Potions and Lotions

The pleasures of home
production, for me,
consist of the orderly
rows of bottles,
the final careful
compounding, the
careful writing
in my 'batch' book
to preserve the recipe,
and, finally,
the lovely
waterproof
labeling

Bottles
and
jars :
clean
and
ready
to be
filled

Elderberry steeped in 100 proof vodka is decanted through fine muslin,
and either bottled as an effective anti-flu tincture,
 or sweetened with honey or simple syrup to make an excellent after-dinner liqueur

always fill my

heart
with
joy

Notice the labels marking
each batch -- even as they
are being shifted around
the kitchen :
IMPORTANT!

 This year I made some wonderful herbal vinegars: so simple!

Ephemeral blossoms like chive blossoms, sage blossoms,
and lavender flower vinegar
can be piled into quart mason jars
(or larger!) and set to steep in the sun, shaking daily.  After some days, the vinegar will take on color and
fragrance, and can be strained through a muslin drip-bag,
bottled and labeled.

Deep Healing Salve
Infused St John's Wort blossoms yield a red oil traditionally used for
  deep cuts and burns with nerve damage.

Its always important to taste your liqueurs while adding sweeteners,
as each batch of infusion will have its own sweetness.

When sweetening a liqueur,
 start by adding half the recommended amount of simple syrup at first,
and gradually add more
until it achieves a pleasant taste.

Everyone's tastebuds are unique,
like every batch of fruit,
so its a good idea to share with friends and get their opinions!