Weekend Cake

I'm a fan of European baking. These days, I don't travel much... So eating ethnic food gives me a sense of "almost being away"!

And sometimes, I buy - or make - cake on the weekend.

I was hoping to buy a European-style cherry cake with a crumble topping... when I saw a different cake.

It seemed to be calling my name!

It's a honey cake - or, in their words - "a miracle from honey." Pretty compelling description! 

I stuck with my original plan and got the cherry cake...

But next time, I think I'll try this!

Family Memories

One of the things I was excited to see on my father's home movies from the 1950's - now digitized - was a scene with my father and his sister Elsie, together with their mother, Helene.

My father and his sister, who was a year younger than him, would have been in their mid-40's. Their mother, in her mid to late 60's. 

(As a child, I always thought of my grandparents as very old - although now I see them in a different light!)

I see a facial resemblance between my dad and his mother. 

Occasionally, when I see my face in the mirror, I'm surprised at how much I resemble Elsie when she was my age.

Elsie was a wonderful seamstress and loved gardening. 

I spent a lot of time with her family, when we lived in Hay Lakes and Red Deer.

My grandmother, whom we called Oma, lived with us and looked after my brother the year my mother and I commuted between Hay Lakes and Kingman, the first year my mother taught home economics.

The following year, our family moved to Red Deer - but Oma stayed in Hay Lakes and cared for a handicapped child - the daughter of the local blacksmith. I don't remember how long she did that before moving back to Edmonton.

But it was a thrill to see their faces again!

Evening Walk

My son - who currently lives with us - likes to take an evening walk. I sometimes go with him.

We  notice different things:

While I stop to take  pictures of flowers in bloom, he notices that the moon is already out.

We both stop to photograph it - and the clouds.

A peaceful way to end our day.

Cherished Souvenir

I recently came across an interesting souvenir that my parents had brought back from their first trip together to Europe: a piece of the Berlin Wall.

 

When Germans in East Berlin were allowed to cross freely into West Berlin, in November, 1989, my parents were excited to visit Germany, which had been divided into two countries - East and West Germany - after World War 2. 

My father's half-sister, Emma, lived in East Germany. He hadn't seen her since he left Poland in 1929, when he was 19 years old. She had been a young child at the time.

I don't know how or when she moved from Poland to Germany. Was she married at the time? I don't know. But family members had been in contact with her by mail. So off my parents went.

One of the souvenirs they brought back with them was a packaged piece of the Berlin Wall.

Included in the box is  a certificate of authenticity and a map showing where in the wall the piece of concrete was taken from.

Is it legit? (It was packaged, not in Germany, but in the USA!) 

I have no idea - but my father loved the idea that he owned a concrete piece of the wall which, for over 40 years, had been a symbol of oppression - but which now was proof of the endless possibilities of freedom and peace.

Healthy Aging

My daughter recently sent me an article on Canada's oldest woman - 110 years old.

She became Canada's oldest when a 110-year-old man passed away.

Her children said that she was thrifty - of the "waste not, want not" generation (much like my parents). 

And she urged her children to love everyone. 

I love that precept! A loving, accepting attitude is sure to create a lightness of heart. That surely helps one live to a ripe old age!

New Blooms

Phlox are the brightest flowers blooming in our yard these days.

I originally bought four potted plants in four colours - and eventually divided them.

Now they add a dash of colour here and there in the yard.

My first yellow bearded lily is beginning to bloom, too. It was a gift from one of Terry's co-workers when we drove out into the country to buy plants at her husband's plant nursery.

In the early years, there was only one flower - but I see lots of buds this year. Glad it's doing well in our crowded garden!

Book to "Nibble" On

I often have a number of books around that I'm not so much reading - as "nibbling" on.

Here's one: The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days.

I heard about the author, Kate Bowler, from my daughter - who listens to her podcasts. 

She's about my daughter's age - but a life- changing cancer diagnosis a few years ago made her reflect more on life.  

A thought that made me pause and ponder is found in the introduction: "We have days that shimmer... We know how fleeting these moments can be. Some days are filled with fireworks, yes, but most are not..." So true.

After the flood, the basement cleanup preoccupied us. No shimmer there...

I'm thankful that the water is gone and the walls are drying out. But we have a long way to go before we get our living space back.

So I look out the window to brighten my days. The flowers in my garden - and the beautiful sky bring me joy. I'm so thankful for them!