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I just couldn't stop! If I wasn't using tonights shot for the project I could have gone for days adding the smallest of details. Details that 99% of you wouldn't even catch. I swear, I spent 50% of the time at 500% zoom. I've got to say… I'm pretty damn happy with the end result of this one.

Back a couple of months I had done the 80's prom for Lifetime Fitness Center in Boca Raton, FL. Karen and her husband were among the fashionably un fashionable . They "fell in love with my work" and from that night on "had to have me take their christmas photos" I was honored to travel south to their south western inspired and decorated delray beach home. The general concept they had was funny, dogs and christmas. The rest was up to me. I had the idea of the dogs wreaking havoc on the tree but the National Lampoons Christmas style shot didn't come up until I was racking my brain, standing in there living room. No doubt, having that stupid look of intense concentration or perhaps constipation (its hard to tell sometimes). Out of nowhere, the lightbulb hit and my mouth just started rambling. "ok, what if you all were posing for a standard family portrait and all the sudden the dog runs, the tree tips over and starts on fire" They loved the idea and we all had an intense sense of motivation. What followed was 2.5 hours of posing and reposing, adjusting and re adjusting. I had set out to shoot this in as many separate elements as possible. This would make getting the cooperation of the dogs much easier since we could work with one at a time. Lazy as I called her was up first. From the moment I walked into the house all this dog wanted to do was flop down and get her stomach rubbed. The other one was like a rodeo bull. "play with me, play with me, play with me" "ahhh, duh, what if I rub my drooling face on your lap… will you play with me then?" he really was a bull dozer of a dog. He would also prove to be the biggest challenge of the shoot. A challenge I opted to leave for last.

Getting Craig to pose was a piece of cake. The face you see is the face he jumped out of the gate wearing. It was perfect and I would of guessed he'd done this before or at least practiced in the mirror over the years! Karen took a little time and that is normally to be expected with women and photography. Funny that when your arguing with them they make Ten thousand amazing expression in a matter of minutes. Yet when you want to cultivate one, you are shit out of luck! They don't want to really open their mouth wide and scream. When I want real emotion I try to get the model to really scream, it makes it look so much more believable. Karen, however, wouldn't scream but did pretty good despite.

Last up was the bull dozer General Lee! He worked for food but was a smart dog. He required a deposit before any work was done. At first, I instructed them to just hold the dog and let him go on my command. Karen had a treat at the other end of the living room. This worked but wasn't giving me the look I was after. Next up was Craig on the ground bench pressing the lug of a dog. You could tell that he wasn't used to lifting the dog like that as he could only do it was a minute at a time. Between the bulk of the dog and the constantly shifting, wiggling and vibrating, I'm not sure many people would be able to lift that monster for too long.

After about 50 shots, we finally got the one we were looking for and not a second too late. Poor Craig looked beat! Next up was random ornament shots and the grand finale… the tree tipping.

Karen and Craig were up till 2am getting the tree up, straight, decorated and ready for me to tip it over! They hadn't had a tree since 2005 since they're rarely home for Christmas. So all you see was for the shot! pretty cool!

To tip the tree was a problem I had to figure out creatively. I didn't want someone holding it as having a body intertwined with the branches would of been a pain in the ass to mask out. The solution was simple. I tied 2 pieces of string to the middle of the tree and had Craig hold one end and Shawn hold the other. they were clearly in frame but I would take a background blank plate for later use to aid in erasing them.

We were finally done and I knew I had some work ahead of me. I got right down to work the second I got home. Masking took no time at all as it seemed like my hand was in the mood to mask. The pen flowed around the edges like a skilled painter creating the perfect sky. 15 min and I was done with all the masking. The compositing is where I spent the next 6 hours. 82 layers later and I had to force myself to say "I'm done" I hope they like it… but I suspect they will, as I love it.

Time to rest up because I have to do the same thing all over again tomorrow morning. This time it will be making kids fly!!! Tough job huh!!

Lighting:

Lighting positions varied greatly but style was the same through out.

AB800 Med Gridded Softbox at around 10:00 and 2:00. 3/4 power

AB800 Beauty Dish Boomed over head. 1/4 to 3/4 power depending on shot.

The fruit, which looks like a plum, with a greenish tart pulp and a recognizable aroma - this is blackthorn. What is it good for and can it be dangerous to your health?

If we have never seen a blackthorn or tried its fruit, we are familiar with the plant from childhood. In "Uncle Remus Tales" by Joel Harris, Brother Rabbit shows us an example of reverse psychology and asks Brother Fox not to throw him into a blackthorn bush. He falls for the bait of the big-eared manipulator and throws him. That's what Rabbit needs - he hides among the sharp thorns and laughs mockingly. But today we will talk not about fairy tales or manipulators, but about the blackthorn itself. After all, it certainly deserves it.

So, blackthorn is a bush or a small tree with thorny branches, it blooms beautifully and is often used for decorative purposes. In autumn, it is covered with round fruits with a black-blue waxy coating on the skin and green pulp, in which the stone sits tightly. The taste is tart, sourish, and in order for the taste to “open up”, it is better to leave the fruits on the branches until frost. Blackthorn grows in Asia Minor, Western Europe, the Mediterranean, the European part of Russia, the Caucasus and Western Siberia.

Raw blackthorn is rarely eaten. But it is quite suitable for jams, compotes, liqueurs and pastilles. It can also be added to pie filling and used in sauces.

Blackthorn contains a lot of vitamins B, C, E, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus and calcium. The fruits also contain organic acids, tannins, fiber (including pectin), flavonoids, catechins and antioxidants.

First of all, blackthorn is famous for its benefits for the gastrointestinal tract - it stimulates digestion, improves intestinal peristalsis, fights constipation and helps reduce gas formation.

Also, due to the high content of vitamin C, blackthorn is useful for the immune system. In addition to supporting the body's defenses, vitamin C helps to better absorb iron, strengthen blood vessels and stimulate collagen production. B vitamins are necessary for many processes in the body, but they play the greatest role in the functioning of the nervous system. Potassium and magnesium contained in blackthorn have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system, working to prevent atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes. Potassium also helps to remove excess fluid, relieve swelling and reduce blood pressure.

It has been proven that eating blackthorn helps to reduce cholesterol in the blood, normalize the functioning of the kidneys and liver, and blackthorn fruits also have an antibacterial effect. In folk medicine, not only the fruits are used, but also the leaves and even flowers of blackthorn. All benefits and no harm? Unfortunately, it's not that simple.

Blackthorn is contraindicated for people suffering from gastrointestinal diseases. If you have a stomach or duodenal ulcer, gastritis, pancreatitis, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, or just a tendency to diarrhea, you shouldn't eat it. And a healthy person shouldn't get carried away either - due to the abundance of fiber, it will be very easy to get diarrhea.

Blackthorn fruits contain a lot of acids that can damage tooth enamel. Because of the acids, people with inflammatory gum diseases should not eat blackthorn either. In addition, blackthorn can cause allergic reactions. And also, when eating fresh blackthorn, do not try to eat the seeds - they contain the poisonous glycoside amygdalin. It can cause severe poisoning.

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Терн: чем полезен и кому нельзя.

Плоды, внешне напоминающие сливу, с зеленоватой терпкой мякотью и узнаваемым ароматом - это терн. Чем он полезен и может ли быть опасен для здоровья?

Если мы никогда не видели терновник и не пробовали плодов, с растением мы заочно знакомы с детства. В «Сказках дядюшки Римуса» Джоэля Харриса Братец Кролик показывает нам пример обратной психологии и просит Братца Лиса не бросать его в терновый куст. Тот попадается на удочку ушастого манипулятора и бросает. Кролику того и надо — прячется среди острых колючек и издевательски хохочет. Но речь сегодня пойдет не о сказках и не о манипуляторах, а о самом терне. Ведь он этого, бесспорно, достоин.

Итак, терн представляет собой кустарник или небольшое дерево с колючими ветками, цветет красиво и часто используется в декоративных целях. Осенью покрывается округлыми плодами с черно-синим восковым налетом на кожуре и зеленой мякотью, в которой плотно сидит косточка. Вкус терпкий, кисловатый, а чтобы вкус «раскрылся» плоды лучше оставить на ветках до заморозков. Растет терновник в Малой Азии, Западной Европе, Средиземноморье, европейской части России, на Кавказе и в Западной Сибири.

Сырым терн едят редко. А вот на варенья, компоты, настойки и пастилу он вполне годится. Также его можно добавлять в начинку для пирогов и использовать в соусах.

В терне много витаминов группы В, С, Е, калия, магния, натрия, фосфора и кальция. Также плоды содержат органические кислоты, дубильные вещества, клетчатку (в том числе пектин), флавоноиды, кахетины и антиоксиданты.

В первую очередь терн славится своей пользой для желудочно-кишечного тракта — он стимулирует пищеварение, улучшает перистальтику кишечника, борется с запорами и помогает снизить газообразование.

Также за счет высокого содержания витамина С терн полезен для иммунитета. Кроме поддержки защитных свойств организма, витамин С помогает лучшему усвоению железа, укреплению сосудов и стимуляции выработки коллагена. Витамины группы В необходимы для многих процессов в организме, но наибольшую роль они играют в работе нервной системы. Содержащиеся в терне калий и магний благотворно влияют на работу сердечно-сосудистой системы, работая на профилактику атеросклероза, инфарктов и инсультов. Калий также способствует выводу лишней жидкости, снятию отеков и снижению давления.

