Subj: Un bell' giorno
Date: 7/9/00 6:52:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Esther Yardumian-Smythe and I have talked for ages & ages about getting together for lunch. On Friday, it happened! She swung by Squirrel Haven around 1:00 p.m. and we were off & running. She took me to a new restaurant - the Allways Cafe in Bethayres. It is located where Wagner's Bakery once stood.
It was, as I expected, a wonderful afternoon. Esther & I had a lively conversation - never a dull moment. Esther is always a tonic for my spirits and this was no exception. In age, she is a tad younger than Elsa; in spirit, we’re irrepressible contemporaries, sharing a love of life and of her mother, or as Esther calls her – the Mate.
In addition to updating me on the past year - she teaches at the Academy and is the high school girls' dorm "Mom," jobs that would keep the average person hopping - she filled me in on her plans to spend a month in Florence with her husband. They will have a nice apartment, with flowers and trees all around. She will be studying the art treasures.
If I ever go to Italy, the place where I would want to spend the most time is Florence, for its culture and art, so it was wonderful to lap up news of their upcoming adventures. I especially like the fact that her husband will be there too. It is fun to imagine how Pete and I would fare over there for month. I like to think we would do quite well.
In addition to our gab fest, which covered many bases, it was fun to see all sorts of friends and acquaintances who had also stopped by to "put on the old nosebag." There was Bob Bieswenger, Emily Jane Lemole, members of the Garth Cooper clan (who own the café), Bryon Odhner, and others I cannot recall.
I had a good lesson in the power of the Internet when Emily Jane came up and gave me a hug & a kiss, which surprised me until she said how much she had loved reading what I had written about her Mom after Emilie's death and wondered if we had a print out of it that she could have.
That is one of the greatest things about this electronic medium and about sharing things that can be passed along without hesitation. There is no knowing where they are going or who will see them.
When Esther brought me home, we hung around the living room for a while and talked some more. Lunch was a wonderful treat, but talking in the living room was my favorite part. Among other things, we looked at life from the point of view of teenagers and the point of view of adults. It was a rare afternoon. It was hard to say our good byes.
Prologue - when Elsa came in the door that night, she asked how my day was. I reminded her, as she was coming around the big chair, that I had gone out with Esther. As she tells it, she expected to see me looking happy, but with a touch of the translucent grey I get to my face when I am tired. She was bowled over - according to her, I looked simply radiant and very strong. I said it earlier and will say it again - Esther is a tonic! My thanks to her for "un bell' giorno" and may she have a magical month in Florence. And schedule some time for another lunch before school begins!
Love to all! May your summer (or winter) be filled with wonder - Cybergram
reposted in sweet memory of its author, KATHARINE REYNOLDS LOCKHART, by her scribe/daughter, Elsa Lockhart Murphy aka Deev, in celebration of the 05/14 centenary of the Cybergram's birthday
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
SAGE-COVERED HILLS OF WYOMING 07/06/00
Subj: sage-covered hills of Wyoming
Date: 7/6/00 7:07:53 AM Eastern Daylight Time
It is very early here at Squirrel Haven - 6:30 a.m. I just woke up to a deliciously cool morning. Very different from the oppressive heat and humidly we sweltered through on the 4th. It puts me in mind of something that I talked about with Carol and Deno the other night - a train trip out to California I took in 1931 with Lynn Asplundh and her children Babby (Carolyn), Bee (Joan), Elsa and Sonny (Ian).
We picked up the train at North Philadelphia, which was a hustling bustling, major train station back then. Everyone was so excited! This was before everyone took to the skies, when train travel was THE way to go.
Lynn had a drawing room for herself and the two little kids - Elsa & Sonny - while Babby & Bee shared a berth over mine out in the sleeper. The drawing room, large enough to sleep four, served as headquarters on the trip, but I preferred sitting out in the regular car. It seemed much more exciting.
It was a hot trip getting hotter. This was before air conditioning. A traveler had two choices - keep the windows shut and swelter or open the window and get gritty with soot. I chose the soot!
It felt like our train stopped at every whistle stop and chicken coop on the way. When I woke up the first morning, it seemed we must be on the far side of Ohio, we had been traveling so long. We had just pulled into Pittsburgh - I could not believe it!
