Moonshine next door

We awoke Saturday morning to the sounds of a still being put together in the neighbor's yard.  They started before 7:00 am and were at it all day.  All those barrels of plums that have been fermenting for two months are now a fine whiskey.  So we were told.  We were offered samples but declined.  They were still at it when we went to bed at 10:30.

The fire in the still created a lot of smoke all day

Dumping a bucket of plum mash into the still

It was kind of interesting to watch.  We googled how a still works so we could understand what was happening.  And kept thinking how this would never happen in our neighbor's yards at home!  I was taking the photos from our balcony, trying to be sneaky so they wouldn't think I was a voyeur.  When we went out to the market, we just went over to talk to them and to see it close up.  I asked if I could take some pictures.  I don't know who all the people were - we did meet their daughter Danjela, who speaks a little English.  She brought the bottle and a shot glass over to share with us.  Grandpa said "whiskey, dobro" (good).  Danjela said it should yield about 120-130 liters of whiskey.

Our neighbors with the still, brewing whiskey from plums

The little ditch to the left is where they empty the pits and pulp off the plums.  Grandpa dug a little ditch for it.  It will become part of the compost pile further to the left.

The vat where the condensation collects and out comes the whiskey

What a fascinating life we live in the Balkans.  Our neighbors are simple, hard working folks who make use of everything.

The drive to Bihać Sunday afternoon was uneventful.  We like to listen to books as we drive if we're going very far.  We checked into our hotel and found ourselves back at the same restaurant on the river - the one that offers seefood and wegetables.  It's the only one we know!  We'll have to get brave and find another one some day.

Looking up to the main restaurant - we are seated at the river's edge

The beautiful Una River at dusk in Bihać

We had a nice visit with one of our partners in Bihać.  We are helping them purchase foil emergency blankets for the refugees.  An interesting note about donating quilts - this partner had received 300 tied quilts from somewhere.  They will be given to refugees as well but he said the refugees don't want them.  They are bulky and heavy to carry when they are walking from place to place.  They also get wet and dirty and smelly after a time.  They are often discarded because they are too hard to manage.  I have thought that if I were a refugee, I would appreciate anything I was given.  But that is not the case.  They often toss items from the hygiene kits or sell them if they can.  They refuse to eat some foods - and I don't mean just pork that is taboo for some religions.  Another partner complains that he can't get the men to volunteer or help with unloading trucks, etc.  While we are trying to be charitable and help where we can, we are getting a different view of some refugees.

We met the van from Sarajevo bringing all the shoes, backpacks and hygiene kits we purchased.  They will be stored at the Red Cross warehouse and distributed as needed.  Another partner donated blankets (second-hand army blankets I fear won't be appreciated), tents and backpacks.

John helping unload the van

IOM oversees refugee activity; Pomozi.ba is one of our partners

We're standing by boxes of LDS Charities hygiene kits

The Red Cross warehouse is located on an army base close to the old dormitory where the refugees are housed.  That location seems to get worse each time we visit.  We were glad to learn that IOM is overseeing the repair or replacement of the roof and will install windows, hopefully before winter comes.

Camps outside the refugee dormitory

The Red Cross arrived with lunch while we were at the dormitory

On Friday we took the Elders to the Riders of Hope horse barn to meet the good people there and be trained for their service assignment there.  It is an equestrian therapy program for disabled children.  We did a service project there awhile ago.  These Elders will work with the children and walk along with the horses and children to be sure they stay on the horse.  Neither Elder has spent any time around horses and they were a little nervous at the beginning.

Elder Thompson learning to brush the horse

Elder Daines brushing the horse

Learning to walk with the horse

The Elders will go to the barn every Friday afternoon to work with the kids.  It's a good service for them and I hope they enjoy it.  The owners of the barn are wonderful friends of the church.  They have helped us personally with where to find things and what a Bosnian thing that we don't understand means.  Really good people.  Sarajevo is full of great people that treat us kindly and graciously.