Family Resources Kid's Resources
Family Support
The Parlor Join us on our message boards for conversation, introductions, support, encouragement and chit chat. Stop by and introduce yourself Here!
Recipes
Tea
Crafts
Garden
Forums
Autumn Leaves
By C.J. Clark
Peering out the back door through the wooded forest orange flames break
through the charcoal night, the silence broken by the raking of leaves.
Firefly sparks dance through the air. Heavy gray smudges of smoke billow
skyward. And the aroma of oak leaves filters through the air.
As I stand here I am reminded of childhood days in Michigan when tons of
maple leaves filled our yard. When there was nothing to do or my brother and
I whined about not having anything to do, mama or daddy would pipe up and
say, "Go rake some leaves." It didn't matter whether we spent 10 minutes or
an hour raking; it mattered little whether there were narrow swathes cleared
or entire sections. We would rake till young tender hands were blistered and
sore. Once cleared and raked into a huge pile, what else was there to do but
jump in it? So we would jump and jump-soon we had armfuls of leaves that we
were throwing up in the air or at each other-having too much fun to realize we
would have to begin our task anew.
On some occasions, we would hold a bonfire ceremony. The mini piles were all
brought into one huge pile in the middle of the driveway. Shortly after
igniting the crackling dry leaves, daddy would announce, "Go get the
marshmallows and hot dogs. Don't forget the forks." Long handled extension
forks roasted, or rather charred, many a hot dog. Marshmallows were tricky;
if you held them near the fire too long, they ignited and turned all black. It
took just the right temperature to make them toasty brown and gooey.
After
eating our fill, daddy tended to the coals while my brother and I would go
inside where mama would have hot chocolate made from scratch. We always had
our hot chocolate served in special mugs depicting pickinniny faces. Years
later I found a set of them in an antique-collectibles store where I learned
they originally sold through the 5 and 10ΒΆ stores for about 39ΒΆ.
Other times, we would wrap potatoes in tin foil and throw them into the dying
coals. The potatoes would cook in the hot embers and I do believe the taste
surpasses that of oven baking.
So as I stand at the back door watching my husband rake the final mounds of
leaves into the pyre, I wish I had those long handled forks and marshmallows
handy.
About the Author:
C.J. Clark is a freelance writer, wife and caregiver living in
Arkansas. She is also foster mother to l3 cats with more on the way!
Email C.J. at
wyoming@centurytel.net
Sheila "I am a Christian Woman, a stay home homemaker and a Mom.
My interests: I love to knit, crochet, sew, embrodiery, and quilt. I play the piano, read music, I write Chrisitan poems and writings. I collect teddy bears, angels, hearts and butterflies."
Tips for Selecting the Best Summer Fruit Summertime brings with it a bounty of fresh fruits, but consumers often have no idea how to choose the best fruit. This can lead to the frustration of lackluster fruit, which can make all the difference in the quality of your dining experience. Keep these handy tips in mind when choosing summer fruit and you'll always get the pick of the crop.
Preserve and Display your Wedding Memories Create a lovely shadowbox frame to preserve the memory of that most beautiful day, your wedding! Perhaps your son or daughter are the ones tying the knot? This makes a wonderful gift that they will cherish forever.
Caring for Wicker Furniture Regardless of the material from which your wicker furniture is constructed, keeping it clean can be a challenge because of the textured surface.
Here are some great tips on caring for your wicker furniture so that it will last you for years.
Tips for Selecting the Best Summer Fruit
Preserve and Display your Wedding Memories
Caring for Wicker Furniture