Lynn arranged to have breakfast in her fairly spacious drawing room. Well, the kids considered this a gyp - they did not want to eat by themselves in the drawing room, they wanted the excitement of the dining car. That was the last meal we took in the drawing car, all others were experienced in the dining car. What a dining car it was. This was back in the days that railroads had topnotch chefs, good china and crystal, and superb service. I was glad the kids had kicked up a fuss - I preferred the dining car, too.
The closer we got to Chicago, the hotter it got. All of us - especially the little kids - were wilting from the heat. It was a blistering 98o when we pulled into the Windy City. Not fun. The only thing that made it bearable was knowing that California - and the Sierra Nevada - was down the track.
On our 3rd night, I went to bed, once again wishing I could climb right out of my skin, it was so hot. I slept with my feet on a small shelf at the end of the bed to allow the air to circulate under my legs. A strange thing happened in the early hours of that morning - I found myself reaching for the blanket at the end of the bed. I was still more asleep than awake, but I became aware of something unexpected. Cooler air. I opened the curtain next to me and gazed out upon the beautiful sage-covered hills of Wyoming.
This morning, feeling the cooler air over my body, more asleep than awake, I half expected to open the curtains next to my bed and see those sage-covered hills once more.
Keep cool! Love - TechnoGram
reposted in sweet memory of its author, KATHARINE REYNOLDS LOCKHART, by her scribe/daughter, Elsa Lockhart Murphy aka Deev, in honor of the 05/14 centenary of the Technogram's birthday
Date: 7/6/00 7:07:53 AM Eastern Daylight Time
It is very early here at Squirrel Haven - 6:30 a.m. I just woke up to a deliciously cool morning. Very different from the oppressive heat and humidly we sweltered through on the 4th. It puts me in mind of something that I talked about with Carol and Deno the other night - a train trip out to California I took in 1931 with Lynn Asplundh and her children Babby (Carolyn), Bee (Joan), Elsa and Sonny (Ian).
We picked up the train at North Philadelphia, which was a hustling bustling, major train station back then. Everyone was so excited! This was before everyone took to the skies, when train travel was THE way to go.
Lynn had a drawing room for herself and the two little kids - Elsa & Sonny - while Babby & Bee shared a berth over mine out in the sleeper. The drawing room, large enough to sleep four, served as headquarters on the trip, but I preferred sitting out in the regular car. It seemed much more exciting.
It was a hot trip getting hotter. This was before air conditioning. A traveler had two choices - keep the windows shut and swelter or open the window and get gritty with soot. I chose the soot!
It felt like our train stopped at every whistle stop and chicken coop on the way. When I woke up the first morning, it seemed we must be on the far side of Ohio, we had been traveling so long. We had just pulled into Pittsburgh - I could not believe it!
Lynn arranged to have breakfast in her fairly spacious drawing room. Well, the kids considered this a gyp - they did not want to eat by themselves in the drawing room, they wanted the excitement of the dining car. That was the last meal we took in the drawing car, all others were experienced in the dining car. What a dining car it was. This was back in the days that railroads had topnotch chefs, good china and crystal, and superb service. I was glad the kids had kicked up a fuss - I preferred the dining car, too.
The closer we got to Chicago, the hotter it got. All of us - especially the little kids - were wilting from the heat. It was a blistering 98o when we pulled into the Windy City. Not fun. The only thing that made it bearable was knowing that California - and the Sierra Nevada - was down the track.
On our 3rd night, I went to bed, once again wishing I could climb right out of my skin, it was so hot. I slept with my feet on a small shelf at the end of the bed to allow the air to circulate under my legs. A strange thing happened in the early hours of that morning - I found myself reaching for the blanket at the end of the bed. I was still more asleep than awake, but I became aware of something unexpected. Cooler air. I opened the curtain next to me and gazed out upon the beautiful sage-covered hills of Wyoming.
This morning, feeling the cooler air over my body, more asleep than awake, I half expected to open the curtains next to my bed and see those sage-covered hills once more.