Доказано, что употребление терна помогает уменьшению холестерина в крови, нормализации работы почек и печени, а еще плоды терна обладают антибактериальным действием. В народной медицине используют не только плоды, но и листья и даже цветки терна. Сплошная польза и ноль вреда? К сожалению, все не так просто.

Терн противопоказан людям, страдающим заболеваниями ЖКТ. При язве желудка или двенадцатиперстной кишки, гастрите, панкреатите, колите, синдроме раздраженного кишечника и просто склонности к диарее есть его не стоит. Да и здоровому человеку не стоит увлекаться — из-за обилия клетчатки получить понос будет очень просто.

В плодах терна много кислот, которые могут повредить зубную эмаль. Из-за кислот не стоит есть терн и людям с воспалительными заболеваниями десен. Кроме того, терн может вызывать аллергические реакции. А еще, поедая свежий терн, не покушайтесь на косточки — в них содержится ядовитый гликозид амигдалин. Он способен вызвать тяжелое отравление.

I made an oriental plum sauce last night with these wild plums. Garlic, ginger, cayenne.... yum!

Health Benefits From Plums

Plums have a low glycemic index, making them a good choice for those with blood sugar problems. Plums contain special phytonutrients called chloregenic acid and neochlorogenic acid, which are powerful antioxidants. These compounds are capable of assisting in the prevention of damage to the beneficial fats that protect brain cells and that make up cell membranes. Plums are a good source of fiber, vitamin C, potassium, B vitamins, boron, and two pigments called lutein and zeaxanthin, which are particualry helpful for protecting vision and preventing macular degeneration of the eyes, which can lead to blindness. Plums are also a better economic value than blueberries. One relatively inexpensive plum has about the same amount of antioxidants as a handful of more costly blueberries and offers many of the similar health benefits. There are loads of health benefits from eating a single raw plum once a day.

Plums contain enzymes that help your body absorb more iron, which increases circulation and gives you more energy. Plums will also help to cleanse your blood of damaging free radicals, keeping your blood pressure from climbing too high, and protecting your arteries. People who eat a plum every single day are less likely to develop heart disease than people who only eat plums once in a while. The vitamin C content of plums helps your joints and lungs. Several studies have concluded that prunes, because of their boron and polyphenol content, have a beneficial effect on bone mineral density. The high fiber and sorbitol content of plums and prunes, in particular, make them perfect for softening the stool and promoting bowel movements. One word of caution, plums contain oxalates. If you have a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones, you might want to consider to eat plums sparingly.

Studies have shown that plums can help:

* Relieve Constipation

* Reduce Vision Problems

* Protect Joints

* Prevent Osteoporosis

* Improve Lung Function

* Improve Blood Quality

* Prevent Infections

* Promote Healthy Cholesterol Levels

Until next time, don't forget to grow and eat your plums!

EXPLORED! Rank #444, August 29, 2009

This is photoshopped and strictly for fun. I do not want to be responsible for anyone soiling their pants because they refuse to use the park facilities. For some unfortunate reason this thought came to me and I decided to follow through with it. I want to be clear about this. At no time have I ever seen a bear using the park rest rooms. But if it did happen, I think it might be a sure cure for constipation.

I hope you all have a great holiday season!

Durian Fruit Of Southeast Asia Durian Fruit is known through-out all of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other Southeast Asian Countries, as the “King of Fruits!” It is one of the most beneficial fruits there is in all of Asia. The Durian Fruit is believed to help relieve constipation, bloating, […]

exploretraveler.com/durian-fruit-of-southeast-asia/

Custard apples contain anti-oxidants like Vitamin C, which helps to fight free radicals in our body. It is also high in potassium and magnesium that protects our heart from cardiac disease.

Not only that, it also controls our blood pressure. Custard apples contain Vitamin A, which keeps your skin and hair healthy. This fruit is also known to be great for eyes, and cures indigestion problems. It's important to include this fruit in your diet, as the copper content helps to cure constipation, and helps to treat diarrhoea and dysentery.

As they are high in magnesium, they equalise the water balance in our body, which helps in removing acids from the joints and reduces the symptoms of rheumatism and arthritis. If you feel tired and weak more often than usual, then have this fruit in your daily diet, as the potassium present in it will help to fight muscle weakness.

It is also good for people suffering from anemia, as it this fruit is high in calorie. And if you want to put on some weight, include this in your daily diet chart. Custard apple contains natural sugar, and hence make great nutritious snacks and even desserts.

Source~ The Times of India.

Our sweet daughter-in-law Lucy recently died of ovarian cancer at only 34 years old. Over 300 people turned up at her funeral to show respect to an ordinary loving, caring girl and over £2000 was donated to the UK charity 'Ovarian Cancer Action' (update - around £7000 has been raised in her memory at this time) Lucy’s illness was consistently mis-diagnosed as constipation, bloating, or latterly as a water infection by her family doctors’ practice. This was despite Lucy pointing out on more than one occasion that her mother had died of ovarian cancer only twelve years previous to this. Lucy’s condition was eventually detected after our son had taken her directly to the hospital accident and emergency department. Here they actually took the time to physically examine a young lady who was in pain and a simple blood test detected her condition. A similar degree of medical ignorance of text-book ovarian cancer symptoms, led to one of our friends being similarly mis-diagnosed too late for treatment, about a year previous to Lucy. I don’t mean to be alarmist, but I urge any of you who may have reason to suspect a genetic disposition to any cancer, not to be fobbed-off by a ‘trust us, we doctors know better than you' attitude. If you have any doubts at all, then please check on ovarian cancer, or other cancer symptoms on the internet and seek further medical advice. www.everywomanshouldremember.co.uk/

Dys

Moa nahele, Flat-stemmed whiskfern

Psilotaceae (Whiskfern family)

Indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands (Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island)

Photo: Hawaiʻiloa Ridge Trail, Oʻahu

The Hawaiian name Moa nahele literally means "forest chicken." Moa is chicken, referring to a chickens' comb, and reference to the fronds. Nahele is forest.

It is less common than Psilotum nudus in the islands, but still easy to find in the right environment.

Early Hawaiian children would play a simple game of moa nahele (lit., chicken vegetation). Plants in Hawaiian Culture explains how this game was played: “Two children sat or stood facing one another, each holding a branched stem of moa. These they interlocked and then slowly pulled apart until the branches of one broke. The other child, without broken branches, was the winner and announced his victory by crowing like a rooster (moa).” One of the names ʻoʻō moa in fact means "cock's crow."

Moa was also used in lei making by early Hawaiians.

Moa (Psilotum spp.) was used for kūkae paʻa (constipation) in newborn babies and elderly men and women. It was also mixed with other plants to treat akepau (tuberculosis, consumption), and various respiratory conditions. Additionally, extracts from moa were used as laxatives. The yellow spores were used for diarrhea in infants and used like talcum powder to prevent chafing from loincloths.

Etymology

The generic name is from the Greek psilos, naked or smooth, alluding to the smooth aerial stems without leaves.

The specific epithet complanatum is from the Latin complanatus, flattened, in reference to flattened stems of this species.

nativeplants.hawaii.edu

"No Man Loves a Tired Nervous Woman! Nor does a woman love a pepless man. How to get friends (page 9). How to hold your husband's love (page 12)."

Are you tired, nervous, or--ahem!--pepless? If so, then you would surely benefit from reading this small 1930s advertising booklet. It extols the virtues of Vinol, a patent medicine that contained ingredients such as cod liver oil and beef peptones, plus alcohol (as much as 15 percent).

Do you suffer from other unpleasant afflictions instead? Then you merely need to flip over this reversible booklet (similar to an upside-down book or a tête-bêche binding) to read about the wonders of Adlerika (see the cover on the other side below).

My weekend won't be complete if I don't go out and shoot something. While my wife was busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen, I sneaked out capturing the morning scene in the nearby area.

Thought of calling a neighbor Apai to join me, but on second thought, I knew he wouldn't wake up that early on weekend. Then Azrul came across my mind but I quickly canceled him off knowing he has to spend time "entertaining" his constipation every morning.

After a couple of minutes drive, I settled at the gateway in the back entrance of our housing estate in Saujana Utama (SU) that leads to Puncak Alam and Shah Alam.

The early morning sun hidden behind the houses on the slope was very kind to light up the sky for me – just nice for my capture.

After a few shots, I then packed up and head home. The whole affair took me about 15 minutes or so, even my wife hardly noticed I went missing in those short minutes. If the trend is such, my wife is not aware of my missing, next time I'll try to have a short date with a girl and come back in flash pretending nothing happened. Wahahaha!!!

_______________________________________________________________________________

I would like to make special mention here on my neighbors from SU with flickr accounts that I know of. They are:-

1. Dr Zul

2. Apai

3. Jemay

4. Dbins

5. Azrul

6. Lan Rambai

7. Lanz

8. Kudin

• 20mp Rendering

• SweetFX

• NoHUD Cheat Table

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Species information

Scientific name:

Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson

Common name:

elephant yam, elephant foot yam, whitespot giant arum, stink lily, telinga potato (English); suram, jimmikand (India); buk (Thailand); suweg, walur, eles (Indonesia)

Conservation status:

Not considered to be threatened.

Habitat:

Secondary forest or highly disturbed areas.

Key Uses:

Food, fodder, medicine.

Known hazards:

Tubers of wild plants are highly acrid and can irritate the mouth and throat on ingestion due to the presence of calcium oxalate crystals.

