I made two pomander balls, and becuase they make great gifts, I am going to make some more for friends and family. I can just catch the calming, spicey-sweet scent in the air. It is an inexpensive gift, and very festive. I don't think too many people are familiar with pomander balls. They were originally created back in the late 1800's to early 1900's for women to carry around while out walking to fend off the unpleseant smell of the streets. the were crafted of delicate steel in the shape of small balls, and contained a variety of spices and other armomatic ingredients, not just oranges. They also became a traditional Christmas ornament as well. I remember going to a pioneer village when I was in grade school and seeing these pomander balls hanging in a string from the ceiling in the wooden cabin. Their scent filled the entire cabin.

 

 

We had snow here in the GTA for the first time this year. It was only a light coating, but enough to make some people weary and others in a festive mood. I know that it was apart of the same system that dumped a few feet of snow in the States and caused a lot of havok. Yet it was a little shocking for me as well because the summer went by so slowly for me.

 

There was a fatal accident just north of where I live. A woman who was out jogging at around 9:30 pm was hit and killed by a drunk driver. Apprantly this jerk was so smashed that he jumped the curb and plowed this woman over. She was DOA on arrival. Thank God she went quickly. Everyone who drives after drinking is a potential killer on wheels. Have we not yet learned this? How many innocent lives is it goint o take for us to realize that this kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated in the least and have people actually charged with murder if they kill someone while drinking and driving? It goes the same for people who are high as well. Driving under the influence is driving under the influence of a mind altering substance...period. I don't care what you call it; booze, drugs...it's still the same thing.