"I started photographing my domestic world and writing not just about what I had made,
but why I made it, examining the thoughts that accompany creativity and the act of making."
Jane Brocket from The Gentle Art of Domesticity p. 189 UK edition

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Lavender Day









Last year, my oldest daughter saw a homemade sandwich shaped sign on the West side of the Historic Columbia River Highway just before you come to the Portland Women's Forum outlook over the Columbia River, inviting folks to stop and cut lavender.  She did not stop last year, so this year she had a bee in her bonnet and was determined to visit the little farm. 

Late Tuesday afternoon on the spur of the moment we headed out  to see if there was any lavender left since we had heard that other places in the general area had already celebrated lavender festivals weeks before.  As you can see, we found there was still some for us to cut!  Delightful!

As we walked close to the lovely scented lavender we were startled to hear it buzzing!  What?  Lavender buzzes?  Then we realized the lavender was buzzing with hundreds of bumble bees!  Then we spotted the BEE-WARE sign. Hmmmmm...what to do?

My oldest granddaughter did not want to have anything to do with lavender after realizing there were 
bees involved with it.  It took some persuading before she was convinced the bees were not at all interested in her, but wanted to continue focusing on feasting on the lavender. She reluctantly posed for a photo that her mom wanted, and then kept her distance from the cutting process.  We took the baby back to the car and I hung out with her while my daughter and her younger daughter cut some lavender.  Both girls enjoyed holding the lavender bundle once they were safely in the car without any bees buzzing around :)

We plan to make some sachets and let the girls do their first stitching. It should be fun!  Have you made any sort of sachets?  [I know that Sarah  one of my friends who is a gifted weaver and crafter has, because she sent me some filled with lovely lavender from her garden last year.  They are still wonderful, Sarah.  Thank you again :)]

Gracie xx
PS.  For a challenge click on the last photo of lavender to enlarge it.  How many bees can you see?

34 comments:

  1. Ohhhh...I would be in heaven if I was there....with the bees and all! It's all soo pretty!

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  2. What a great idea of your daughter! I want to get some too. I adore lavender. I will bring my yo-yo making kit when I visit on Friday. Hugs, T

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  3. What a beautiful field of lavender!! Wow! I could almost smell it!!!!
    : ) Kris

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  4. Gorgeous...gorgeous...gorgeous... Those are the only words I can think of... And the girls ? Again... Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!
    I think I see 8 bees? On your picture. But maybe I'm seeing things ah, ah.
    Still fun to imagine. I would love to go pick some lavender... They smell just perfectly relaxing.
    Thank you so much for visiting me and for your kind comment. I miss you. :)

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  5. So, so pretty - I love lavender...and bumble bees! How fab to be able to go and pick your own. The lavender bushes in my garden are only just starting to blossom here - very late this year because we had such a long winter.
    And I love the way the girls are all dressed to co-ordinate with the lavender too :-)
    Have a happy day, Gracie
    xx

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  6. Can't you just smell the Lavender in such lovely photos. I love Lavender, grow it in the garden and use the oil constantly...glorious

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  7. It makes my heart happy to be able to keep up with you and the girls and enjoy sharing in your adventures online! I miss you, dear Gracie, and think of you all so often and the blessed times we've shared! I still have the "little light" you gave me before we left NY! It's displayed on a shelf with some other beloved gems. The lavender fields are lovely! I can almost smell it! Love you, my friend... Hugs all around to you, the girls and their guys!

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    1. Love from all of us to you, Sherrie. I am so thankful the Lord brought us together, and helps us stay in touch through cyberspace. By the way, I think you asked help for seeing Elisabeth's wedding, but in the end we have been unable to figure out how to share the recording she supposedly has which was supposed to be able to be shared on the church website at the time of the wedding. I did a post about the wedding, but of course it is not the same as being there. I am not as good at using FB as you are, and feel like I miss out on a lot of news from you and others, but I am grateful for the contact we do have! I am glad you still have the "little light" we gave you. I hope it reminds you that you have always let the Lord's light shine in our lives through you for which we are forever grateful :)
      Gracie xx

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  8. How wonderful to be able to pick your own lavender, it all looks so wonderful.

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  9. Oh, I loved this post as I love lavender so much! You're photo's were wonderful (as always) and I could almost smell the lavender :) I have been harvesting the lavender in our garden again this year...I have a bee in my bonnet about making woven lavender bags this year!
    I used lavender this morning...I read in a book that you could make a carpet freshener by combing some bicarb of soda with some crushed lavender flowers which you scatter on the floor, leave for half an hour or so and then vacuum it all up. Well, I tried it and it works...there is a lovely subtle smell of lavender in my room right now :)
    Enjoy the rest of your week, hugs and blessings Sarah x

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  10. Oh Gracie, I so love lavender, and it's gorgeous colour!
    There are so many bees in that pic - but my eyes won't let me count them!
    Thank you for sharing your lovely time and pics!
    Joy xo

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  11. Beautiful! I have never seen fields of lavender like that. Here we grow it in our gardens, but you reminded me that ours have disappeared, so I must plant more. Thanks for sharing! We miss you in NY Gracie.

