jim dandy to the rescue

My mother is sitting here, next to the window, working on her sewing and singing her heart out. We're listening to the '50s station on XM Radio. They're playing long lost hits like "Jim Dandy to the Rescue" and she's remembering them all.

She used to work at Life of Virginia, coding punchcards. Every week when she got her check, she'd stop on her way home to pick up a 45 of the latest dance hit. And now, not at all dusty from all these years of not playing them, she knows all the words and most of the singers' names.

Here's the recipe for the 1-2-3-4 cake. So named because of its sequential ingredients. My mother wanted to tell you that she adds about a cup and a half of chopped black walnuts to the batter to make it into the black walnut cake. She also wanted to alert you that it might be hard to find black walnuts this time of the year. Most stores only carry them seasonally for holiday recipes like fruitcakes. She buys them in December and freezes them. They don't have a long shelf-life which is probably why they are not stocked year 'round.

Whenever there is word that my mother is going to make this cake for a bake sale, people clammer to claim them. They call her and preorder so the cake never really makes it to the bake sale at all.

happy day

My parents are arriving this morning! I'm so excited. We have lots of fun things planned, including visiting the Ritz Carlton for afternoon tea. I think that's the very best way to use my gift certificate.

I'm getting ready for them now. I'm going to venture to the grocery store to stock up on their favorite snacks and drinks. I'm also going to get fresh flowers to put in their bedroom.

My mother made a black walnut cake for me and brownies for Rich. Isn't that so nice? I can't wait to have a slice of that wonderful cake with a cup of tea with her. I think she just uses her 1-2-3-4 cake recipe, adding black walnuts to the batter. I'll confirm that with her when she gets here.

Even though she's made a 1-2-3-4 cake at least once a month for as long as I can remember, she still refers to a very old cardboard cut-out from Swansdown cake flour.

I'll have lots of stories to tell you about their visit, I'm sure. Just you wait. Lots of funny things happen to them.

a dream about a turtle

A few years ago, on a Sunday, I had a dream about a turtle. I dreamt that someone gave me a turtle as a gift. I wanted to loved it but I was too afraid of it. I liked it only when it was in its shell, like a rock. When it stuck out its head and looked at me with its eyes, I was sure it would get me.

I grew up with a marsh as my backyard. And I knew all about snapping turtles. Their necks were so long they were like snakes. And they did bite. And hiss. They were not shy, like the turtle in cartoons.

So, in my dream, I wished that I could love this turtle but I was really too afraid of it. This turtle seemed like a regular turtle, shy and nice. I just couldn't muster the nerve to be very near it.

When I awoke, I told this dream to Rich as soon as I woke up. I'm glad that I did because if I'd told him later, it wouldn't have been believable. That is because, later that morning when I looked out the window I saw a turtle crossing our neighborhood street!

I had not, and have not since, seen a turtle in our neighborhood. But there he was...my turtle. It was as if he'd walked out of my dream and right onto the street.

I often think of that dream and wonder what it could mean. What other gifts am I given that I'm too afraid to use? Is there anyone in my life waiting for love that I'm too afraid to extend?

How about you?