About this species

Elephant yam is a striking aroid with a flower spike crowned with a bulbous maroon knob and encircled by a fleshy maroon and green-blotched bract. The solitary leaf, which emerges after the flowering parts, resembles a small tree.

Amorphophallus paeoniifolius has been in cultivation throughout tropical Asia for centuries. The tubers are the third most important carbohydrate source after rice and maize in Indonesia. They are also consumed widely in India and Sri Lanka, although elsewhere they are seen as a famine crop, to be used when more popular staples, such as rice, are in short supply.

Elephant yam belongs to the same genus as the crowd-pulling titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum). It should not be confused with Dioscorea species, which are also known by the common name yam, but belong to a different plant family (Dioscoreaceae). In particular it should not be confused with elephant’s foot yam (Dioscorea elephantipes) from South Africa.

Medicinal Uses

Elephant yam has medicinal properties and is used in many Ayurvedic (traditional Hindu) preparations. The tubers are considered to have pain-killing, anti-inflammatory, anti-flatulence, digestive, aphrodisiac, rejuvenating and tonic properties. They are traditionally used in the treatment of a wide range of conditions including parasitic worms, inflammation, coughs, flatulence, constipation, anaemia, haemorrhoids and fatigue.

( www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/amorphophal... )

(Explore #374: Oct 08, 2008)

From high up in the Similkameen Mountains, near Tulameen, BC, Canada

The rose hip and rose haw, is the pomaceous fruit of the rose plant, that typically is red-to-orange, but might be dark purple-to-black in some species.

Rose hips of some species, especially Rosa canina (Dog Rose) and R. majalis, have been used as a source of Vitamin C. Rose hips are commonly used as an herbal tea, often blended with hibiscus and as an oil. They can also be used to make jam, jelly, marmalade and wine. Rose hip soup, "nyponsoppa," is especially popular in Sweden. Rhodomel, a type of mead, is made with rose hips.

[edit] Health benefits

Particularly high in Vitamin C, with about 1700–2000 mg per 100 g in the dried product, one of the richest plant sources.[1]

Rose hips contain vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids and antioxidant flavonoids.

Rose hip powder is a remedy for rheumatoid arthritis.[2]

Rose hips from the dog rose have antioxidant values that far exceed other berries such as blueberries

As an herbal remedy, rose hips are attributed with the ability to prevent urinary bladder infections, and assist in treating dizziness and headaches[citation needed]. Rose hips are also commonly used externally in oil form to restore firmness to skin by nourishing and astringing tissue.[citation needed]

Brewed into a decoction, can also be used to treat constipation.[citation needed]

Rose hips contain a lot of iron, so some women brew rose hip tea during menstruation to make up for the iron that they lose with menses.[citation needed]

Usage

Rose hips are used for the creation of herbal tea, jam, jelly, syrup, beverages, pies, bread and marmalade, amongst others. [...]

The fine hairs found inside rose hips can be used as itching powder. [...]

[edit] By indigenous people

Rose hips were used in many food preparations by the indigenous peoples of the Americas.

Rose hips are used for colds and influenza. The Latin binomial for this herb is Rosa laevigata.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosehip

folkloric:

Saluyot being rich in vitamins and minerals generally promotes good health and well-being.

It is said to prevent wrinkles and promote youthful looking skin. treat inflammation and pain such as arthritis , headache, stomach ache and others. being rich in fiber helps to control blood pressure, cholesterol build-up, diabetes and prevents heart disease.

Saluyot leaves are rich in fiber and its slimy consistency when cooked is used to treat various digestive problems such as diarrhea, stomach ache, dysentery, constipation and ulcers.

It is also claimed that together with other herbs it can cure cancer.

source: medicalhealthguide

Are you a weak woman whose blood could be redder? Talk to your doctor about Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery. Side effects include nausea, indigestion, hysteria, social banishment, witchcraft accusations, being burned at the stake, death,....

In all seriousness, you can google this archaic medicine and find links to bottles with the following info:

Bottle embossed on sides ("R.V. Pierce, M.D." and "Buffalo, N.Y.") and back ("Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery"). Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery (or GMD) was one of Pierce's earliest products. This product was called a "vegetable alternative" tonic and was also one of the longest-lasting lines of Pierce's Proprietaries (the company that was formed sometime after the death of the senior Dr. Pierce and continued selling these items well into the 1970s). This product was to be used to help cleanse the body and blood and to "tone the system." A later booklet about the product stated the ingredients of GMD were bloodroot (sanguinaria canadensis), Oregon grape root (berberis aquifolium), stone root (collinsonia canadensis), Queen's root (stillingia sylvatica), sacred bark (rhamnus purshiana), and cherrybark (prunus virginiana).

OR...

For the cure of all severe, chronic or lingering coughs, bronchitis, laryngitis, weak lungs, bleeding from lungs, public speaker's sore throat, hoarseness and suppression or loss of voice. A remedy for torpor of liver (generally termed "liver complaint" or "biliousness") and for habitual constipation of the bowels. For loss of appetite, indigestion and dyspepsia, and for general nervous disability or prostration, in either sex. An alterative, or blood purifier; valuable in all forms of scrofulous and other blood diseases. For skin diseases, eruptions, pimples, rashes and blotches, boils, ulcers, sores, and swellings, arising from impure blood.

This barn advertisement can be seen from the Jackson Highway (formerly U.S. Route 99) a bit south of the town of Toledo, Washington.

Dedicated to everyone who has Crohn's

This is my favourite picture of the Year so far. (April 8th, 2018)

Had an idea, went for it.

For my father.

"Suffering in the now for the excesses of the then. A political statement." - Jason Boisvert

"Au bout du rouleau" - Hugo Caron

"Thoughts and Prayers."

"Just make another controversial photo. ... I don't care, the theme doesn't matter, just get people talking about the title or something"

Michael Leans to Rock -

Indisputably, timberland is the greatest place to find magical bits and pieces. Examining in extreme an oddity I found on a leafy platter… hmm, there are three individual desserts at least from the same factory. I twiddle my thumbs idly, trying to look away from the sweet galore staring at me. “Leave us all alone,” the jiggling jellies screamed in unison. “We won’t melt in the hot weather.” What can I say? Temptation can gouge your palms more than sharp nails. Their pleas fueled my weakness until I can no longer stand. Hastily I reached out with left hand... the first spoon of mango pudding glided smooth like tofu into my tummy. Ooohhh, the pleasure they provide send me straight to paradise. The second ladle of banana custard with high-fiber prunes, my constipation in build up is loose. The third mouthful of banana cream with sliced peaches, their flavor so rich my sweet tooth grew into wisdom tooth. In a flash, every single one is gone. As soon as the madness of impulse subsides, self-reproach kicked in. Yes, I‘ve done some stupid act but no, wolfing down little egg cups of insect origin it isn’t an inhuman thing. Twenty five minutes too late, somebody in front took my pie away. That empty capsule I couldn’t get my hands on filled me with immense curiosity. What flavor was it? The remorse of slowness stains like mud on shoes and materialized behind as footprints following wherever I go.

© All Rights Reserved - Black Diamond Images

More images of Morpeth HERE

Restoration of this sign by an Australian group of artisans associated with The Letterheads organization commenced on the weekend of the 29th and 30th of April 2000 When a ......... "couple of dozen talented tradespeople descended on an old corrugated iron barn in the Hunter Valley, near the small historical township of Morpeth New South Wales.

This site was owned by Mr Ray Mudd who at 74 years of age assured 'the group that' the structure hadn't seen a coat of paint in his lifetime. Mr Mudd was an enthusiastic participant in this sign restoration project from the very first mention of it...as were the local heritage committee of Morpeth."

More on the Letterheads Restoration Project HERE

www.letterville.com

Some History of Dr Morse's Indian Root Pills.

"Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills have their genesis in William Henry Comstock's father, Edwin P. Comstock, who founded a drug company in New York City in 1833.

The Indian Root Pills were first formulated and manufactured in 1854 by Andrew B. Moore, who was then operating under the name A.B. Moore in Buffalo, New York. Rights to the pills were then transferred through a number of different business partnerships under the control of Moore, Andrew J. White, Baldwin L. Judson, George Wells Comstock and his nephew, William Henry Comstock.

Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills 'became' one of the most successful and enduring products to be manufactured and marketed in North America as part of the lucrative patent medicine industry, which thrived during most of the 19th and 20th centuries. Its manufacturer claimed the pills contained herbal ingredients that would help "cleanse the blood," as "impurity of the blood" was believed to be the cause of all disease. WIKIPEDIA

Stories suggesting that the origin of the medications formula lay in native American folklore were first disseminated as early as the late 1850's, but in fact were entirely fabrication. There never was a Dr. Morse. The originator of these pills was Andrew B. Moore.

Prescription of Dr Morse's Root Pills continued until at least the 1940's but mostly declined soon after World War 1.

The Root Pills were "recommended as a cure for biliousness, dyspepsia, constipation, sick headache, scofula, kidney disease, liver complaint, jaundice, piles, dysentery, colds, boils, malarial fever, flatulence, foul breath, eczema, gravel, worms, female complaints, rheumatism, neuralgia, la grippe, palpitation, and nervousness..."

