from Walton's Mountain...
Thursday, July 22, 2004
I absolutely love this piece by Earl Hamner, the creator of the TV show "The Waltons." It reminds us of the little, everyday things that are really important...that stick in our minds as we grow older. You are creating warm memories and implanting tender feelings in the minds and hearts of your children everyday, without even thinking about it. Money is not required to accomplish this...love is. The daily repititions of reading books, singing songs, saying prayers; simple but delicious food; friendly sounds and pleasant smells; remembering the fun times and surviving the difficult times...they all make it into our memory banks and evoke tender feelings and yearnings that we can fall back on when the going gets rough. All those little things you do everyday are building buffers against the oncoming storms. Home...an island, a refuge, a haven of love. I'm so glad my grandchildren are growing up in your homes.
from Walton's Mountian...
At night across the mountain when darkness falls
and the winds sweep down out of the hollows
the wild things with their shiny eyes
come to the edge of the clearing.
At such an hour the house seems safe and warm,
an island of light and love in a sea of darkness.
At such an hour the word "home" must have come into being
dreamed up by some creature that never knew a home.
In his yearning there must have come to mind
the vision of a mother's face,
a father's deep voice,
the aroma of fresh baked bread,
sunshine in a window,
the muted sounds of rain on a roof,
the sigh of death,
the cry of a newborn babe,
and voices calling "goodnight".
Home, an island, a refuge, a haven of love.
posted by Carolee at 6:50 AM
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Need a sweet treat?
Monday, July 19, 2004
You know when you're just craving something sweet, but there's nothing in the house? Try these super easy lemon cookies made from a cake mix. Just stir up the ingredients, then pour it onto the counter and let the kids knead it a little to mix up all the sugar. It looks and feels just like homemade play-doh. They can roll the dough into little balls for you too!
Lemon Cookies
1 lemon cake mix
2 eggs
1/4 c. vegetable oil
Combine all ingredients. Roll into balls about the size of a walnut, then roll in sugar. Bake at 350F for 7-9 minutes -- DO NOT overbake. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.
Variation: You don't have to roll them in sugar...they are great without. You could also make a glaze from powdered sugar and lemon juice and put a little dab on top of each after they have cooled.
I think I'll be adding lemon cake mix to my food storage list!
posted by Carolee at 1:53 PM
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from the journal of Henrietta E. Williams
Sunday, July 11, 2004
I so enjoyed this entry from Henrietta's journal that I thought I would share it will all of you in honor of Pioneer Day on the 24th. Dinnertime was a challenge then, as it is now.
"They knew that I was no cook, but left that job to me. I built a fire after gathering buffalo chips, the wind playing with it as it pleased. I put the dutch oven on to heat and the cover by the side of it. I made a pie of dried apples, putting it into the oven, the lid still heating, and turned toward the wagon several yards away from the fire for safety. A nice cow sneaked up and helped herself to the pie and sneaked off, when a girl called me to look at my rice. I had a hard time cooking the biscuits as I was jumping in and out of the wagon, climbing over the provision box, watching my baby girl and getting what my husband wanted, as it was his misfortune never to find anything he was looking for. The fire had its own way of burning. I thought,'Oh, Zion, will we ever reach thee?'"
posted by Carolee at 3:56 PM
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Always have dessert first
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Life is so uncertain; always have dessert first! You've probably heard that quote before, but this morning was the first time I had heard it and it made me laugh...then ponder. Looking back(and I can look way back)I have few memories of the meat and potatoes part of my life, but I have clear and happy memories of dessert. Quiet moments with a new baby, Easter mornings, Christmas mornings, taking Chris to her first movie, playing at the "airplane" park or "Mom's" park, buying and playing with Cabbage Patch dolls, 4-H Fairs, long trips in the old Chevy van, gathering pinecones and making pinecone fire-starters, going to the museum in Denver, picnics, luau's in Hawaii and Center Parcs in Europe, etc. I'm sure there were lots of meat and potato things to be doing, but I'm so glad I have those dessert moments to remember. No one remembers if the house was neat and tidy, or if the garage needed cleaning, or if the laundry was piling up (although I'll bet some of you remember that well) but we do remember those desserts. Life is precious and so uncertain...always have dessert first!
posted by Carolee at 6:12 AM
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