Scraps of Joy

Chocolate Crunchies and Other Details

Posted on June 11, 2020 by Joy / 6 Comments

Hello Friend,

It’s a lovely day, and I think we can manage our visit on the patio today. Come on around back. The Cowboy has finished all of his yard work back here, and see? Don’t you love the colour of these chairs? Don’t they just invite you to sit down and breathe?

The colours: Mint Liquor, Glass Bead, and Yellow Pansy. I think the blue (glass bead) is my favourite. Please, have a seat in your favourite colour.

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I made Chocolate Crunchie cookies earlier this week. I haven’t been able to find a recipe online to match mine, which got me to thinking they aren’t really called chocolate crunchies at all. But that’s what we called them growing up.

They are quite chocolatey. After you roll the dough into balls, and just before popping them into the oven, you dip one rounded side into water and then into granulated sugar. When they are done, their sugary tops are all cracked. Very yummy. Did you ever have them? What did you call them?

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Chocolate Crunchies
DO NOT DOUBLE THIS RECIPE
(I don’t know why you can’t double the recipe. That’s just how the recipe came to me from Mom, and in all capital letters too.)

3/4 c. margarine
1 egg
1/4 c. corn syrup
1 c. packed brown sugar
2 c. flour
1/4 c. cocoa
1-1/2 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Mix wet ingredients. Add dry ingredients. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Dip half of each ball in water then in granulated sugar. Place sugar side up 2 inches apart. Bake 350 F for 12 – 15 minutes.

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Now, I’m offering Orange Pekoe or Lady Grey tea today. Which would you prefer? I’ve been doing a little reading on pairing tea with desserts. There are many opinions on the topic, but almost all of them suggest to try different pairings for yourself and see what fits best. That takes paying attention to each sip and each bite, much like what Lu Ann Pannunzio explains on her blog, The Cup of Life:

Begin by drinking a sip of your tea, letting it spread entirely across the tongue before swallowing. This simple step is important because it will warm your tongue and prepare your taste buds for the melting chocolate that is to come their way.
Then, take a bite of your chocolate and see how it accompanies the flavours that are now on your tongue.
Lu Ann Pannunzio

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If you know a different name to these cookies than Chocolate Crunchies please let me know. Calling things by their correct name is important to me. Always has been. I guess that’s just one of my quirks.

Another quirk of mine is that I need things explained exactly. I’m the one interrupting a really good story with questions no one else is interested in. Which direction was he going when the car smashed into his bike? Was the bridge a suspension bridge or cantilever? What colour was the car?

Yes, I need the details. Which is why it often takes me a long time to catch on to a joke. I’m always looking for the details first. And that generally diminishes the punch-line, so I’ve come to realize.

Many’s the time The Cowboy will be telling a great joke when I’ve broken in to correct the details, only to have him give me his version of a withering look, and just when the whole endeavour is about to fall flat because of me, he manages to save it. He’s great at punch-lines.

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Because I’m so literal, my mind quickly and regularly breaks things down to the most simple, but not always the most logical, conclusion first.

Like, when we were dating and even into our marriage, The Cowboy would always say to me, “You are the most beautiful woman in the world.”

While most rational women would be utterly flattered with that comment, my first thought was always, “Well … that can’t be right. He’s never even seen all the women in the world.”

Of course, I would never say this. I’d just get a perplexed look on my face that communicated … who knows what, to him. Whatever my reaction, I’m sure it made him more than a little bewildered himself.

Now, as we come up to our 37^th anniversary, I understand that he meant all the women in his world, and I can appreciate the sentiment. Poor young cowboy all those years ago.

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Which brings me back to the Chocolate Crunchies. Perhaps you noticed that they’re a bit flat in shape, and spread out. That’s because I accidentally used a cup and a half of margarine instead of three-quarters of a cup.

For some reason, my distracted mind thought that one of those small blocks of margarine was a quarter-cup size instead of a half-cup size, and I mixed in three of them instead of one and a half. It really didn’t change the taste, but they would have been much prettier if I’d paid attention to the details. See? Details are important.