Originally the formula was of course a closely guarded secret but by the 1930's it was revealed to be a concoction of "Aloes, Mandrake, Gambage, Jalap and Cayenne Pepper." REFERENCE

In 1885 the first Dr Morse's Root Pills advertisement appeared in Australia. It was in the form of a hand painted sign able to be viewed along the Melbourne to Ballarat railway journey.

midcoaststories.com/2020/07/dr-morses-Indian-root-pills/

Black Diamond Images - TOP 500 Images Album

Advertising card courtesy of the Brockville Museum, Ontario.

Scanned by John Mack.

-----------------------

Wikipedia:

Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills were first made in 1854 in Buffalo, New York.

The company moved from Buffalo to plants in both Brockville, Ontario, and Morristown, New York.

The ingredients were identified as natural herbs and roots used by the Indians.

W.H. Comstock said these pills cured:

Biliousness,

Dyspepsia,

Constipation,

Sick Headache,

Scrofula,

Kidney Disease,

Liver Complaint,

Jaundice,

Piles,

Dysentery,

Colds,

Boils,

Malarial Fever,

Flatulency,

Foul Breath,

Eczema,

Gravel,

Worms,

Female Complaints,

Rheumatism,

Neuralgia,

La Grippe,

Palpitation,

and

Nervousness

----------------------

W. H. Comstock's Indian Root Pills continued to be made in Australia until 1959

is the miracle fruit...!

professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

This is interesting.

After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking.. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal..

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels.. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack..

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'

There's a lot happening here!

An echidna can't outrun anyone who wants to eat it. Those spines help. But it's a simple thing to tip one over and attack its soft underbelly. Echidnas have a superpower! Look at those hind claws. Surely they've been put on back-to-front? Yeah, nah. That superpower is the ability to dig straight down faster than anyone else with those exceptional claws. Now the spikes make sense.

Remember my brilliant Sabhran? His gait was exquisite. His perfection knew no bounds. He had a brother, in silhouette a fair match. Yet being just a smidgen shorter in the back he might lazily adopt a gait which would suggest constipation!

The echidna is a quadruped too. When you see one moving the gait is rolling, ungainly. Look here for the clues. The right forelimb and hindlimb are both extended to the rear; those of the left are synchronised to the front. Like Sabhran's bro' the echidna paces instead of trotting.

Zoom in! The external anatomy of the ear is more obvious in profile. There's tick clearly visible. Zoom in deeper and you'll see another two deeper within the ear.

...except for the free food the queen provided the poorest quarters in the city, she would also once a year gifts of gold and food to the one that was singled out as the poorest citizen within the town and its outskirts...

This recipient would be new every year since they got so much gold that they could support themselves for years...

For singling out of this person the queen had assembled a small board consisting of Her, Prince Albert, the town mage and also every city guilds chairman as well as some official minority groups leaders such as from the middle-esterling refugee population living in the capital...

Every year would start the same, the Wizard would say that he was the poorest citizen, anyhow as he argued, compared to the cost of running experiments that his budget would go on a big negative value every year, after this queen would grant him some gold to keep quiet for the rest of the meeting...

...then Prince Albert would complain about that his consumption of alcohol made him have large tabs on every pub and then stated that if he would pay every tavern what he owed them he would be on a minus so huge that even the states entire annual budget couldn´t stuff his holes in the budget, then the queen would given him a gold coin and he would excuse himself and vanish with the speed of drunk-light!!!

Then the meeting could start for real... this year an old miner living in an abandoned mine close to town was the one the board agreed on was the poorest person and should be granted the award, but the members of the board warned the queen, that he was a nutter, so she would better bring a whole army to keep safe...

The queen settled for three soldiers and Puffy iff her favorite dog...

...later that day a horse-drawn chart loaded with food and gold arrived to the abandoned mine...

the queen jumped off her horse, there was no one to be seen, when she peeked inside the main building, there was just a big abyss of a hole, she called down the hole:

- Is there anyone home, it is you majesty Queen Esmeralda, with a surprise...

then it just echoed for ever and ever, then she heard a faint voice:

- I will just be a jiffy, I am here digging, will be up quite soon...

...after a while a dirty old bearded man climbed the walls of the abyss like a mountain goat... very agile despite his ancient age...

- Hello Madam, I am...

oh what is my name now again?

yes nap, nappy, Napoleon, yes that is my name, Napoleon and some number I can´t remember!

Who are you my fair lady?

- Hi, Napoleon I am Esmeralda also with a number, Actually Esmeralda the first...

- Yes, first, one, one that is my number and one more number that is higher than the first, yes one plus three, I am four, no wait I am 1 and three that is 13, oh wait I am, oh I forgot what my first name was...

- Napoleon, the queen replied!

- Yes that is the guy, Napoleon number 13, who are you?

- I am ruling queen of t his queendom, eh I mean kingdom!

Step outside I have a small surprise for you!

- No you can´t be ruling this kingdom, because I am King, from here to the land of the forestmen, the barbarian, the middle-asterling emirates, I own it all...

- Oh (*giggle*)! You Majesty would you please step outside and look at the surprise I have brought you...

- ok, ok, ah it is daylight my poor eyes... oh I see now, your brought your King and Emperor three men and two horse to help me dig, I am very pleased my loyal subject... You will be rewarded later, or now, I will award the title: Earl of the eastern wall of my hole between 30 feet and 45 feet...

- Eh Well, your Majesty actually my gift isn´t my henchmen or beast of burden but what we have brought you on the chart over there, one chest of gold, a box of food, a chicken and a sack of cereal seeds...

- My subject, are you trying to make mockery out of me? I have gold, I am the richest man in the world, down my hole I have lumps of gold so huge that a dragon couldn´t lift a grain of them... you really disappoint me citizen, I hope the crate with food is fresh earthworms? since that is the only thing I eat, all other food just gives me constipation or was it the other way around, anyhow I eat only fresh squiggly earthworms...

- Eh, Well you majesty, no I have failed you, I have brought you nothing of value and as a self-punishment for the shame I have brought up on my self, will leave you to your work and retreat to my "prison-like" palace and no longer bother you your majesty...

I am so sorry!

- Well Subject citizen, I Napoleon the 14th forgive you, no need for you to punish your self, but, now leave me alone and get your stuff out of my property... Now I have more important things to do than to squabble and gossip with puny subject...

- Yes your majesty...!

the queen slowly backed away while bowing and kneeling respectfully, she picked up Spotty iff and she and her men mounted a rode away to the farm next door and gave the random family the gifts perhaps they were not the poorest but they surely needed the gifts more than Napoleon!

This orange is on a tree in front of my house in Tucson, Arizona.

From Wikipedia:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_orange

Seville orange (or bigarade) is a widely known, particularly tart orange which is now grown throughout the Mediterranean region. It has a thick, dimpled skin, and is prized for making marmalade, being higher in pectin than the sweet orange, and therefore giving a better set and a higher yield. It is also used in compotes and for orange-flavored liqueurs.

Once a year, oranges of this variety are collected from trees in Seville and shipped to Britain to be used in marmalade. However, the fruit is rarely consumed locally in Andalusia

I can no longer eat anything made with Seville oranges:

Bitter orange may have serious drug interactions with drugs such as statins in a similar way to grapefruit.

I am not longer on statins, so I can eat tart citrus fruit and berries, such as cranberries. Yea!!

_____________________________.

Seen on www.ask.com

Q:

When are Seville oranges in season?

A:Seville oranges have a very brief winter season from December to February.

Seville oranges are a variety of sour oranges that are most commonly used for orange marmalade.

Seville oranges taste sour, tart and sometimes bitter. When the bitter flavor of Seville oranges is combined with sugar, the predominant flavor is oranges with a sharp, tangy taste. The bitterness of the Seville oranges eliminates the over-sweetness of most fruit preserves and contributes to an intensity of flavor in the marmalade. Seville oranges can be refrigerated for up to two weeks or frozen.

Seville orange plants are used more as a rootstock for other types of citrus than for cultivating its own fruits.

_____________________________________

Seasons/Availability

Seville oranges have a brief winter season.

Current Facts

The Seville orange, botanically classified as Citrus aurantium, is a sour orange variety commonly used for its oil extract. The Seville orange, also commonly known as bitter orange or sour orange has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat nausea, indigestion and constipation. The crushed fruit and macerated leaves will lather when mixed with water and is used as a soap substitute in the Pacific Islands. The Seville orange peel, when dried and concentrated, contains a chemical similar to ephedra and has been used in many modern weight-loss products.

Description/Taste

Although the Seville orange smells like a true orange, it does not have many other obvious award winning virtues. Its rough, thick and bumpy deep orange colored peel clings tightly to its pale orange translucent flesh, making it hard to peel. It is sour, tart, sometimes bitter and laden with seeds. It has two primary attributes: the peel contains fragrant essential oils and its flesh, when ripe is extremely juicy. The most common usage for the Seville orange is for the production of marmalade where it can use its peel and juice to its advantage; any sour and bitter flavors can be developed and enriched into elements of depth.

Applications

Seville oranges are most commonly used for orange marmalade. Use the zest and juice in flavored sugars or salts, syrups, cocktails, vinaigrette or marinades. Pair with fennel, bitter greens, chicories, olives, other citrus, fresh herbs, aged cheeses, seafood, rice, and Spanish spices. Seville oranges will keep, refrigerated, for up to two weeks.