Keep cool! Love - TechnoGram
reposted in sweet memory of its author, KATHARINE REYNOLDS LOCKHART, by her scribe/daughter, Elsa Lockhart Murphy aka Deev, in honor of the 05/14 centenary of the Technogram's birthday
Sunday, July 4, 2010
NEW WINE in OLD BOTTLES 07/04/00
absolutely NO idea why mom had two postings on july 4, 2000 ~ but she did! and this one is so NOT connected to independence day. or is it? elm 07/04/10
Subj: new wine in old bottles
Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2000 17:40:36 EDT
I have been thinking about new wine in old bottles. I am comfortable with the forms of my faith’s worship and love them, because they are what I grew up with, but more and more it makes sense to me that a new revelation naturally needs completely new expressions of ministry.
What would a truly distinct “New Church” education system or a truly distinct ministry look like?
Whatever it is, my guess is that most people would feel put off by it - too unsettling. *KRL*
Subj: new wine in old bottles
Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2000 17:40:36 EDT
I have been thinking about new wine in old bottles. I am comfortable with the forms of my faith’s worship and love them, because they are what I grew up with, but more and more it makes sense to me that a new revelation naturally needs completely new expressions of ministry.
What would a truly distinct “New Church” education system or a truly distinct ministry look like?
Whatever it is, my guess is that most people would feel put off by it - too unsettling. *KRL*
HAPPY 4th OF JULY 07/04/00
Subj: Happy 4th of July!
Date: 7/4/00 6:02:34 PM Eastern Daylight Time
I am going to keep this short. It is hot and muggy and I am just not up to much.
We had a WONDERFUL time last night. It was fun watching how well John & Deno hit it off and a special treat to visit with Deno and Carol. The early evening had an interesting ebb and flow - Deno would be in the kitchen, giving me a chance to gab with Carol, then Carol would be out in the kitchen, giving me a chance to talk with Deno.
I enjoyed listening to Elsa and Justine and Justine's house guest, Lindsay Reuter, having a high old time out in the kitchen, laughing and singing show tunes, of all things. I am still smiling remembering hearing Justine, Lindsay and Elsa singing When You Walk Through a Storm* and all three dissolving into laughter at the end because none of them could hit the high notes.
The three of us agree - it was one of the best parties we have ever had.
Enough writing. Time for - O Joy! – a shower!
Happy 4th - Kay
* soloists, joined by a choir, sang this at the close of Mom's 10/16/01 memorial celebration; she'd requested the song and soloists (Richard & Nora) over two years before the actual event; I am forever glad we had fun planning the celebration long before it was a necessity elm 07/04/10
reposted in sweet memory of its author, KATHARINE REYNOLDS LOCKHART, by her scribe/daughter, Elsa Lockhart Murphy aka Deev, in honor of the 05/14 centenary of Kay's birth
Date: 7/4/00 6:02:34 PM Eastern Daylight Time
I am going to keep this short. It is hot and muggy and I am just not up to much.
We had a WONDERFUL time last night. It was fun watching how well John & Deno hit it off and a special treat to visit with Deno and Carol. The early evening had an interesting ebb and flow - Deno would be in the kitchen, giving me a chance to gab with Carol, then Carol would be out in the kitchen, giving me a chance to talk with Deno.
I enjoyed listening to Elsa and Justine and Justine's house guest, Lindsay Reuter, having a high old time out in the kitchen, laughing and singing show tunes, of all things. I am still smiling remembering hearing Justine, Lindsay and Elsa singing When You Walk Through a Storm* and all three dissolving into laughter at the end because none of them could hit the high notes.
The three of us agree - it was one of the best parties we have ever had.
Enough writing. Time for - O Joy! – a shower!
Happy 4th - Kay
* soloists, joined by a choir, sang this at the close of Mom's 10/16/01 memorial celebration; she'd requested the song and soloists (Richard & Nora) over two years before the actual event; I am forever glad we had fun planning the celebration long before it was a necessity elm 07/04/10
reposted in sweet memory of its author, KATHARINE REYNOLDS LOCKHART, by her scribe/daughter, Elsa Lockhart Murphy aka Deev, in honor of the 05/14 centenary of Kay's birth
Saturday, July 3, 2010
CHANGE and RENEWAL... 07/03/00
Subject: change and renewal in all around I see
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2000 18:24:32 EDT
At one time, not that long ago, I would already be busy getting ready to get our 4th of July picnic together. They were pretty legendary in their day. All the standbys - potato salad, deviled (or, as Reynolds called them, doubled) eggs, lots of fried chicken, pickles, several varieties of olives - topped off with my Double Fudge Cake.
