The recipe called for a half cup of baking soda and a quarter cup of vegetable oil. I didn’t have the third ingredient, lemon essence, on hand; in fact, I didn’t even have one lemon, so I just squeezed drops of juice from a neglected lime that I found at the back of the fruit bin into the mix.
I rubbed this pasty concoction over the labels that I was determined to remove from a glass jar and former candle, a cute little metal tin, and a pop-top bottle of sparkling rosé, which is perfect for storing leftover sparkling wine or serving water to guests when feeling fancy.
I can report success in removing labels from three of the four items (stupid, stubborn wine bottle labels!). And, bonus: My hands are super soft, and my nails and cuticles no longer look as though I spent recess digging in the dirt with my bare hands. I’ve got brown, not green, thumbs, y’all!
People appreciate homemade gifts like a bouquet of flowers from my own yard arranged in a uniquely shaped or colored container. At least that’s what I tell myself to justify buying all the candles that I do!
Homemade was just how I grew up. My parents planted a huge garden and most of what we ate was either served fresh that night for supper or put up (canned or frozen) to consume over the late fall, winter, and early spring. The women on both sides of my family catered and decorated all baby showers, wedding showers, and significant birthdays or anniversary parties. A “cookie table,” lined with all the family favorites, was part of every wedding reception—and you got to eat cookies while waiting for the wedding party to arrive! When my husband and I toured potential venues back home for our own wedding, there was a clause in each contract permitting the set up of the cookie table for no additional charge.
My family and I are heading home this coming Saturday for the annual family reunion on my Mom’s side, which has been going strong for nearly 100 years. It’s the same time, date, and location each year. Woe to the those who dare to make alternative plans for the first Saturday in August!
Like every family, we have our political, religious, and/or social-cultural differences, and as a result, many of our relationships have been strained, some even severed, but one thing is constant: When you show up for the family reunion, you get in line behind a cousin, in-law, or outlaw, and you help yourself to one delicious homemade appetizer, main dish, or dessert after another. You pray, you laugh, you hug, you go back for seconds (or thirds!), you throw some horseshoes, you hold the babies, you take a walk in the woods, you nap on someone’s chair or blanket, and you tell the same same stories as you did last year or you listen to one that you swear that you’ve never heard before.
For this one day every year, I don’t care what you posted or liked yesterday. I just want to know if you brought your signature dish, the one that I look forward to eating each year, and whether you entered this year’s food competition. I won’t be participating, but my son, the baker, will be. He loves this annual picnic as much as I do.
No poem this week. Apologies, but I’m off to the farmers market to see if any of the producers still have rhubarb for sale. My son is interested in making this delicious-sounding recipe for this year’s competition. I wish that his grandmother were still alive to enjoy all the yummy dinners and desserts that he’s been making this summer while home from college. He’s far surpassed my kitchen skills; I couldn’t be any prouder—and I love not having to cook as much!
Family reunions can present their share of sticky situations, uneasy conversations, and awkward moments, amIright? Want some unsolicited advice on how to navigate such times?
When someone tells you that they are struggling, thank them for trusting you enough to share.
When someone shares their sadness over a loss, tell them that you’re holding space for their grief.
When someone reveals a vulnerable truth about themselves or another family member, just say, “Thank you for telling me. I love you.”
Making eye contact, smiling, and offering hugs gets you bonus points.
Thank you for coming to my TedTalk on How to Family Reunion for a Couple of Hours!
I cannot wait to eat my Aunt Belva’s succotash!