Geography/History

Sour oranges are native to China. Trade routes brought them to Africa and the Mediterranean in the 10th Century. Cultivation of sour orange varieties led to the Seville orange of Seville, Spain in the 12th Century, where it would accrue its name. The Seville orange was the only orange variety in Europe for the next 500 years. It was also one of the first citrus varieties brought to the New World where it was naturalized in the Caribbean, South, Central and North America. When sweet oranges were introduced to America, sour orange trees would begin to shift their role as edible fruit to rootstock. Cross pollination of the sour and sweet orange trees also proved to create bitter fruits in sweet orange varieties which forced farmers to reduce production of sour orange trees.

Recipe Ideas

Recipes that include Seville Oranges. One is easiest, three is harder.

Dressing for Dinner Seville Orange Cupcakes with Seville Buttercream Icing

Simply RecipesSeville Orangeade

The Cottage SmallholderGilbert’s Seville Orange Gin

The British LarderRaw Salad of Fennel, Seville Orange, Chicory and Kohlrabi

HerbivoraciousPaella Cakes with Manchego and Candied Seville Orange Peel

The Cottage SmallholderEasy Seville Orange Marmalade

Eat Locally, Blog Globally Lavender Jelly with Orange-pith Pectin

Everybody Likes Sandwiches Bitter Orange Ice Cream

The British LarderRaw Salad of Fennel, Seville Orange, Chicory and Kohlrabi

The British Larder Seville Orange and Vanilla Bean Marmalade

Hide the other 2...

Arctic Garden StudioVin d’Orange

Hunter Angler Gardener CookCretan Olives with Seville Oranges

Recently Spotted

People have spotted Seville Oranges using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.

Produce Spotting allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.

IMG_7681 - Version 2

I know I live in my own little world but after all the woes I've had to suffer over the last few days something brought a smile back to my face. Behind me are some flowers which I bought as my little post-op 'Cancer Garden' to tend and enjoy whilst I did my chemo. That was 2017 and the pots here I left out in winter died but I still have one flowering away as I take it inside. At the same time I had my concrete pond repaired so I could keep some fish again. Most of the first eight just died but I had more success with the next six. But I was a little perplexed as having eight goldfish swimming around all day and night with nothing else on their minds apart from food and sex I was hoping for some little ones too but nothing. But this-afternoon when I looked in the pond there was a tiny fish darting around and too quick for the hungry mouths. I have to say I'm delighted for any fool can go to the pet shop and buy some more but it's much more satisfying to have my own especially as it replaces one of the eight that the heron killed through the netting last Autumn. No I haven't had a single baby fish or as they should be called fry since the 1990's so it is quite an occasion. Maybe my luck is changing the next thing I've got to get sorted is the post-tumble constipation lol.

OK, marriage and celibacy are individual's choice and I made it a caption for this just because it contains thorns like this Aloe vera plant, LOL !! My aim is to say something about the goodness of Aloe vera. Its gel is one of the most potential natural medicines. The following is a list of good things it can do.

ஒன்றே பலவே உருவே அருவேயோ

என்றே அழைப்பதுன்னை என்றோ பராபரமே !!!

தாயுமானவர் பராபரக்கண்ணி

Moa nahele, Flat-stemmed whiskfern

Psilotaceae (Whiskfern family)

Indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands (Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island)

Photo: Hawaiʻiloa Ridge Trail, Oʻahu

The Hawaiian name Moa nahele literally means "forest chicken." Moa is chicken, referring to a chickens' comb, and reference to the fronds. Nahele is forest.

It is less common than Psilotum nudus in the islands, but still easy to find in the right environment.

Early Hawaiian children would play a simple game of moa nahele (lit., chicken vegetation). Plants in Hawaiian Culture explains how this game was played: “Two children sat or stood facing one another, each holding a branched stem of moa. These they interlocked and then slowly pulled apart until the branches of one broke. The other child, without broken branches, was the winner and announced his victory by crowing like a rooster (moa).” One of the names ʻoʻō moa in fact means "cock's crow."

Moa was also used in lei making by early Hawaiians.

Moa (Psilotum spp.) was used for kūkae paʻa (constipation) in newborn babies and elderly men and women. It was also mixed with other plants to treat akepau (tuberculosis, consumption), and various respiratory conditions. Additionally, extracts from moa were used as laxatives. The yellow spores (seen in photo) were used for diarrhea in infants and used like talcum powder to prevent chafing from loincloths.

Etymology

The generic name is from the Greek psilos, naked or smooth, alluding to the smooth aerial stems without leaves.

The specific epithet complanatum is from the Latin complanatus, flattened, in reference to flattened stems of this species.

nativeplants.hawaii.edu

The oil produced from star anise contains thymol, terpineol and anethole, which is used for treating coughs and flu. Anise also helps improve digestion, alleviate cramps and reduce nausea. Consuming star anise tea after meals helps treat digestive ailments such as bloating, gas, indigestion and constipation.

Drinking one glass of water infused with the crushed seeds of star anise at night can increase one's sex drive!

Chmurka has tumor.

I am shocked, I feel nauseaus, I can't believe it, I...

On Friday I sensed something in Chmurka's tummy... I didn't know what it was, it was growing bigger. Yesterday something happened, and Chmurka had all the sympotms of constipation. Today I took her to the vet to heal it.

And then it turned out she has tumor.

Right in her stomach.

Like a small stone...

She will have surgery on Wednesday, noon.

The chances are 50 / 50.

It all depends what actually is inside her.

Chmurka is

the biggest love of my life

the most amazing hamster

the most wonderful person.

I can't live without her.

She is very tired now...

She was given injections, lots of water, glucose, painkillers, other medicine...

She was totally paralysed at the vet. She had to stay there for many hours.

She is sleeeping now...

Please please please pray for Her...

DSC09660

Dandelions are demonised as one of the most pernicious weeds, but hold back on the mowing and you’ll find a whole range of garden wildlife depends on them for food, writes Kate Bradbury.

Wildlife: while in flower for most of the year, the dandelion’s peak flowering time is from late March to May, when many bees and other pollinators emerge from hibernation. Each flower in fact consists of up to 100 florets, each one packed with nectar and pollen. This early, easily available source of food is a lifesaver for pollinators in spring.

Bumblebees, solitary bees and honeybees all visit dandelions for food, along with hoverflies, beetles, and butterflies such as the peacock and holly blue. Goldfinches and house sparrows eat the seed. Yet most of us gardeners miss out on the spectacle of watching wildlife feast on our dandelions, because we wage such a war against them as weeds.

The young leaves are edible and loaded with vitamins and antioxidants, the roots can be ground into a (quite tasty) coffee substitute, and the flowers can be made into wine (just leave some for the wildlife). Historically, its sap was said to cure warts, while a tea made using its leaves was supposed to help calm stomach aches. Herbalists apparently still use dandelions to treat skin conditions, asthma, low blood pressure, poor circulation, ulcers, constipation, colds and hot flushes.

Trust Me On This.

When a portly gentleman with a white beard tells you Santa is real, you believe him.

Stencil graffiti; this is about the sharpest one I could find. Taken next to the old Hotel America (Sonesta, Summit, Clarion) on Constitution Plaza, Hartford, Connecticut. After more than fifteen years of vacancy, the old hotel is under new management and undergoing refurbishment as dwellings (that's my Christmas present this year, I'm sick of looking at it). The building will be fifty years old this year.

The happiest holidays to all my Flickr friends!

I find this wild flower very attractive. Maybe I was a bee in a former life because bees like chickory, too! Next slides, please!

Webmd.com has this to say about this 'weed':

Chicory is a plant. Its seeds, roots, and dried, above-ground parts are used to make medicine.

In foods, chicory leaves are often eaten like celery, and the roots and leaf buds are boiled and eaten. Chicory is also used as a cooking spice and to flavor foods and beverages. Some coffee mixes include ground chicory to enhance the richness of the coffee.

How does it work?

Chicory root has a mild laxative effect, increases bile from the gallbladder, and decreases swelling. Chicory is a rich source of beta-carotene.

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I think he's got constipation! He's been acting strange for two days, walking slow with his back hunched, hiding under the bed all day long and only comes out for wet food or to go outside. He pooped a tiny bit today, but is still acting strange and goes back under the bed as soon as he comes inside. Going to vet tmrw to see what is wrong with the boy -____-

Giant Crocodile Lily, Euryale Ferox. The plant foxnut belongs to the family Nymphaeaceae. It is popularly known as “Makhana” in India. It grows in water and is found in India, Korea, Japan and Russia.

Fox nut plant does not have stem. It has large round leaves and produces bright purple flowers. The whole plant is covered with small thorns (kantaka) .The leaves of fox nut plant have green upper surface and purple shaded lower surface. This plant produces fruits which are about the size of a small orange. Each fruit contains 8-10 seeds which are of pea size.It is highly nutritious food that has been used as a snack all over and also used in different recipes especially in Indian cuisines. It can be had in the roasted or fried form. It can be stored for a longer time if kept in air tight containers. Chinese use it as a part of medicines as it has various medicinal properties too. They use to strengthen spleen and kidneys.

Fox nut and its beneficial attributes:

Fox Nuts are considered superior to dry fruits such as almonds, walnut, cashew nut and coconut in terms o sugar, protein, ascorbic acid and phenol content

It is high on anti oxidant and thus acts an anti-aging food, helping in preventing white hair, wrinkles, premature ageing etc.

It is high in fiber and so helps to avoid constipation. They help the body to flush out the waste and thus prevent the accumulation of toxins

It is also an aphrodisiac, thus helping in fertility issues like premature ejaculation, increasing the quality of semen and also helps women in overcoming infertility.

These nuts are low on saturated fats and Sodium and high on Magnesium, Potassium and helps in controlling high blood pressure and diabetes too.