I remember when Whitney was just a toddler and the three of them - Peter & Pam and Whitney - came for the Bryn Athyn 4th, which was a standard thing for Peter and his children. Pam laid out a delicious picnic - various marvelous cheeses, French bread and an excellent wine. Elegant and delectable, but not very substantial. Sure enough, in no time, the two blankets were merged. We nibbled their cheeses and they loaded up from our basket. It was loverly.
The best I can do these days is to remember such grand times. Picnic going is no longer on my schedule. But instead of moaning & groaning over what was and now is not, this year we took a different approach. We are having our picnic - complete with burgers, hot dogs, potato salad and doubled eggs – tonight and we even borrowed a family: Carol & Deno Brannon and their daughter Justine (who is dear to Elsa's heart). As it turns out, Justine has a friend staying with them, so we will be a merry group of seven. A lucky number, indeed.
That is what I like so much about my life at the moment. It is not the same at it was, but it is not less, just different. Keeps me on my toes!
Love to one & all. Time to get ready for our guests!
Good bye and God bless - Gram
reposted in sweet memory of its author, KATHARINE REYNOLDS LOCKHART, by her scribe/daughter, Elsa Lockhart Murphy aka Deev, to honor the 05/14 centenary of Gram's birth
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2000 18:24:32 EDT
At one time, not that long ago, I would already be busy getting ready to get our 4th of July picnic together. They were pretty legendary in their day. All the standbys - potato salad, deviled (or, as Reynolds called them, doubled) eggs, lots of fried chicken, pickles, several varieties of olives - topped off with my Double Fudge Cake.
I remember when Whitney was just a toddler and the three of them - Peter & Pam and Whitney - came for the Bryn Athyn 4th, which was a standard thing for Peter and his children. Pam laid out a delicious picnic - various marvelous cheeses, French bread and an excellent wine. Elegant and delectable, but not very substantial. Sure enough, in no time, the two blankets were merged. We nibbled their cheeses and they loaded up from our basket. It was loverly.
The best I can do these days is to remember such grand times. Picnic going is no longer on my schedule. But instead of moaning & groaning over what was and now is not, this year we took a different approach. We are having our picnic - complete with burgers, hot dogs, potato salad and doubled eggs – tonight and we even borrowed a family: Carol & Deno Brannon and their daughter Justine (who is dear to Elsa's heart). As it turns out, Justine has a friend staying with them, so we will be a merry group of seven. A lucky number, indeed.
That is what I like so much about my life at the moment. It is not the same at it was, but it is not less, just different. Keeps me on my toes!
Love to one & all. Time to get ready for our guests!
Good bye and God bless - Gram
reposted in sweet memory of its author, KATHARINE REYNOLDS LOCKHART, by her scribe/daughter, Elsa Lockhart Murphy aka Deev, to honor the 05/14 centenary of Gram's birth
Friday, July 2, 2010
PRIVATE PARTY, PUBLIC CELEBRATIONS 06/01/00
Subject: Private Party, Public Celebrations
Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2000 16:56:25 EDT
It is a toasty 90F today, but the humidity is low, so I felt up to going out to lunch with Elsa.
The plan was to get to Newtown by 1:30 p.m. - 15 minutes before a favorite restaurant's last seating - but a surprise last minute detour by yours truly to the bathroom saw us leaving 10 minutes late. As we neared Pat's and the car clock edged closer and closer to 1:45, Elsa prepared me for the potential worst. If Pat's was not seating, we could go to the Blue Fountain Diner. I like the Blue Fountain, but it is no Pat's. We pulled into the parking lot at Pat's at 1:43 p.m. - Elsa jumped out of the car and tore to the front door to check it out. We were in!
We were in, but our dear Judy, a favorite waitress, told Elsa she got a demerit for being so late. Who cared! We were there and waiting happily for our heaping portions of Lisa's Salad .
