Christmas is incomplete without a beautiful wreath on the front door. Last year when I went out for a stroll with Dadda, around the same time of the year, I found a variety of wreaths being hung on the front door of our neighbours. Some were green, some were colourful and some made from Christmas candies, stars, bells – they looked beautiful!

I saw many types of wreathes being sold at the shops and flower shops, but I want to make one this year. I said I want to make an evergreen wreath, so mumma and dadda said they will help me make a beautiful wreath. We’ll hang it on the front door, so that everyone can see it.

Mumma said making is wreath is nothing difficult, you only need to have the right supplies, but you need to be very careful since you have to use wires, scissors, etc. So you can hurt yourself if you are not careful. So here is how you can make an evergreen wreath at home:

Get lots of leaves and ferns from a local flower shop or one that sells wreath making materials. You can also collect some sprigs from your garden. You will also need a few evergreen clippings, which are readily available at the local supermarket or at the flower shops. Other things that you will require include – metal wreath form, raffia twine, and floral wire; all of which can be found at the local hobby shop.

Cover the metal wreath form with raffia twine, especially on the loose ends to make sure they don’t come out when you hang it on the door. Cut the stems and leaves to about two to three inches in length. Take one or two stems together and secure them tightly to the wreath using a string thread or thin wire. Then take some other types of stems or leaves and layer them on top of the first set of stems. Bind them tightly in the same manner. Repeat the process with different types of stems and leaves to create a colourful wreath. You can choose a random design or repeat a specific pattern to create a harmonious look. Once the entire wreath form is covered, you have the main wreath ready. You can hang it just like that or decorate it further. Take a large red satin ribbon and create a bow out of it. Then paste it to one end of the wreath with help of glue. You can stick small bells or stars along the wreath to make it look even more gorgeous.

You can use various things to make wreaths of different kinds. You can also utilise thrown away materials to make one-of-a-kind wreaths for the holiday season. I have already made mine; will you make your own or buy it from the stores. If you make something special, be sure to share the process so that everyone else can try making them. As mumma says, be happy and spread happiness!

I am down with cough and light fever again. Mumma didn’t allow me to go to school since coughing is infectious; but I hate being sic, since there is nothing much I can do. Most of the times I have to lay down on the bed or read story books; I can’t even go out because it is raining outside. Why do you have to fall sick? All my friends are attending school and playing, while I have to stay back at home.

Mumma says she will give me some magic medicines that will help me get well sooner. I said let’s go to the medical store now to buy the medicines but she said we don’t need to go to the medical store; it’s all available at home. Really? Where? In the kitchen, she said. Mumma stores medicines in the kitchen? I didn’t know that. She understood what I was thinking and started laughing. No I don’t store medicines in the kitchen; I am talking about natural medicines that have no side effects like the traditional over-the-counter medicines. The nature provides us with a number of natural medicines, which can help soothe many conditions such as cold, coughing, irritation, etc.

There are a number of natural medicines that can cure coughing and these include:

• Turmeric: It is an herb that cures coughs, especially dry cough. Turmeric when mixed with hot water or milk can cure coughing. You can also roast the root, grind it and mix it with water and honey. Having turmeric (whichever way you want) twice daily can cure coughing very quickly.
• Ginger: Ginger is another magic medicine for coughs. Grate or slice ginger and boil with water. Strain the water and let it cool. Mix some lemon juice and honey to it and have it for twice or thrice every day. It relieves the irritation and soothes coughing. You can also chew candied ginger to relieve continuous coughing.
• Garlic: Garlic is well known for its antibacterial and antimicrobial characteristics. It can fight infections very quickly. So boil two to three cloves of garlic with water and drink it while it is warm. It makes it easier to breathe and soothes the itchiness in the throat. You can mix honey to make it taste better. You can also fry one or two garlic cloves and eat it with food.

There are many other natural substances that can be used to relieve cough and cold. But why do we have to mix honey to everything? Is it just for the taste or something else? Mumma said honey is excellent home remedy for cough and cold, so by mixing honey, you increase the therapeutic characteristics of other elements. Honey also has antifungal and antibacterial characteristics and it has been used for hundreds and thousands of years to cure cough and cold.

I hope the natural medicines work well and I am able to go to school soon. I miss my friends and school too!