative is to buy a "Filler".

Make Your Own Sachets

TIPS!

Got bugs? Try these ideas:
Bag up your potpourri in freezer zip-locks and place in the freezer for a minimum of two weeks. This should also kill the adults and eggs. Afterwards use a collander to sift out the bugs. If you use large quantities of potpourri, dried fs, foliage or herbs in your crafts storing them in a deep freeze will eliminate this problem.

Try placing dried red chili peppers in the potpourri. It seems to drive the weavils away.

Have an eye for color
Potpourri ingredients should be chosen for visual appeal as well as smell. You might choose to include small pine cones in your potpourri, for instance, just because they add an interesting color and texture.

Try adding unusual seeds, seed pods, or pussywillows to your potpourri.

If your potpourri will be displayed in glass bowls or containers, think about using plants just for contrast. If your potpourri is looking a little bland, toss in some f petals or leaves of a dark or contrasting shade.

[DollyCali]

This is from my friend Jtill (via email).. it is cute dolly.

My forgetter’s getting better,
But my rememberer is broke
To you that may seem funny
But, to me, that is no joke

For when I’m “here” I’m wondering
If I really should be “there”
And, when I try to think it through,
I haven’t got a prayer!

Oft times I walk into a room,
Say “what am I here for?”
I wrack my brain, but all in vain!
A zero, is my score.

At times I put something away
Where it is safe, but, Gee!
The person it is safest from
Is, generally, me!

When shopping I may see someone ,
Say “Hi” and have a chat,
Then, when the person walks away
I ask myself, “who the heck was that?”

Yes, my forgetter’s getting better
While my rememberer is broke,
And it’s driving me plumb crazy
And that is’t any joke.

[DollyCali]

Have a GREAT LORD'S DAY everyone!

[MEG33]

Thank you for the lovely poetry and graphics..and the ping, Amy.

[Mama_Bear]

Beautiful collage, Dolly. :-)

Amy, I am recycling some of our Amy's Place graphics. I saved them all. Hope you are feeling better today. Colds are no fun at all. :-(

Good morning everyone. Wishing you a blessed day!

[Kitty Mittens]

That is the Most Darling Graphic, Amy! I'm Sorry to Read you're Coming Down with a Cold, and Pray it will be Over Quickly. Zinc Losenges Seem to Help me a Lot when I Take them.

~Sunrays on my Shepherd's Ranch~

Jehovah is King!
He is Robed in Majesty and Strength.
The World is His Throne.

(Ps.93:1)

A Blessed Lord's Day to Amy's Place

[MEG33]

So beautiful, Kitty..Amen!

[MEG33]

Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. . . .
Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven.”
~A Blessed Lord's Day To All At Amy's Place~

[JustAmy]

2-3-08


Graphic by Billie

Faith

I may have a bad moment,
But never a bad day.
People seem to doubt it's true,
My life can be this way.
But it’s true, believe or not,
I’ll tell you what I do.
Strong I stand, for my beliefs,
I fight when I have to.
When and where the fight will be,
I’m careful, how I choose.
I may not win every time,
But never, do I lose.
To lose requires surrender,
I bow down to no man.
I kneel before my Maker,
That’s part of His great plan.
I always pray for guidance,
I act on His advice.
He leads me on the venture,
Provides the right device.
By His Dear Grace I’m thriving,
I have all that I need.
I thank Him for His Mercy,
He Blesses me indeed.
My fight may end tomorrow,
But only He, does know.
I’ll bow my head, lift my hands,
Toward His Holy Glow.

Conspiracy Guy 4/21/04
aka DIF © 2003 - 2004

[JustAmy]

Good morning, FRiends.

Come enjoy breakfast with friends.

[JustAmy]

Good morning, Dolly.
Thank you for the wonderful information on making potpourri.

[JustAmy]

LOL ..... thanks, Dolly.

[JustAmy]

Thank you, Dolly.

Have a beautiful Sunday.

[JustAmy]

Good morning, Meg. Your graphic is sooo cute.
Thank you.

Have a beautiful day.

[JustAmy]

Good morning, Lori.
Thank you for posting that Sunday Graphic.
I've saved several; I also saved several poems used with the graphics.

Still have a the cold but I'm feeling better today.

Have a Blessed Sunday.

[JustAmy]

Thank you, Kitty. The picture and verse are beautiful.

Have a beautiful Sunday!

[JustAmy]

Your graphic and presentation are just beautiful. Thank you.

Have a beautiful day, Meg.

[MEG33]

You, too Amy..You are welcome..Hope you feel better soon.

[GodBlessUSA]

Fantastic! Good Afternoon Just Amy :)

[The Mayor]

February 3, 2008

It Looks Bad

READ: Psalm 12

I will set him in the safety for which he yearns. —Psalm 12:5

King David looked out at the world and was troubled. He didn’t need the Internet to paint a bleak picture of society or The New York Times to remind him of crime and suffering. Even without a cable news show to give him all the bad news, he saw the evil.

He looked around and saw that “the godly man ceases.” He noticed that “the faithful disappear.” In his world, everyone spoke “idly” to his neighbor “with flattering lips and a double heart” (Ps. 12:1-2).

This description may sound like the theme of a TV show, but it was life, circa 1,000 BC. While we may view society’s evils as much worse than anything before, David reminds us that evil is not a 21st-century innovation.

But David’s words also give us hope. Notice his reaction to the bad news he bore. In verse 1, he turned to God and cried, “Help!” Then he implored God with specific needs. The response he got was positive. God promised that because He rules righteously, He would provide protection and safety (vv.5-7).

When you are discouraged by all the bad news, cry out for God’s help. Then bask in the confidence of His assurance. Three thousand years after David, God is still, and always will be, in control.

When through life’s darkened maze I go
And troubles overwhelm my soul,
Oh, grant me, Lord, the faith to know
That You are always in control.  —D. De Haan

We have nothing to fear, because God is in control.

Bible in One Year:  Psalms 12–14