Our favorite couple was there with one daughter's 2-year old son and another daughter and her husband and their 3-month old daughter, all of us sitting in what I call the "veranda room," because that is what it feels like to me. When another couple popped their heads in the front door, Ginny, another beloved waitress, summed up the feeling of merriment we all felt, telling them, "Sorry, we're closed. This is a private party."
To top it off, Elsa drove home via Tanner's (which is actually not on the way home at all) for some vegetables, but really to get me a huge scoop of pineapple ice cream. Oh, it was good! Some day, I will tell you about memories of Joyce Cooper and Tanner's ice cream, but not today.
We have been talking a lot about past 4th of July celebrations. Elsa has been pumping me for memories from “before her time.” It is hard, without one of the older kids around to help trigger memories. One of these days, maybe all of us - Peter in Hatboro, Mim in Point Pleasant Beach, Mike and Kerry in Australia, and the two of us here at Squirrel Haven - will have regular "real time" hoe downs on the Internet, sharing memories and happy, happy times from way back when. Until that happens, my memories connected to them seem few and far between.
I do recall:
* Walking Mike in a decorated baby buggy with Peter accompanying us on a decorated bike. I think we walked up South Avenue or Alnwick Road to the Benade Hall "triangle" because I seem to recall going past some older ladies watching from their porches. Is that possible??
* 5-year old Peter being knocked down in a race by a bigger kid, my sense of helplessness as he felt humiliated that he had not finished the race. There is still pain in my heart, that I did not, could not protect him from such sadness. When you are 5-years old, the moment is everything, good or bad.
* Water sports at the pond, especially the greased watermelon event. How does anyone hold on? It seems to me that it would take two people, working together.
* Fireworks at the cathedral. The only other place that comes close to the cathedral hill for perfect location for fireworks was Independence Hall mall on 7/4/1976. Every other place is a distant 3rd. To sit on that high hill and have the fireworks set off in the valley below made them seem so close when they burst over us. It has been decades and decades since they set off 4th of July fireworks at the foot of the cathedral hill, but I can still see their glory as if it were last year.
I wish I could remember what the celebrations were like during the war years or what it was like the first year after victory. I wish I could remember more of what Pete and I did with the older kids for the parades. Seems sad that my only memories at the moment of those early family times are of fireworks, the pond, one parade and a heart-broken little boy.
Oh my goodness - this note started out so cheery! Whatever happened?? Oh, the perils of stream-of-consciousness writing ~ you takes what you gets.
I promise to be more "chursie" tomorrow!
Love to all - Ma Lockhart
reposted in sweet memory of its author, KATHARINE REYNOLDS LOCKHART, by her scribe/daughter, Elsa Lockhart Murphy aka Deev, in honor of the 05-14 centenary of her birth
Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2000 16:56:25 EDT
It is a toasty 90F today, but the humidity is low, so I felt up to going out to lunch with Elsa.
The plan was to get to Newtown by 1:30 p.m. - 15 minutes before a favorite restaurant's last seating - but a surprise last minute detour by yours truly to the bathroom saw us leaving 10 minutes late. As we neared Pat's and the car clock edged closer and closer to 1:45, Elsa prepared me for the potential worst. If Pat's was not seating, we could go to the Blue Fountain Diner. I like the Blue Fountain, but it is no Pat's. We pulled into the parking lot at Pat's at 1:43 p.m. - Elsa jumped out of the car and tore to the front door to check it out. We were in!
We were in, but our dear Judy, a favorite waitress, told Elsa she got a demerit for being so late. Who cared! We were there and waiting happily for our heaping portions of Lisa's Salad .
Our favorite couple was there with one daughter's 2-year old son and another daughter and her husband and their 3-month old daughter, all of us sitting in what I call the "veranda room," because that is what it feels like to me. When another couple popped their heads in the front door, Ginny, another beloved waitress, summed up the feeling of merriment we all felt, telling them, "Sorry, we're closed. This is a private party."
To top it off, Elsa drove home via Tanner's (which is actually not on the way home at all) for some vegetables, but really to get me a huge scoop of pineapple ice cream. Oh, it was good! Some day, I will tell you about memories of Joyce Cooper and Tanner's ice cream, but not today.
