Death By Banana Bread

R is for Retrieve and Revive. (This was not originally intended as and ABC Wednesday post, but I think it works nicely. We could call it "recycled.")

Four nicely spotted bananas sat on the counter, waiting to be made into banana bread. Today was the day. (Actually, it was yesterday...) With supplies and ingredients at hand, the task was begun. Sugar and shortening had been creamed, eggs and milk stirred in, when the phone rang. I left the partially mixed batter in the kitchen and stepped outside to talk.

Still on the phone, I returned to the house and stood before the waiting assemblage, when out of the corner of my not-so good eye, I saw something move on my left fingertip which was rather close to my face. Instinctively, I shook my hand. Was it gone? I returned my hand to its former position. No, it was still there. I shook my hand again, not even sure what it tiny object was. This time it was gone. I had seen something fly away. I turned off the phone, set it aside, and returned to my baking.

Taking a fork, I proceeded to mash the two bananas before me. Something small and dark appeared in the bowl. What could it be...? I took up my glasses to identify this foreign object, and there she was, a tiny red ladybug, slathered in mashed banana. She struggled to move, her little legs wiggling. Moved with ladybug compassion, I turned on the water faucet to see if I could rinse away some of the offending substance without killing her. I found it quite difficult to bathe a ladybug. When she stopped moving, I feared the worst.

Not wanting to manhandle her any more than I already had, I dumped the now still creature into a small potted plant on the window sill. An hour or so later she remained, silent and upside down, her underside covered with banana. I went on with my chores.

Two batches of banana bread came and went from the oven, children napped and went home, supper was served and dishes were washed and put away. Late in the evening I glanced into the small pot in search of my little friend but she was gone. Oh wait, there she was! Crawling up the window screen.

Anybody for some coffee and a slice of Ladybug Bread? Er, I mean, banana Bread?


To see the other participants in the new round of 
ABC Wednesday, click here!

Being Responsible

Caring for an aging parent is full of  guesswork. Being responsible for the health and well being of one who isn't quite who they used to be is stressful. She's not quite a child and yet not the mom I once knew. I am still the child in her eyes, and yet I must be the adult. I must take the reins.

Matches... We use them to light the wood stove, keep them for candles, and occasionally use them in the lavatory. It has become apparent that they must not be left where Mom can get them. They must be kept out of sight. Blah. A new stress. She tried to light a candle and dropped the burning match two or three times. I was watching. Now I know there is a new danger and I find it frightening.

I pray my sisters will understand when I don't always treat Mom like an adult. I pray that I will respond properly as situations arise, even though I fail a thousand times. I pray that God will give me the strength I need to finish the task before me, the wisdom to make wise choices, and grace to accept His forgiveness when I fail repeatedly and to forgive myself as well.

Questions to Dodge

There are too many questions bouncing around inside my little brain... It's a good thing I'm pretty good at dodge-ball. (Do you know they're not allowed to play that in NY State schools anymore?)

I've decided that not all questions have an answer. Then again, sometimes the answer is simply, "I don't know," and sometimes it's, "Let me think about it and get back to you." Very often the light in there (my brain) just doesn't go on. (You know the saying, "there's a light in the attic but nobody's home?") Well, sometimes the light is missing altogether. If you're confused, don't worry, you're not alone. :)

PS. I know not all questions can be dodged. Not to worry, I'm not dodging all of them.

Pies, Apple Pies

I spent hours in the kitchen after a long day of running errands. The pumpkin was finally pureed and stowed in the refrigerator, two apple pies baked happily in the oven. It was time for a rest.

"Hey, Mom," Hannah called, "What's burning?"

There was smoke coming out of the oven, that's what I was told. I pictured it billowing, even thought I really knew it was just juice from the pies overflowing onto the bottom of my stove. Too late for the trusted cookie sheet underneath now... I guess we'll be enjoying the aroma of burnt apples for several more rounds of baking. :)

At least the pies aren't burnt.

11-11-11 at 11:13 am

Today is my boy's 18th birthday! I have waited 18 years for this "11th Hour" birthday, but alas! He spent the magic moment at work where he likely got a bigger celebration and a lot more attention than I ever could have given him at home. Either way it's been pretty special having a boy whose birthday falls on Veteran's Day each year. Tonight he has plans with friends; bowling, Trash Plates (go ahead and google it...), and possibly a movie.

On Sunday afternoon we will gather the family for apple pie and ice cream. I'm looking forward to that.

So, Ben, I hope this day will be long remembered and bring a smile to your face for many years to come.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Lessons From the Leaves

I suppose I may never tire of watching autumn leaves. Happy, colorful, and carefree, they dance through their final days...

Old age brings a new dimension to the life of a leaf. No longer tethered to the tree, they are free to twirl and dance. They fly through the air and sail on the breeze, spinning as they go. Early life found them supple and green, working hard to provide for their own. Now time has colored them red, orange, yellow and bronze, and left them brittle and stiff. They are dying, yet are, in some ways, more alive than ever before. It's almost as if they know the time is short and they are determined to make the most of it.

Can I learn the lesson and what will it mean for me?

Look! It's a party!!!

I'm Running Away!

Yesterday I ran away from home. I went to the cemetery and wandered about by myself. It was bright, sunny, and warm. I took a few photos, read a few inscriptions, and cried out to God. He heard me. He is good.

