Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Lavender & Giveaway ...

"L" is for Lavender ...

This week over at Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday we are studying the letter "L", as in lavender.  I think just about everyone loves the aromatic floral scent, don't you?

The color lavender suggests refinement along with grace, elegance and femininity.  Purple and its lighter shades have an almost sacred place in nature.  I think lavender, orchid, lilac and violet flowers are all so delicate.


What better way to reduce stress then to light a lavender-scented candle after work, or mist your bed sheets with a lavender-scented spray.

As an herb, lavender has been used for over 2,500 years.  In ancient times lavender was used for perfume by the Egyptians and Phoenicians.  Romans used lavender oils for bathing, cooking and scenting the air; hence the Latin root (lavare - to wash or livendula - livid or bluish).

The air was fragrant with a thousand trodden aromatic herbs, with fields of lavender, and with the brightest roses blushing in tufts all over the meadows ...
~ William Cullen Bryant ~

Lavender sugar is delightful sprinkled on fresh berries and in tea.  The sugar carries a light flavor and smells heavenly.


I will be giving away a fresh jar of lavender sugar to one lucky individual!  To enter to win you must be a follower of my blog and leave a comment on this post by Tuesday, February 14, 2012.  I will select a winner on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 using random.org and will give the winner 48 hours to contact me via email.

My word this week for Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday is lovely lavender.  I am also linking with Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.  Thank you for spending a little time with me today. 

39 comments:

KER said...

i use lavender in a lot of products...and along with lilac it's a favorite scent...i love using shades of purple in my cards as well...was so nice to read this post...tfs

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

This would be a dream come true for me! I was so excited to see your Mosaic and post was all about lavender this week! Very beautiful! Hugs! ♥ And I'm a new follower now, too! ♥

Two Cottages And Tea said...

Love lavender! I have a few plants in my flower garden. I enjoy bringing some in to dry. Thank you for sharing the information, so interesting.
Nancy

Nancy said...

Beautiful mosaic and interesting facts. I like to put on some lavendar cream at bedtime so I can smell it as I fall asleep.

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Hi Donna, Thanks for stopping by and your sweet comment on my Frosty Morning post.
I would love to win the lavender sugar. Lavender is my favorite fragrance. I have a lavender plant in my garden and dry some each year.
Your blog is beautiful. I am following you now.
Barb

Carrie Sampsel said...

Donna...I have to say we use LOTS of Lavendar Oil at my house!! My boys have serious eczema so I add a few drops of pure lavendar oil to their bath water. It completely healed it up. We have tried lots of different medications for it and nothing had really helped. Turns out the best cure comes from Mother Nature herself. Not to mention that bath time is close to bedtime so it's also very calming. I was so excited when I read this post. lol We love it even my husband. lol

Videodiretta said...

Buongiorno Donna,
un blog particolarmente raffinato!.... grazie per tutte queste interessanti informazioni su questa meravigliosa pianta dal bellissimo profumo inebriante e delicato che io amo in particolar modo.
Ciao
Luci@

bella said...

I would love to win the lavander sugar. I am a follower of your blog and my email is luv2read90045@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Thats so nice .. Ive had alot of stress , so this would be lovely .. Had no idea it even helped .. tfs .. hugs Anne

KarinsArtScrap said...

hi donna lavender smells great.
I did not know that it helped agains stress.
lovely idea.


greetings karin

Ann Marie Governale said...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh lavender... love it and just looking at your beautiful photos de-stresses me!

Becky said...

Hi Donna, I love lavender, the smell is very relaxing.

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

My little granddaughter gave me some lavender sugar for Christmas. I never thought of using it in tea!

I have also heard that deer and elk won't eat lavender, so I am thinking about planting some this spring. It's hard to find plants that can survive out here. The deer think everything I plant is part of an ongoing salad bar just for them!

My name is Riet said...

The smell of lavender is wonderful. I like to make little lavender sachets as presents and I know it is calming too. You know a lot about lavender.Great L word

Coralie Cederna Johnson said...

