September 07, 2007

Special Times


Rain, and thunderstorms, are predicted here for the next few days. I don't mind, at all. I love it when it rains. The weather is still pretty warm here, but the nights are beginning to be a little cooler, and before you know it, it will be Autumn, which happens to be one of my favorite times of the year. When Autumn is approaching, it is apparent, to me anyway, in the way the light looks, especially in the afternoon--rather hazy, or something--and I begin to look forward to seeing the leaves changing colors. Sometimes, while out driving, certain areas look as if someone took a giant paintbrush, and flipped it at random, with colors landing helter-skelter upon the trees.

Then suddenly, it's wintertime, and then, depending upon where you happen to live, comes the snow! That's when I love the coziness of being inside, with the smell of something good cooking, like soup, or stew, or cornbread, or blueberry muffins. That's also when I realize how much I appreciate my nice, warm home, with plenty to eat, because it was not always so.

If you've read my other posts, then you have read a few things about my early life, and background. A lot of it sounded dismal, I know, but it was not all that way. Even in the midst of the hardest of times, there were times which created special memories. In the sharecropper's shack, with the large cracks in the floors, and the walls, I remember how Mama tried to make things cozy for us. We didn't have a lot--certainly not anything special, at all, but there were special times.

Sometimes, on rainy days, Mama would open a jar of blackberries which she had canned during the summer, and we would sit around the shabby old kitchen table, where she would allow us to put a big dollop of sugar into our bowls of blackberries. It doesn't sound like much, but it was for us kids. It was wonderful--cozy and comforting--sitting there eating our treat, and listening to the rain on the tin roof of the kitchen.

I don't know--maybe that is why I love the rain so much, now. I love hearing it pelting against the windowpanes, and onto the roof. It makes me feel safe, and secure--and comforted, somehow. Maybe, it makes me think of Mama, and of all the special little things she did, with practically nothing to do with. Love is just like that, you know?

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your mother must have been a very caring, kind, warmhearted person. You were lucky to have her.

I also love fall, with foggy days and colored leaves.

I do not like winter, though. I could live without it.

Jan said...

Olivia..yes, she was a wonderful human being, in every way. I was most blessed to have had her.

Anonymous said...

I also love the fall. I take a drive up into the Blue Ridge for a 50 lb bag of mountain cabbage and spend a week making ssaurkraut. Then I go to the orchards in the Brushy Mountains and get enough apples to can a mess of apple butter and make some apple pies for the freezer. It is the time of year when I especially appreciate the abundance the earth has to offer.

Jan said...

rockync..I love that you said "a mess" of apple butter. I haven't heard that in years! I keep forgetting that you live down in that part of the country.

My husband loves apple butter, but alas, I have never gotten into canning, and making preserves, or anything like that.

I would love that drive up into the Blue Ridge mountains...you lucky girl!

Anonymous said...

I put a mess of apples in my poke and carry 'em home. :) Just thought I'd speak a little more "southern" to you. You sound a little homesick. You're so right, I am very fortunate to be living in this corner of heaven. I love my mountains!

Jan said...

Lol...thanks, I do get a little homesick at times.

Btw...where I'm from we would say "sack" so I guess it depends on what part of the South you live in, what you call it! :)

Anonymous said...

I love my mountains, too, rockync, the Taunus mountains in Germany. They are so beautiful when the leaves start coloring bright yellow, orange and brown in fall.

You make "sauerkraut", a German recipe? Are you from German descent?

Olivia

Anonymous said...

Olivia, I'd change places with you for a while. My parents are Czech and my most feverent wish is to go back for one more visit before I'm too old to go. I don't make sauerkraut the old way in a barrel because it is too warm here in the winter and I don't have a root cellar. I make a kraut that is like silver floss if you are familiar with that term.
JAN - I'm sure there are lots of very local Southernisms. Poke being one of them.
Have you ever kept a patch of winter greens? I usually sow collards,turnip and mustard greens in a small patch and we cut off it all winter. I'm far enough north, I get freezes, but I just cut it back when it freezes, throw some hay on it and wait for it to grow back. Nothing like a mess of greens cooked with a little fatback and some warm cornbread on a cold dark night....

Anonymous said...

Yes, that is a good idea, rockync, let's switch places.

I mean it for real. Let's switch homes for a vacation. You may have my condo in the Taunus mountains, and I will come to your place to go hiking in the Blue Ridge mountains. How about that? At least it is an idea to dream about, isn't it?

I will put some pictures of the Taunus mountains on my blog. Come and visit:

http://olivia-kroth.blog.de.vu

Regarding Sauerkraut -
I must admit that I do not make it myself but buy it in a glass and just heat it, adding slices of apples, onions and "Speck" - hhmmm, delicious.

I am sure your homemade Sauerkraut tastes very good, too.

Jan said...

rockync...yes, there are many "southernisms" and they are quite varied, dependding on the region. Some of them give folks from other places, a laugh or two when they hear them, and some are downright puzzled, having not a clue as to the meaning of the word! LOL

As far as planting greens as you mentioned, I don't. I have never done anything like that, personally. We planted some tomatoes in large pots, out on the patio, and the deer which come into the yard at night, ate the tops off some of them, but we still have more than we can eat. I cook a lot of friend green tomatoes, which are delicious, as you know! :)

Olivia...we will be looking forward to seeing the pictures of the Taunus Mountains when you post them on your blog!

Anonymous said...

Olivia, it sounds like you live in a lovely place. I will dream of going there one day...

Anonymous said...

Yes, rockync, let's dream of it. Maybe one day the dreams will become reality.

Anonymous said...

As much as I love fall, winter is really my favorite time...especially with a big snowfall and being all cuddled in the house with a fire going, home made bread and stew going and all my family and critters safe and warm. Nothing better.

Thanks for the memory, Jan.

Jan said...

I told you, Sue...you and I are 'cocooners.' LOL