Plastic Angel

A recent note from one of my "other sisters" impressed me very much and I quote her message here. She also took the photo of her angel.

"This angel was in my husband's family’s, so she’s about 60 years old. When his mom first gave her to us, 40 years ago, I thought, “She’s plastic,” not the heirloom quality I thought the handpainted one my family had was. Our kids even said, when small, that she looked like a blonde Wonder Woman, but I have come to love her and the Christmas traditions that she represents, and want to share her with all of you! May such treasures and blessings also be yours this season of family, friends love and joy – and the traditions that bring it all – and us – together !"

Recalled Memory

My friend who sent me the marzipan gift in the previous blog called, Nuts! Nuts! Nuts! has just read the blog and explained "Why Marzipan?" Her mom and I are life-long friends. She is now afflicted with Alzheimer's. Her daughters have always called me "Aunt Gere." This message came from Hawaii via e-mail. Isn't it great? ! !

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

YAY! I am SO glad you like your surprise! When I was a little girl, Mom and I were shopping in a specialty store, and she picked up a package of marzipan fruits. They were in a long, skinny white rectangular box wrapped with cellophane. The fruits were lined up side by side. I can distinctly remember her excitement when she saw them, “Oh, Aunt Gere loves marzipan!” Believe it or not, I can still see her picking them off the high shelf. She handed the box to me and asked me to hold it while she finished her shopping. I was completely captivated by the details of the fruits. They were so real looking! They were a work of art, and I was sure they must taste as incredible as they looked. I must have asked a hundred questions about them (and probably asked if we could get some for me), because I remember Mom telling me how they were hand painted to look real and that they were an “adult” treat. After we finished our shopping, the two of us delivered them to you at your house. You opened the box right then and there, and you offered a small piece to me. I was SO excited and felt very special to be able to share an “adult” treat. (I did not know then what a tremendous sacrifice this was on your part!). I eagerly popped it into my mouth, but unfortunately it did not taste anything like what I thought it would—I was expecting a fruity sensation, not an almond flavor! I was sorely disappointed!

For whatever reason, this memory has stayed with me all these years, and I think of you whenever I see marzipan. Enjoy every bite!

Love,

Sue 8-)

Holiday James

The Dollar Store had just what I needed for James' holiday attire. The balls and bow and garland all together cost only $7.42. His new hat was made from another sweater that I bought at "The Clothing Closet" a local fire company ladies' auxiliary group that accepts donations. It had not snowed yet, but I knew it would - sometime. It's November 28 and he is ready! Meet Jolly Jaunty James.

Since it hasn't snowed yet, I made snow for him! And then a greeting card, just in case it didn't really snow in time for sending.

December 5 - IT SNOWED!

Greeting cards are finished and sent December 14.

Nuts! Nuts! Nuts!

The UPS truck rarely stops at our home. Last night's delivery was a surprise. The box read, "Nuts Online" so I figured it had to be from someone who knew I was a bit nutty, BUT...I can't eat nuts! I have no "chewers" so it had to be from someone who didn't realize that fact.

The next thing strange was the delivery label. It was an address we had up until 1997 when we moved to the other side of the lake. Who hasn't contacted me since 1997???

Mystery solved. The greeting inside revealed a dear sweet friend from Hawaii, with whom I've been only e-mailing and not "snail-mailing."

The best part of the surprise was that this friend remembered that my favorite, my VERY favorite candy is marzipan!! And, although it comes in many different shapes and forms, the fruits are the ones for me; limes, strawberries, oranges, peaches and apples!

I cannot express enough the thrill when I saw them. It's an extremely strong willed person like me, who loves marzipan and doesn't immeditely rip into it and gobble it all up in one sitting. I WILL do that, I promise you, when I'm better prepared and then hit the sack with a superb sugar high.

