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Across the Fence:  Lavender Water------  |
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melody
True Blue Farmgirl
3319 Posts
Melody
The Great North Woods in the Land of Hiawatha
USA
3319 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 25 2009 : 8:11:44 PM
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Well I have been itching to try making my own Lavender Water for some time and did a little research on various recipes. My 15 Munstead Lavender plants are in full bloom and ready for harvest.
I hope this works. I used two huge bottles of "light" Vodka (never knew there was such a thing.) A jarful of lavender buds, I covered the buds and sealed the jar. Now it's supposed to sit in the sun for the next 18-days to "cure"....I don't know ladies...its turning this gorgeous sweet tea color. I hope I did it right! I even bought blue bottle atomizers as containers. Anyone out there ever use vodka to make Lavender Water???? Don't laugh...I know nothing about alcohol except that it ain't used to sprinkle on your good linen and pillowcases 
Melody
Melody
Farmgirl #525
http://melodynotes-melodynotes.blogspot.com
www.lemonverbenasoap.etsy.com |
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peapicker
True Blue Farmgirl
716 Posts
texas
USA
716 Posts |
Posted - Jun 25 2009 : 8:18:43 PM
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| No, I have never made it. I am envious that you can grow lavender. I have tried several times and always it dies. I love the smell and just the look of it in a field. I bet it will turn out just fine. |
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Tidy Aprons
True Blue Farmgirl
99 Posts
Oney Farmgirl #638
Colorado
USA
99 Posts |
Posted - Jun 25 2009 : 8:45:17 PM
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Don't know much about lavender water or vodka. I use vodka to make my own vanilla extract though.
~Oney~
"There's something a little holy in taking care of the places we inhabit, in summoning sheen. And there's a power in watching over our spaces, the rooms we move within, the sets where our life stories unfold." ~Lori Hall Steele |
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melody
True Blue Farmgirl
3319 Posts
Melody
The Great North Woods in the Land of Hiawatha
USA
3319 Posts |
Posted - Jun 25 2009 : 8:49:33 PM
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Here are a few pics of my 15 lavender plants and my beautiful tomato plants. I bought two beefeaters and 3 Peter Piper cherry tomatoes to sell at the farmers market on Sundays here. I have never grown lavender just started 2 years ago and I hate tomatos but last year one plant actually had over 60 tomatoes. My sister in law made a ton of Salsa!!! Both the lavender and the tomaotes just love it next to the garage...we figure there must have been an outhouse there at one time many, many moons ago. They just grow like crazy....
Melody
Farmgirl #525
http://melodynotes-melodynotes.blogspot.com
www.lemonverbenasoap.etsy.com |
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dutchy
True Blue Farmgirl
4427 Posts
4427 Posts |
Posted - Jun 25 2009 : 8:50:19 PM
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Vodak can be w\a wonderful rhing, lol
LOL NO I AM NOT DRUNK on the vodka, just made lots of mistakes and thought to keep them here, lol.
I grow my own lavender too, maybe this is something i could try IF it works out fine for you. Let us know oke?? I don't drink Vodka BTW!! Just wanted to explain lol. I will stick to a glass of wine now and then :)
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
My personal blog:
http://just-me-a-dutch-girl.blogspot.com/
Almost daily updates on me and mine :)
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melody
True Blue Farmgirl
3319 Posts
Melody
The Great North Woods in the Land of Hiawatha
USA
3319 Posts |
Posted - Jun 25 2009 : 8:57:43 PM
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Dutchy....Why is the "water" turning that iced tea shade?? Should I worry about that? Who wants to spray brown water on linen???
Oh....I did try another recipe with 3-tblsp of Vodka, about 6-cups of distilled water and 2 tablespoons of Lavender Essential oil....WHEW WHEE I think I went a little heavy on the Essential oil and have been adding more distilled water to dilute.... This recipe says it is supposed to sit in the dark for two weeks. I can honestly say I have never purchased Lavender water, but shouldn't it be clear??? Uggh. Me and my big ideas.....
