What was I thinking... 

what could be easier than making a butterfly?

I was immediately drawn to "the Butterfly Project" for so many reasons, the first being the mention of losing a million and a half kids... to what (?!) my mind flew... and as I clicked further and further into the subject, the deeper and deeper I was drawn.

What should have been a brief arts and crafts project done in justified haste to show my support for a worthy cause, has turned into hours spent on survivor websites, history websites, newspapers surrounded by death, horror, and shock.

I too am captured just as the Jews, caught in the horror. There are thousands of websites now that have tons of information, stories and poems written by those who died, and by survivors. It is heart wrenching to read especially from the children.

I probably could spend an enormous amount of time pursuing this but as I got into the stories, I found I was feeling very very sad  for this event that happened so long ago, and had it on my mind a lot.

So I am calling an end to my project with my 4 butterfly boys. I am not happy with the way they turned out. I am not happy with the holocaust, and I think it shows in the work. It's impossible to try to bring any happiness to this subject, and if I had the resources and the time I would probably depict on a huge canvas a million and a half children with angelic wings glowing in their freedom in the afterlife soaring heavenward.

I chose children who were liberated by the allies caught in the happy moment of being set free to be the center of the collage, hoping to focus on some good, but honestly there was no good to be had even for most of these children. They were orphaned one and all as their parents and weaker brothers and sisters were starved, gassed en mass, mutilated and tortured. The only reason the children were allowed to live was because they were strong enough to be used as manual labor the bury the bodies.

Those who were liberated oftentimes met untimely deaths or became beggars or met some other unhappy fate, and those with seemingly happy endings were haunted their whole lives..."I feel a tremendous guilt … why did I survive?"

We're so lucky, my generation, the baby boomers and younger in this country. And the butterfly project really drives it home. By an accident of birth, through nothing they did, those people were robbed stripped tortured annihilated, and we have drive thrus.

It is a project for the strong of heart, but what an impact it will make at it's completion. Cruise on over, check it out and make a butterfly because no matter who you are, in what ever circumstance you are in you are so fortunate so lucky to not have been there.

Three Sisters, three layers of unfathomably rich sweet orange fragrance oils.

Sometimes you just have to GO for it, and my own personal opinion is that a really nice strong fragrant soap is just a joy. I enjoy mine for millions of sniffs before I even let them hit the water. I knew I would be safe with an orange or two...

Well, three separate scents in three separate layers to be precise.
1.)The fresh aroma blend of Sicilian orange, lemongrass, lemon slices, jasmine, green tea, and Tahitian vanilla.
2.)An incorporation of sweet, juicy mandarin oranges, muguet lily, fresh greenery notes, and a touch of amber to orange blossom petals to create this beautiful fragrance arrangement, well rounded.
3.)Top notes of white lily, jasmine, and rose; followed by middle notes of citrus, violet, and pepper; sitting on base notes of patchouli, sandalwood, and white musk.

It is ambrosia in a bar, and it is a stunner with layers of brown, pure creamy white and blush (yes blush) pink.
Perfect for the person who loves food scents and especially nice this time of year, unbelievably spunky and fresh.

Coconut oil, olive oil, soy oil, canola oil combined with lye and water. All natural and organic, totally handmade from raw ingredients, not a melt and pour bar.

Keep your soap out of standing water. Handmade cold process soap lasts longer, is environmentally friendly, and skin loving. In the cold process soap bar, the naturally occurring glycerin is left intact. It is a natural moisturizer. Never tried? You will love.

These bars are cut at over 5-6 ounces and are uniquely rustic cut, artisan crafted with time in a very small batch. This is a limited edition.

All my soaps are plant based, never lard and I only use high quality scenting oils. I use a bar from each batch for my quality control. Please try to keep your soap completely dry between uses to keep it hard and long-lasting.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ParadiseEssentials

Turmerec

http://pickmeyard.wordpress.com/2010/08/24/a-turmeric-surprise/

Some info I just came accross, http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/20-health-benefits-of-turmeric.html

Here are 20 reasons to add turmeric to your diet:
1. It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.
2. When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.
3. Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice.
4. May prevent melanoma and cause existing melanoma cells to commit suicide.
5. Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.
6. Is a natural liver detoxifier.
7. May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.
8. May prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer.
9. It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.
10. Has shown promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice.
11. Is a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.
12. May aid in fat metabolism and help in weight management.
13. Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.
14. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
15. Boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.
16. Promising studies are underway on the effects of turmeric on pancreatic cancer.
17. Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma.
18. Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.
19. Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.
20. May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.

Wow. I'm shocked. That's a lot of health benifits for a herb..or is it a spice? I never use it. How do you use it?

Quotes,

I add a pinch to my chicken soup to make it more yellow.


Infuse 1 cup of light olive oil or canola oil with 1 teaspn of turmeric for 1-2 hrs . Brush on corn- on- the- cob instead of butter. My personal favorite is to brush it on paninis and veggies before grilling (or oven roasting), instead of bland oil. The color and curry-like aroma of this infusion gives a unique dimension to food without the curry taste.


When sauteeing onions sprinkle with Turmeric. It adds a nice color, unique flavor and health benefits, too.


Tumeric Dusted Pan Fried Okra; Slice the okra lengthwise, dust with tumeric,pan fry till crisp sprinkle with seasalt ,eat hot if possible; so good!

Moroccan Chickpea Stew

(This turmeric inspiration was found here )