Description---In the East this trailing annual plant has been extensively cultivated from some 3,000 years and spread westward. It was known to the Greeks (the Greek name being sikuos) and to the Romans. According to Pliny, the Emperor Tiberius had it on his table daily, summer and winter. Pliny describes the Italian fruit as very small, probably like our gherkin; the same form is figured in Herbals of the sixteenth century, but states, 'if hung in a tube while in blossom, the Cucumber will grow to a most surprising length.' In Bible history, the Israelites in the wilderness complained to Moses that they missed the luxuries they had in Egypt, 'Cucumbers and Melons,' and Hasselquist in his travels (middle of eighteenth century) states: 'they still form a great part of the food of the lower-class people in Egypt serving them for meat, drink and physic.' Isaiah, speaking of the desolation of Judah says: 'The daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers.' The Cucumber of the Scriptures is, however, by some authorities considered to be a wild form of Cucumis melo, the melon. The Cucumber has been long known in England, where it was common in the time of Edward III (1327), then fell into disuse and was forgotten till the reign of Henry VIII, but not generally cultivated here till the middle of the seventeenth century. It is too well known to need description.

Quick Cold Process Soap Recipe
Quickie Cold Process Soap Recipe

6 oz Coconut Oil

6 oz Palm

1 Tbsp Beeswax

1 Tbsp Stearic acid

4 oz Castor

2.38 oz Lye

6 oz Distilled Water

Follow basic soap making instructions.

 
For that dry winter weather, try protecting skin with extra moisture Massage Bars

Scentual Body Bar

This is a totally decadent body bar that absorbs quickly into the skin. They are perfect for the single designer molds or pour in to a slab tray and slice up. They slide out beautifully! These bars should be kept cool or refrigerated as they tend to be on the soft side. If you would like a harder bar replace 1 oz of the cocoabutter with 1/2 oz beeswax. Enjoy!

4 oz (125 gm) Cocoa butter (or 3 oz cocoa butter and 1/2 oz beeswax)

1 oz (30 gm) Shea butter (from the Shea nut tree in South Africa). High in Vitamin E. Has softening and slight sunscreen effect. Useful in healing and protecting skin.

1/2 oz (15 gm) Olive oil (or jojoba, sunflower, apricot, etc.) (Olive oil is full of vitamins and minerals, especially the extra virgin. It is an excellent choice as it can be heated without harming or changing molecular structure of the oil)

1 t. (5 ml) Vitamin E (or infused oil of choice) - used as preservative/antioxidant. Aids in scar tissue healing, prevents aging by rejuvenating skin at cellular level.

1 t. (5 ml) Grapefruit Seed Extract (option Benzoin eo) GSE is a natural preservative, antioxidant, anti-infectious, anti-bacterial. A natural extraction from grapefruit seeds.

Place first 3 ingredients in a clean, stainless steel or glass pot over saucepan with hot water (double boiler set up) and heat gently until liquid. High temperatures destroy therapeutic value of oils (or anything for that matter).

Once the ingredients have melted, remove from heat, stir and allow to cool for about 5-10 minutes. Add vitamin E and optional preservative.

If you would like to add essential oils, take note of the scent of cocoabutter and use a scent that will compliment the cocoabutter. Try using vanilla, sandalwood, oakmoss or one of the woody scents. If you have deodorized cocoabutter then scenting won't be an issue.

Stir in the desired scent and pour into designer molds. Allow bars to cool and place bars in freezer for 15 minutes. Release your designer bars and let set for a few hours before packaging. You can also pour bars into cream jars as an alternative to freezing them. Cello bags with a pretty ribbon work well. Enjoy! Keep handy in the bathroom for beautiful skin!

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Rose Water & Glycerine Lotion

A good remedy for anyone who likes a less oily mixture. The cornstarch works as an exfoliant the first few times you use it.

2 Tablespoons Vegetable Glycerine

2 Tablespoons Cornstarch

½ Cup Distilled Water

2 Tablespoons Rose water

(or desired floral water)

Mix ingredients together in heat proof glass bowl - place in a water bath or use double boiler. -- Stir mixture thoroughly (it will be clear and jelly like) and allow to completely cool. Once cool place mixture into clean jars. ---- Note: If the lotion is too thick - thin with water or rose water using one tablespoon at a time, stirring thoroughly.

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Purchase Sodium Lactate
Refreshing Non-Alcohol Body Mist Base. This base can be used for any Natural body mist without alcohol.

30 Oz Distilled Water

1 Oz Polysorbate 80

1 Oz Sodium Lactate

1 Oz Aloe Vera Juice

1% Germaben II (Preservative)

.25 Oz Fragrance of Choice (Spring & Summer suggestions - Cashmere Mist, Heavenly, Something light and airy) Final product may be cloudy because of the oil water combination, if so package in aluminum or colored bottle.