I can smell the fresh fragrance of Lavender from here!
LOVELY Mosaic!
Happy L Day!
Coralie

My Little Home and Garden said...

Lavender has such a lovely fragrance. A few more months and there will be some blooming in my garden. Thanks for popping by my blog today, Donna. Your lavender is much prettier than my dresser!

Jo4Him said...

Lavender is heavenly. Have never made lavender sugar, so that sounds delightful. Jo4Him

Teresa said...

What a lovely post. I love putting lavender in my goat's milk soap.

Pondside said...

I love to get into bed and spray some lavender water on my pillow case. I swear that it helps me sleep.

Dana @ Bungalow'56 said...

I'm not sure why but I've never warmed up to the lavender scent. I'm more of a citrusy gal. I love taking pictures of it though.
Dana

anitamombanita said...

Lovely lavender post. Reminds me of my mom who used to keep lavender in the linen closet. The images you used are lovely too!

parTea lady said...

I've always loved lavender. One of these days I'm going to use the culinary lavender in my spice cabinet to make lavender shortbread.

Your lavender photo collage is lovely.

Karen said...

Donna, another lovely and informative post. I must try lavender on my daughters pillow at night, as she has trouble shutting down (and she is only 17!) I have never heard of lavender sugar.

Anonymous said...

It is such a relaxing scent. I had tough class one year and one of the moms gave me a small bottle of lavender for Christmas after going on a field trip with the class. She said I was going to need it to make it until summer.

Jo said...

I love lavender ... i make my own soaps and use lavender all of the time, and there is a wee bakery not too far away, that makes lavender macaroons ... they are amazing ....

Gypsea Nurse said...

Donna~ this is just what the doctor ordered!
Your soothing site.....
Absolutely beautiful, you lifted my spirits...
Ty...
Have a great weekend
Smiles~
Cricket @Gypsea Nurse

Jean Tuthill said...

I am happy to meet you, thanks for coming by....I am now a follower, Love your blog and can't wait to see a lot more of it. Please enter me in your giveaway, I love lavender, too! And I'm also following you on Pinterest, we have a lot in common!

MiamiKel said...

What an enchanting post! I am so intriqued by the lavender sugar :) It's such a refreshing color that just seems to sooth the soul. Thanks for the beauty of your post today :)

21 Wits said...

I feel refreshed already! You take the best photographs.... I really am craving are those cupcakes or a scone of sorts? Yummy looking the third below it too...just incredible all of it!

Jenny said...

Lavender and lilac...two of my favorite colors! Your photos are absolutely lovely in this post.

My daughter and I ordered a salad last week and it came with lavender in it. It was really different...I still haven't decided if I liked it or hated it!

Thanks for such a luscious post for the letter "L". I've grown a dahlia much like the one in your mosaic and it was one of my favorites!

A+

Annesphamily said...

I love lilacs! I love the scent and I love the flowers! I have a lilac bush outside our bedroom window! Ah....
I love hte giveaway. Count me in and please come visit. I love the "L" post! Love and Hugs Anne

Annesphamily said...

I am going to capture your button and I am following you! Hugs Anne

EG CameraGirl said...

Mmmmm. Lavender! I love the aroma.

Tablescapes By Diane said...

Hi lovely lady.
It's been a long time no see you. Im one of your old follower on your blog. Your give-a-way is Beautiful sweet lady. I love Lavender hope I win !
I hope you have a wonderful and Happy Valentines Day with your family.
XXOO Diane
Your Blog look also Beautiful.

Tablescapes By Diane said...

Hi lovely lady.
I will put your Butting on my sidebar also.
XXOO Diane

Chris said...

I love the color of Lavender and the smell! Makes me think Spring is coming!

Nonna said...

Lavender is a lovely and refreshing and so is this interesting post...most enjoyable !!!

Cheryl said...

Donna, Your lavender sugar sounds wonderful. What a wonderful idea.

Rosemary said...

Donna I love lavender and am lucky enough to have 2 lavender farms close by. My favourite thing is to spray lavender linen spray on my bedding . I swear it makes me sleep better.