I just get dirty. I don’t mean my shoes have little smudges. I look like I fell in the garbage every day. I don’t understand it. When I worked, I dressed and left the house just like everyone else. By the time I got to work, I had stepped in something, spilled coffee on myself, or rubbed up against something and gotten a spot on my clothes. As the day went on, I was sure to end up with ink spots on my hands and/or clothes and have a few spots. I sponged the worst off, but still got home a mess.
I wear my oldest clothes in the yard and make no effort to stay clean. After a few hours of digging, hauling, moving rocks, and planting, I look like I have been rolling in the mud. That doesn’t bother me in the least. When I am done working, I just drop the clothes in the washer, and get straight in the shower.
My mother and two of my sisters stay crisp and clean. Mother can wear white and work all day and look like she’s dressed for a garden party. My other sister is like me. She looks like she works on a garbage truck. What in the world do people do who stay clean? Is it magic?
memoir
Just Folks Getting By Part 17
“Mama, I know you are making a peanut butter pie for the American Legion Auction, but Ben’s Uncle Amos, just called and wanted to know if I could bring two pies! I’ve never baked a pie in my life! You’ve got to help me! Do you have a really easy, really good pie you can help me with?” Jenny looked panicked. “Do you still remember how to make that caramel pie you used to make? That was my favorite. Was it real hard?”
“Sure, I must’a made a thousand of those. It’s real easy, just takes a while. Do you have any Eagle Brand milk?” Asked Lucille. “Do you want it with pastry crust or graham crackers?”
“Graham cracker is best, but we have to go to the grocery store anyway. What do I need for the pies?” Jenny took out her pencil and pad.
“Let me think,” said Lucille. “You’re gonna four cans of Eagle Brand milk and a quart of whipping cream. For the crust, you need graham crackers, butter, and sugar.”
“That’s all? Jenny was shocked.
“Oh yeah. It’s a real simple pie. All you do is boil the Eagle Brand Milk in the can for three hours and pour it in the crust, chill till it’s set, then top with whipped cream.
“Okay. Do you want to ride down to the A & P with me? We can stop by on the way and have lunch with Ben and let you see the what he’s done at hardware store. You haven’t been down there since he did all that work down there, have you?”
“No, but are you sure you don’t want me to stay here and keep the baby?
“No, we could be a while and Lucy will need to nurse. Besides, Ben wants you to see the store.
“Well, all right. Let me change my dress and put on a good apron.” When Lucille got back, she smelled of Cashmere Bouquet Dusting Powder in her crisp floral print dress with an immaculate lace-edged white apron. Her white hair was freshly combed and held back on either side by tortoise shell combs. The seams of her stockings were straight. She also changed into her perfectly shined lace up black oxfords with the two-inch heels. She held her enormous black purse on her arm.
“Mama, you look so pretty. I always loved seeing your in your Sunday apron.”
“I just don’t feel right without my apron. I know not too many women wear them all the time any more, but I take such comfort in my apron. The pockets are so handy, you never get caught without a hanky. I guess I’m ready if you are. Do you want me to carry the baby?
“Oh no. You don’t have to wag her around. She’s getting so heavy. Besides, you look so pretty I want to show you off.”
“Land’s sakes, Jenny. Ain’t nobody said I was purty in years.”
“Well, you are, Mama. I’ve always thought you are beautiful. Let’s go.”
Lucille admired the neat buildings as Jenny circled the courthouse square. “This is such a purty town. Oh my! I didn’t recognize y’all’s hardware right off. This is so nice! Y’all must really be doin’ good. I am so proud.”
Ben was waiting to show them around. “Jerry, can you take care of things? I want to show Miss Lucille what we’ve done down here.” Ben proudly took the baby from Jenny.”
“Come here pretty girl. We need to show Grandma what we’ve been up to.” With that, Ben launched into a guided tour of the remodeled store. His pride was obvious as he showed her around. Near the back, he approached an older gentleman. “Uncle Amos, I want you to meet Miss Lucille, Jenny’s mother.”
Lucille found herself face to face with Amos Jones, Russell’s old friend who’d given her a dollar and a ride to the bus station so many years ago. He recognized her as well. “Lucille, I have wondered about you so many times. It looks like you are doing fine.”
Caramel Pie Recipe
Remove the label from two Cans of Eagle Brand Milk
Put in large pot, cover with water and keep at low boil for 3 hours. May have to add water. I always set timer for 1 hour so I remember to check. After 3 hours, remove from water and allow to cool 10 minutes before opening. If you wait longer, caramel will cool and be difficult to pour. Use caution when you open. Can will ooze and spill over as you open. Pour into 10 inch Graham Cracker Crust. Allow to set 2-3 hours and top with whipped cream.