It helps in controlling palpitation and insomnia as it has calming properties

It helps in reliving arthritis- numbness and pain in joints

As it is has astringent properties it also helps cure diarrhea and have better appetite.

It strengthens the body and reduces burning sensation and quenches thirst.

These nuts are a type of seed that could be included in the daily cereals or soup to maintain good health. Since it has good amount of protein it is considered apt snack for vegetarians. But, because it is neutral in taste, usually no one prefers to eat it raw.

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© David K. Edwards

Folkloric

· Entire fresh leaves are used externally for headache.

· Cooked with milk, leaves are used as poultices for certain kinds of ulcers.

· Seeds are purgative; also used as antirheumatic.

· Root-bark is purgative; also used for skin diseases and burns.

· Rheumatic arthritis, paralysis; epilepsy; distention of the uterus, prolapsus ani: drink dried root decoction or poultice Bai-hui pt (GV-20) with pounded seed or leaf material.

· Difficult partus, non-lowering of the fetus (during delivery): poultice Yungchuan Pt (K-1 pt) with pounded fresh leaves.

· Lymph node TB; facial paralysis: poultice with pounded seeds (seed coat removed). If the paralytic side is on the left side of the face, apply poultice on the left.

· Wound caused by piercing with pointed objects (nails, bamboo slats, bullet wound): use pounded fresh seed and apply as poultice.

· To increase the woman's secretion of milk, leaves are pounded and applied over the breast as poultice.

· Decoction of leaves reported to act as lactagogue and emmenagogue when administered internally.

· Skin ulcers: Boil pounded leaves and use as wash.

· Bark of castor plant also sued as dressing for ulcers and sores.

· Seed oil is laxative and vermicide; also used as ear drops to hardened cerumen. Also used for warts.

· For hemorrhoids, seeds are roasted, pounded, and applied to affected area. The oil is suitable for piles and anal fissures.

· Dosage: dried roots 15 to 30 gms in decoction.

· Seed paste applied to wounds and itch for 4-5 days.

· In Rhodesia, natives use the bark for dressing wounds and sores.

· Zulus use a paste of the root for toothaches; also, an infusion of leaves, applied orally or as an enema, for stomachaches.

· Leaf poultice used for boils.

· In French Guinea leaves are boiled and used as febrifuge.

· In Ayurveda, the leaf, root and seed oil used for inflammation and liver disorders.

· In China, crushed seeds used more frequently than the oil; a paste is applied to relieve scrofulous sores.

· Transvaal Sutos known to apply the powdered, roasted seeds to sores and boils in children.

· In Makran, oil used as ointment for sores.

· In Central Nigeria, seed variety is a popular contraceptive agent among the Rukaba women.

· Pulp is rubbed into the temples in headaches, into the palms of hands in palsy, into the urethra in stricture, and rubbed to the soles of feet of parturient women to hasten the birth of the child or to facilitate the expulsion of the placenta.

· Seeds are chewed in scrofula.

· Pulp is used for a variety of skin affections, dog bites, or whenever a lubricant is needed.

· Castor oil used as a mild purgative, adaptable to infants and young children. It is considered one of the most reliable cathartic for relief of obstinate constipation.

- Used as emmenagogue and galatagogue. Castor oil massaged over the breast after childbirth increases the flow of milk. (30)

- Warmed leaves coated with oil applied over the abdomen to relieve flatulence in children. Infusion of leaves used for stomachache. Fresh leaf juice used as emetic in narcotic poisoning; also considered useful in jaundice. Pounded leaves used for caries; also, applied over guinea-worm sores to extract the worm. Root decoction used for lumbago; paste used for toothache. (26)

- In Sindh ethnobotany: (1) given in hot milk to induce labor pains (2) applied intravaginally for opening the uterus mouth at the time of delivery (3) used for expulsion of plasma membrane after delivery, and (4) castor beans are used to decrease the postpartum size of the abdomen. (29)

Others

• As far back as 4000 BC, its slow burning seed oil was used to fuel lamps.

• Tañgan-tañgan is the source of the castor oil of commerce.

• Although best known for its medicinal properties for its use as a purgative, only a comparatively small amount of used for medicinal purposes. Its chief use is as lubricant for internal combustion engines, particularly aero-engines, for which it is suitable because of its high viscosity, retained at high temperatures, while non-solidifying at low temperatures.

• Castor oil is insoluble in light petroleum and other mineral oils. It can be used for making compound lubricating oil.

• Cosmetics: The seed oil of RC and its primary constituent, ricinoleic acid are used in the manufacture of skin-conditioning agents, as emulsion stabilizers and surfactants in cosmetics. In lipstick, castor oil is used at 81% concentration.

• Castor oil is also used in making "cognac oil," in a dressing for leather, in "fat-liqouring" in the leather industry, in the manufacture of artificial leather, cutting oils, linoleum, and as wool oil.

• Also used in retouching-varnishes and in the negative varnishes of photography.

• Castor oil is classified by the FDA as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) and effective as a stimulant laxative.

• Contraceptive: Used in making contraceptive jellies and creams. Also, used with a pinch of alum for contraception. In women, one castor seed a month after the menstrual cycle reported to prevent conception for that month. (30)

• Cake left after the castor oil is extracted from the kernels of castor seeds is used as fertilizer. In addition to its use as manure, it is also employed as fuel, for caulking timber, destroying white ants (termites) and other pests.

source: stuart xchange

It's spring. Things are blooming all over. I'm spending lots of time with my macro lens... and trying to find ways to capture petals and stems and leaves and whatnot... without having it look... you know... ordinary. It's a real challenge.

Meantime, I've discovered Ray Metzker. Holy macaroni. I had heard of him, but had never sat down with a whole bigass book of his photos before. Holy macaroni. I was literally bouncing in my chair, what I saw was so exciting.

He has lots to say, too. One of my favourite bits:

"Previsualization can lead to constipation very quickly."

large

Spinach 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits

Written by Kris Gunnars, BSc — Updated on February 14, 2023

Nutrients

Vitamins & minerals

Plant compounds

Benefits

Downsides

Bottom line

Eating spinach may benefit eye health, reduce oxidative stress, help prevent cancer, and reduce blood pressure levels.

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a leafy green vegetable that originated in Persia.

It belongs to the amaranth family and is related to beets and quinoa. What’s more, it’s considered very healthy, as it’s loaded with nutrients and antioxidants.

There are many ways to prepare spinach. You can buy it canned or fresh and eat it cooked or raw. It’s delicious either on its own or in other dishes.

This article explains everything you need to know about spinach and its health benefits.

Claudia Lommel/Stocksy United

Nutrition facts

The nutrition facts for 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of raw spinach are (1Trusted Source):

Calories: 23

Water: 91%

Protein: 2.9 grams

Carbs: 3.6 grams

Sugar: 0.4 grams

Fiber: 2.2 grams

Fat: 0.4 grams

Carbs

Most of the carbs in spinach consist of fiber, which is incredibly healthy.

Spinach also contains small amounts of sugar, mostly in the form of glucose and fructose (1Trusted Source).

Fiber

Spinach is high in insoluble fiber, which may boost your health in several ways (2Trusted Source).

It adds bulk to stool as food passes through your digestive system. This may help prevent constipation.

SUMMARY

Spinach is low in carbs but high in insoluble fiber. This type of fiber may benefit your digestion.

Sick and tired of feeling sick and tired?

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Vitamins and minerals

Spinach is an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals, including (3):

Vitamin A. Spinach is high in carotenoids, which your body can turn into vitamin A.

Vitamin C. This vitamin is a powerful antioxidant that promotes skin health and immune function.

Vitamin K1. This vitamin is essential for blood clotting. Notably, one spinach leaf contains over half of your daily needs.

Folic acid. Also known as folate or vitamin B9, this compound is vital for pregnant women and essential for normal cellular function and tissue growth.

Iron. Spinach is an excellent source of this essential mineral. Iron helps create hemoglobin, which brings oxygen to your body’s tissues.

Calcium. This mineral is essential for bone health and a crucial signaling molecule for your nervous system, heart, and muscles.

Spinach also contains several other vitamins and minerals, including potassium, magnesium, and vitamins B6, B9, and E.

SUMMARY

Spinach is an extremely nutrient-rich vegetable. It packs high amounts of carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid, iron, and calcium.

Plant compounds

Spinach contains several important plant compounds, including (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source, 8, 9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source):

Lutein. This compound is linked to improved eye health.

Kaempferol. This antioxidant may decrease your risk of cancer and chronic diseases.

Nitrates. Spinach contains high amounts of nitrates, which may promote heart health.

Quercetin. This antioxidant may ward off infection and inflammation. Spinach is one of the richest dietary sources of quercetin.

Zeaxanthin. Like lutein, zeaxanthin can also improve eye health.

SUMMARY

Spinach boasts many plant compounds that can improve health, such as lutein, kaempferol, nitrates, quercetin, and zeaxanthin.

Raphanus sativus~

Radishes are suggested as an alternative treatment for a variety of ailments including cancer, coughs, gastric discomfort, liver problems, constipation, dyspepsia, gallbladder problems, arthritis, gallstones, kidney stones and intestinal parasites.

