My husband is sick, so I made up a nice batch of hearty chicken noodle soup with delicious root vegetables and more. Chicken noodle soup is always my 'go to soup' when someone is sick in our home. It is so delicious even when you aren't sick!
When I was cooking up my chicken noodle soup this afternoon I was reminded of a cookbook I purchased at a used book store this past fall. After my soup was finished cooking I grabbed a bowl of the soup and came downstairs to my little study to see if I could find it. I knew exactly where to look for it, right there on those two bottom shelves of my bookshelves. I keep all my good, inexpensive finds on those two shelves. They are my treasures.
I found the one I was looking for. It wasn't for a recipe, but for the card that I had found inside.
My Amish friend, Edna Mae, and I enjoy browsing used book stores. She is an avid collector of comic books and various authors, I collect interesting cookbooks. I love to read them, to feel them, and imagine what it took to write them. I feel good knowing I have them to fall back on if ever the Internet shuts down and I have to find good recipes in a more conventional way. How spoiled are we to be able to browse for recipes nowadays? I like the Internet, but I love my cookbooks which I can handle and display. I also enjoy paging through books at these used book stores for the "treasures" you find inside the pages. Like the one I'm about to share with you below.
When I opened up the stocked kitchen cookbook and was paging through it, I found this envelope tucked neatly between two pages. It simply said, "Kristin" on the envelope. I paused, and wondered, should I open the card? Is there a law against looking at someone else's card tucked away in some discarded cookbook? After a minute of contemplation, I figured it must not be too important or the envelope would not be in the book, right? Somehow I talked myself into opening the envelope and inside I found a card.
"Found myself thinking about you today....
...and thought I would send some warm wishes you way!
In someones handwriting it simply said,
"Dear Kristin,
Happy Birthday! I love having you here!!!
Love n hugs,
Grandma"
My heart melted as I read those handwritten words. Those words that said so much. "I love having you here!!!" I wondered what that meant? Was Kristin from another state and didn't visit her grandmother very often? Was she career minded and didn't have time for grandmother? Could Kristin be torn between parents, having to chose sides and was it easier not seeing this grandmother very often? Or was Kristin an irresponsible young lady and didn't know her way around a kitchen and her grandmother thought this gift would help her out? My imagination takes me places I shouldn't always go, but after I opened the card I couldn't help but wonder.
Opening the envelope and finding those words I somehow wasn't able to put the cookbook back on the shelf, I had to purchase it and bring it home and love and use that cookbook like Kristin's grandmother probably hoped Kristin would love it and use it.
This makes me miss my grandmothers. I wish I could sit with them and chat with them about their cookbooks and reflect on a recipe or two.
If I could visit with my:
Maternal grandmother - our conversations would be about all the bread she baked.
Paternal grandmother - our conversations would be her cookies, specifically her molasses cookies.
Makes you wonder what "treasures" you have thrown away, doesn't it?
I found "the stocked kitchen'" Facebook page and plan to check them out and utilize some of their methods. Actually, I think it is something I've been looking for, for a long time, to get my grocery planning and pantry more organized. It is all coming full circle and a blessing for me. Somehow I wish Kristin's grandmother would know someone is going to be getting use of her gift.
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