Caution: This recipe is neither non-fat nor low calorie. Best to make when you have company. You don’t want this sitting around to tempt you.
Just Folks Getting By Part 16
Lucille took her calendar out of her pocketbook to see if she needed to get her light bill and burial insurance premiums off in the mail. “Well, I say, Jenny. The twenty-ninth will be your daddy’s birthday. He’d a been seventy-four if he’d a lived! I guess that’s the good thing about dying young. You don’t never git old. In my mind, he’s still twenty-one and here I am sixty-eight. He wouldn’t have no use for an old granny my age. That just made me remember a dream I had a dream about me and your daddy last night. I was the way I am now, gray hair, sore knees, and hobblin’ around my arthritis is acting up. Any, I was somewhere that kind’a looked like a park, just a wooded area with a grassy patch and a rail fence along side a row of pine trees. The wind was a’blowin’ the pines like they was singing. The grass was just as green as it could be……looked so soft and cool, it seemed like it would a’felt good to rolled in it. There was a rocky stream between me and your daddy. He was a’sittin’ up on the top rail of that high fence, just as unconcerned as he could be, just the way he’d a’done when he was a young man. He saw me and was just a’wavin’ at me to come on over, a’smiling like I was the purtiest thing he ever seen….like I was a young woman.
I knew I had to git over to him, but the path down to that stream was sloped and kind’a rocky, a challenge if you’re not nimble as a goat. I started over his way, and didn’t have no trouble at all, though I was trying not to slip. Once I waded that stream, I just run like a girl and jumped up on that fence with him, without thinkin’ twice. I looked down and saw I was just as young and spry as though no time had passed since I first seen him. We was just tickled to death to be together, again. I don’t feel a bit worried about dyin’ now. I don’t want to leave you girls, but I know we’ll all be together again. I’m glad I had that dream. It sure makes me look forward to seeing your daddy, again.”
Jenny spoke to her mother pensively. “Mama, that was a wonderful dream, but I don’t want to think of ever losin’ you. I don’t know how I’d go on. I depend on you for so much. Do you think that was a sign?”
Lucille took Jenny’s soft hand in her weathered one. “Jenny, I don’t believe the Lord is through with me yet, but if I do go, I’ll be ready. Sometimes, I think we git a little visit from our loved ones who’ve passed on, ’cause they probably miss us, too. I am glad I have that little visit with your daddy. It helped relieve my worries.
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Just Folks Getting By Part 15
The mail ran just as Lucille finished up the dishes. “Mama, you got a letter from Shirley.”
Lucille dried her hands on her apron, poured a cup of coffee and sat down to read it. “Here Jenny, sit with me.”
Dear Mama and Jenny.
Thanks so much for the baby’s christening picture. She looks like an angel. Jenny, you are sure getting your figure back. I’m still carrying ten pounds from when I had Marty. I hate that. Seems like it gets harder after it every baby. Martin’s brother Perry is talking about getting married again. You remember his wife left him and Judy for the doctor she was working with and they moved off to Henderson. Well, he’s been going with a widowed schoolteacher with a little boy and they’re talking about getting married at Christmas. Mama Benson’s been living with Perry and Judy ever since Fran left. You remember she said she was tired of keeping up this big, old house, just for herself, so we bought it. I don’t know where she’ll live after Perry marries. It’s our house now. You live in the garage apartment, and I’m not about to put you out. She’s not an easy woman to live with.
The kids sure are enjoying their summer, but not as much as I am. I wish I didn’t ever have to go back. Kids don’t know teachers are as happy about summer as they are. P I’ve got plenty here to keep me busy. The oldest two are taking swimming lessons. Better close and get this in the mail.
Love, Shirley
“Oh, Jenny! What if Mrs. Benson decides she wants to move in with them? It was her house to start with. I should have never put my three thousand dollars in fixing that nice apartment in the garage. That’s ’bout all I had left. I can’t afford to buy a house or pay rent. I am sixty-eight years old, way too old to be trying to go back to work. If Martin feels like he has to move his mama in there, I won’t have no place to go.” Lucille felt like she’d hit bottom.
“Now Mama, don’t go borrowing trouble. Nobody’s said a word about Mrs. Benson moving in with Shirley. You don’t even know for sure she won’t stay on with Perry after he marries. Martin and Shirley bought her house. She has no claim on it. Whatever happens, none of your kids will let you do without. You know that.”
