the root word Laver (latin) also bring us the english latrine, laundry, lavage (a medical term for washing, ER fans will know it!) and lavish!

the latin root for soap is also shared by savor, and savory!

The antiseptic quality of myrrh must have made it very valuable, when there were few other effective medicines.. i wonder if any current day medicines use the plant myrrh or its oil.. (willow bark was used for fevers, and the an acid in willow sap, purifed, give us the active ingredient of asprins.)

i think i have heard the myrrh was one of oils used in embalming mummies. I looked up myrrh, and found it is a member of the genus Cammiphora family of shrubs, all of which have fragrant resins, one of which is Balm (which brings us back to embalm(ing)..

my dictionary says myrrh goes back to an arabic word myrrh, which means bitter--doesn't Mirium (Mary) also mean bitter?

My lavender doesn't have buds yet, but a neighbors bush that gets full sun is also in bloom.


my other obsession