Pomander Bath Fizz

Real pomanders started in Renascence Europe and mean "apple of amber".
They were carried about to keep dangerous vapors away.

Scented Solsitice gifts are the way to satisfy my creative urges during this week of holiday bustle. This year's offerings include bath treats for my sister and daughter. Each of them are seriously hip, work like devils at high pressure jobs one on Wall Street and as one as Director of pretty-much-everything in a city hospital. They fly back and forth between NYC and Austin TX to visit one another for concerts and weekend getaways. To them, I am the shining example of the slow, centered life.

This year's offering, in addition to my already famous Rosemary and Lemon shampoo (I don't provide conditioner because everyone is so fussy about her own, but I one day hope to make one using Argan Oil, probably scented to match the shampoo) I am making Bath Bombs, those fizzy balls you toss into the bath to create havoc and scent. In the past I have searched for scented products one could add to the whirlpool without creating a souffle of suds. Finally, I realized that with just my own essential oils (which I already have for scent and Craft uses) I can have fancy bath toys for myself and my hip-girls.

Solstice Pomander Perfume recipe

1 ounce Sweet Orange Essence EO

1/2 ounce Lime Essence EO

1/2 ounce Tangerine Essence EO

We make pomanders by poking holes for cloves into oranges
with a skewer. They represent the Sun we miss during the Winter.

1/2 ounce Lemon Essence EO

1/16th ounce Cinnamon Bark tincture*

1/8th ounce Allspice tincture*

1/8th ounce Ginger EO

1/8th ounce Clove Bud Absolute

• Mix 1/2C Epsom salt (or Epsom and sea salt mixture for a variety in texture) with 
• Citric acid 1/2C
• Baking soda  1/2C
• Cornstarch 1/2C
• 15 drops total of the above essential oil (EO) recipe. 
• add 1/2 teaspoon of Jojoba oil as a carrier oil.
• add one drop at a time of food color of you like, I do not.
• add 1/4 teaspoon fine grind orange peel or crushed cloves, also optional, this will not dissolve.
• mix mix mix.

with molding form (muffin tin, ice cream sccop) ready, add

• 1/2 teaspoon (or slightly more) of water from a spray bottle.

Mix with your hands, quickly form into balls or pack into shaped molds. it does not take long to harden. Turn out onto foil and let stand 1 day. Wrap. Impress those hip chicks.

Be aware, this scent recipe makes what might be a lifetime supply of Solstice Pomander scent. Terrific if you are interested in making room spray, perfume bath oils and bath bombs for scent layering for several people's gifts.  Not terrific if you want only 2 big bath bombs.  Reduce recipe by proportion by substituting 8 drops for each 1 oz of EO (essential Oil). *Tinctures are something I can make using 1/2 oz high proof vodka with the dry spice.

Domino Day

I took a few of the topical articles I've written on another blog to kick off this blog, but because I'm impatient, the pictures either won't transfer or weren't saved. You might be better off, they were blurry webcam pics. Use the captions to imagine a big stratified pile of desk junk on all surfaces. originally posted 12/3/11. Enjoy.

Craft and journaling central. I'm leaving the picture dark,  as the room is. Lamps are part of the fix

Its messy in here. We have a domino day going on. Domino day is when I tackle one emergent task only to find that to do it well I have to fix something else. To do that well, another thing needs attention. You get it.

To make cookies, I have to clean up this counter. To clean up the counter, I have to put away the food dryer and the dry herbs inside it should be stored in jars on my shelf of healing and ritual supplies. I should put up that shelf. Right now ritual supplies are on a coffee table which began as my altar and has never seen a cup of coffee. Altars honor. This one honors untidyness (that wasn't the original intent).

The shelf belongs in my office at home, which is also my painting and writing studio, craft room and Craft room and home to my handmade 18th C reenacting clothing. That was a mistake, so I have been transitioning the clothing to another home, which has left them in three places at present. Also a mistake.

All of this makes me want to take a walk in the woods...

Bucket of colored pencils seemed smart, but it doesn't work. big bins for desk supplies also not working.

So to bake cookies for the upcoming Solstice party which will be enjoyed by my sister soon to arrive from TX, I will need to put up a shelf, clean up the kitchen, put things from the kitchen into my office and before any of that can happen I need to clean my office and unbury my desk. I should make decisions about what goes where- but I think I will put that off until everything is at least in the right zone of the house.

All of this makes me want to take a walk in the woods most urgently, which reminds me: I have greens in the dining room and on the porch waiting to be made into two Yule wreaths. The wreath assembly will set off another domino circle involving the dining room, living room and possibly my bedroom.

The fact that 60% or more of the people in America are having a similar day is not much comfort.