Buzz, buzz, buzz

Once upon a time, again

my hair began to shed
just like cats in summertime
the mess I made, oh dread!
I flew that week from East to West
to Mama's house I went
No brush or comb I used at all
and silk scarves was I lent

When I got home I couldn't wait
to have the mess removed.
My daughter turned the clippers on;
my sanity improved.

Owen helped; his little face
it bore such concentration.
When he stopped Chantel resumed.
His look of consternation
disappeared, he laughed and shrieked,

"You look like Uncle Clayton!"

I thought I did, and maybe do
look like my youngest child,

But John and I look so alike,
as he would say, "That's wild!"
(I love ya, Bo!)
And family, thanks for the buzz party!

I Stand Corrected

My friend, Clytie, sent me a note with more accurate information about the history of the Pottawattamie plums than what I wrote. I made the corrections and reposted. I spent another 20 minutes trying to figure out why the link to that post doesn't work. So you'll have to scroll down to find it if you want to read the truth!! Thanks, Clytie.

Christmas Time

This year I vowed that I would involve myself in as many holiday events as possible. Last year I was moving and missed almost everything. This year was a different story. I attended numerous musical events at the D.C. Visitors Center, including several choir concerts Chantel was involved in. I took my friend Kathy to see the lights. I went with the Calders to see the lights again and enjoy a barbershop quartet, and I attended two different ward Christmas parties. In addition, I made goodies for my neighbors, most of whom I barely know, but had fun leaving goodies at their doors. Christmas eve was spent at the Calders. I woke up to hear Owen, "Grammy! Wake up! It's time for stockings!" I love stocking time and always have. Once again, Chantel filled mine without my knowing it. She is an angel daughter. After breakfast we opened gifts. Later in the day, we picked up my friend Kathy and she, along with us and another family, enjoyed a ham feast complete with tablecloths and candlelight. A wonderful, lovely, Christmas day.

Pottawattamie Jelly

My friends, Clytie and Spence, have a long-standing tradition: During the summer when wild pottawattamie plums are ripe, they pick enough to make a hundred or more 1/2 pints of beautiful, clear, red jelly. During their annual performance of the Nutcracker in December, the jellies are sold as a fund-raiser to help replace the cost of costumes. Well, Madelyn and I were lucky enough to be recipients of this incredible treat. We ate it drizzled over home-made bread pudding and Clytie sent us on our way with our own jars and one for Mom.

Spence told us the Pottawattamie Indians showed the early saints where the shrubs grew wild in Iowa when the saints stopped in Winter Quarters on their trek west. In the spring they took dried root stock with them to the Salt Lake Valley and planted them along the irrigation ditch banks. Over the years as the Salt Lake Valley and beyond has expanded, the bushes are becoming harder and harder to find. In fact, I didn't find much of anything on the internet that was recent either. But in 1922 U.P. Hedrick wrote the Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits, Macmillan Co. (En must have come later). The horticultural name is P. Munsoniana and Hedrick said, "This variety is possibly of greater cultural value than any other of its species. The fruit is of high quality, the texture is especially pleasing in eating...and it keeps and ships very well...munsoniana plums grow without danger of winter injury to tree or bud as far north as the forty-fourth parallel." Hmmm. Suddenly I'm back in Idaho perusing our encyclopedias of gardening and planning the next year's garden... Anyway, I had never heard of Pottawattamie plums until recently. They don't appear to be cultivated as a crop commercially, but maybe one of the newer organic farms might take an interest. I hope the saplings can be ordered from certain plant nurseries but I've had no luck in finding them yet. But press on I will! The jelly tastes divine--tart and sweet at the same time, and the finished product is the most beautiful jewel red color, almost too lovely to eat.

Special People

Last week I flew non-stop to Salt Lake City; Madelyn flew in from Friday Harbor and we met at the airport. Our destination was our mom's house in White Rocks, but that evening we stayed with Clytie and Spence in Kaysville.

The Adams served a mission to California in 2005 and we became instant good friends. They showed up at my condo when my hair was in a ponytail and I was painting in preparation for a house-warming party. An eternal friendship was born.

I will long remember the other evening, the fire in the fireplace, the delicious meal, (the pottawattamie jelly!) the wonderful conversation. The four of us talked for hours and could have talked longer if we hadn't been so tired. I was proud to show my sister off to my friends and vice-versa! Before we left on Tuesday morning, Clytie gave me this picture of Brandon that was in her album. It was from their farewell party right before they returned home to Utah. Thank you so much. This picture brings back warm memories of Brandon and that time in our lives.

I Found it!

When we went through Brandon's things in October, I found some odds and ends that had been missing. For instance--I had the mixer while he had the beaters! Go figure. Anyway, amidst all the clothing, books and dishes, I found a stack of recipes that I've had for years. Some of you will be too young to remember, but women's magazines such as Women's Day and Family Circle, used to include recipe booklets that could be pulled out and either filed or put in a binder. I love the ratty old booklet in these pictures. I've had it for over 30 years. How do I know? Because the inside pages say "Women's Day December 1975"! Wow. That means I had been married only about a year when I started making this recipe for pound cake.

The cake travels well and slices nicely if you want to include some on a cookie plate; or make a whole one and sweeten up that persnickety neighbor. Whatever you decide, the cake is delicious! I've had a request for the recipe, so here it is:

Pound Cake
In medium bowl stir together 2 & 2/3 cup flour, 1/4 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp nutmeg (optional) and 1/4 tsp salt; set aside.

In large bowl cream 1 & 1/2 cups butter and 2 & 1/4 cups sugar until light and fluffly. Add 2 tsps grated lemon peel, 2 tsps vanilla, and 8 eggs, two at a time, mixing well between. Mixture will look a bit curdly but that's ok.

Add flour mixture to wet mixture all at once and mix at low speed until smooth and well blended. (Do not use a high speed as you'll whip air into the mixture and your pound cake will come out tough). Bake in 10 inch bundt pan at 325* for an hour and ten minutes. Cool for 5 minutes then transfer to cake plate. Store airtight in a container or wrap in plastic wrap. Do not refrigerate.

Infusion

I wore fur and diamonds today
took extra care with my makeup my hair
practiced my lines in the mirror
then marched in
and sat in the big chair
the same one I always sit in
by the window so I can
see my reflection
in the glass
only to discover
that everyone
was cheering and clapping for the silent
hairless man with the IV
sitting just across from me
in total
peaceful
surrender