Thursday, May 8, 2008

Sing with me now..."Memories..like the corners of my mind..misty watercolor memories...

...I know you were singing along with me and Barbara Streistand...you know you were..well, I was....


It's funny where or when a memory will be triggered. Take yesterday...

When I went looking for the Dandelion Jelly recipe, I had to look through all sorts of recipe books that were made so that one could slip their nice "regulation-sized recipe card" in the plastic sleeve.


Only I don't usually print the recipes on a "regulation-sized recipe card"...more like a piece of a torn envelope I had close by, or the back of a bag, or more recently, an email that has some great new find someone thought I'd like to try ...


So my books are a mish-mash of papers stuck in and half-way falling out. Some are yellowed with time, some a splattered with food (those must have been the ones I tried) some a torn out of magazines.


But a few, a precious few, almost took my breath away.


You know the ones ...handwritten ones...in your Mother's or Daddy's handwriting...



The ones that, if you were to loose them, would be like losing a part of yourself. Those ones.






And I was so very glad that I re-discovered them yesterday. So glad that I had already decided to write about my neighbor's dandelions as I watched them turn into those fuzzy-white- wishing blooms...
(all the time wishing I was making Dandelion Jelly...)


I think it took me the better part of the afternoon to turn each one over and try to memorize not the recipe but the handwriting, afraid that I'd be missing them all again, afraid that if I put them up, I'd "forget".....


So, I have scanned them into my computer, in my recipe file and taken the originals and made this little book for them to live in.











I'll add some from other people who have been willing to share their "secret" recipes with me and I'll keep this recipe book, not in the pantry with the "other" cookbooks, but on display for others to see. And one day, I'll add some of my own to the mix, in my handwriting, so someone I love can see me again in the handwriting....




Want to make a memory? Write it out...someone will want to hold it to their hearts....
...and you will live on....forever....


-me

12 comments:

The Feathered Nest said...

Colleen! You made me cry! This post is precious, as is the beautiful recipe book. I have recipes like that too ~ I love to look a their handwriting and think of them and how much I love and miss them ~ xxoo, Dawn

Anonymous said...

Very beautiful and poignant....Pam

Little Penpen said...

Gorgeous book! What a keepsake!

Charmingdesigns said...

Your book is WONDERFUL!!! The hand written ones are such a treasure! Laurie

Unknown said...

Love the book...another great idea from the "idea master" (or would that be "idea mistress" or "idea madam"....better not go there).

I did a little "googling" and found out you can buy dandelion greens in the produce section of some large grocery chains and some smaller health food stores. Might give a few a call, although I'm not sure how much they will laugh when you ask them if the sell "dandelions..not the seeds, but the greens".

Let me know if you find any. Take care.

supahmommy- somethin's wrong with that girl said...

I'll send you some dandelions with the amassing collection of goodies. :) wink wink



That book is such a treasure. Did you just whip that up??? Gosh. I need to start whipping stuff.

lol
I love my grandmother's handwriting.. and my aunt's. It's such a lost.. art these days huh? We should all be required to submit a sample of our handwriting. Just for posterity.

I too have recipes.. in my uh.. recipe.. catch all.. all gross and glorious. :)
Glad to know I'm not the only one.

and also while I'm on a roll and hoggin the comment section...

I am fluent in phonetic speak. I was a first grade teacher in a past life. :)

i cn red yo gist fne utaw.

~niecey- d

Jan said...

Well thanks alot Colleen! Now I have that Memories song on my mind and it won't go away! LOL!!
You have inspired me and this weekend I'm going to be hitting my Mama's recipes and bringing them home to make a book! Well, the ones she no longer uses, that is! : )
Have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Jan

Laurie and Chris said...

What a great idea. I love it. It is so good to see the hand writting of those that have passed away. My mom made all of a picture for Christmas with one of my grandmothers recipes in it with her writing I love it.

Anonymous said...

Girl you stopped working and the talent came out in a big way! hehe love the book it is awesome. I know you will treasure it.

Senior Bowler-Carolyn said...

That is so true about hand written stuff...recently I found old post cards written to my Mother (82) from her brother (deceased but would be 90) when he join the army in 1941. He took basic in Texarkana, TX in April 1941 and write Mother and my Grandmother post cards.....Mother was almost 17 at the time.....My daughter is a history major and Mother gave them to her.....she found these wonderful tow sided frames and has them hanging in her computer room....such a treasure for us to find in a old picture box

RoeH said...

I LOVE that book! I want one. My recipes are in a huge envelope and I just went through and tossed alot of them I never used. But...I will have to try the Coke Cake. I don't like chocolate, but I'll learn for this one.

RoeH said...

Oops..forgot...And I can barely remember somebody in Rigby Idaho where I grew up making Dandelion Jelly. Just barely. I'd forgotten about it.

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