NOVEMBER
Denver Arts Week – November 5 – 13. https://www.denver.org/denver-arts-week/ Get your culture on.
Denver Art Museum – American Painters in France exhibit. From November 14th to March 13th. Over 100 paintings by some of our favorite artists. https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en
Christkindl Market, Civic Center Park – November 19 thru December 23. Outdoor European Christmas market. https://www.christkindlmarketdenver.com/
Blossoms of Light, November 19 - January 2, and Trail of Lights, November 26 - January 2, Denver Botanic Gardens downtown and at Chatfield. Gorgeous outdoor light displays. I always do both. Reserve early, they will sell out. https://www.botanicgardens.org/events/special-events/blossoms-light
Estes Park Christmas Parade and Celebration – November 26. A holiday kick-off in the mountains. https://www.visitestespark.com/events-calendar/winter-events/christmas-parade-and-celebrations/
Frisco Wassail Days - November 27 – December 5. Tree lighting, wassail drinking, sleigh rides, and more.
https://www.townoffrisco.com/event/festival-events/wassail-days/
Check out https://www.colorado.com/events for more possibilities.
Chamomile is an often-overlooked little herb that has been used for centuries for a variety of maladies. There are two common varieties; German Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) and Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). The dried flowers are the part used. Usually, we think of chamomile as a tea for digestion and it works quite well for this but there are many other uses for this little herb.
Chamomile flowers contain terpenoids and flavonoids contributing to their healing properties. It is anti-inflammatory and can be used as a wash or poultice for skin issues and wounds. It has a soothing effect on the nervous system and helps with anxiety and insomnia. It is also thought to help balance blood sugar. For colds and flu, it can be used as a steam and tea for stomach upsets and discomfort.
I like to brew my chamomile tea from whole flowers, about a teaspoon or two of flowers to a cup of boiling water. Let steep for 7-10 minutes and strain. You can find chamomile tea bags everywhere. Enjoy a cup of this tasty, healing tea tonight.
Caution – people with allergies to ragweed and pollen may want to skip this tea. Try a bit and see what happens. I do have pollen sensitivities but I’m fine with it.
Pomegranates are one of my favorite seasonal fruits. High in antioxidants and flavonoids, it is also anti-inflammatory. The juice stains, so if you have a spill, address with cold water immediately.
The jewel box fruit is so sweet and delicious, making it worth the effort of extracting it from its shell. For an instructive video on this checkout https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma77qhzNnOI