For the past couple of years I have been bringing my herb cuttings indoors to dry for use over the winter, but this year I decided to take it one step further and add some foliage and flowers to the mix in the hopes of making my own potpourri.

Anyone ever done this before? Tips would be great! I’ll bet the first one would be don’t bring in the flowers that have inchworms hidden deep in their core, unless of course you don’t mind swatting down said inchworms out of thin air every morning because you hung them (the flowers not the worms) upside down from the rafters.

How did I end up with inchworms in my flowers this year? And how do I make sure it doesn’t happen again? Anyone?

Also, anyone ever made a fresh wreath from cut juniper branches? Well if you ever get an inkling to do so here’s a little bit of advice from me to you…DON’T!

Ok, let me revise that. Of course you should go cut that juniper and whip up a lovely creation worth big $$$ (Ya’ll, I looked it up. Dried Juniper branches sell for crazy amounts of money!), just be sure you do it with gloves on!

Juniper splinters HURT!

Of course most people aren’t as stubborn as I am, or maybe it’s lazy I can never really tell, and after the first few injections they would go find a pair of gloves with which to make the process a bit more pleasant. But not this girl. Nope! Go big or go home is my motto so I stuck it out and practiced my sailor vocabulary all the while…I’m becoming quite fluent in case you were wondering!

I’m still in the process of wreath making, but I did manage to finish a swag for the front yard. Not too shabby for my first attempt, right?

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to use in the potpourri, so I just started cutting whatever I could find.

And now it’s all hanging in the dining room. For at least a week or two until they are completely dry.

Of course they might be left longer as the “look” is totally growing on me. I love the history of this house and I can imagine that way back when, this room saw many a drying herb bunch! Throw in some candles when the sun goes down and you’ve got instant colonial mood!

Speaking of colonial…

I found a wonderful Maryland cookbook with recipes and stories dating back to the 1700’s…the century in which this very house was built! And since I know you are just dying to cook up a colonial meal for your family, I am graciously sharing this Snapper Turtle Soup recipe with you. (They ate a LOT of turtle up in these parts!) And guess what? You can even use some of those herbs we’ve been talking about!

You’re welcome.

Happy Fall, Ya’ll!