Aprons and stuff

Someone with a keen sense of what is going on in Arizona walked out into the desert to find a huge Saguaro cactus making a clear statement . . . it takes hundreds of years for the cactus to grow this big, wonder if it was preparing for the present crisis that defies an answer some fifty years too late.

Our weather has been wintry until this week and for the last three days we have had fog burn off and sunshine come out to warm the cockles of our heart. I've been out gardening, well if you call weeding gardening, I don't last as long as "I used" to but I can still try to neaten the flower beds. My Rose of Sharon bush out in the front of the house is the talk of the neighborhood and everyone wants one in their yard. It really is huge and full of bright purple flowers, more pink than purple, and takes over as a show piece making the grasses and fronds of the other plants look small and insignificant . . . there is one in every crowd!!

The e-mail yesterday had the story about aprons which has been around before but it is a memory lane story reminding me of a time when an apron was a must. We wouldn't be in the kitchen without one. As the tale went, it was easier to wash and apron than a dress. Most of us dropped and drizzled icing from our homemade cakes or juice from the hot apple pies. Daily baking was as much a part of preparing dinner as cooking a pot of beans. It went on to say that the apron was used as a pot holder to take the dish out of the oven; it carried eggs or garden vegetables into the kitchen, even wood for the stove back in the old days. It made a good dust rag as you saw unexpected company coming up the walk way and you hurried to open the door for them, dusting on the way. It dried a few tears and it gave cover to a small shy child. The tale ended by saying this generation probably would worry about the germs it carried but to the author it only carried a lot of love. My daughter, Eileen, wore huge aprons to the grammar school when she was the story lady. Her pockets were filled with treats and how the children loved her. Maybe we can bring the apron back and use it as it should be worn, treating our families to dinner together with no television, fancy new doodad, some conversation and a lot of love. Some things do not need change.

So today when you go about starting a new week . . . yes, another one already, where did your weekend go? . . . check around and see if aprons are even sold anymore. I'm betting you can find a cocktail apron but what about those cover ups? They are out there, you just have to keep looking. Put one on and see how it feels to have a handy pocket, a dust rag, a pot holder and the ability to wipe up a snaughty nose. Hugs to all.