Addendum: This morning when my husband was disposing of the shipping container the candy came in, I had painful moments because of laughing so hard. He had opened the box to fold and compact it for recycling, not realizing it was full of packing peanuts and they went all over the floor. Have you ever tried to hand pick up those little white puffy nuts? Well NUTS! is all he could say. There are now nuts to eat, nuts for shipping, and a nut on the floor.

Hardships? Maybe Some...

Someone recently commented to me, "I can't believe you've never had a manicure." My reply was something like, "I can't miss something I've never had." That was that. Today my mind drifted back to that comment so here I am again - writing about having, missing, wanting, needing - you get the idea.

I've never had a manicure, a pedicure, a relaxing massage, a facial, a waxing; what else is there I should include?

I have had a clothes washer and clothes drier. I haven't had either for the past 15 years. I miss them! Oops! Forgot that I don't have a "real" dishwasher anymore either.

I don't miss, want or need the personal care services, but I could make good use of a clothes washer! The trip to town is only five miles each way. There is a singular small laundromat there, but to it I go - every week or at least once every ten days.

Spring Summer

It seems to be such a waste of time, waiting for the process to be complete. In the warm weather, I hang clothes outdoors. Ummmmm! Good vibes and wonderful smells emit from freshly air dried laundry. In cold weather, there I wait and wait and wait, contemplating all sorts of projects yet to be completed at home.

Winter

It is what it is. My choice. It's FINE! YEP!

James is Ready for Winter

I used seven 14" sections for the scarf. You can't see the other colors (in back) of red and grey. I made them 12 inches wide. He is larger around than I thought! Maybe when it rains the fleece will stretch some more. It was cheap! $2.94 yard at Walmart. I bought only 12 inches of the seven colors and only used 1/4 of each color, so I have enough left over for 3 more scarves! That's why I used the colors I did. The patterned fleece was costlier. My sweater-cut-off-into-hat worked well. My pom-pom is attached with a very large safety pin (aluminum knitting holder). The yarn for the pom costs over half as much as the fleece! I remembered how to make them and made it large. All in all, I like it! We'll see how well it lasts through rain and snow. If it doesn't, well then I'll have to think up another way to keep him warm!

Now if it would only snow I could take another photo and use it for holiday greeting cards!

Persimmons Payoff

This September caper happened in a campground by the ocean in the state of South Carolina.

You would have loved to see me go to the one and only (that I could find) persimmon tree every early morning for two weeks to sit on my golf cart and wait for a persimmon to fall! Let me explain: There were many already on the ground, but they were bruised, rotting and bitten. The squirrels get to them first, leaving remains of seedless fruit everywhere - even on the picnic tables and electric hookup fixtures at the campsites.

As soon as I would see or hear one fall, I gathered it, put into my plastic cup and waited for another. After gathering about 5 each morning, I went home, washed and put my treasures in the refrigerator. One morning I even took a straw broom with me and whacked at the branch but none would release and fall! After I had two pounds of them, I had a friend find a persimmon jelly recipe on the internet and made jelly! (I went to another neighbor to weigh my fruit on her bathroom scale to be sure I had enough!) Looking back, I guess everyone knows by now that I'm harmless.

What a mess this project made with my meager kitchen equipment when making the pulp. It was sticky and gooey stuff everywhere, but I was determined. After the jelly had cooled and I tasted it, I didn't like it! Too sour. I added some more honey, took a roll of Pillsbury biscuits, flattened each out, put a glob of jelly in the middle, topped it with another flattened dough piece, pinched all around, dunked in sugar and baked TARTS! Now THEY were delicious! I shared with my assistants - researcher and weighmaster, who also agreed wonders will never cease.

The end of this story is that another neighbor told me she has tubs of the stuff frozen at home in NC and will bring some to me the next time. Well, she did and then proceeded to share her persimmon pudding that she baked for me to taste. It's really a cake and delicious. I now have her recipe and will share it. She also will bring me more tubs when we're both at our beach places in South Carolina so I don't have to make my own pulp again! Whew!