These Foolish Things Remind Me

 

A/C covered and secured for winter

Bacon for Sunday

Yesterday with help from one true blue friend I got things put away for winter.  The air was very chilly and I knew it was time to get these things done.  After all November 17th  other years there's been the 4 letter s-word, snow!   He fastened and tied the A/c cover, hauled the park bench down to the shop, unfastened the hoses, unwound them to drain and hauled the back one to the shop too.  All this stuff Jerry always handled now it's up to me.

Lately I have been hungry for bacon.  Seldom do I cook it now.  Used to be a Sunday weekly ritual for breakfasts when Jerry was alive.  He loved bacon, especially Nueske's the only brand I would buy.  Now I buy bacon and roll the slices up individually,  wrap each in wax paper and seal them into a sandwhich bag for the freezer.  On the rare times I want bacon like a BLT in warmer months or a rare breakfast treat,  I can take out a couple slices.  Just another thing that has been adjusted in my solo life.  

This morning I cooked 5 slices, ate 2 and put the others into a baggie in the refrigerator .  It wasn't Nueske's just the Jimmie Dean brand I'd found on sale for only $3.99 for the lb. package at Festival.   So into the freezer for later.  I'll need a couple of those slices for the tenderloins of turkey breast I bought for my Thanksgiving dinner.  Anither solitary holiday approaches The other widows I know all have family with whom they will be eating, visiting, then there/s me.  I considered going across the river to the La Crosse or Onalaska ommunity dinners, but I couldn't face that alone too.  So after finding the turkey tenderloins I knew I;d be set at home.  All those memories of the big dinners we hosted for family on Thanksgiving and holidays. all different now.  

But life goes on.  I am thankful for good health, financial comfrt, a secure nice home and the abiiity to cook and do things for myself.  Itry to take good care of me, I am all I've got.  Me and memories.   

As I slowly fried it I recalled all those other Sundays when there was a we instead of just a me.

Oven mitts, remembrance

 

I read or hear from other widows about signs they believe were from their late husbands.   Most often it is something touching, sentimental, warm, fuzzy, touchy- feely.  For me, usually practical, like these oven glove mitts.  They see a Cardinal, I get a warning.   Years ago Jerry bought these silicon coated mitts  for me to use so I wouldn't burn my wrists putting things into or taking them out of the oven.  He was a practical guy and took care of everything, including me.  

Over these last almost 4 years I have surely realized that more and more.  I do have and use many potholders but I was always burning,searing the top of my wrists.  These mitts cover that.  Yes they are way too huge for my hand, but work.  Not pretty but practical, very handy and protective.  Now that temps are cooling I use my oven more.  

Last week I thought cornbread would be good with some of my leftover chili.  I hadn't thought about these old mitts.  For the last couple years, without Jerry reminding me, I hadn't used them.  They got shoved to the back of the cabinet,  forgotten about.  But when I dug out my smallest  cast iron skillet for the corn bread, there they were!  A reminder and truly just what I needed, my protection!  

BTW I made an excellent cornbread, my version with diced  jalapeños and  craisins, 

 cornmeal, some canned cream corn, eggs, baking powder and soda, bisquick and flour.  It was delicious!  No sugar, I do not like sweetened cornbread.  When Jerry was here I never added  jalapeños nor craisins, he'd not have liked that.  But for me, now, less than half the recipe and good.  

I was so happy to find those forgotten mitts. Saving my wrists now from burns.. All during the good weather when I am outside doing chores, weeding, trimming, I get cuts, scrapes, gashes from twigs, sticks, who knows what else.  And burns from using the oven, burns.  I can be dangerous to me.  Just a couple pics pf Jerry, patient, pondering, waiting for me.