Thanks for visiting today, it’s been lovely to enjoy The Cowboy’s hard work together. His work for our relaxation.

Take care out there, and see you next time.

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P.S. I welcome your comments, and try to answer each one within a week.

Tea Time

Lily of the Valley, Banana Bread, and Friends

Posted on June 7, 2020 by Joy / 4 Comments

The art of tea, whichever way you drink it, or whichever country you are from, has one underlining thread for all of us. It is the cultivation of yourself as you follow the ceremony of preparing your tea – the way in which you make your tea, how and where you drink it, and with whom. Making a cup of tea creates a space for just being.”
Nicola Salter

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Hello Friend,

It’s a bit cool and rainy today, isn’t it? But it’s a gentle cleansing rain, as though God knew we couldn’t handle anything else too heavy right now.

Come in where it’s cozy. We’ll sit by the window and enjoy the lilac tree from here. We have the benefit of its fragrance too because I defied The Cowboy’s scent-sibilities and brought a bouquet into the house. 🙂

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Now, if you sit just here, you can appreciate the lilies of the valley. Do you see them there, under the apple tree? They awoke and began nodding their heads in the last few days. Such sweet, perfect little bells. Did you know, lily of the valley signifies ‘the return of happiness?’ Hmmm, yes, I think they showed up at just the right time.

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Please help yourself to the last of the banana bread. I’m afraid it didn’t last long around here. It’s the best one I’ve baked yet. I’m attributing that to my use of butter instead of margarine, and using four ripe bananas instead of three. This is the recipe I used.

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I don’t know about you but, as I mentioned, I’ve been feeling a heaviness recently. Besides dealing with the virus, we’re processing all of the grievous stories in the news, not to mention troubles closer to home. I’m a little weary with the world.

I didn’t realize how heavy I’d been feeling until I got together with good friends this week. Twice.

Earlier in the week I traveled thirty minutes through lovely scenery to a country home and a visit with two good friends. I arrived with birthday cupcakes, lavishly decorated in swirls of rainbow icing (I didn’t make them – don’t know why I need to confess that to you, but I do). I couldn’t stay long but we had a wonderful visit, shared some laughter, and even real hugs.

I didn’t notice until I was on my way home that I was feeling a little lighter. It had been so good to be together, in person.

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Image by Dagmara Owsiejczyk from Pixabay

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Later in the week I visited with another friend, socially distanced, on my patio. She had coffee. I had tea. And we enjoyed the first of the banana bread. The weather was cool and we eventually ended up inside because it started to rain. Again, a really lovely visit. Iron sharpens iron, so the good book says, and we both came away from that conversation encouraged, with some new ideas to boost our individual journeys.

Video calls have been lifelines between family and friends during these challenging months, but there is nothing better than a face to face conversation. After these two wonderful face-to-socially-distanced-face visits, I was uplifted. I straightened my shoulders and felt ready to face the world again, whatever it decided to throw at me.

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God has blessed me with delightful, understanding, funny, sincere and loving friends. Gifts, every single one. We need each other, and we need each other in person. If you have not already, I hope you’ll be able to meet personally with tried and trusted friends very soon, even if it’s only from your respective vehicles, in a parking lot, six feet apart.

The world may seem heavy these days, but there is still joy in friendship, delight in the sweetest, tiniest bell of the lily-of-the-valley, and pleasure in a bite of rich banana bread. Take heart, my friend.

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Hope is the thing that is left to us in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness … Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.”
E.B. White, in response to a man who had lost faith in humanity.

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Thank you for coming today. It’s been so good to visit with you.

Take care out there, and see you next time.

Joy

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Featured image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

Tea Time

June

Posted on June 1, 2020 by Joy / 0 Comment

Hello Friend,

What a lovely day! Simply perfect for the first of June.

For two days now, I’ve been singing that old Rodgers and Hammerstein tune June is Bustin’ Out All Over, from the musical, Carousel. I’ll give you the music before you go.

