Decisions, Decisions

To chase - or not to chase...

I've neglected this blog for quite some time.  I have been pondering a website for Three Cats and have been working on new product and stocking my shelves for the upcoming market and festival season.  The truth is that this business keeps me outside harvesting or in the kitchen, crafting up goodies more than it gives me time to post about them.  The website will give a more suitable all-inclusive place to stop by for updates, recipes and new product news, but the time involved in setting that up is prohibitive at this time.  So I'm going to attempt to pop by here more often and post updates and pictures of my rambling in the hills and meadows.

Since I've last been here, my three cats are now two, and I'm alternately sure I'll never have another one and considering taking on more.  Life is full of decisions.  Instead of making one right now - I'm heading out to the garden.

See you soon!

Fighting The Good-Smelling Fight

The Vanilla Latte mister is made and smells amazing.  The organic vanilla & coffee oils are some of the best oils you can buy.  But there's only one problem.  They are thicker than steam-distilled oils.  As such they tend to float in the bottles. 

I do mention that all my misters should be shaken before being used, and after a time I do notice that the floating oils break up.  I'm concerned that people will find floating 'bits' in their misters a turn-off.  Everyone knows oil is thicker than water (and floats) but will people look past the darker coffee essential oil in this particular mix, or will they see the dark oil bits and pass on the purchase?

Such is my concern at the moment, and it's enough that I haven't listed this mister yet.  I think I'll sleep on it, and decide in the morning over a nice cup of coffee.

 

Strewing Herbs

Strewing herbs are just that.  Herbs tossed on the floor.  In the days of packed-dirt floors or meagre flooring, fresh herbs were strewn on the floors to keep out insects, mice and other undesirable critters.  It was an added bonus that the herbs released their lovely scents when walked upon. 

Today, we don't need to keep the herbs on the floor.  Instead they perform two duties that help keep my home feeling fresh.  I give the floor a cursory sweep, and then toss a handful of my dried herb mix onto the floor, and leave it sit for a time.  The scent of the herbs and their energy infuses the room.  Then, when I sweep them up, the sharp edges of the material helps to gather up any dust particles, cat hair, or anything else the broom missed in it's first sweep.  The heaviness of the herbs keeps the dust down and ensures I collect it to toss away, rather than it blossoming up into the air, only to settle again later.

My mixture is simple.  Rue, hyssop, lavender and meadowsweet.  I grow the first three in my garden and get organic meadowsweet from a favourite supplier.  Some other great strewing herbs are rose petals, mint, thyme, rosemary, sage, tansy (great for ants) and many other woody herbs or dried flowers.  You can choose herbs for their scent, availability, or for their symbolism.

Happy sweeping!

Herbal All-Purpose Cleaner

Sharing my recipe for the cleaner (since it's really an amalgamation of many recipes from many sources!)

Put 1-2 gallons of water in a pot (stainless steel is best) and bring to a boil adding a handful of of your favourite herb or herbs.  I like sage, lavender, rosemary, rue, hyssop, meadowsweet and more - it just depends on what I'm in the mood for - but I usually keep it to two or three herbs so as not to end up with an overpowering scent!

Once the water boils, remove from heat and add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of castile soap (depending on volume of water) and stir.  Strain out plant material and let cool.  Add favourite essential oils.  I like lavender & lemon to boost cleaning power.  I also add some rosewater and some of my homemade Florida water for a bit of energetic cleaning power.

This batch should make several bottles worth of cleaner.  I use it everywhere - on counters, cupboards, sinks, stove top, tables and diluted in hot water for my floor wash.  You will want to do a test spot if you have hardwood floors though.

For those of you who don't want to make their own cleaner, I have some listed in my Etsy store (of course!)

Happy cleaning!

Etsy Shop Now Open!

My Etsy shop, Three Cats And A Broom is now open! 

I'm very excited to feature my favorite mister "Lime Daiquiri" as my first product.  Additional scents coming this week are: Orange Blossom, London Fog (Early Grey, Lavender & Vanilla) and Vanilla Latte.

Also coming in the next week - my organic all-purpose cleaner.  I love this product and use it all the time on my counters, sink, stove, floors and bathroom. 

There is so much to do in the way of perfecting my labels (not 100% happy with the ones I have at the moment) and production and photography, but I know it's a process.  If anyone else has an Etsy store and has any hints, I would appreciate any tips I can get.  And let me know your store name, and I'll "favorite" it!

Lime Daiquiri Organic Herbal Mist

Here are the first shots of my Organic Room/Linen Mist.  These lovelies linger in cobalt blue glass bottles with mister caps for spritzing wherever you desire.  They can also be spritzed on skin & clothing (skin test please.)  I've been spritzing myself with this new scent for two days!

All of my mists are preservative-free.  As such, they need to be shaken before used and kept well away from heat and sunlight.  Shelf life for these products is around 6 months for maximum freshness but I know that once you smell them and start misting, there is no way they will last that long.

This brew pictured here is my Lime Daiquiri scent, made with Organic Lime, Orange and Fennel oil.  It was inspired by my amazing friend Deanna and her famous Lime Daiquiris.  (They have saved my life many a time!)

I'm working on perfecting the label for these products and my Etsy shop will be up and running shortly.  Stay tuned and get your hands on one of these luscious scents soon!

PS - Just a note of caution - if you do use an essential oil that has citrus in it on your skin (like my Lime Daiquiri) please be sure you wait 12 hours before sun-worshipping.  Citrus oils can cause photosensitivity.  Also - it seems silly to say it, but just in case - please keep essential oil products away from your eyes, mouth and private bits.  Common sense, yes?