Q is for Quaint

Q is for quaint. I guess I would refer to my parent's house as quaint. Rustic, with old barn boards still gracing the walls long after they went out of fashion. It remains a place where I see my father's love and handiwork.

To see the other participants in the new round of ABC Wednesday, click here!

Rustlers Roost

It has been a week of rustling. The leaves are ripe and it's time to rustle them up. It's one of my very favorite fall activities. Ever since I was a little girl walking through the woods with my mother and she mentioned what a lovely rustling sound the leaves make under one's feet, I have enjoyed the autumn art of leaf rustling.

Autumn Days

I am reveling in the last few days of comfortable autumn weather. I refuse to be dissuaded from my enjoyment by  frigid weather yet to come. There is still beauty to absorb, crinkly leaves to rustle through, and smoky orchard air to breathe. The squirrels are busy frolicking in the nearly naked tree branches and little birds are hopping about getting ready for winter too. There is an ever growing woodpile emerging on my back porch, and now that the clocks have been set back, the dark of evening chases us inside just a little bit sooner than last week. I still love fall.

Scantily Clad

The trees are disrobing at an alarming rate!

Get Down!

Autumn orchard walks take us past stacks of empty apple crates. They stand in Apple Crate Cities waiting to be hauled off between the trees, filled with semi ripe fruit, and either put into storage or taken to Mott's. My kids think they are actually giant playgrounds...

New Carpet

I'm liking the new carpet. It's one of my favorite colors and hides the dirt rather well. (It hides the grass too.) It really is very pretty. Too bad we have to pull it up so soon.

Happiness is...

... a pile of leaves.

Leta brought the kids to visit, but she didn't get here until noon. This meant two of my small "bugs" would probably not take a nap, so we did the next best thing. We put the two smallest to bed and took the other two outside to play in the leaves... er... make that four. (I forgot to count Lucas and Simon.)

It Was Wednesday

I have looked forward to Wednes- day all week long. It arrived bright and early this morning. With just Emma to put on the school bus and no other small children to keep track of, I was able to do some long neglected jobs. After checking my online accounts and downing a cup of coffee, I dragged my Kirby upstairs to battle dust bunnies. We sucked up whole families of dust creatures, chased spiders out of corners, and went through an entire exercise regimen in the process. The laundry room hummed encouragement from downstairs.

It was one of those gorgeous days that should be bottled up and savored. With temper- atures hovering in the low sixties, a walk through the orchard was imperative. I took Hannah along and we soaked in the warm air and sunshine.

If only every day in November could be so perfect.

P is for Painter

P is for painter.

My friend's husband is an artist. He lives in the Bronx and does most of his painting there. He challenged Hannah and me to come up with ten American painters. I'm afraid that I was at a loss to come up with ten well known American painters. I am rather uneducated in this area... Um, how about Georgia O'Keef? Norman Rockwell?

To see the other participants in the new round of ABC Wednesday, click here!

Goodbye October

Halloween, the last night of October. No spooks or goblins knocked on our door this evening, so I guess we'll have to eat the candy ourselves. :)

Yesterday I found the vines on this old barn looking like a giant spider web.

Antiquing!

This afternoon Bethany called with a spur of the moment request. She was at the LW Emporium and Whistle Stop Antiques and wanted to know if I'd like to browse antiques with her. It sounded like fun.

I grabbed my purse and headed out the door. We didn't have much time, but I think she and I could have a lot of fun browsing together given the entire afternoon. Forty-five minutes just wasn't long enough to take it all in. I think we'll have to go back again.

Falling Over

What's more fun than a pile of freshly fallen leaves?

My Last Year's garden came to play yesterday! What a great way to end the week. 

Today I met James for lunch at Moe's and ran into my friend Bella who gave me the nicest smile and a great big hug. :) 

Though my week started out stressed, it ended relaxed. To top it off Josh turned four today and we had a really great birthday party.

The Escape Hatch

I was totally overwhelmed on Monday. It wasn't the small children playing in my living room, just an overall unsettled stress deep within. Sometimes I find myself wondering whether the room is spinning or just my mind, and then I realize it's all those loose ends that never stay tied. On Sunday afternoon I heard part of a message on the radio. The pastor was speaking of those times when we go to pray and all we can muster is "Oh, Lord..." He said that was okay and God hears the cry of our hearts and so my prayer was just that, "Oh, Lord."

I had been wondering if God was hearing my prayers anymore or if He would ever answer my cry. On Tuesday morning my friend Vinnie came to play. I felt a sense of relief wash over me when I laughed at him kissing the goldfish through the side of the bowl. It was just the beginning. There was a phone call from a mom who I had agreed to babysit for. She doesn't need me after all. A little more stress relieved. Another phone call told me that my grandkids would be here today rather than Wednesday and that left Wednesday free and clear aside from putting Emma on and off the bus. Relief. And my friend Heather came to visit too. It was a wonderfully dark and rainy morning, perfect for a little bit of cleaning and a visit with a friend. In the afternoon Hannah and I ran out to the bank and a quick stop at the store. We ended the day with a Scrabble game between James, Hannah, and me. I think I lost, but that's okay. Today the pressure is relieved and all I had to do was trust God to provide a way of escape.