Yesterday we went to the garden to do some weeding and picking..... as we are also doing a big project at home that involves woodwork (more to come on this) I knew I was going to be nasty most of the day and didn't want to put on my decent pair of normal pants which consists of a pair of capri pants....  So I wore a pair of shorts to the garden.

Wearing shorts is no big deal, but my problem is that bugs love me.... I have a pretty consistent ring of bug bites in various stages of healing around both of my lower calves from where I get bitten every week in the garden....

This morning I fortunately remembered that I had made Vinegar of the 4 Thieves this past winter.  I diluted it and rubbed it over my arms and legs....

While I did stink, Bob said he thought that the garbage needed to be taken out, I did not have ONE BUG bite me... and this included working in the garage at home afterwards....

You can read an article at the above link on the history of this remedy.  I followed the recipe at No Greater Joy by Debi Pearl pretty much as written except I cut it in half and didn't can mine as I plan on using it up this summer....

Vinegar of the 4 Thieves (Half version)

1 quarts of apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoons lavender

1 tablespoons rosemary

1 tablespoons sage

1 tablespoons wormwood

1 tablespoons rue

1 tablespoons mint (I used peppermint)

1 tablespoons fresh, chopped garlic

You basically make it like a tincture adding all the ingredients EXCEPT the garlic in a large glass jar.  Allow it to sit for 2 weeks shaking it a couple of times a day.  Strain out the herbs leaving the vinegar.  Add the garlic and replace the lid letting it soak for another 3 days.  Strain out the garlic and store in a cool, dark place or can using a water bath.  Remember to date and label your final storage jar.....