This week is crunch time in my home. There is always so much to do at this time of year: decorating, shopping, watching Hallmark movies, and baking, one of my passions. Being passionate about the holidays brings back the best of years-gone-by memories. Each Christmas season, I search for my favorite holiday cookie recipes that have been part of our family's traditional Christmas event. So, this year, I take out my favorite recipe book, Christmas From the Heart of The Home, by Susan Branch. My son decided to bake with me this week and true to tradition, I pulled out Susan Branch's book and created several recipes that were my mother's favorites.
by Phoebe Boswall
Smells of baking remind me of you.
Your red apron, my small striped one with the torn pocket.
Your soft stretched skin, fingers kneading dough
into a ball. My fat floury hands
grasped for your amber necklace,
Quick, Phoebe, the oven!
You played with flavors,
made little blogs of buttery dough on the tray
Your warm kitchen, my safe haven.
You taught me your language:
bicarbonate of soda, self-raising flour, vanilla extract,
milliliters of milk, grams of sugar:
caster, muscovado, granulated.
Now your apron hangs empty on the peg.
I wear it from time to time; mine with the torn pocket
doesn't fit anymore.
🎄
Feeling nostalgic after baking a batch of one of my favorite holiday cookies, I decided to craft a golden shovel poem using the strike line: Smells of baking remind me of you.
Tis the season for sweet smells
©CV, 2019
Tomorrow, I will continue to bake and try my best not to be the messy baker I am in tribute of a loving artist, baker, and creative mother who offered her heart to all.
Now, it is time to join this week's Poetry Friday host Buffy Silverman, children's author and poet of nonfiction books. Buffy is bringing to the writing community her almost solstice edition of Poetry Friday that focuses on the wonder of Liz Garton Scanlon's new lyrical book, One Dark Bird.
Tis the season for sweet smells
to deliciously scent the hub of
my home. Each whiff of holiday baking
brings back sugary memories; remind
family of chocolate tastings, and me
recreating a long-seated passion of
baking with heart and following you.
🎄
🎄
Now, it is time to join this week's Poetry Friday host Buffy Silverman, children's author and poet of nonfiction books. Buffy is bringing to the writing community her almost solstice edition of Poetry Friday that focuses on the wonder of Liz Garton Scanlon's new lyrical book, One Dark Bird.
What a thoroughly delicious and delightful post, Carol! I have and love the Susan Branch book too. Enjoyed both your poem and Boswall's -- sugary memories are the best. Happy Baking and Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteJama, when I pulled out my Susan Branch cookbook, I thought of you and all the sugary memories you have given your readers throughout the years. Thanks for stopping by and thoughts on baking. I am ready to try out another favorite chocolate-coated coconut cookie recipe. Happy Holidays!
DeleteCarol, "Baking" brought tears to my eyes. Christmas is a happy/sad time for me. I love the excitement on my grandchildren's faces, but I can't help missing Christmases past. Wishing you and yours a happy holiday and healthy, happy new year!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Linda, and wishing my family a happy and healthy holiday. Enjoy yours.
DeleteIsn't it interesting how baking memories bring back such vivid feelings? I've got some recipes in my mom's handwriting, and treasure them. Love how you adapted the line from Phoebe Boswall's beautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteBuffy, baking brings out memories of the best of times, starting when I baked alongside my Nonnie in early elementary school. Have a great holiday.
DeleteOh, what a great idea for a shovel. I'm loving this form more and more. Thanks for sharing both nostalgia and recipe!
ReplyDeleteTanita, thanks for joining me here. I read your post last night and fell asleep before I could respond. I will circle back today. Golden shovels are interesting ways to synthesize thoughts. Happy Holidays.
DeleteLovely poems, Carol - both capture nostalgia and love so beautifully. Happy Holidays to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteOh, how beautifully this golden shovel fits the original poem and your baking season. I love it. And, the graphic with your favorite recipe is a treasure as well. Enjoy the crunch time week. It's crazy-fun and I know that it will be filled with a lot of love and laughter. Thanks for the cookie!
ReplyDeleteCarol: Thank you so much for this baking poem. It is at the heart of many of my Christmas memories also. Now my husband does most of our baking, and he bakes some of my family favorites for me and my sister. You have challenged me to write about baking... Thanks again, and have a wonderful holiday.
ReplyDeleteMmmm, I bet it smells good at your house!
ReplyDeleteLove both of the poems!Tye nostalgic one is sweet with memories and images of two aprons! The golden shovel shows how your mom's traditions and love of baking continue on in you. Thank you for holiday memories!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this poem Carol! I haven't seen this style before and look forward to giving it a try. I really like how you used the line and built the poem around the idea of the line. Very neat!
ReplyDeleteYum, such a tastey post you gave us this week Carol, those macaroons look delicious! Touching recollections in your first poem and I like how the first line and your baking inspired your next golden shovel poem! Thanks, and Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteYou are so creative in ALL you do! I imagine your baked goods are as rich and tasty as your blog posts!
ReplyDeleteWhy does it not surprise me that we bake from the same beloved cookbook? Kindred spirits in many ways we are, Carol. Your Golden Shovel is perfect! Best wishes to you and your family. xx Christie
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