Yep, it's a Dodge "Swinger", maybe that unfortunate name might have been a contributing factor in this sad demise. "Sorry, officer, we left our stash in the Swinger's glovebox." It also stimulates a train of thought--all the truly unfortunate names given to cars over the years: the Ford "Mainliner", the Plymouth "Duster", the Datsun "Fairlady" (a name so horrendous the importer brought it in simply as the model number on the drawings: "240-Z"), the Chevy "Citation" ('Sir, I'm going to let you off with a 'warning' since your car already has such an unlucky name..."). The Ford "Pinto" (slang for 'penis' in Brazil, where they speak Portugese), still isn't as strange as the curiously-perverse Ford "Probe", which makes you wonder if perhaps the larger model might have been called the "Colonscopy Town Car." American car namers aren't the only idiots: Toyota introduced its Fiera, in Puerto Rico, fiera means ‘ugly old woman.’ The Rolls Royce has the "Mist" my German friends tell me, Mist means ‘dung, manure, or pile of shit"...but an expensive pile of shit, none the less.

The "Opel Ascona" refers to female genitalia, in Northern Spain and parts of Portugal. Buick launched the "LaCrosse" in Canada without realizing in French-speaking Quebec, the meaning is masturbating teenagers. The Honda "Fitta" in Scandinavia is also a euphemism for the female anatomy. The Mitsubishi "Pajero" in Spanish-speaking countries (again with the self-gratifying male), and the Mazda "LaPuta" is spanish for "whore", although in perhaps it referred to having a solid work ethic, who knows? When Isuzu produced the GIGA 20 "Light Dump"--, I worried that perhaps their new SUV might be the "Constipation", but I was wrong.

But as bad as these names are--just imagine those that might have been--imagine the Suzuki "Rollover", or the Plymouth "Flipper" (inspired by that cute dolphin everybody loves--introduced as an economy model "barracuda"). If Mazda thought the "Puta" would sell, how about a Cadillac "Pimp", or in the sporty small car market, a Honda "Tart", or a Saturn "Satyr". Well, it's obvious this is just too easy and too much fun--pile on--add your proposed disastrous car names on the "tags" section of this image.

Fast Car

Folkloric

· For rheumatic pains of the legs and waist: use 3 to 6 gms of dried material in the form of decoction.

· Pounded fresh leaves may be applied as poultice for snakebites or may be used as insecticide.

· Poultice of leaves applied or rubbed on area of snake and insect bites.

· For sprains and bone pains: Oiled leaves or bark material are heated and applied to painful areas.

· Croton seed oil has been used as purgative.

· Seed oil used for treatment of schistosomiasis and other intestinal parasites.

· Roots, bark, seeds, and leaves considered a drastic purgative.

· Bruised root applied to carbuncles and cancerous sores.

· Testa used for fluxes.

· In Annam, bark used as a tonic.

· In Java and Kelantan, roots are finely shredded, mixed with water, and drunk by women as abortifacient.

· Diluted tincture of croton seeds used as a stimulant and applied in certain cutaneous affections, like eczema, ichthyosis and erythema.

· Seeds, while half-roasting over a lamp or candle flame, is inhaled through the nostril to relieve asthma.

· Croton oil is rubbed on the skin as rubefacient and counterirritant.

· Internally, croton oil us used as a powerful hydragogue, cathartic, and purgative. In excessive doses, it can cause severe purging, collapse and death.

· Liniment used as stimulant and applied to chronic rheumatism, neuralgia, glandular and other indolent swellings, chronic bronchitis and other pulmonary affections.

· Croton oil is used in dropsy, obstinate constipation, intestinal obstructions, and lead poisoning; as a preliminary laxative in leprosy; and as a revulsive in apoplexy. A few drops at the base of the tongue produces catharsis.

· As a blister, applied to the scalp in acute cerebral diseases, to the cord in spinal meningitis, to the chest in chronic bronchitis, and to the throat in laryngitis. Used in lock-jaw and mania.

· In Ayurveda, considered purgative; known as Kumbhini, used in the treatment of constipation after Sodhana (detoxification process) of seeds with Godugdha (cow's milk). (15)

- In Unani medicine, Croton tiglium seeds and Zingiber officinalis rhizome extract has been used in equal ratio as a paste formulation for the treatment of Safa (alopecia areata)

source: stuart xchange

peace and love with a sunny face

What is the significance of the olive tree, and olive oil, in

the Scriptures? Why were olive trees “shaken,” and why

were the berries “beaten,” and “trodden down”? Why were

kings and priests anointed with olive oil? What does olive

oil and the olive tree symbolize? There is far more mystery

and truth hidden about the humble olive than most begin to

imagine! Here is new insight into this remarkable plant, its

oil, its wood, its ancient usage, and its function and typology.

William F. Dankenbring

Olives in Islam By Najma Mohamed June 27, 2004

www.4islam.com/olives.shtml

Olives have been mentioned seven times in the Qur'an and their health benefits have been propounded in Prophetic medicine. The Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said:

Take oil of olive and massage with it – it is a blessed tree.

(Dārimi, 69:103)

The olive, like the date, holds great value in ancient and modern culture. In the Mediterranean culture “it has served as everything from money to medicines for several thousand years” (Zwingle, 1999).

The dove holding an olive branch in its mouth has become a universal symbol of peace. It is said to have originated in the story of Prophet Nūh (peace be upon him). The dove appeared as a sign that the flood, which had been sent as a punishment, would abate.The oil of this blessed tree has also been cited as a symbol of goodness and purity and is used up to this day in anointing ceremonies in the Greek Orthodox Church.The cosmetics industry, natural health practitioners and the culinary world are unanimous on the benefits of this delectable fruit, which bursts with flavor and health. The olive industry, which produced 460 million gallons of olive oil in 2000-2001, has grown tremendously as consumers world-wide are alerted to the benefits of this amazing fruit.Olive Facts

Olea europa, the botanical name of the olive, has its origins in Asia and spread to the Mediterranean basin 6000 years ago. The Mediterranean basin is the chief area of cultivation with Spain , Italy and Greece being the foremost olive-producing countries in the world. Olive production has also expanded to California , South Africa and Australia .

Olive production favors a winter-rainfall pattern. The olive tree is a hardy tree that grows to less than 10 meters . Temperatures below freezing are damaging to the trees. It is an evergreen tree with leaves that are pale green above and silvery below. The bark is pale grey and the flowers are numerous, small and creamy-white in color.The fruit of the tree is a drupe with fleshy fruit and a hard stone. The color of the fruit varies from green (unripe) to black (ripe) as it passes through its growth stages. As the tree ages, it produces more fruit.Olives are cultivated through grafting, the method routinely used to propagate fruit trees. The stem or bud of one plant is joined to the stem or bud of another to form a new plant. While it can take more than five years for a tree to start producing fruit, trees can be harvested annually and continue to produce fruits until they become old and hollow.

The manner in which olives are harvested depends on the type of olive, number of trees and the amount of time and money available. Several small-scale producers, often family-operated initiatives, continue to harvest olives by hand.

Uses and Benefits:From this ‘blessed’ tree hardly anything is wasted as the fruits are eaten or used to produce olive oil, the leaves possess medicinal value and the wood of the tree is highly valued for carpentry work. The Noble Qur’an refers to some of these uses:And a tree (olive) that springs forth from Mount Sinai, that grows (produces) oil, and (it is) relish for the eaters. ( 23:20 )By the fig and the olive,By Mount Sinai

By this city of all spiritulalies, Verily, We created man in the best stature.(95:1-4)

The oval-shaped olives, which are approximately 2 to 3 cm long, are preserved in salt solutions and sold as a condiment. Store shelves present an astounding array of olives from green and black varieties to stuffed olives. Even more mind-boggling is a perusal of the varieties of olive oil. Olive oil is produced through a process known as crushing and pressing. While machines have taken over most of the work, traditional methods of extracting oil are still in use. Different methods of crushing and pressing are used to extract olive oil.An olive contains 10-40% oil by weight. However, it also contains a bitter substance known as oleo-rubin, which is removed during processing. Zwingle (1999), writing for National Geographic on the wonders of olive oil, says that one finds “at one end, trillions of bitter little nubbins” and at the other golden liquid emerging.Once the olives are crushed, the paste is then ‘pressed’ to yield the golden olive oil. The best olive oil is extra virgin as it is pressed without heating or adding any chemical solvents. Olive oil is marketed in several different ways, such as “virgin”, “refined” or simply “olive oil”. These have been further refined by chemical processes and could also have some extra-virgin olive oil added to enhance its flavor and color.World olive oil consumption is rising at about 1.5% per year. The Mediterranean basin provides 99% of all olive oil.One of the by-products of this process, released once the olive oil has been extracted, is widely used in soap making. Panayiotis Sardelas, a Greek soap-maker, interviewed in the above-mentioned National Geographic feature (Zwingle, 1999) commented: “The old people know that this soap is better than chemical ones. It lasts longer than other soaps, and you can use it for everything.”

Olives in Medicine: The medicinal and cosmetic uses of olive products are truly astounding. The oil is extremely nutritious and is recommended by dieticians to “improve the balance of fats within the blood” ( Adams , 2001) as well as in lowering cholesterol levels.Since the 1950s, the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, have been extolled. While it has always been promoted as being beneficial in lowering cholesterol levels (Assmanm and Wahrburg), it is now increasingly being linked to lowering blood pressure.

