for “the knowing”. I learned from a young age that if something is on sale, you buy two; one to use, one for the pantry. Erik and I are fortunate to have a substantial cupboard in the basement that serves as our pantry, and houses our canned and paper goods. In there we have stored soups and pastas, juice, cans of this and boxes of that – all things that make the day to day just a little easier. I’ve been thinking of late that orange marmalade would make a nice addition to the shelves.
November 13, 2003
My Mom and Papa taught me early the value of filling and maintaining a larder. Perhaps because they both experienced the bitter reality of The Great Depression, they appreciated the luxury of being able to set something aside. Irregardless, I am thankful
loves the green ones in particular. Cassandra on the other hand is convinced that chocolate is a separate food group, and therefore a “healthy choice”. Sigh. I wonder at the logic of arguing this with a 9 year old.
I didn’t do canning proper this year and I have to say that I missed that very much. Although we still have tomato soup and some relish left, I know that next year I will need to put some things down. There is something so satisfying about canning your own vegetables. It’s a comforting feeling to look at rows of jars filled with the goodness of the earth, and to know that you played a part in the end result. In the interim, I’ve decided that I’ll be happy making the marmalade and perhaps mincemeat for Christmas tarts.
The days seem to be an endless sea of grey now. Sometimes, the sky is a thousand shades of grey all at once, as if layer upon layer had been added to a stark canvas. Dove grey on gunstock on dull silver spoon – they seem to melt into one another. The trees for the most part are bare; high winds having left them as mere skeletons of themselves. Some of the oaks will keep their leaves for the entire winter, as oaks often do. The few remaining leaves on the other trees seem to be tumbling down all at once today. It’s as if Lady Autumn herself is saying, “Enough. It’s time to move on. Be gone.”
There is an open bag of Jolly Ranchers in that cupboard, leftover from our camping trip. I’m not sure how it got there, but the girls think it’s a fine place to find a sweet treat. Life’s a little nicer when you find surprises along the way – especially sweet ones!! Rebecca isn’t a chocolate person. In fact, she doesn’t eat chocolate at all. Jolly Ranchers are just up her alley, and she
There is something so striking about a tree stripped of its leaves standing against the enormity a pewter sky. The picture is at once cold and lonely and yet at the same time, almost soothing. Perhaps it is the turning again of the season, and the feeling that we’ve been here before. There is always comfort in the familiar.
The wildlife feels this “turn” in the season too. The deer feed in the fields and along the roads, fattening themselves for the cold months ahead. Such lovely creatures they are. Their eyes without a doubt hold the mysteries of the ages. If you’ve ever had the privilege to sit and watch one of these gentle animals you are at once charmed by them. They are true innocence and grace. To see them run is to see nature’s own ballet.
“V’s” of Canada Geese gather overhead and their soft honks can be heard in the sky. To me, this sight will always be the sum of fall itself. My Papa used to call me to come and see the Canada Geese when they would start to pass overhead. I cannot help but hear Papa even now when I see one of those V’s in the sky. G-d is good to give us such sweet memories.
Between Rat Boy (the black squirrel) and the now endless line of birdies the feeders are emptied with gusto. Erik and the girls have their work cut out for them in keeping those feeders filled!! We have a number of cardinals that have been coming on a regular basis, and it’s always such a joy to see the flash of red sail past the window. Coming home the other evening, we were greeted by a little bird who has taken up residence in our birdhouse!! He’s a latecomer to be sure, but some blessings just take a little longer I guess. We’ve been putting out suet already, and that’s managed to attract some woodpeckers and a flicker. They flit in, eat in a whirlwind and then flit out again!! When it gets colder (which it surely will) the girls and I will make some homemade suet cakes for them.
It seems to me that the blackbirds annoy Scooter the most. I suppose that the incessant noise they make may have something to do with that. Since we have feeders at both ends of the house, he divides his time between windows. At the back, he has the luxury of the big bay window, and Nanny’s Blankie. At the front, he stands in the wicker chair known as “Lila’s chair” and looks out into the yard. Most of the action is in the back however, and this is where he spends the majority of his time. He somewhat tolerates the other birdies, but he detests those blackbirds, and he doesn’t feel one twinge of guilt when he tells them so. (**See also “chittering” in the September 26th Journal.)
Speaking of the devils, they are descending as I write this. Scooter having heard the commotion (he was napping on our bed and no doubt dreaming of tuna) has come at a full gallop!! Hurling himself at the big bay window in an attempt to protect his loved ones on the inside, each and every blackbird has gone in a swish!! Of course I hesitate to tell our boy that they’ll be back in a jiffy. For now he is the victor and as such he will bask in that glow for at least a little while.
As for me, I think I will put the kettle on, and sit down with a hot cup of orange spice tea. If Mimi were here, I would just have to make an entire pot. Erik’s sister loves tea as much as I do!!
Later, I will make a batch of FILLED JUMBO DROPS. They are a wonderfully soft cookie with a delightful old fashioned flavor. I managed to lose this recipe for over a year!! Having only just found it, I can’t wait to try them once more. Here’s the recipe. I hope you’ll enjoy them too!!
Cook together until thick, the following ingredients. (Stir constantly)
2 Cups dates, chopped small
3/4 Cup white sugar
3/4 Cup water
Dash of lemon juice
Set aside.
Blend together:
1 Cup shortening
2 Cups brown sugar (packed)
3 eggs
1/2 Cup water
1 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 Cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Drop cookie mixture by teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Place small amount of date filling on top. Add a little more of the cookie dough on top of the dates. Bake for 13-15 minutes. These taste like an old-fashioned date square!!