What kind of lavender do you grow? I have 15 Munstead....where we live we line right up with the same parallell as Provence France the absolute KINGDOM of Lavender growing. You know me...I will keep plugging away at this until its right. I'll ship you some when I get my blue bottle atomizers, but only if it gets clear like water is supposed to be!
Otherwise, back to the drawing board....
Goodnight Marian!!
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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melody
True Blue Farmgirl
3319 Posts
Melody
The Great North Woods in the Land of Hiawatha
USA
3319 Posts |
Posted - Jun 25 2009 : 9:43:47 PM
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No leaves, but there might have been a few stems....Uh OH...sounds bad.
Melody |
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dutchy
True Blue Farmgirl
4427 Posts
4427 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2009 : 12:24:17 AM
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I was thinking about stems too ALee :)
Here is a recipe I saw on the internet:
Fill a sterilized pitcher with Lavender. Add water and Vodka and stir with a stainless steel spoon. Add lavender oil and close the pitcher airtight! Put away in a dark spot and stir every few days.
Then pour it through a cheesecloth towel and throw away the Lavender.
Put the Lavenderwater in a dark bottle immediately. Can be used for a year.
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
My personal blog:
http://just-me-a-dutch-girl.blogspot.com/
Almost daily updates on me and mine :)
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dutchy
True Blue Farmgirl
4427 Posts
4427 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2009 : 12:32:37 AM
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OOPS pressed send too soon, duh!
It SHOULD be colorless indeed. Maybe wait a few days and then sieve it??
I grow Lavendula Angustifolia Hidcote, And but I also have a few very pale pink ones Loddon Pink. Sometimes I have the Stoechas with the little butterfly on top. But they are not real winter hardy unfortunately :(. I want more in my front garden. I want the sides of my garden with Lavender. I adore the flowers, dry them, make sachets, put them in bowls, make little bouquets to dry etc. etc.
Have fun Melody and let us know how it turns out oke??
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
My personal blog:
http://just-me-a-dutch-girl.blogspot.com/
Almost daily updates on me and mine :)
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Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
5216 Posts
Sharon
Bruce Crossing
Michigan
USA
5216 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2009 : 05:40:12 AM
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Your Lavender plants are beautiful Melody!
I wish that I could give you advice on the Lavender Water. I have only made Orange Linen Water using distilled water and Sweet Orange Essential Oil.
~Sharon
By His Grace, For His Glory
http://merryheartjournal.blogspot.com/ |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2009 : 07:46:08 AM
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Soap crafters sells a base for making linen water that has the alcohol already in it. You can purchase it from them on-line. It is a good solution for those that can't grow the plant as all you need to do is add the essential oils. There are recipes on the site as well.
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran |
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melody
True Blue Farmgirl
3319 Posts
Melody
The Great North Woods in the Land of Hiawatha
USA
3319 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2009 : 07:47:45 AM
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Well I think I will have to go back to get more VODKA and start all over again. I have some lavender from Glory Bee out in Washington that looks pretty well sifted through. I will use that and try Dutchy's recipe. It should be clear right?? The stuff I have right now looks pretty nasty----out it goes!
Thanks for all of the suggestions appreciate it girls....Now get some rest nightingales!!
Melody
Farmgirl #525
http://melodynotes-melodynotes.blogspot.com
www.lemonverbenasoap.etsy.com |
Edited by - melody on Jun 26 2009 07:49:54 AM |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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electricdunce
True Blue Farmgirl
2544 Posts
Karin
Belmont
ME
USA
2544 Posts |
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melody
True Blue Farmgirl
3319 Posts
Melody
The Great North Woods in the Land of Hiawatha
USA
3319 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2009 : 10:46:03 AM
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Karin....I like how you think!!
