Category: Home Apothecary

DIY Cleaners, Home Apothecary, Homemaking, Recipes

A Simple Springtime Linen Spray

by bethanymeekerLeave a Comment on A Simple Springtime Linen Spray
A Simple Springtime Linen Spray

Here in Central Illinois, we are beginning to see small signs of Spring peeking through the remnants of winter’s hold upon the land. Sporadic warm days (above 40 degrees Fahrenheit) and the melting away of snow have sent me into a tizzy for all things Spring related. Windows have been thrown open to air out the house, the garden is being planned, spring cleaning is on the brain, and I can feel the buzzing of renewed energy after a long Winter hibernation.

One of my favorite springtime activities is to make a batch of linen spray. This simple spray helps lift the mood and freshen up the house after a long winter being cooped up indoors. Below is the recipe I have been using for several years now.

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Home Apothecary, Recipes, Well Being

A Cream for Dry Hands

by bethanymeekerLeave a Comment on A Cream for Dry Hands
A Cream for Dry Hands

Here in Central Illinois, it feels like winter has finally settled in for the season. It was about a week ago that we had freezing rain coupled with our first blanketing of snow. With the change of seasons comes the seasonal affliction of dry, chapped hands, which has been exacerbated by the extra hand washing during the pandemic. To combat the chapping of my hands, I have turned to making a small batch of hand cream that will moisturize and heal them.

I took inspiration from Ruth Goodman, one of my absolute favorite domestic historians, when she was partaking in The Victorian Farm series. (If you haven’t seen any of the farm series’ that she is a part of, please take the time to do so. They are absolutely fascinating and filled with a wealth of knowledge of daily life in different eras.)

In the third episode of The Victorian Farm, Ruth makes a hand cream for her chapped hands and a lip balm (with a hint of color for some undercover cosmetics). Her recipe calls for lard, honey, oatmeal, egg yolks, and rose water to be mixed thoroughly and stored in a jar. Note that she did not give any measurements or her source for the recipe within that video.

At this moment, I do not have all of those listed ingredients to make a batch for myself, however, I was able to create a hand cream using ingredients that I do have in my small apothecary cabinet. Thus, I am able to abide by a Victorian moral code of economy by using what I already have!

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Home Apothecary, Recipes, Well Being

Crafting a Plantain Salve

by bethanymeekerLeave a Comment on Crafting a Plantain Salve
Crafting a Plantain Salve

Here, dear reader, is a simple and easy recipe for making a small batch of plantain salve, a staple in my home apothecary. This addition to your own home apothecary is great for healing minor burns, small cuts, stings, and bug bites. My family and I have used this salve for several years now and we absolutely love it!

Crafting a plantain salve is an easy way to dip your toes into herbalism because you are learning how to make an infused oil and a salve. This recipe is also a wonderful way to be a thrifty or economical homemaker because you are foraging for plantain in your own backyard and creating a healing salve instead of purchasing similar ointments from the drug store.

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