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It is the month of June
The month of leaves and roses,
When pleasant sights salute the eyes,
And pleasant scents the noses.
Nathaniel Parker Willis

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Come on into the backyard. The Cowboy has finished repairing and painting all the outdoor furniture and we have our choice of cozy nooks for tea time. Shall we sit here under the apple tree where it’s not too hot and not too cold?

Feast your eyes on those apple blossoms, if you will. So delicate and gentle, like forgiveness, somehow.

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An apple tree in full blossom is like a message, sent fresh from heaven to earth, of purity and beauty.
Henry Ward Beecher

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And look! Over there in the corner, the lilacs are about to burst open.

Lilac time brings back memories of our life on ten acres in the middle of the prairies, raising three little girls. Always about this time of year, just before the school bus arrived, the girls and I would run out to the grand lilac bush on the lawn and trim a few limbs. We’d wrap the stems with wet paper towel, and the girls would baby those lilac bouquets all the way to school, over bumpity highways and gravel roads, finally presenting them to their teachers with pride and pleasure.

We never wondered if the teachers would like them or not. Because we loved them, I just assumed they’d appreciate having their classrooms filled with the fragrance of spring.

But now that I know there are some people who can’t stand the smell of them – The Cowboy being one of those people – I wonder if they politely waited for the end of the day, when they could put those smelly posies outside. My apologies to any teacher who found it a trial.

Can I pour your tea? Please help yourself to cream and sugar.

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These blueberry muffins are fresh from the oven. Blueberries are not quite in season where I live, but the ones at the grocery store looked so delicious that we brought home a whole quart.

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I remember picking blueberries with Grandma in northern Manitoba when I was a girl. I can’t say I enjoyed slogging through thick scratchy bush to get to the choicest berries, but later, in the evenings, after we had spent what seemed like hours picking through them, stemming them, and rinsing them, we would have blueberries with real cream, and sugar sprinkled over top. It was the most wonderful dessert ever. My mouth is watering now as I remember. To this day, blueberries are my favourite fruit.

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We do not remember days, we remember moments.
Cesare Pavese

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I have an urge to get out my well-worn Anne books for the summer. Of course, Anne of Green Gables is a favourite, but after that one I love Rilla of Ingleside, the eighth and last book in the series. The story is about Anne’s youngest child, Rilla (named for Marilla), and takes place during WWI. Not only is the book an entertaining read, it’s also educational, in its way. After all, L.M. Montgomery lived through The Great War, and felt it all deeply.

A friend recently reminded me that it’s always good to have three books on the go: one to entertain, one to educate, and one to edify. I think Rilla of Ingleside does all three.

This quote is from Book Three in the series:

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‘I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June,’ said Anne, as she came through the spice and bloom of the twilit orchard to the front door steps, where Marilla and Mrs. Rachel were sitting, talking over Mrs. Samson Coates’ funeral, which they had attended that day. Dora sat between them, diligently studying her lessons; but Davy was sitting tailor-fashion on the grass, looking as gloomy and depressed as his single dimple would let him.
‘You’d get tired of it,’ said Marilla, with a sigh.
‘I daresay; but just now I feel that it would take me a long time to get tired of it, if it were all as charming as today. Everything loves June.’
L.M. Montgomery, Anne of the Island, originally published 1915.

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And since all this loveliness can not be Heaven, I know in my heart it is June.
Abba Louisa Goold Woolson

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Thank you for the visit today. Stay safe out there, and see you next time.

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Featured image basket of lilacs by RitaE from Pixabay

Tea Time

Baby Squirrels and Daffodil Surprises

Posted on May 29, 2020 by Joy / 9 Comments

Hello Friend,

What a beautiful day! You can see many of my neighbours are out in this lovely weather. I often hear neighbourhood voices through my open windows these days. We’re all tired of being cooped up.

Please come in.

I thought of having our visit outside, but The Cowboy is still busy with Operation Yard Face-Lift, and we would be trying to talk over all manner of singing saw or droning drill. It will soon be a lovely peaceful place for tea and a chat.