Melody |
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sharikrsna
True Blue Farmgirl
185 Posts
Shari
Carthage
Illinois
USA
185 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2009 : 1:53:02 PM
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Here here! Have a little nip of vodka, then next time let it sit in the dark. Sun tea ring a bell?
Shari
Farmgirl Sister #607 |
Edited by - sharikrsna on Jun 26 2009 1:53:15 PM |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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melody
True Blue Farmgirl
3319 Posts
Melody
The Great North Woods in the Land of Hiawatha
USA
3319 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2009 : 7:00:11 PM
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I just sent Bruce out for a pint of 80-proof and a gallon of distilled water....found a good recipe this time. Cross your fingers! I'll post a pic when my blue glass atomizers arrive and they are filled with my Lavender Linen Water. I just love experimenting with my lavender and this is a first for me VODKA as an ingredient. Whew hoo!!
Melody
Farmgirl #525
http://melodynotes-melodynotes.blogspot.com
www.lemonverbenasoap.etsy.com |
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Faransgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
895 Posts
Beth
Houston
Texas
USA
895 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2009 : 8:00:12 PM
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What you are making with the vodka is actually a tincture and not a water. Lavender Water is actually what is left after they distill the lavender to make Essential Oil. I have made it and it takes alot of lavender and alot of water. It is like distilling moonshine. Guess that tells you I am a country girl. I am also an aromatherapist. If you want something to scent your sheets with a good way to do it is to just put essential oil in water with a small amount of the vodka or alcohol. If you want to use your lavender that you are growing put it as a dried herb into a sleep pillow. I also love to make lavender tea and put it into lemon aid. It is great on a hot day in the summer time. You can put lavender flowers - no stems or leaves - into water with vodka and leave it in a dark place. Then you strain out the flowers. The alcohol works as a solvent to remove the scent from the flowers and transfer it into the water.
Farmgirl Sister 572
May the force of the horse be with you. |
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melody
True Blue Farmgirl
3319 Posts
Melody
The Great North Woods in the Land of Hiawatha
USA
3319 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2009 : 9:06:13 PM
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Beth...you are right it is a "tincture" Many, many years ago at an Amish Auction where I used to sell my soap a sweet little grandma came up to me and asked me if I made my soap during a FULL MOON....she quietly explained to me that she prepared all of her "tinctures" by the light of a full moon and swore they were always her very best. I will never forget that conversation. Thanks for enlightening me! I prepared my tincture with 2 ounces 80-proof vodka, distilled water 1/2 tsp of lavender eo, 10-drops of peppermint eo and shook it like crazy. I have it sealed in a glass jar and am ready to go once my atomizers arrive. Can't wait!!
Thanks again gals for all the helpful and insightful information. 'Preciate it!
Melody
Farmgirl #525
http://melodynotes-melodynotes.blogspot.com
www.lemonverbenasoap.etsy.com |
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dutchy
True Blue Farmgirl
4427 Posts
4427 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2009 : 10:26:32 PM
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Sounds like you found out how to do it then? Can't wait to hear how it turned out :)
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
My personal blog:
http://just-me-a-dutch-girl.blogspot.com/
Almost daily updates on me and mine :)
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Faransgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
895 Posts
Beth
Houston
Texas
USA
895 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2009 : 07:55:11 AM
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Hi dutchy, Where are you from in the Netherlands. I lived for a while in Den Helder. My son was born there.
Farmgirl Sister 572
May the force of the horse be with you. |
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dutchy
True Blue Farmgirl
4427 Posts
4427 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2009 : 09:06:05 AM
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Hi Beth, I was raised in Zaandam! Not too far from Den Helder. The world IS a "small"place indeed :)
I now live in the north, Drenthe is the province.
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
My personal blog:
http://just-me-a-dutch-girl.blogspot.com/
Almost daily updates on me and mine :)
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Across the Fence: Lavender Water------ |
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Lavender Water------
