I had a revelation today…one of the most valuable things I moved, became apparent. My recipe box with all the memories connected to it~~ PRICELESS !
This Sunday morning started differently than most Florida Sunday mornings…The skies dark & cloudy, a steady stream of raindrops, a quiet, meditating sound coming from the pool waterfall.. A calming, almost. This Sunday morning, put my business on the back-burner, reading the Sunday newspaper at 6:30 a.m. with no interruptions… Yes, this Sunday morning started off differently than most Florida Sunday mornings…
As I sat reading the newspaper, thought, thank goodness my crew didn’t have to move anyone in or out on a day like today. Miserably wet, makes the job that much harder…I was taking a break from my business, placing it on the back-burner, and this type of morning was reminiscent of Upstate NY where I had been born and raised.. Moving to Florida almost 9 years back. Thought about Halloween, either snowing or raining in NY and it was anyone’s guess when my kids would pick out their costumes. Winter jacket or no winter jacket to cover their costume…again, it was anyone’s guess! From there, my thoughts wandered…made me a little nostalgic and melancholy. But I was putting my business on the back burner? I started thinking back to the good times had with family & friends, the smell of firewood burning filling the air, the thick aroma of baked goods permeating the house, a comforting thought…Again, thought about when I moved. It was difficult , but challenging, and know I made the right choice, when settling in Florida. I visited Tampa, for one day as a youngster, went a museum while vacationing with my folks & younger brothers. How dark & cloudy skies, a steady stream of raindrops , and a quiet, meditating sound coming from the pool waterfall, evoked these profound thoughts.
Fall cleaning was very appropriate when you were cooped up on a fall day in Upstate, NY. Rain forced you to stay inside, read a book, do some crafts, drink hot cocoa, with marshmallows, of course. Throw on a kettle of Beef Stew, bake some homemade bread, bake some Apple Crisp. It was fall, you know, and apples were in season up there. Once again, found myself slipping back to my roots, and missed not having fresh NY apples to make Apple Crisp. Still would never entertain moving back, but it did make me a little more nostalgic & melancholy. Decided it would be a good day to entertain baking Apple Crisp… had an old recipe that had been handed down by my Mom’s, Mom’s Mom… My Great Grandmama… An excellent recipe, an excellent choice. I began digging through the cabinets looking for the perfect baking pan, a couple trips into the pantry, a quick spin of the spice rack, mixing bowls, measuring spoons, ready for baking! The thought of moving quickly entered my thoughts and kitchens are the worst to pack or unpack! A day when I was putting my business on the back burner! All the equipment and ingredients you needed to have to begin baking Apple Crisp! As I had made this so many times in the past, I didn’t think I would forget the recipe. How could I? I immediately went to find my recipe box to confirm I wasn’t forgetting one of the major ingredients…confirm the oven temperature. It was then that I realized I had moved one of the most treasured possessions I had! My recipe box!
I began pouring through all the recipes I had accumulated over the years, looking for the one special recipe that had been handed down a few generations ago. The recipe for Apple Crisp! As I riffled through the box, I found one from a good friend that taught me how to make Homemade Kaulua, one of my favorites from a neighbor up home to make Aunt Melba’s Sweet Pickles, each recipe having its’ own story, its’ own connection. Crazy Cake, Zucchini Bread, Chocolate Cherry Cake, which was one of my all-time favorites! This brought back memories of my mother-in-law. She would bake me that cake, every year for my birthday. Actually found myself chuckling a few times until I stumbled across the recipe for Apple Crisp. The card was rather yellowed, had some drops of cooking oil on one corner, but it was handwritten by my Mom, Mom S., back in 1985. I knew she had given me that recipe on more than one occasion over the years and finally, last time she wrote it out, she said, “Ter, put it in your recipe box and then you will always know where it is when you need it.” It was bittersweet as I re-read this recipe card… I lost my Mom in a car wreck several years back, right before leaving NY, for my new chapter in Florida. Her handwriting was a gentle reminder of the good times and life experiences we’d shared… I welled up with tears, fighting the emotion of how my decision to make Apple Crisp had affected my day. Had I made the right decision to bake, or to move? As the smell of it baking in the oven permeated my house, it was a dark & cloudy day, a steady stream of raindrops, a quiet, meditating sound of the pool waterfall, when I decided to put my business on the back burner…. And another life lesson learned. One that I will share first-hand with my family, friends, and clients…
One of the most valuable things I moved, became apparent today! My recipe box with all the memories connected to it ~~ PRICELESS! As I stepped outside waiting for the Apple Crisp to cool a bit, the rain had stopped…the sun trying to poke its’ way out around the clouds…A day where I had put my business on the back burner…