His latest project is to repair and repaint the lawn furniture. We have chosen the brightest, happiest colours we could find – yellow pansy, mint liquor, and glass bead (whose name doesn’t give you the slightest clue to its colour, it’s actually a sea foam blue). The colours remind me of those old paint cases we used to take to school …

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Image by Miguel Á. Padriñán from Pixabay

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Now, I made an old favourite for tea today, Lemon Square Bars. Tart and sweet, they are perfect with a sensible no nonsense tea like English Breakfast Tea “Produced for the United Kingdom from pure Ceylon Teas packed in Sri Lanka”.

To top it off in regal style, this tea comes from a royal-purple-coloured tin adorned with photos of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It must be the real thing. 🙂

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The Cowboy and I went for a short drive today, and the streets are just as busy now as they were eleven weeks ago when everyone’s lives took a sudden turn. Our province is now in Stage One (of three) of the Relaunch. Every province is different in their scheduled re-entry to life outside of isolation. On one side of us they have launched one of four phases. The province on the other side is in phase two of five.

Whatever the stage, it’s all so precarious. None of us has been here before, really, and we’re cautiously finding our way. Still.

When will we ever get out of that mode, of finding our way? It’s tiring, don’t you find? Mentally wearing.

However, there is still joy and beauty all around. This has been a week of surprises. Some delightful, as all surprises should be. First of all, a smattering of the tulips I planted last fall turned out to be daffodils. It’s a giggle, but when the first daffodil bloomed I remembered that I had indeed planted daffodils as well as tulips. That’s been fun, to see them blooming one by one.

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Image by Gabriele M. Reinhardt (LILO) from Pixabay

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The other object of delight this week has been a family of squirrels in our back yard. There are four babies in all, cute little rascals. And mischievous! Scampering back and forth in the eaves troughs (I suppose some countries call them gutters) at five in the morning, trampling the cucumber plants. Maybe eating them too? At any rate, the cucumbers will have to be replanted.

The first time I saw a little critter in my garden box this week, I ran outside to chase him away. But he’s so little he doesn’t even know to be afraid yet. He hid behind the planter, but within five seconds he popped his head and front paws over the edge to peer at me, less than two feet away. I shook my finger at him. Don’t you chew on my plants!

He looked me over and seemed to listen very carefully, and then he scurried away. I’ve since seen him, or his siblings, in the garden box again. So, he’s not very obedient. Internet wisdom advises getting a dog, among other things.

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We’ve had a few unwanted surprises this week too. Unsettling, disappointing, heartbreaking surprises. Interesting how the nasty surprises have to do with people. People I know and people I don’t know, making choices that send ripples out far beyond their own little circle. Added to the crisis we’re already living in, it’s almost too much.

As I’ve tried to process it all this week, I’ve come to the conclusion that all I can do is ask God to give me grace. Grace was certainly not my first reaction, but it needs to be.

The truth is, the world is a broken place. But it has always been broken. In every generation, every century, grandparents have lamented, what kind of world are my grandchildren growing up to face?

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If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.
C.S. Lewis

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This broken world can only be faced one day at a time. And in that one day there is beauty, there is joy. Sometimes you have to try harder to find it, but it’s there. Little gifts God puts in our path. We only need to stop and soak them in instead of blindly walking over them.

Daffodils, rascally squirrels, or Sweet Thing recounting to me on a video chat how she planted her “cubumbers and corn-on-the-knob.” These are the gifts.

Life is hard, but God is good.

This passage in my Bible begins with the heading “The Cure for Anxiety”:

Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life … Consider the birds of the sky: they don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add one moment to his life-span by worrying?
Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was adorned like one of these. If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you?
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
Therefore, don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:25-30, 33-34 CSB

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Thank you for coming today. Stay safe out there, and see you next time.

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Featured image, daisies and picnic basket, by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

Scraps of Joy

Chocolate Crunchies and Other Details

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Lily of the Valley, Banana Bread, and Friends

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June

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Baby Squirrels and Daffodil Surprises

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