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    1. We miss you as well, JoAnn! I am grateful to be able to catch some of your news via cyberspace :)
      Gracie xx

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  12. I counted 9 bees and suspect that there are many more....

    What beauty! And the lavender is lovely too. :)

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  13. I've never made sachets myself, but have several. Lavender is such a pretty scent, I read somewhere it can help you get to sleep. Pretty pictures. Have a wonderful day. Heather

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  14. I love lavender so much! Your photos are so pretty. I'm hoping to visit a lavender farm in my area this fall and I can't wait to go.

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  15. So happy you made it to a lavender farm! As you know, I adore it and am always a bit sad to see it go...
    Beautiful family photo--such cute grandkids you have:)
    Blessings,
    Aimee
    PS: Never have made lavender sachets before but I have plenty of dried lavender from last year to use up still...you can also make lavender wands. I bought one (because I was too lazy to make them);I use it in my cedar chest.

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  16. Beautiful Gracie! Just BeAuTiFuL!!!! So much fun to be able to share things like this with your daughter and precious granddaughters. I bought some lavender last year on Mt. Spokane and it's blooming very nicely this year, however, I haven't cut any. Should I cut it and hang it upside down to dry? Then what? I do love the smell of lavender.

    Are you girls getting together tomorrow? Oh, I'm so sorry I won't be there. Maybe soon though! I miss you all.

    Blessings my friend,
    Betsy

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  17. How lovely Gracie. Love how your family are colour coordinated with the lavender :-) I can see quite a few bees around 9/10?
    Year before last we visited a lavender farm in Yorkshire with my son and family. We had beautiful lavender scones and I bought a lavender plant which is still flourishing. I have some lavender bags on the headboard of spare room. i think they were made from a vintage tablecloth. I also knitted one and lined it and filled with lavender. Have fun with your stitching. Anne x

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  18. What a great idea for the girls. I recommend felt pouches because it holds its shape while they are stitching and doesn't go all floppy which can be frustrating for children when they are trying to concentrate on a needle. Thanks for stopping by as ever Jo x

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  19. I can almost smell the lavender all the way over here in the UK! What a wonderful idea to sell it in that way.

    Enjoy making those sachets. I always include some dried lavender in the felt hearts I make.

    Helenxx

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  20. Hahaha Bee-ware indeed :) I like that (of course!)

    Gracie it's been nice to catch up with your blog, feel awful about how absent I've been. Stupid houses and post-festival blues :)

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  21. Beautiful lavender and you know I love herbs. I think I counted at least 15 bees!!
    I love the one's I have here, one is english the other italian, and smell wonderful.
    Lavender bags are great gifts. love to you and yours xoxo

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  22. I do love a lavender farm. We have one near here and I must visit for the last of the crop as the extreme winter we had killed the lavender in my garden and I haven't had chance to buy more. It's just the most beautiful herb :)

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  23. Gracie, what a beautiful excursions to take with your darling family. I can understand beeing a bit upset about bees!
    Hugs to you my friend,
    Meredith

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  24. Lavender fields...mmm, so exciting! What a beautiful smell !!!
    I would like to be there...))))

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  25. And so beautiful pretty girls are in the second photo! ))

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  26. I love lavender! The colour and scent make me very happy! We have a small patch in our garden, and our neighbours have lined our shared drive with it. Last year I dried some and used it to stuff a small knitted toy, which now lives in with my daughter's clothes. Lesley x

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  27. I love the scent colour and flowers of lavender ....in fact I think you could say that...I love lavender !! What a wonderful 'time out'Your pictures of your daughter and the girls spell out that it was a good time...even if some didn't want to join in the actual picking! There's a lavender farm in the Midlands fairly near where my mother lives but I've never managed to go there before they pick it. In the winter it looks like rows of boot cleaners ! They make their own soaps, candles etc..etc . Thanks so much for taking us with you on this trip. Joan

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  28. It looks wonderful - I like the way you can pick your own. We recently visited a lavender farm and there were a lot of bees but no-where near as many as in your photos! Certainly not enough to worry the kids. But it still looks like you had a lovely day. x

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  29. Just perfect. I love Lavender . Thank you for being so supportive of life over at Chalkys.
    Love Linda

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  30. Across continents we are enjoying the same thing! Whenever I walk past lavender at the moment I can hear it buzzing and I make my girls stop and listen. I hope that when they are grown up they stop and listen to lavender and think of their funny mother making them listen to bushes!

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  31. Gorgeous lavender photos, Gracie! Seeing lavender fields in flower is one of my favourite things so I have really enjoyed this post. Thank you for sharing!
    Helen x

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  32. Can almost smell it. Almost visited a Lavender farm last week but decided the best of the main crop was going over. Lots of bees there too and on the lavender plants in my garden. Your Lavender a lot cheaper. The nearest one here charges £4 per person to get in then picking is free for one bag each.

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Thank you for visiting me today! I welcome your comments!