Food, Community And All Things Sustainable

January 6, 2011

Epiphany

Today is Epiphany, the day my Grandmother always took down the Christmas tree and all the other Christmas decorations no.matter.what.  Fondly remembering removing tinsel from the tree so we could use it the following year, and wrapping all those delicate ornaments in tissue paper and packing them in their boxes.

January 3, 2011

The Gift

Mid-day on Christmas Eve I heard a vehicle door slam.  A quick glance out the window revealed a red truck, and a good friend walking towards my back porch holding a box.  This is not unusual as this particular good friend comes over on a regular enough basis with boxes of stuff. This past summer it was produce to preserve and split with her. Other times it is a box of goodies for some project or other that we are working on.

As I opened the door and said "Hi", she thrust the box into my arms and retreated back to her truck for another box. "Merry Christmas" said my friend with a smile on her face. It was present exchanging time! We've been known to exchange very practical gifts - food, baked items, hats, school supplies (I love school supplies, but that's another story) or silly stuff, like necklaces from those machines outside discount stores.

I was stunned, and happy and deeply moved by her kindness and her gift of love.  She knows me, and so packed those two boxes with stuff I desperately needed and would truly appreciate.  I got laundry detergent without fragrance, and dish soap that won't remove the skin from my hands, toilet paper, stew meat and bacon - I love bacon and stew meat. Oranges - I'm particularly fond of oranges this time of year.  Potatoes and oatmeal.  Oatmeal is on the menu here most winter days.  And then there was the big package of duplex cookies. A favorite treat for me since childhood - and I do try really, really hard to eat only a couple a day.  Oh, yes, flour and sugar so I can bake.

I'm touched, and grateful. It's wonderful to be loved. It's more wonderful to be loved by a woman on a Calling. Thanks, good friend.

January 1, 2011

New Year

My oh my oh my.  That blizzard sure did dump on us!  The town crew has been out for a good part of the day plowing and hauling snow - and they are doing a splendid job of it.  And there's all those folks out with various snow-removal-pieces-of-equipment clearing driveways and sidewalks.  Patiently awaiting my turn, whilst I bake bread for the wonderful person who will do the deed.