“I do know that, Jenny, but I thought I was settled and don’t want to move again. I’m gittin’ to old to worry like this. Sometimes, I just wish I could go on and be with Russ. I think I’ll go lay down awhile. I’ll do them dishes later.” Lucille trudged back to her bedroom.
Monday Funnies…
Uh Oh!
I used to moonlight at an urgent care clinic. Mother called me at my regular RN job one day to complain of an earache. Like I always do when people ask advice, I recommended she see a doctor. She decided to go to the urgent care clinic where I sometimes worked. I called to speak to my friend, Judy, who was working that day. I asked her to surprise Mother by telling her she had to have a full internal pelvic exam. She knew Mother, and was delighted to pull a little trick on her. Sure enough, she showed Mother to the OB/GYN exam room, telling her to prepare for a full exam. Naturally, Mother was stunned, protesting she only had an earache. Of course, my friend quickly gave the joke up.
They turned the tables on me. Judy, the nurse called me. “Linda, your mom was so shocked she fell and her head. She’s gonna have to have stitches. You are gonna have to come see about her.”
“Oh my God, I never dreamed that would happen! Let me get someone to cover for me. I’ll be there as soon as I can. At that, They started laughing. The last laugh was on me.
Just Folks Getting By Part 14
“Oh Mama, this apple pie is so good. I never will get this baby weight off if you don’t quit baking pies like this. I just can’t say no.” Jenny pushed her plate back. “I am going to save some out for Ben and freeze the rest if you don’t mind. It will be wonderful to pull it out for a treat one day.”
“That is a good idea, Jenny, but your weight is coming off real good. I been here two weeks and I can tell a big difference since then. Breast-feeding really helps. After my babies was born, I breastfed as long as I could ’cause some folks said it helped keep from gittin’ another baby too quick. Didn’t seem like it helped too much, but I guess it might a’helped some. I got thataway as soon as your daddy got home and had three babies two years apart. I never had no trouble keepin’ my weight down, workin’ in the cafe and chasin’ young’uns. You was a big help, though. I don’t know how I’d a’got by without you. I kind a’hate to tell you, now, but I was gonna bake two peanut butter pies today. I promised one to the American Legion Bake Sale, but I guess I can send ’em both if you think I ought to.”
“Ooh, don’t you dare! Ben would have a fit if he knew I let you send off his peanut butter pie. I’ll just make myself stay out of it! I lost two pounds this week and I don’t want to put it back on. How did you learn to bake such great pies? Seemed like everybody that came in our cafe was crazy for your pies.” Jenny took one final bite of her pie, then put her fork down.
“Bessie Sears got me started making pies when I was a dishwasher at the Peabody Cafe. She ran that boarding house and I went down to help her make pies ever’ mornin’ between the breakfast and lunch shifts. It got to where she got more orders than she could handle, so she passed ’em on to me. Mr. Peabody let me bake in the cafe kitchen, long as I furnished him first. ‘Course, I bought my own supplies. Mr. Peabody gave me fifty cents a pie and sold it for fifteen cents a slice, so we both made money. I charged ever’body else seventy cents a pie and couldn’t keep up. Sometimes I sold as much as much as fifty pies a week. That’s how I was able to save up enough for us to get a restaurant when your daddy come home. I was right proud.” Lucille smiled proudly.
“I liked living over that cafe when y’all first opened it. I didn’t want to move. It always smelled like apple pie when I was going to sleep at night.” Jenny grinned.
“Yeah, I always ran up to tuck you in bed right after I put the pies on to bake at night. Then me and your daddy would clean up and do the books while they baked. It worked out good we could live over the cafe…..and the price was sure right, fifteen dollars a month for that buildin’. It was nice and warm in winter, but hot as blazes iin summer.”
Southern Peanut Butter Pie
2/3 cup white sugar1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup dark corn syrup 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter 3 eggs 1 cup salted peanuts 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Combine all ingredients Pour filling into pie crust.
Bake 40 to 50 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.
Center may be soft but will firm up as it cools
Flaky Vinegar Pie Crust
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup butter, cold and cut into several large pieces (may substitute shortening)
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vinegar
6-10 tbsp ice water
Vinegar makes this crust flaky and sugar helps it brown. You won’t taste vinegar.
Mix flour, fat, salt, and sugar with pastry cutter or blender till it is grainy and well-mixed. Mix in vinegar and ice water until it makes stiff mix that can be pressed into a ball. Wrap and chill 1-2 hours. Roll out on floured surface and transfer to pan. Makes one double crust or two nine inch crusts. I make half a dozen up ahead of time and freeze dough. Must thaw an hour or so before rolling out.
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