Small Stones Day 12: Home Cookin'

The curtains billow at the windows,
gathered around the table,
a pitcher of iced tea,
a glass of spring onions
green stalks standing tall-
dinner time at home.


I think it was the weather today that sparked this memory. We've been enjoying spring like temperatures in Florida this week. There was something about the light breeze and the way that the light flooded the sky that brought this memory close to mind.

I remember spring and early summer as a child. The windows would be opened wide to catch the cool breeze. My mother would make a pitcher of iced tea each afternoon in her green pitcher. Bright yellow lemons would float on top.

Some days she would create a plate of raw vegetables for us to nibble on. Ruby red radishes, sweet carrots, and sliced tomatoes. She would place the spring onions in a glass of water. Once in a while I would be brave enough to eat a raw onion sprinkled with a bit of salt. My mouth waters when I think of the sharp tang of those onions.

My mother didn't have a lot to work with in those days. Our house had a small 1940's kitchen with no real counter space, but somehow she did one hell of a job creating meals in that tiny space to feed eight people on a shoestring budget  My mom considered it the ultimate challenge of her skills. She was proud of her cooking abilities and we gamely tried each one of her creative entrees.

We learned to love Chinese food because she made chow mein, egg foo yung and beef with broccoli.
We had enchiladas, chili and tacos (before Taco Bell made tacos a staple.) Her spaghetti sauce was legendary. She would always begin putting together her sauce the night before. We would be upstairs playing and suddenly catch a whiff of onions, garlic and meat searing. Oh, how we looked forward to spaghetti nights.

My mom went on to cook for hundreds at her church.  Miss June has fed most of the congregation for many years. Wednesday night suppers, special events, even Vacation Bible School ate delicious treats all prepared by the woman who began her married life with no cooking skills (except for boiling a hot dog.)

My son misses Mom's home cooking when he is away at school. She taught me well.