Lemonde and Other Thoughts

My Mom with Hannah and Kelsey having a tea/lemonade party in 2002

In 1911 Frances Hodgson Burnett published The Secret Garden. In it he observed:

"One of the new things people began to find out in the last century was that thoughts -- just mere thoughts -- are as powerful as electric batteries -- as good for one as sunlight is, or as bad for one as poison. To let a bad thought get into your mind is as dangerous as letting a scarlet fever germ get into your body."

Sunlight makes me happy. This time of year I will eat my lunch with my back facing the window in our eating area. Usually I like to look out at our yard, gardens, and fields. After winter and cold weather it is just great to soak up the sun on my back. The feel of the sun on my back creates a sense of warmth and comfort.

Thoughts have power to change. The saying”attitude is everything” does contain a lot of merit. Now I am not saying that when life gives you a lemon it is easy to make great tasting lemonade yet with the correct amount of sugar and water real lemonade is a great treat. When the grand girls and I make a pitcher of the real stuff and have a tea party together life is good.

Thinking about lemonade reminds me of one culinary habit I learned from my mother. I do not know of anyone except her ever doing it. When I make lemonade or use a lemon I confess I sometimes do this myself. It is ever so yummy and takes me back to my child hood. I always wash my lemons well in very hot water. I have been told this makes for more juice. After the lemon is juiced, sprinkle the inside with white sugar and then eat. The mix of the bitter, sour and sweet is a heavenly treat. Yep, eat the whole thing except for the little bit on the end. Maybe was a depression era thing or just a family thing but it is one unusual eating experience I love.

Mom also used to make an open faced peanut butter sandwich with either raisins or sliced carrots on top. Shortly after we were married I made peanut butter and carrots sandwiches. We were heading out of town and this was to be a light supper eaten in the car. When my husband of only a few months discovered what I wanted to feed him he balked at the idea. Then being the adventurous guy that he was to become he consented to trying the sandwich. Pleasantly surprised, he discovered a like for the combination. For him it will never replace grape jelly and peanut butter but it has its place. I on the other hand never liked my grape jelly and peanut butter mixed together.

One time when I was in kindergarten or first grade, I and a boy from my class were asked to be part of a high school concert. We were to eat a sandwich while the chorus sang some song. We were given peanut butter and jelly in our sandwich. I am not sure if we were supposed to be messy or what the song was about. Another one of those half memories I have floating around in my mind. I just know that this was the last peanut butter and jelly sandwich I ever ate.