Kerelian Balsam

My sweetie and i took one of those clowning-for-orphans tour in Russia 12 years ago. When we arrived in the industrial city of Petrozavodsk (Peter's Factory), we visited the children's ward of a hospital. Bill turned on a faucet to fill up his squirt gun, and the water came out brown.

Afterwards, we walked through the streets in our clown costumes, receiving lots of nods and smiles. Someone told us of the local specialty Kerelian Balsam, so i bought a bottle. Kerelia is the area just east of the border with Finland. Balsam is a hard liquor composed of 28 herbs and roots.

I'm not sure what i was thinking. I had already given up drinking alcohol, but when in Russia.....

Bill pulled the unopened bottle of Kerelian Balsam out of the liquor cabinet the other evening when we were both having coughing fits, and he poured himself a healthy swig. At least, i hope it was healthy for him.

I'm happy to report our coughs have stopped. It must be all those herbs and roots. Good for what ails you.

Holiday Centerpiece

At Garden Club on Monday evening, i made a holiday centerpiece. I stationed myself right next to the floral designer so i could receive step-by-step instructions. What's the strategy for filling the oasis (that green floral foam) with greens?

Once the cedar, boxwood, and balsam fir looked lush, i was on my own as to design. I used 3 carnations, 3 glittery peacock feathers, 3 pine cones i spray painted with silver glitter, and a batch of baby's breath. Oh, and a candle.

When we're learning meditation, it's good to get step-by-step instructions from someone who knows how.

I tried not to look at what other women were doing in baskets and vases. Some people are really artistic, their creations looked really festive, and, well, i'm....

Let's not believe what the comparing mind is saying. The mind holds onto negative thoughts like Velcro. I could just enjoy my centerpiece, which actually looks pretty good standing alone on the dining table.