April 2015 – Romance from the Heartland

Darling Dandy

April 28, 2015April 19, 2015 ellenparkerwrites

Spring bulbs are early risers. Today’s featured living item – beginning with D – is no exception. Several springs I fear the few in my flower bed will rise too soon and get their shoots frozen. And yes, some years they have brown tips on the green leaves. My neighbors appear to do better. Perhaps it’s the angle of sun exposure.

When a passenger – not recommended for drivers during rush hour — take a look at the edges of the St. Louis freeway on a spring day. Clumps, and thick rows of daffodils have been planted to give a spot of cheer after dreary winter.

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Add one spoonful of…

April 24, 2015April 23, 2015 ellenparkerwrites

The scientist within me cringes when I hear someone say to add a spoonful — or a dash — or a pinch. I want to ask back — How much?

Yes, I know it’s a shorthand. It’s especially common in the kitchen. And often times the hearer understands exactly what the speaker means. One day, back when I was learning to cook, I started gathering the measuring cups and spoons and ingredients for one of my grandmother’s cookie recipes. My own mother intervened in time.

Grandmother didn’t use a measuring cup. To her a cup was the large white coffee mug in her kitchen. Our discussion that day, as I selected a different recipe, didn’t extend to spoons.

Serve one spoonful of coleslaw to each person.

Which spoon do you want?

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Celebration Companion

April 21, 2015April 19, 2015 ellenparkerwrites

It’s party time! Find the glasses. Grab the bottle. Pop the CORK!

Back in historical times, when I attended elementary school and we prepared product maps of Europe (do they still do that in social studies class?) we would find a bit of cork for Portugal. Our sources were either from the fishing tackle box or a wine bottle. Parents frowned on stealing a piece of a trivet.

I’ve always found the idea of harvesting tree bark — carefully so as not to harm the tree — fascinating. Cork farmers need to be patient and plant trees to be harvested only in the next generation.

I’ve also found this tree in the Missouri Botanical Garden fascinating. It’s called a cork tree — but it’s not the sort that’s harvested on Portuguese plantations. This unrelated tree is native to the Amur river valley. If you’re going for the world atlas — look at the border of China and Siberia. Can you use your imagination and picture yourself snug in these branches with a book — or a daydream?

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Bath Time

April 17, 2015April 14, 2015 ellenparkerwrites

Mothers have been bathing their children since….

Well, since Eve gave birth to Cain? Not that those first bath times were recorded. But can you imagine it. A large leaf dipped in a quiet pool at the edge of the stream for a washcloth. A firm hold on the reluctant child. “Hold still son. This will only take a minute.”

“How long’s a minute?”

Some questions stay the same from generation to generation.

As do the actions of washing and rinsing. Cleansing. Starting fresh for a new day, week, or month.

Frozen in metal the below is one modern representation of a previous culture performing an ancient act. Only the tools change with time.

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Boxed – In or Out

April 14, 2015April 7, 2015 ellenparkerwrites

The second letter of our living alphabet features Boxwood for the letter B.

The first thought that comes to my mind at the mention of boxwood is a formal hedge, perhaps in a maze. We need to be more generous with our opinions of this evergreen shrub.

First: It’s a large family. My favorites are the traditional green. Other varieties are red or golden leaf. Preferred sunshine amount varies also but in general they like a sunny area or moderate shade.

The grouping above is in need of a trim. They first arrived at this location as tiny tots, perhaps a foot high. Once their roots got comfortable they reached for the windowsill. A large dose of mulch three years ago gave them a boost.

They are spaced far enough apart to allow other plantings — daffodils, lilies, and annuals for seasonal splashes of color and interest. They also make a nice backdrop for Christmas lights. And after a snow — well, it’s April, I don’t want to see them all trimmed in white again for months. Enough to say they make a pretty picture or memory year round.

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Holiday Prep

April 10, 2015April 7, 2015 ellenparkerwrites

Are you ready? Do you have a fresh red shirt? A new cap?

You’ve got until Monday to get ready for St. Louis’ unofficial holiday.

Confused? This is a movable celebration in early April. No — not Easter.

Home opening of Baseball!

It may be a religion to some. Prayers will be offered by many. For good weather. Home runs. Double plays. Winning score. But in general it’s a secular holiday.

It does not matter if you don’t have tickets. After all, Busch Stadium has an occupancy limit. And some employers insist you continue doing your day job. Never mind — tune the radio and catch the score at break time — or pull up coverage on the computer and let it run in the background for a quick check now and then.

Today Baseball Tomorrow Summer? — Today Baseball
Tomorrow Summer?

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April and Alphabet

April 7, 2015April 3, 2015 ellenparkerwrites

Several of the regulars who appear on my Facebook feed are participating in an A to Z challenge this month. They are taking the 30 days of April, omitting the Sundays, and blogging on a topic beginning with a different letter of the alphabet each day.

I’m not a daily blog person. But the idea intrigued me. So here’s the plan.

Each Tuesday, in alphabetical order, I’ll be posting about a living thing. If I counted right, this will continue until the end of September. Are you ready?

The optimist in me is looking forward to this year’s tiny, tight buds, growing as well as these did on my patio a few years ago. No pessimists allowed in the garden.

Did you know? Azalea leaves and nectar are toxic. Avoid honey made from azalea nectar. Authors: are you in need of a clever way to deliver a death threat in a story? Gift the future victim with a bouquet of azalea blossoms in a black vase.

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Preparing

April 3, 2015April 2, 2015 ellenparkerwrites

No, I’m not a Boy Scout. I do believe their tag line, “Be Prepared” is good advice.

I’m a list maker. I think it’s genetic. One son, one niece, and one nephew show the same trait.

A list is one, often the first step, whether it’s written and committed to memory. (As I age, written is showing many advantages.) To actually count as being prepared, however, a person needs to go further than making a list. Following it would be good. Like working through a recipe or a standard operating procedure.

In the photo below, you see some of the results of list making. Everything pictured, including the table, cover, and chair made it on my list of things to have at a local craft show. A bag of misc pins, tape, and pens even proved to be useful to others. And you’ll note my morning dose of caffeine stashed behind the display.