A study by Dr. Ferrara and his colleagues of the Frederico II University of Naples, Italy (Ferrera et al., 2000) compared the effects of two similar low-fat diets on the blood pressure of hypertensive patients. One diet was enriched with extra virgin olive oil, high in monounsaturated fatty acids while the second was enriched with the same amount of sunflower oil with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids.The patients on the former diet, all hypertensive, showed significant reductions in their blood pressure, thereby indicating that a diet, rich in olive oil, is not only associated with lower levels of cholesterol, but with lower blood pressure as well.

www.oliveoilsource.com/page/blood-pressure

The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan, which promotes a diet low in sodium and high in unsaturated fats, also recommends olive oil (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 2003).Another medical benefit of olive oil relates to the maintenance of a healthy digestive system. Oxford University ’s Institute of Health found that “olive oil may have a protective effect on the development of colorectal cancer” (Stoneham et al., 2000).Olive oil has traditionally been used to prevent constipation, assist in ‘cleansing’ of the gallbladder and in treating various ailments relating to the skin, such as burns, scratches and sunburn (Cook, 1934). Cook, writing in the 1930s, said that, “Those who recognize its wonderful medicinal properties and the many uses to which it can be put will never fail to keep a bottle of pure olive oil in the house.”Olive oil is also applied to the skin as it brightens the complexion, softens the skin and is used in the treatment of eczema and psoriasis (Khan). It is also used on the hair, especially problems relating to “dry hair and flaky scalp” ( Adams , 2001). Furthermore, olive oil is used for massage and as a carrier oil when blending essential oils.The leaf of the olive tree is commonly used by herbalists for its antiviral properties. It has been traditionally used to cool fevers by boiling the leaves and concocting a tincture that is then taken orally (Privitera). Olive leaf was not only used to treat severe cases of fever, but tropical diseases such as malaria as well. Today, olive leaf extract is available from natural health practitioners and taken orally in a tablet form. The Hebrew word for “olive tree” is es shemen, which literally means ‘tree of oil.” It is from a primitive root meaning “to shine.” It means “richness, anointing, fat, fruitful, oil, ointment, olive.” It is related to the word shemesh, “to be brilliant,” and which also is the Hebrew word for the “sun,” that brightly shining orb in the sky. Another Hebrew word for “olive” is zayith, meaning “an olive,” as “yielding illuminating oil.” Its related to the word ziv, meaning “to be prominent,” “brightness.” Ziv is the month of flowers, corresponding to Iyar, or our April-May. On the outside, the olive tree may seem like any other tree, rather ordinary in appearance and size – some might say even a little bit “ugly,” and at certain seasons of the year even a little “messy,” with olives littering the ground beneath the tree!The foliage of the olive tree is dense, and when it becomes old the fairly tall trunk acquires a unique pattern of twists and turns, protuberances and knots, on its bark and in its form, giving the tree a very interesting appearance. Says the Encyclopedia Judaica, “There are trees in Israel estimated to be 1,000 years old that still produce fruit. In old age the tree becomes hollow but the trunk continues to grow thicker, at times achieving a circumference of 20 feet” (“Olive,” vol.12, page 1363). Says the authoritative source, “It is an evergreen, and the righteous who take refuge in the protection of God are compared to it.”Interestingly, if the trunk is cut down, the shoots from its roots continue to grow, ensuring its continued existence. Olive wood is very hard, and beautifully grained. It is very desirable in the manufacture of smaller wooden objects, pieces of furniture, and ornaments. However, there is much more to the olive tree than almost anybody imagines.

History of the Olive Tree: The olive was one of the most valuable trees to the ancient Hebrews. It is first mentioned in Scripture when the dove returned to Noah’s ark carrying an olive branch in its beak (Gen.8:11). Since that time, the olive branch has been a symbol of “peace” to the world, and we often hear the expression, “extending an olive branch” to another person as a desire for peace.The olive also figures prominently on the seal of the United States of America. The seal pictures an olive branch with a cluster of thirteen leaves and thirteen olives. Why the number “thirteen”? Because the U.S. began with 13 colonies, and the Anglo-Saxon people of the United States are mainly descended from the “thirteenth tribe” of ancient Israel – the tribe of Ephraim, the youngest (“thirteenth”) son of the patriarch Joseph!When Israel conquered Canaan, the olive tree was a prominent feature among the flora of the land. It was described as a “land of olive oil” (Deut.8:8). The olive was a very important source of revenue to the early Israelites. It was tithed upon along with all the produce of the land (Deut.12:17).

Olive Oil and the Sanctuary Cakes of bread “anointed with oil” were among the sanctified offerings Israel made to God (Lev.8:26). The leaders of Israel offered to God in addition to rams and lambs and goats, “fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering” (Numbers 7:19, 25, etc.). In addition, when the priests were separated for their priestly service, one young bull and two rams were taken, without blemish, “and unleavened bread,, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil,” were used in the ceremony of sanctification (Exodus 29:1-2). God told Moses regarding Aaron, his brother, “And you shall take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint him” (Exodus 29:7). The holy anointing oil itself was comprised of quality spices – myrrh, cane, cassia, and olive oil (Exo.30:23-25). The Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Showbread, the Lampstand (Menorah), the Altar, the Laver, and its foot, were all anointed with the same precious compound, as a holy oil of anointing (Exo.30:26-33).

The menorah in the Tabernacle – with its seven lamps – was lit with “oil for the light” (Exo.25:6). God told Moses, “Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to make the lamps burn continually” (Lev.24:2).The daily sacrifices were also accompanied with olive oil (Exo.29:40). When lepers were cleansed, a special sacrifice was made, together with “fine flour mixed with [olive] oil as a grain offering, and one log of oil” (Lev.14:10). A “log” was a little over a half a quart. At the cleansing ceremony, a lamb was slain as a trespass offering, and a log of oil, both waved as a wave offering before the Lord. The priest would pour some of the oil into his own left hand, then dip his right finger into the oil in his left hand, and sprinkle the oil seven times before the Lord, and of the rest of the oil in his left hand he would put some on the tip of the right ear of the leper being cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot (Lev.14:13-18). The rest of the oil would be put on his head.The log of oil used in the ceremony cleansing the leper was the largest amount of oil called for in any religious rite. The rite symbolized the return to favor of the one healed, and the return of honor and joy. It is also symbolic of his restoration to life!

www.triumphpro.com/olive-tree-mystery.htm

Symbolism of the Olive: There is an ancient tradition that the “tree of life” in the Garden of Eden was an olive tree. According to the Apocalpyse of Moses, an apocryphal Hebrew book, when Adam fell ill Seth went to request the “oil of mercy” to anoint Adam and restore his health. His entreaty was refused, as it was destined for Adam to die, but the angel Michael told Seth that the oil would be granted to the righteous at the end of days. In a similar passage in the “Life of Adam” the oil is referred to as “the tree of mercy from which the oil of life flows.” Another reference to the “tree of life” in the Garden as an olive tree may be found in 4th Edras: “The tree of life shall give them fragrant perfume” (2:12, The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, p.527).The same concept is preserved in the writings of the early church fathers, in Pseudo-Clement, which refers explicitly to “the oil of the tree of life.”In the book of James, we read that when a person is sick, they should call upon the elders of the church for prayer and anointing. James declared, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:14-16). The oil represents holy anointing by the power of the Spirit of God. The apostle John wrote of God’s Spirit as an ‘anointing.” He declared: “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him” (I John 2:27).Jesus Christ explained, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16). He added, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). The Spirit will tell us “things to come” (same verse).Oil, therefore, is a type of the Holy Spirit – as are water (John 7:37-39) and the wind (John 3:8; Acts 2:1-4).

www.contractorsales.biz/ces/Oliveoil.html

Today's story and sketch "by me" you see Rippo Gofish again, this time he is not in Connecticut but at his

Prune Date Plantation in Sunny South Florida, close to Miami, where he and his girlfriend Gloria spend their

winters playing Shuffleboard, and enjoying many hours in buffet lines. You will also notice he traded his Blue Moon

Bentley, for the GTO Glider you see in the sketch, the Bentley traded soon after breaking down in worm hole nine, and being

towed to an asteroid glider service facility near Mars. Gloria was not happy being stuck in the worm hole for

eight days, and running out of Moon pies after three. She had been telling Rippo his Bentley was a used up unit

and it was time for an upgrade, but that is enough about Intergalactic transporters.

(and that is a story for another time).

Today's story about Ripper is his breakthrough Moon Pies for the Seniors "Humans and aliens alike" with digestive problems, (constipation). And now himself becoming a senior citizen at six hundred thirty two, was becoming familiar

with the problem, Lucky he had actually gotten a great education on the subject at graduate school, "FSU"

Fiber Supplement Uncloggers. Which leads us to today's tale of how Ripper created the Prubat Moon Pie by,

crossing a Medjool Date tree, (the Medjool date goes back fifty million years in even Earths history, much longer on Lippo), and crossed it with the high fibre Prune (Prunus domestica from Pluto), which is a rich source of

insoluble fiber and the availability of sorbitol in a Prubat Moon Pie it, can help alleviate the pain

caused due to constipation. We understand this may be a lot of information for our readers, but we do our best

to keep you informed about such matters to those of you becoming mature.

Till next time taa ta the Rod Blog.

Becoming old means you where smart enough to do a lot of things right.

Rod

Fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica are a superfood. It is rich in selenium, calcium, magnesiun, phosphorous, vitamin C, folic acid, antioxidants, flavonoids and carotenoids. The high levels of selenium in Opuntia are comparable to those found in the Brassicaceae.

The fruit of O. ficus-indica can cause constipation if consumed with the seeds, without the seeds it is laxative

The leaves are an excellent food for cows.