We received cherries this week that were perfectly ripe in our CSA box. This is actually the third week of getting them, so I decided we need to try something different than simply eating them one by one. I didn’t have any cream, but I did use Golden Glen Creamery’s whole milk. Yum. We like our ice cream creamier, but the flavor for this cherry ice cream was really good.
Today I also received a letter from my sponsered Women for Women sister. Communication can be a little rough, because of translating letters the mail is delayed by a month or more. There are a lot of women being helped, so you can imagine the need the organization has for translators. Letters are highly encouraged, as it’s a personal link between the two “sisters”. The part that is bittersweet is knowing that after one year, my sponsored sister will be moving forward to the next phase in the Women for Women program–which means that our communication will likely also cease unless you know of someone who can translate for you/or if you learn the language to write. I don’t know if my next sister will also be in Kosovo, but it has been where my past three sisters have been.
My last letter was written right after Kosovo was declared separate from Serbia. Zyrha, in response to that letter, wrote in part:
We are very happy that we are free now because we have suffered very much during the years under the Serbian occupancy. Thanks to God that we had the USA by our side; the USA helped us during the war and supported us during the complicated process of declaring our independence. The USA used its influence over the other countries and helped to solve Kosovo’s case in our favor.
The Independence Day was the most sought-after day for ages. We lost most love ones during the war and many other are still missing. Our wounds will take time to heal especially the emotional ones.
I hope that we will never be forced to go through any other war any more.
I have a garden and now that is spring time I have planted many flowers and vegetables in it. I take care of them with pleasure. I am fifty years old but I have the strength of a young girl because I never get tired of working.
Zyhra had lost her husband and a son during the war. She has eight children, and 14 living in her household. When I think about drudgery during the day, I will have to think about all Zyrha has endured and how she has continued on. Time to count my blessings.
So, tonight I will write a new letter to Zyhra. I will talk about the cherry ice cream (milk) that I made today, and I will let her know that I wished she could be sitting with me here, enjoying the indulgence while listening to the rest of summer around us.
Tags: Cooking, Thinkings and Thoughts, Women For Women writings by Solje
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In the order was a how-to-care pamphlet, and directions for making a lavender wand. Never having made them before, I decided to give it a try. Being a visual learner, I had to go to the website to view the pictures: Directions Here I made two since I received my lavender bundles wrapped in a pretty lavender ribbon (and you thought it’d be a yellow ribbon?) 
Welcome to my blog--it is mainly craft related, but it is a mixture of miscellaneous happenings as well. I live in the great Pacific Northwest, happily, rain and all! I am a multi-tasker by trade, enjoy quilting along with some beading, knitting, and general fiber art when I get a wild hair. I am also a homeschooling parent, but will likely not write much on that here. Enjoy! 
