Winter Rosemary and Corn Tassels

The days are drawing in again and it's impossible to really air the house nicely when it's 20 degrees F outside.  Dried rosemary from the summer gardens really gives me an emotional lift during these dark evenings.  Just a small handful in a simmering pot of water makes the house smell clean and fresh.  I especially like to use this natural air freshener after cooking seafood or bacon. 

 

The simmering water turns a most beautiful shade of purple after an hour which I've tried to use as a dye without much luck.  No matter.  If you've never scented your home before with rosemary - well, just try it.

I've found a book that I read and reread when I was just a very little girl.  It is the true story of a white girl - Mary Jemison -held captive by the Seneca Indians in the 1700's in Upstate New York.  I've thought of this story over the years and have unsuccessfully looked for a copy of it from time to time.  I always thought the book was entitled "Corn Tassel" because that was the name the Seneca's gave her when she was first adopted into the tribe.  They were referring to her blonde hair.

  

As you can see, I had the title wrong so no wonder the book eluded me over the years.    

  

The illustrations are lovely.  Mary Jemison ultimately decided to stay with her adopted people.   Now I have the tale to read to my grandchildren! 

Comments

[daisymum]

Hi just popped over from The Old Dairy I see you dye your own wool and were talking about trying to use the rosemary water for dying I am interested in using natural dyes to dye cotton for quilts.

I would be intersted to hear of any plant dyes you have made yourself.

daisymum

[Trapunto]

How wonderful to find your book! I've never heard of it, but I loved Lois Lenski's pictures for Strawberry Girl.

[Ruth]

Thanks, I'll try that with rosemary - it sounds lovely. And I think I'll see if I can get a copy of this book. Oddly enough I've just been reading one of the Little House on the Prairie books - later on in history, but still, it's connected.

[Ruth]

Thanks, I'll try that with rosemary - it sounds lovely. And I think I'll see if I can get a copy of this book. Oddly enough I've just been reading one of the Little House on the Prairie books - later on in history, but still, it's connected.

[traci ayn]

i'm going to buy some rosemary on the way home tonight. and maybe some plum wine. man do i get some brilliant ideas from you!

[Melanie]

De-lurking to say, "Oh...my....gosh"!!!
I have been looking for that same book and with the same mistake in remembering the title. It was one of my favorites, along with The Open Gate. Now I know what I'm REALLY looking for. Thanks so much - for the book name and the great rosemary trick. Freshening the air with four Great Danes in a closed up house can be tricky!

And belated happy birthday

[zirelda]

I've never used rosemary but I often use cinnamon sticks, orange peels and cloves.

I think I'd like to try rosemary.

[Suzan]

Daisy Mum - I've done some dyeing over the years. It's very fun and magical to my mind. I've got a cabinet full of natural dyestuffs - indigo, cutch, madder, logwood, calendula, cochineal. There are skoodles of lovely books on the subject out now - look at J.N. Liles "The art and craft of natural dyeing". Rita Buchanan's little book "The Dyer's Garden" has pretty pictures and informative about how to grow some of the dye plants. Many of the real colorfast natural dyes are rather exotic and need to be ordered but I have grown weld (a bright yellow but be careful as it's also classed as a noxious weed in the West)and woad (same dyeing substance that is in the more powerful indigo). Would love to see what you've done with this! (I've mostly dyed wools).

[Tilly]

I like the sound of this book. Wonder if I can get hold of it over here?
I'm really interested in your wool dyeing. Whilst tracing my family history I discovered that one of my great-great-great-grandfathers was a madder dyer - fascinating stuff.

[Renna]

I'm also now intrigued by that book, especially since it's based on a true story. :-)

Though I dearly love to pinch my Rosemary bush when I walk by, just so I can then inhale the fragrance on my fingers, I never thought about using it as an air-freshener. What a "duh" moment for me! ;-Þ

I wonder if fresh Rosemary would work as well, or if I should first dry some? In my temperate climate, my Rosemary bush thrives all winter long, and I've never bothered drying it. I cook salmon patties about once a week, and as much as I love them, I nearly gag over the residual odor the next day.

[Nanette]

I love the idea of the rosemary! Excellent.

[A Facebook User]

I'm so glad I found your blog!
I added your rosemary idea to a post I wrote about rosemary.

I'm so interested in reading Indian Captive!! I'm going to see if my local library has it! I read The Red Heart, about a captive that chooses to stay with her new family.

Thanks!
Margaret
Two in the Nest