This month we are going “back to basics” for our December Royal Velvet Box. We are including a vial of our estate bottled Provence essential oil (2004), a bottle of our moisturizing lotion, and a pretty pomander to hang as a holiday decoration or in your closet.

Essential Oil
In mid to late summer each year we distill our pure organic essential oil. The oil produced is then stored in amber glass bottles for over one year to ‘soften’. We are just about to bottle our 2005 distillation. Lavender essential oil only gets better with age (when stored properly). Our 2004 Provence Essential Oil is aged to perfection.
Especially at this time of year, use our Lotion (classic lavender, rosemary, rose geranium, or citrus) liberally to soften and moisturize away the damage done by the fall weather and the low humidity we are experiencing in San Diego now. Our lotion will become a staple on your bedside table, for sure.

Lavender Pomander
Making herbal decorations for the holidays brings the warmth and fragrance of the herb garden into your home. Some herbs are associated with Christmas through legend. It is said that Mary, Joseph and Jesus stopped to rest during their flight from Bethlehem. Mary spread her blue cloak on a rosemary bush. Since that time, rosemary has had a blue blossom in her honor. Thyme is associated with Christmas, according to legend, because Joseph cut branches from a wild thyme bush to make a bed for Mary. Sweet woodruff is said to have been used in the bed for the baby Jesus. Lavender received its lovely fragrance when Mary spread freshly washed laundry on it to dry. The lavender, previously an unscented herb, was given its lovely fragrance from the swaddling clothes.

Herbs and flowers in your decorations will bring delicate and subtle colors and fragrances to your celebration of this season. We made a lavender Pomander * just for you, and have also included directions for you to make your own.

I remember years ago when I would hold a holiday tea for my friends early in December. We would jabber, write out our Christmas cards, make lists of all we had to do, and most importantly we would appreciate friendship. The Lavender Fields is grateful to have acquired a long list of friends. We can’t all get together for a tea, but if we did these are two treats we would serve at the farm. There is still time for you and your friends to enjoy an afternoon of cake and champagne.

LAVENDER LEMON CAKE WITH HONEY GLAZE
The aroma this cake produces while baking is delightful! Serves 16 3 cups cake flour
½ tsp pure lemon extract
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 cup plain yogurt
¼ tsp salt
1 Tbsp finely grated lemon zest
16 Tbsp (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 Tbsp lavender honey or any honey available
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
½ cup sifted confectioners sugar plus some for dusting
1 Tbsp dried lavender flowers
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 Tbsp lemon juice
Have all ingredients at room temperature. Position rack in lower third of oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter and flour a decorative bundt or cake pan; tap out excess flour. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt onto a sheet of waxed paper; set aside. In a bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter on medium speed until creamy and smooth, about 30 sec. Add granulated sugar and lavender and beat until light and fluffy, 3-5 min.; stop mixer and scrape bowl occasionally. Add eggs, a little at a time, beating well after each addition; add lemon and vanilla extracts. On very low speed, add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with yogurt and ending with flour; blend each addition until just incorporated. Stop mixer and scrape sides of bowl occasionally. Fold in lemon zest. Spoon batter into prepared pan and spread batter so the outside edge is about 1" higher than the inside edge. Bake until cake springs back when touched and pulls away from sides of pan, 55-60 min. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely in pan, 1-2 hours. Turn cake out onto a wire rack set over waxed paper.
In small sauce pan over low heat, warm honey until runny, 30-45 sec. Put 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar in a small bowl and pour honey and lemon juice over sugar; stir to blend. Using a pastry brush, brush cake with glaze and let stand at room temperature until ready to serve. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.
Source: Flo Braker, Author, The Simple Art of Perfect Baking (Houghton Mifflin/Chapters, 1992).

LAVENDER-LEMON CHAMPAGNE PUNCH
Serves 15
3 pounds purple grapes
1 cup lavender flowers (1/3 cup dried buds)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 bottle dry red wine
3 bottles champagne, chilled
1 quart water, preferably bottled
grapes and lemons, for garnish
3 cinnamon sticks
Press the grapes in a food mill. (Or cheat and use grape juice, about 1 cup). Strain and combine the juice with the lavender, sugar, water, cinnamon and cloves. Boil slowly, covered, for 5 min. Strain and cool. Add the lemon juice and wine. Cover tightly and chill overnight.
To serve, pour the mixture into a glass, crystal punch bowl or pitcher. Slowly add the chilled champagne. Garnish with grapes and lemon slices.

Lavandula x intermedia 'Provence' known here as ‘Provence’ is a great hardy variety, and generally blooms twice a year, spring and fall. Provence lavender is cultivated in France for the perfume and essential oil trade, making it one of the more sought after varieties. During the 1800's, wild lavender thrived in Provence. During the same period, great growth in the perfume industry stimulated great demand for lavender. Up until that time, spike lavender and fine lavender had always been gathered by shepherds and farm families looking for a way to supplement their low incomes. With the increased interest from the perfume industry, however, lavender gathering was to become more widespread and organized. The village youth and all those not already active in the fields, including women and children, were enlisted to help. Crews were formed and were paid by volume or by the day. A good cutter could harvest up to a 200 pounds per day. Lavender became known as Blue Gold.

