The Quiet Moment Before the Fall - Lavender Reflections Bath Tea Recipe

The Quiet Moment Before the Fall - Lavender Reflections Bath Tea Recipe

by Tonya Macalino, author of FACES IN THE WATER

(former owner of Rusting Sage Bath & Cosmetics)

The last night Alyse Kate Bryant spends outside the haunting Venetian ruins, she takes refuge in a quiet ritual designed to release the emotional and physical tension of a dangerous profession. Lavender to soothe the senses, Epsom and Dead Sea salts to restore the body, honey and goat’s milk to rejuvenate the skin. Try this single-serving bath tea for nights when you need a little escape of your own.

Just beware what you might find waiting for you on the other side!

Lavender Reflections Bath Tea

In a clean custard cup combine:

1 ½ tsp dendritic salt*

1/8 tsp lavender essential oil

*Dendritic salt binds the essential oil, improving scent and reducing greasiness. If you cannot find it, drizzle the oil over the rolled oats below instead.

In a clean mixing bowl combine:

¼ tsp honey powder*

1 ½ tsp powdered goats milk

1 TBSP rolled oats

1 ½ tsp Epsom salts

1 TBSP baking soda

2 TBSP lavender buds

3 TBSP Dead Sea salts

*If you cannot find dried honey powder, either omit or drizzle regular honey into the salts. Only do this if you plan to use the tea right away.

Combine contents of custard cup with contents of mixing bowl and stir thoroughly. Spoon into muslin bag and tie securely. (Or use a heat-seal tea bag.) To use, place the bag under the spout while running your bath. If lavender buds escape the pouch, simple scoop them off the top of the water before you drain the tub at the end a long soothing soak.

The Quiet Moment Before the Fall

(excerpt from FACES IN THE WATER)

With the cozy chill still kissing my skin, I opted for a bath, instead of a shower. I let the oversized claw-foot tub fill as I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and pulled out a black silk-cotton blend camisole and short set for bed. The rumble of the water comforted me and I moved half-asleep through my evening ritual.

When the water had reached just below the overflow drain, I turned it off and stirred in my favorite lavender salts. Then I reached over and switched out the lights, leaving only the flickering candle glow to see by. I slid into the tub.

It was perfect.

I sank in just until my breasts were covered, as far as I could go with my lanky frame and still keep most of my legs submerged. I spread my hair over the side. All the aches still left over after the stretching slipped slowly away. It was late; I couldn’t stay in long. But I took a moment and let the hot water rock over me, let the steam dampen my face, let the provincial scent of the lavender flood my senses. The water crept up my neck, stroke by lapping stroke. My head lolled to the side on the cool enamel.

He came for me.

The shark’s huge powerful body burst through the water straight at me. I had enough time to see the black rot of old carrion, the red blood of fresh kills on his row after row of serrated teeth. He hit me straight in the face. My scream was choked with water.

A Bath & a Book

FACES IN THE WATER is available on Amazon or Barnes & Noble—the perfect accompaniment to the perfect handcrafted bath. I hope you enjoy both and thanks for the opportunity to drop by!

Faces in the Water

By Tonya Macalino

Who created that slide of silk across your skin as you reached for your cinematic lover? Who recorded the crushing weight of the grizzly as you fought for your life in the fictional wilderness? It is Lone Pine Pictures’ Alyse Kate Bryant who wraps your body in the story only your mind was privy to before.

A brilliant sensory immersion artist and a wild daredevil, Alyse will do almost anything for the perfect sensory file, but the violent death of her father has her teetering on the very edge of reckless sanity.

For just one night, Alyse seeks refuge in the arms of a beautiful stranger.

And her recklessness finally has consequences.

Now Alyse finds herself trapped in the flooded ruins of Venice, a quarantine camp for the carriers of Sleepers’ Syndrome. But it can never be that simple. Because the Sleepers’ Syndrome carriers who populate the camp are no longer as human as they seem.

The city of legend is bringing its legends back to life.

They come now, Alyse.

Run.

About the Author

Tonya Macalino lives in Hillsboro, Oregon with her husband and two children. She is an avid collector of folklore and folk history, far too many to fit comfortably within the pages of any given book. When not working on her latest novel, she enjoys coaching other writers through the How to Build a Book workshops at Jacobsen’s Books & More. To read more of the little folklore gems she unearthed during her research, please visit her blog at www.tonyamacalino.com


For news and events, drop by her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TonyaMacalino.com

The Story of Place Blog: www.tonyamacalino.com/page10.php

Amazon Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/Tonya-Macalino/e/B0058U4TJA/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Shelfari: www.shelfari.com/tonyamacalino

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/tonyamacalino

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/TonyaMacalino

Pintrest: http://pinterest.com/tonyamacalino/ a Rafflecopter giveaway