November 30th, 2003
This has been an especially busy week with Thanksgiving having just passed. We spent a wonderful day on Long Island at Cousin Linda’s home. It was a packed house and a full table. Cassandra and Rebecca were so excited to meet their little cousins Claudia and her new
brother Ricky and Ian Caleb. The holidays are always special to be sure, but to spend them with children, doubly so. For weeks Rebecca had been asking how many more days until Thanksgiving because then she would see her Sophie and her Juliet. Despite the age difference between Rebecca who is 5 and Juliet (11) and Sophie (14), Rebecca idolizes her cousins. It makes me smile the way they take the time to pay special attention to her. Rebecca always watches them, and even at their young ages, they are role models.
We were treated to a feast of roast turkey and gravy, stuffing, squash and zucchini, fresh bread, cranberries, and wild rice. If that wasn’t enough, there was a choice of five different pies for dessert. It was almost more than a body could take. Cassandra and I collaborated on the Lemon Meringue Pie. I’ve determined that she is the best lemon zester on the East Coast!! You’ll find the
recipe at the bottom of the page. Try if you can to find a willing 9 year old to do the zesting for you!!
Although both girls are cautious about what they eat, Cassandra surprised both Erik and I when she decided to try, of all things, zucchini!! Children never cease to amaze.
When we had eaten our full, and visited with the family, we headed for home. The girls slept for the entire trip.
On the Friday after Thanksgiving, Erik took both girls to work with him for the day. They rode the train into the city, and then spent the day keeping Daddy company in his office. For a time, they played “office”. Rebecca left on her imaginary lunch break, only to return a few minutes later yawning. It was then that she informed Cassandra that she had fallen asleep on her lunch hour!! At the end of the day, Daddy’s office had been decorated with artwork from both girls. When I met them at the train station, there were three very tired faces to greet me.
Tomorrow is the 1st of December and the holidays are upon us. Have you ever thought about the truth in that phrase?? “The holidays are upon us.” They sneak up and pounce like a cat from behind a chair. I’m certain that it was September just a day or so ago. How did that happen?? In truth, I suppose that it happens the same way it does every year. Nonetheless, I find myself surprised once more, and I wonder if I’ll ever get everything done that I hope to. (Right here and now I will tell you that I won’t!!) For a few days though, I won’t worry too much about what will and will not get done.
Although today was a quiet day, it was a catch up day too. As well as laundry, I decided to organize my dresser. It was something that I had put off long enough and today was the day. I was able to weed out some clothes that I don’t wear any longer, and I managed to put away warm weather clothes thus making room for sweaters and the like. Tucked away in one of the drawers was one of my treasures, one of my heirlooms. It is a hand crocheted doily that my great grandmother made. Grandma Law’s stitches were perfection, and I envy the patience that she had to do such fine work. The word heirloom itself has almost a nostalgia attached to it, doesn’t it?? It’s a sweet tea-stained word that you might have to blow dust off of before you use it.
We’ve been having some sweet sunny days for the past week. At this time of the year, a sunny day is a splendid thing, and I try to savor each one that comes my way. With the days growing ever shorter, I have to remind myself to get out and do my errands while it’s light. I am, by nature a procrastinator and can fritter a day away with the best of them. I need to pattern my days after the birdies that frequent the feeders. They are here when the sun is up!! When the sun is gone, they are too.
I always find interesting those things that I consider treasures or heirlooms. When I was a little girl, my Mama gave me a tiny book with a poem called “The Praying Hands”. It’s one of my dearest possessions. When I was five years old, my dear Papa gave me a hole punch. He drove a bus and would have to cancel the tickets of the riders. Once when he was given a new punch, he gave me the old one. I felt myself rich that day. I take it out once in a while, close my eyes and hold it in my hand. I’m still rich.
When I still lived at home, my Mom gave me a pitcher and bowl to put in my bedroom. The one that I chose was pure white. There is nothing remarkable about the set; no markings or decorations. On the bottom it is marked “Alfred Meakin. England.” It had been my great grandmother’s however and that is remarkable enough. The bowl, despite its simplicity does have a distinguishing mark; a hole in one side, with four cracks that finger .
their way out from the hole. The fascinating part of all of this however is that the hole was made by a .22 caliber bullet. Apparently, the pitcher and bowl stood on a table in an upstairs window. One day someone shot through that window and the bullet lodged in the bowl. The way my Mom told the story, no one knew who fired the shot, and if they did, no one was talking. Now, in reality, the hole renders the bowl of little value but I wouldn’t trade my heirloom set for anything.
Today, it sits in another window – the big bay window to be exact. Each week Erik brings me asters from Grand Central Station and I set them in the pitcher. I think this would make my great grandmother smile.
Love, Shelley
The Lemon Pie
Filling:
1 ½ Cups sugar
6 Tbsp cornstarch
1 ½ Cups boiling water
3 Tbsp butter
4 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp lemon rind, grated
3 beaten egg yolks
Crust:
25 rolled graham crackers
½ Cup melted butter
½ Cup sugar
Meringue:
3 egg whites
2 Tbsp sugar
Mix sugar and cornstarch; add boiling water and stir until blended. Boil until clear; add beaten egg yolks and stir in butter, lemon juice, and grated lemon rind. Boil until blended. Let cool. While lemon filling is cooling, prepare your crust. Mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter and sugar. Line a glass pie dish and press down. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 10 minutes. When crust is cool, add your filling.
For the meringue, beat egg whites until stiff, adding sugar a little at a time. Your meringue is ready when soft peaks form. Top your pie with meringue and bake until lightly browned. Bake at 350 degrees F.
