Life is puzzling at times
Oh dear, I forgot to add this to last week’s New Rules list. It’s an important one.
When baking, or trying any new recipe, arrange all your ingredients on the counter before you begin. Take the time to measure ingredients like they do on television cooking shows.
This one’s a hard one which is why I forgot it. It’s never been a problem for me keeping track of multiple tasks in the kitchen. Well, things have changed…
With all the loaves of bread, cookies, and pies coming out of my kitchen and offered at the farmers market, I have many of my favorite recipes memorized. Or I thought I did. Now, I’m not so sure. When baking for others, it’s best not to take a chance on forgetting the eggs in the pfeffernusse cookies or adding too much salt when canning pickles.
On Sunday, my sister-in-law helped me pickle some extra large cucumbers. During our time together, I confided to her my ability to remember what I did, or how I felt, 30 years ago, but I have trouble keeping track of something I did five minutes ago.
“I can take my chemo pills and by the time I turn around I don’t remember if I took them, or if I simply thought about taking them.” We had a good laugh.
If you are a loyal reader, you know my brain has been through a bit of trauma this year. While the past two summer seasons have been full of good health and gardening, winter’s coming.
After we wrap up the garden, I won’t spend so much time outside or working so hard baking and canning. I’m looking forward to more writing and creating. My goal is to stay healthy and keep my mind sharp. Hence the jigsaw puzzles, daily crossword, and Wordle.
There’s a lot of eyebrow-raising at the stack of puzzles on my porch table, both completed and yet to be accomplished. I don’t mind. It’s rather addicting and starts like this.
First, you find a puzzle with subject matter that appeals to you. My latest, of course, is Halloween. On deck, Christmas puzzles.
Secondly, you spend time turning all the pieces over and hunting for the border. There’s a lot of looking at the puzzle box during that time, and you say, “What was I thinking? I will never get this together.”
But, you begin to sort by color the easiest areas to identify ending up with small areas that you are sure will eventually fit together. In the beginning, there are too many similar colors and patterns and the struggle to find the ones that match is real.
Sometimes, it’s best to walk away. A couple of hours later, you identify one little piece, and all of a sudden that pile of puzzle pieces becomes part of the bigger picture.
As you tackle these little areas, eliminating the individual puzzle pieces the scene takes shape. It becomes easier to identify the objects within the border. My fingers move faster as my brain recognizes the tiniest pieces with matching colors or patterns.
Eventually, the stragglers will fit into the remaining holes and the puzzle is completed. (The Halloween puzzles glow in the dark and are very cool.)
My life has been a jigsaw puzzle — lots of individual pieces coming together one day at a time. Boy, sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees. But, there’s someone who can.
Our Women’s Bible study group has been studying Romans 8:28: “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”
September was the first month in two years I did not have a single doctor’s appointment for my cancer. Then, my husband hurt himself, and I ended up there anyway. It’s been trying, and an inopportune time with the work involved in buttoning up the garden.
I keep repeating that verse as I list the things to let go of this fall. I have to change my thinking. Change is difficult at any age.
Take my not-yet-two-year-old granddaughter. Her mother sent me a video last week. The little sweetheart dressed in a Bluey nightgown stood by the couch looking up at Dad.
With the cutest expression, she said, “Cookie.” She said it more than once pleading innocently for a bedtime treat.
“Orange?” Dad said. “Do you want an orange?”
“Okay,” she said with an affirmative nod, followed by approval applause by her and Dad.
At which time, she promptly turned towards the kitchen, and said, “Cookie.” Her parents just laughed.
We hear what we want to hear and do what we want to do, if we are cute enough to get away with it.
INDYchildrendotme 
Leave a comment