LEARNING AT THE POTTER'S WHEEL

My husband is the king of kidders. When we married, every prank and tease he had been saving up because he missed living at home with his brothers and sisters came back to him. It's been interesting, to say the least.

His humor has meant that I have sons that love to joke and tease as well. They've seen me bubble over with laughter at their dad's antics, and they love to contribute to the fun.

The other thing my husband passed on to his sons is an EXTREME honesty. This means, that sometimes when silence might serve your interests better, you just burst forth with whatever pops into your head . . . Like the time Duke asked a friend (with a new haircut) if she had walked into a buzz saw. Thankfully, she appreciated his humor and thought it was hilarious.

I am hoping that my middle child will gain the social graces and skills necessary to not scare of all future prospects for a spouse. . . I may need to shift those prayers to more in the area of protection after this past week. . .

We went to run errands. All of us piled into the car and had a good time walking through the store. We look a lot.

As we went through the checkout, I opened my bag to pull out my wallet. Duke stopped me, and said he wanted to break a $100. I knew he needed a haircut, but it struck me as humorous when the young girl took the bill and held it up to the light, squinting at it. I couldn't help myself. I burst into laughter.

Next in line was the middle son. He handed her his $20 which received NO extra checking.

This tickled me even more and had me laughing as we walked out to the car.

In the parking lot, the child in question said, "Hey Mom."
"What?" I asked as I stopped and turned in his direction.
"Look," he was gesturing at his legs (he was wearing long shorts). "You know, with this breeze, it sorta tickles my legs."
I looked at the very thin legs extending below the bony knees. "Really?"
"Yeah," he continued. "That's because of the hair."
I squinted to see.

"You see," he explained, "That's what happens when you get to be a man. I'm getting hair on my legs."

Now you try walking to the car without laughing and not hurt yourself after that statement.

Next, we pulled into the gas station to fill the tank. This meant that Duke was doing some creative maneuvering around the other cars and pumps. While he was in the store paying for the gas, I slipped into the drivers' seat, buckled the belt and adjusted the mirrors.

When Duke returned, he asked what I was doing in HIS seat.
"I know it's not as exciting when I drive," I smiled sweetly up at him, "But you deserve a rest. I'll wake you when we get to the next stop."


Trying to help, the middle son interjected:

"Yeah, Dad, your driving is more . . . . ADVENTURESOME!"

Duke growled, muttered something I couldn’t quite make out, and climbed into the passenger seat.


Yeah, I need to pray more for that boy.

ALSO KNOWN AS:
Lawsonia inermis
Henne, Al-Khanna,
Al-henna, Jamaica Mignonette
Mehndi, Mendee
Egyptian Privet, Smooth Lawsonia

PARTS USED
Flowers, powdered leaves, fruit

PHYTOCHEMICALS & NUTRIENTS
A brown substance in Henna has a resinoid fracture. This chemical property (which characterize tannins) is where the name hannotannic acid is derived. The red-orange dye molecule, lawsone, bonds with proteins, helping it stain skin, hair, fingernails, leather, silk and wool.

PROPERTIES & USES
Powdered Henna leaves have been in use from the ancient times in Eastern countries.

The dye molecule, lawsone, is found primarily in the leaves, and is in the highest levels in the petioles (or the stalk) of the leaf. As a dye for the skin or nails the powder may be mixed with catechu or lucerne, made into a paste with hot water, and spread on the part to be dyed, being allowed to remain for one night.

Since 1890 Henna has been widely used in Europe for tinting the hair. This is usually done in the form of a shampoo. Many shades can be mixed by using the leaves of other plants, such as indigo or cassia. There are no such plants as black henna or neutral henna. Companies which make such claims use these other leaves or chemicals to achieve the variations. A product marketed as black or neutral Henna may contain unlisted dyes and chemicals. Henna’s natural coloration, when used for dyeing the hair and the nails, is a reddish-yellow color.

CAUTIONS & CONSIDERATIONS
If you aren’t certain whether you will like the result, take the time to test Henna in an inconspicuous place before treating a large area.

Disclaimer: None of this is to be considered a substitute for medical examination and/or treatment. Use what you will, but do so knowing that you must consider your own circumstance and the application of these things with sound judgment.

My kind, loving husband watched me quietly as I settled into the living room chair. I had a warm towel wrapped around my head and another across my shoulders. This was the first time he had seen me with the green cow slobber known as Beautiful Hair on my head.

I busied myself reading a book as he continued to watch me. Bits of green slime peeked out from under the towel. He must have contemplated my hair length as he formulated his question. “Um, can I ask you a question?” he ventured.

“Yes?” I looked up from my book. He hesitated a moment and then asked, “Are you COLORING your hair?” It occurred to me that my man of few words really DID like my hair. I imagined the picture I had presented him. Before I could answer, the thought of it all sent me into gales of laughter while my disconcerted husband waited to find out whether or not he was going to be married to a woman with very long, green hair.

Finally, I caught my breath. “No!” I gasped. “This is just a hair treatment. I’m not coloring my hair!” I continued to chuckle as he replied, “Well, I just wanted to be SURE!”

If you’re interested in trying Beautiful Hair Treatment, it can be found at www.bulkherbstore.com. I find that it helps repair damaged hair, strengthen and encourage growth, remove any buildup from the hair and scalp without damaging or drying. It’s a bit of a process, but I find that with proper care, I only need to treat every 2 to 3 months or so. This means that a pound of this stuff lasts me a while! Bulk Herb Store has GREAT customer service and shipping. It’s always a treat to open a package from them because the scent is fresh and wonderful. They get a big thumbs-up from this satisfied customer.