We have been talking a lot about past 4th of July celebrations. Elsa has been pumping me for memories from “before her time.” It is hard, without one of the older kids around to help trigger memories. One of these days, maybe all of us - Peter in Hatboro, Mim in Point Pleasant Beach, Mike and Kerry in Australia, and the two of us here at Squirrel Haven - will have regular "real time" hoe downs on the Internet, sharing memories and happy, happy times from way back when. Until that happens, my memories connected to them seem few and far between.
I do recall:
* Walking Mike in a decorated baby buggy with Peter accompanying us on a decorated bike. I think we walked up South Avenue or Alnwick Road to the Benade Hall "triangle" because I seem to recall going past some older ladies watching from their porches. Is that possible??
* 5-year old Peter being knocked down in a race by a bigger kid, my sense of helplessness as he felt humiliated that he had not finished the race. There is still pain in my heart, that I did not, could not protect him from such sadness. When you are 5-years old, the moment is everything, good or bad.
* Water sports at the pond, especially the greased watermelon event. How does anyone hold on? It seems to me that it would take two people, working together.
* Fireworks at the cathedral. The only other place that comes close to the cathedral hill for perfect location for fireworks was Independence Hall mall on 7/4/1976. Every other place is a distant 3rd. To sit on that high hill and have the fireworks set off in the valley below made them seem so close when they burst over us. It has been decades and decades since they set off 4th of July fireworks at the foot of the cathedral hill, but I can still see their glory as if it were last year.
I wish I could remember what the celebrations were like during the war years or what it was like the first year after victory. I wish I could remember more of what Pete and I did with the older kids for the parades. Seems sad that my only memories at the moment of those early family times are of fireworks, the pond, one parade and a heart-broken little boy.
Oh my goodness - this note started out so cheery! Whatever happened?? Oh, the perils of stream-of-consciousness writing ~ you takes what you gets.
I promise to be more "chursie" tomorrow!
Love to all - Ma Lockhart
reposted in sweet memory of its author, KATHARINE REYNOLDS LOCKHART, by her scribe/daughter, Elsa Lockhart Murphy aka Deev, in honor of the 05-14 centenary of her birth
Thursday, July 1, 2010
FIREFLIES & PEACH ICE CREAM 06/30/00
Subject: Fireflies & Peach Ice Cream
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2000 21:32:47 EDT
I wonder why it is some people call them fireflies and others call them lightning bugs? Is it regional, like soda and pop or sack and bag?
In any case, the three of us ate out on the back porch tonight and I was impressed with how many fireflies were putting in an appearance. We got into a discussion about how the increased numbers are due to rehearsals for their big 4th of July extravaganza, put on for the viewing pleasure of the local wildlife. It was fun thinking about this magnificent "light" show, put on in some mystical woodland glen. It makes quite an interesting picture to spin in the mind. What a sight!
Looking downstairs from my perch just outside the computer studio, as Faithful Scribe transcribes this, I have a bird's eye view of the summer tree in the living room. In the current setting, the little white lights look like fireflies. I never thought of that before. One of these days, I must tell you about our summer beauty!
We've been talking about the 4th of July when I was young, back in Baltimore. What I mostly remember are the sounds - the effervescent fizzy sound of a sparkler, the loud BOOM! of the small but powerful yellow fireworks my brother Al liked so much, the noises drifting to our house from throughout the neighborhood of fire crackers going off and lots of laughter and sounds of merriment.
Aside from the firecrackers, I don't have a lot of memories of those days in Baltimore. I wonder why that is? I do remember, for the first time in I cannot tell you how long, that we had a small barn out at the end of our property and we would eat our supper in its cool comfort, much nicer that the hot house. Have you ever been in Baltimore in the summer? Hot and humid, very hot and humid. Sticky.
One thing could always be counted on to cool us down - home-made ice cream. Oh, that was heavenly. Back then, we made it in a big wooden tub. My father would pour in the fresh cream and let us kids take a whack at churning it. He would set a smaller tub into a larger tub, with ice and salt packed between the two. Papa would let us take a hand, moving the handle around in a circular motion, around and around, which moved the paddle, which was in the cream and worked its magic.