To stray from the history of lavender and focus on our holiday theme, I want to share with you some of the Christmas customs of Provence, the lavender region of France. In Provence, the Christmas festivities last for three whole days, from the 24th to the 26th of December.

For the Christmas meal three tablecloths are laid one on top of the other and three large white candles are lit, symbolizing the Holy Trinity and Hope. Seven meat-free courses are served, representing the labor pains of the Virgin Mary, including fried fish, salt cod pounded with garlic, oil and cream and stewed vegetables.

Each village has its own specialty dishes, always based on simple local produce. The custom requires starting with the traditional lighting of the fire. The youngest and the eldest member of the family together put into the fireplace a large log from a fruit tree, sprinkling it three times with a home-made sweet wine while saying: "May the log rejoice, for tomorrow is the day of the Christmas bread, may only good enter this house, may the women give birth safely, the goats bring forth kids and the ewes lambs, may there be much wheat and flour and a full vat of wine."

The meal ends always with the famous thirteen desserts which represent the Christ with the twelve apostles, the four "beggars" (almonds, figs, raisins and nuts) and finally the apples, pears, dates*, plums, jujube fruit and dried fruits, white and black nougat, quince cheese, fondants and Provencal Christmas cake accompanied by the traditional Christmas sweet wine.

*During her flight to Egypt, when the Virgin Mary, pursued and frightened, tried to hide her child, the date palm parted its leaves; the Mother smiled, the delighted Child said "Oh", and this O formed by his milky lips marked the fruit's pit. Ever since then the date remains sacred.
The customs of a Provençal Christmas are rich and many, way too many for here, but I hope this gives you a sense of the celebrations.

What do we get for the men in our lives? We’ve got it! Our Shaving Trio of Lavender Shaving Soap, Lavender Aftershave Soother, and Lavender Aftershave Splash is the perfect gift. Get all three for $43.00, a savings of over 20%. This offer is valid during the month of December only. (Regularly $18 each)

Lavender Shaving Soap
Lavender, known as a natural antiseptic, is the perfect compliment to this rich and softening shaving crème soap. Apply after a hot shower when skin is soft. Pat your face dry, and smooth over your beard. Your blade glides over your beard without abrasion. Shave as usual and rinse. 8 oz.

Lavender Aftershave Soother
A wonderfully soothing aftershave balm that will leave skin feeling smooth and refreshed. Non-irritating. 8 oz

Lavender Aftershave Splash
For after shaving or anytime a quick pick me up is needed. This alcohol- free splash will close pores and aid in fighting blemish breakout without drying skin or stinging. 8 oz.

You’ll need:
Styrofoam balls any size (we used 2.5”)
Tacky white glue
Dried lavender buds
Ribbon, string, or cord for hanger loops
Tulle if desired
Spread some paper on the table. This is a very messy project. Spread lots of glue on a small section of the ball.
Using your two hands press buds or flowers to the glued section. Repeat until the ball is covered. Let it dry overnight.
When the balls are dry, decorate with ribbon, tulle, moss. Use your imagination.
Create a loop to hang the ball on the tree or in your closet. You may choose to ignore the ribbon loop and just pile the balls in a bowl of greenery.
As you work with the herbs, the warmth of your hands will release the fragrance of the herbs--the clean, light scent of lavender is quiet and relaxing, something we all can benefit from in this season.

Making the pomanders for our members was indeed time consuming but there isn’t a room in my home that didn’t benefit from the calming scent of lavender. Pomanders last many, many years. When the scent starts to fade, add a few drops of lavender essential oil.

Free Shipping on Christmas Orders

All internet orders valued at $50.00 or more will receive free shipping if placed before 12/20/06. Use Gift Code FS1220.

Complimentary Gift Wrapping

Just let us know that your order is a gift and we’ll give it all our holiday best in purple tissue and our infamous purple bag, all tied with our festive purple plaid ribbon. We’ll drop a gift card into the box, so let us know what you’d like it to say when you order.

This herbal carpet freshener almost makes you want to vacuum! 1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup lavender flowers
Crush the lavender flowers to release their scent. Mix well with baking soda and sprinkle liberally on carpets. Vacuum after 30 minutes.

Make 'lavender medicine'

Pour about 1/2 a cup of lavender buds into a pint bottle of brandy.
Let sit for at least 2 weeks (leave the flowers in the brandy and strain them out when you use it, but it depends on how strong of a lavender flavor you like.)
Keep this in your cupboard and put a shot into a cup of hot tea.
Drink right before bedtime whenever you have a winter cold.