Blossom's Wild Herb Lavender Farm

The vodka helps with easier scooping.

• 4 cups lite half and half milk
• 1 vanilla bean, split
  
• 6 egg yolks
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons lavender honey  (Click link to buy lavender honey)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 T.  Vodka

Directions:
1. In a medium pan, heat the half & half milk and vanilla bean to simmer. Do not boil. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, brown sugar, lavender honey, and salt until light colored and frothy. While whisking constantly, slowly combine the hot milk with the egg mixture. Transfer the mixture back to the sauce pan. Cook over medium heat until mixture reaches 180 degrees Fahrenheit,  when tested with a candy thermometer, or becomes thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Remove from heat.

2. Remove the vanilla bean from the mixture and reserve. Strain custard into a large bowl. Scrape seeds from the vanilla bean into the custard, add the Vodka.  Cover the surface of the custard with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

3. When cold, freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's 
directions.

4. Optional:  Sprinkle with fresh English Lavender Buds.

Hypericum perforatum
St. Johns Wort
Height: 15"     Zone: 5     Light: sun to part shade
Description:  Historically the astringent and antibacterial leaves were used medicinally and are still used externally by herbalists to treat burns. St. Johns Wort is gaining popularity as Nature's Prozac. For centuries, northern European women wore hyperium to repel demon lovers. With the spread of Christianity the plant was associated with John the Baptist; it was said that it flowers on his birthday and bleeds red oil in August on the day he was beheaded. Yellow and red dyes are obtained depending on the mordant used.

ST. JOHN'S WORT
In ancient times, the summer solstice was believed to be a magickal day. St. John's Wort was harvested on that day and used to ward off ghosts and evil spirits. It is also known as the "witches' herb" - witches used it to ward off the evil spirits, and Christians used it to ward off the witches!  

How to make  St. John's wort oil to sooth rheumatic pain as well as sprains and strains, cuts, wounds, as well as muscle and nerve aches and pains.

Simply pick the yellow flowers (dry them ) then place in a mason jar cover with olive oil, store in a cool dry place for two to three weeks.  Strain and add a vit E capsule.

As parents we all heard it before ---- if you get me this new pup, kitten or bunny, I PROMISE,  I PROMISE I will take to care it every day - that last about a week. So maybe you should allow your kids to start out with a nice huge glob of sour dough starter, if they can keep the goo alive for six to eight months they may just be old enough. They only have to feed it every 7 to 10 days and
you never know they may find the gooey glob of dough is just the companionship they need.

Basic Starter Without Yeast:
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar

Mix all ingredients. Place in a loosely covered container and refrigerate for several days until mixture doubles in size. This may take 4 to 14 days. When doubled, the starter is ready to use or store in the refrigerator. "Feed" once or twice a week with 1 cup milk, 1 cup flour and 1/4 cup sugar.

Basic Starter With Yeast:
2 cup flour
2 cup warm water
1 pkg. dry yeast or 1 yeast cake

Mix all ingredients. Let stand uncovered in a warm place overnight or up to 48 hours. The longer the mixture stands, the stronger the ferment will be. After fermenting, the starter is ready to use or to store in the refrigerator. "Feed" as above.

Important to note:
Always start in a glass, pottery or plastic container.
Store the covered container in the refrigerator when the starter is done. The starter dough may smell quite sour and a liquid may form on its surface but this is normal. Stir the starter before each use. After using some of the starter, always leave at least  1 cup of starter.  To keep indefinitely, feed the starter every 7 to 10 days. Do not use the starter for 24 hours after "feeding".

Lavender in many parts of the country will be bursting in full bloom, so go to the local craft store, grab yourself some 1/4 inch ribbon in colors, make yourself some lavender lemonade (recipe below) and do some crafting for christmas stocking stuffers. If you do not own any of these fragrant gems click here to order yourself a lavender lovers herb garden.

Lavender Wands
To make these you will need at least 13 (use an odd number) long stems of lavender, freshly picked from your garden on a dry day, and about 3 feet of pastel colored 1/4-inch ribbon. Make a bunch, lining up the base of the flower heads. Leave an 8 inch length of ribbon free at one end, then tie the stems together just below the heads. Gently bend back each stem until the flower heads are enclosed by the stems. Take the length of ribbon you saved and weave it under and over each stem, traveling around the bundle several times until the flower heads are covered with ribbon. Tuck in the short end of the ribbon and tie a bow with the other end. Trim the stalks and the ribbon.

LAVENDER SYRUP
2 cups water
2 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons fresh or dried lavender blossoms
Directions
Bring all ingredients to a boil in a large, stainless steel saucepan. Remove from heat and allow to steep 30 minutes.
Strain, chill and refrigerate, tightly covered. Use to sweeten hot or cold drinks. Delicious in ice tea or lemonade.

This is a recipe from Colorado State Extension Office.
The commercial brand of Deer Repellant is quite expensive, I thought you may benefit from this tried and true recipe.   It is quite weather resistant and needs to be sprayed again in 30 to 60 days. 

 
They state 20 percent of whole eggs and 80 percent water is most effective against our hungry friends.  But to prevent the spray from clogging the white membrane attached to the yolk must be removed.  Or you can cheat like me and use a product such as eggbeaters to skip this messy step.

As a spreader sticker I always add after filling the sprayer with a very small squirt of dish soap.
 
Other home made remedies have included human hair and Irish spring soap hung in used onion and potatoes mesh bags.    But remember if the animals are hungry enough they may eat anything.....   I wish I can say that for my boys in the family.

I HAVE HAD GOOD RESULTS AND FRIENDS HAVE ALSO!