We kids would take turns churning it around, until it got too thick for us, then Papa would take over and finish off the job. When it was too hard to move another inch, he would slowly, ever so slowly, lift the paddle out.
Oh, that was the very best moment of all, when we got to lick the paddle. What happiness.
Then Papa would put the metal lid on top of the small tub and we would pack in more ice and rock salt around and over it and cover the whole thing with burlap.
July 4th would probably be too early for it, but my favorite ice cream was peach. The peaches came off of that same Bella Georgia peach tree that I managed to rescue when just a little mite. We'd peel the beautifully ripe peaches and cut them up and add them to the cream. That ranks, for me, as angel's food! When peaches were in season, the Reynolds household had ice cream every Sunday. I think I will go downstairs and see if there is any ice cream in the freezer!
Thinking of you all as we head into the 4th of July home stretch, and of so many loved ones in loftier realms who I am sure are enjoying some peach ice cream at this very minute.
Love - Grammie Kay
reposted in sweet memory of its author, KATHARINE REYNOLDS LOCKHART, by her scribe/daughter, Elsa Lockhart Murphy aka Deev in honor of the 05/14 centenary of her birth
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2000 21:32:47 EDT
I wonder why it is some people call them fireflies and others call them lightning bugs? Is it regional, like soda and pop or sack and bag?
In any case, the three of us ate out on the back porch tonight and I was impressed with how many fireflies were putting in an appearance. We got into a discussion about how the increased numbers are due to rehearsals for their big 4th of July extravaganza, put on for the viewing pleasure of the local wildlife. It was fun thinking about this magnificent "light" show, put on in some mystical woodland glen. It makes quite an interesting picture to spin in the mind. What a sight!
Looking downstairs from my perch just outside the computer studio, as Faithful Scribe transcribes this, I have a bird's eye view of the summer tree in the living room. In the current setting, the little white lights look like fireflies. I never thought of that before. One of these days, I must tell you about our summer beauty!
We've been talking about the 4th of July when I was young, back in Baltimore. What I mostly remember are the sounds - the effervescent fizzy sound of a sparkler, the loud BOOM! of the small but powerful yellow fireworks my brother Al liked so much, the noises drifting to our house from throughout the neighborhood of fire crackers going off and lots of laughter and sounds of merriment.
Aside from the firecrackers, I don't have a lot of memories of those days in Baltimore. I wonder why that is? I do remember, for the first time in I cannot tell you how long, that we had a small barn out at the end of our property and we would eat our supper in its cool comfort, much nicer that the hot house. Have you ever been in Baltimore in the summer? Hot and humid, very hot and humid. Sticky.
One thing could always be counted on to cool us down - home-made ice cream. Oh, that was heavenly. Back then, we made it in a big wooden tub. My father would pour in the fresh cream and let us kids take a whack at churning it. He would set a smaller tub into a larger tub, with ice and salt packed between the two. Papa would let us take a hand, moving the handle around in a circular motion, around and around, which moved the paddle, which was in the cream and worked its magic.
We kids would take turns churning it around, until it got too thick for us, then Papa would take over and finish off the job. When it was too hard to move another inch, he would slowly, ever so slowly, lift the paddle out.
Oh, that was the very best moment of all, when we got to lick the paddle. What happiness.
Then Papa would put the metal lid on top of the small tub and we would pack in more ice and rock salt around and over it and cover the whole thing with burlap.
July 4th would probably be too early for it, but my favorite ice cream was peach. The peaches came off of that same Bella Georgia peach tree that I managed to rescue when just a little mite. We'd peel the beautifully ripe peaches and cut them up and add them to the cream. That ranks, for me, as angel's food! When peaches were in season, the Reynolds household had ice cream every Sunday. I think I will go downstairs and see if there is any ice cream in the freezer!
Thinking of you all as we head into the 4th of July home stretch, and of so many loved ones in loftier realms who I am sure are enjoying some peach ice cream at this very minute.
Love - Grammie Kay
reposted in sweet memory of its author, KATHARINE REYNOLDS LOCKHART, by her scribe/daughter, Elsa Lockhart Murphy aka Deev in honor of the 05/14 centenary of her birth
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