The Gatherin'

The Gatherin' at Shipman's Farmacy

Last night was the gatherin for Bubba’s birthday, more than a week late I might add, but it worked out fine cause we had all been away from the Village for one reason or another and were anxious to flock together and catch up.  Some had gone home, some on vacation; some just had to tend to business, and that’s where Bubba had been, tendin’ to business, “on his birthday.”   

Early on, VerDell had forewarned us cause if there is one thing you need to know about Bubba it is that Christmas is on December 25^th and New Year’s is on January 1^st and his birthday is on March 19^th and that’s when the celebratin’ takes place.  So Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Birthday hold a strong place in his sense of what’s right and what’s a stretch.  Don’t wish that boy a Happy Birthday a day late cause he’ll look at you with those steel blue eyes and say, “thank you, but it ain’t my birthday,” and leave it at that.

Anyway, when we all found out that Bubba was gonna be out of town “on his birthday”, it’s like the Grinch who stole Christmas, we were right perplexed.  I’m thinkin, what are we gonna do, can’t ignore it and can’t call it a birthday celebration cause that would violate the “it’s not my birthday rule”.  

Lushious said she wouldn’t be touchin that one and I hesitated just long enough for Bubba’s, “not really…but equally as in your face, “twin”, LaNeese,  to step up and say she’d do it whether he liked it or not;  and she’d have corn beef and cabbage to boot cause she still needed to pay homage to Saint Patrick.   

And so it was we came to gather on March 27^th to celebrate Bubba’s 59^th. 

Just the other week, Buck and I were at the “Farmacy” and we noticed how long about sunset the Grackles came to roost in the tops of the still barren trees just outside the front porch.  While all birds roost, some do it alone; others with mobs of compatriots.  I watched them gather as parings of two or three gave way to subgroups of ten to twelve, ultimately altering the natural quiet that sundown usually provides.  As I listened to their chorus I imagined each was ready to share some avian excitement and give a story to their bug-catchin, high-flyin, ground grazin kind of day. 

 That’s the way it is with the Villagers, there are those of us who always arrive early, settle in the kitchen with the host and take a few minutes of time to share a laugh or sweep a floor before the “flock” arrives.  Once in group however, we move about in our own little peckin order , buttin’ in or at times shoutin’ over one another if the story isn’t going to our likin.  Pretty soon the chatter grows and you wonder if there are ten or twenty of us makin all that racket.

When folks are over here, my favorite part is to be in the kitchen and listen to five conversations goin’ on at once, that’s when I know the gatherin is goin’ well. Last night was like that, each of us from time to time, hoppin from limb to limb to make sure we weren’t missin something;  all the while sharin a song, a story, a triumph, a laugh; while celebrating a year past, and a year to come, around the roost in the Friendly Village.

So Happy Birthday Bubba, cause if you have a birthday in the woods…and nobody hears…it really ain’t a celebration…now is it?

Magpie's Delight Three Berry Deep Dish Pie

• ¾  cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 4 cups frozen mixed berries (raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and blueberries)
• Juice and zest of one lemon
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• ¼ cup orange juice,
• 2  teaspoons of cinnamon
• 1 egg white and 1 teaspoon turbinado sugar (for top of pie crust)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425°.
2. In a large mixing bowl, wisk together the sugar, cinnamon and cornstarch. Add the berries and toss to combine. Sprinkle in the lemon juice, lemon zest, orange juice and combine well.
3. Spoon the berry mixture into the pie crust (I use Pet Ritz store-bought roll out, in the box) Dot with butter cubes.
4. Place the top crust and cut a vent for steam to escape.
5. Brush the top crust with egg white and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
6. Bake at 425 for 30 minutes then reduce heat to 375 for remaining 30 minutes or until the crust is golden and the filling bubbles. If the crust begins to brown overly so, cover the edges with aluminum foil.
7. Cool completely on a rack before serving.

Preparation time: 20 minute(s)

Cooking time: 1 hour(s)

Note:  I like an ugly deep dish pie, so I use a pyrex dish and crumple the top crust all around.  Sometimes I use my cookie cutter and make stars to overlap on the top crust.  Do whatever you love…it always taste good.

Weed-eatin'

“ I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant”
― Alan Greenspan

There are some things that I just over-work.  I practice sayin’ what needs to be said over and over because I want it to be "exactly right".  But I've learned there are just times when what somebody hears has more to do with what they’re expectin' to hear than what’s actually being said, or to put it another way. 

“I know you heard what you think I said, but that’s because you were “loaded for bear” and wouldn’t be happy until you had fired off a shot. "

Truth be told, I guess we’re all been guilty of carryin’ a loaded attitude at some point and time in life; doesn’t make it right to aim it at innocent folks though.   

Buck told me once that I was mad because I needed to be mad and that was fine, but to point it someplace else and then handed me the weed-eater   He took a risk, but it payed off.

I’m not gonna prolong this post but I do have to mention that, the same goes for an apology,  Even when you speak from the heart, if that other heart isn’t ready, or is all puffed up and defensive, neither words nor deeds will find their rightful place. 

Some things take time…and weed-eatin’.