Medusa

Medusa was the most beautiful of the Gorgons, the daughters of Phorkys and Keto. Her parents were the children of Earth called Gaia and Ocean called Okeanos.

Medua's beauty was her undoing. She was so beautiful that Poseidon would not take “no” for an answer. He found Medusa in Athena’s Temple and had her. Athena grew so outraged she vented her anger on Medusa. Athena changed Medusa into a snake-haired monster.

Athena wasn’t finished with Medusa. The goddess provided Perseus with the shield he used to outwit Medusa, ultimately beheading her.

When Medusa's head rolled, it became known she was pregnant by Poseidon. The children of the union were Pegasus and Chrysaor.

The Getty Villa displays a rendering of Medusa created in Rome 115 – 150 CE using tile to provide the illusion of spiraling circles, a representation of the shield designs from the period.

Leonardo: A Vegetarian

We understand that Leonardo Da Vinci loved animals. He understood they are sentient beings, they have feelings. He understood that it was not required to kill to have a healthy body. He knew this to be true and lived without eating animals in the 15th Century.

"As long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other." -Leonardo Da Vinci 1452-1519

It is interesting that the act of killing any sentient being is brought together in this note as if he expects that one act leads to another. The act of killing, whatever it does within the soul makes the killer. There is no division in Leonardo’s mind.

“Truly man is the king of beasts, for his brutality exceeds theirs. We live by the death of others” (Leonardo Da Vinci 1452-1519)

He lived in a tumultuous time. The government was involved in several wars for control of resources. The brutality of war may have prompted this statement. We do know that war interfered with some of the project on which he worked.

Of course, he was a genius or perhaps because of his conviction he became a genius. Regardless, he had hope for the future and that ethical men will look upon killing as killing without distinction of species.

"The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men." -Leonardo Da Vinci 1452-1519

Vegetarianism is a legitimate lifestyle choice. It doesn’t mean that you’re conservative or liberal but it does mean that the temple of your soul (your body) is maintained in optimum health. Some of the health conditions prevented or improved are:

Obesity
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Vitamin deficiency
Diminished Cognitive abilities
Heart Disease
Liver Disease
Gallbladder Disease
Sleep apnea
Osteoarthritis
Diabetes
Cancer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarian

Dream Pillow & Journal Giftbox Set

For the Dreamers:
Giftbox of Dream Pillow filled with herbs for your slumber pleasure and a journal to record your dreams upon waking.

Egyptian gods on the wall

Powerful deities of the Egyptian pantheon are found on mural walls around the world.

Horus seen in his bird form or a man with a falcon head represents hunting and offers protection to devotees. The eye of Horus symbolizes the power of the pharaohs as they receive the power of the gods to rule the country. Horus is the god of Sky & Protection as well as War & Vengeance. During periods of Egyptian history, Horus served as the patron god of the nation.

Sobek, a fearful creator god, represented by a man with crocodile head protects Egyptians’ from Nile crocodiles. As a creator god, Sobek was so closely associated with Ra, he became Sobek-Ra. At the height to popularity, Sobek’s cult provided pools for sacred crocodiles and mummified their favorites for a blessed afterlife.

The stylized representation of Egyptian gods provide great subject matter for conversation while waiting for the show at the Egyptian Theater. It's always good to know tidbits of Jeopardy-esque trivia.

Joy of the County Faire

Moving to a place where the county faire is a big deal can be as fun as quaint.

Fair Rides for the little ones whirl and twist, screams of joy, of fear, of nearly tossin' their cookies echo through the air.

Smells of cattle, cows, sheep, goats, rabbits surpise the senses of city and country folks alike.

The Bull Ring brings it's own version of entertainment. Will he or won't he get tossed this time? Who wins man or beast?

Talent Show kids throughout the county present themselves to the judges, guests and fair goers alike. WOW! That girl can sing!

But the best part of the fair, the part that few noticed or will remember came in the form of a little old lady, sitting in the corner. Each and every day she was just sitting there, smiling her little old lady smile as the men and women and children passed by... she served on the committee for the fair since the 1930s when she was "old enough to help". Some 70 years later, she's still helpin'. The things she's seen and the people that have come and gone, she mentioned and sighed. Things have changed. Things have stayed the same. The best part about her was she was as enthusiastic about every entry as if it were the only entry, the best entry and she encouraged every person that took time to talk with her to share their talents at the faire, to show the county what it has within it, and remember, she added, "do more for next year".

Women's Crafts are fewer each year. Who has time to knit? Crotchet? Who, in the next generation, will even know how? Who has time to bake for the faire? Who bakes for their family? Who can paint a portrait? Who can pose Photographs? Digital or Film? Who can make a Quilt? Who Gardens? Who carves? Who creates? Who has time? Who knows?

Examining the exhibits, the precious exhibits makes the county faire a one time event. Never again will this particular collection of items, crafts, art be exhibited again. It is a unique experience to be appreciated for the unique event that it is...

What will you show next year?