“On the trees are only a few gnarled apples that the pickers have rejected. They look like the knuckles of Doctor Reefy’s hands. One nibbles at them and they are delicious. Into a little round place at the side of the apple has been gathered all its sweetness. One runs from tree to tree over the frosted ground picking the gnarled, twisted apples and filling his pockets with them. Only the few know the sweetness of the twisted apples.”

(Sherwood Anderson, “Winesburg, Ohio”)

SICK DAYS
We were all, and I mean all, sick this week. We dropped like dominoes, and none of us saw it coming. We assume we caught it from Lucy, who probably got it at the church nursery. Thankfully, she was feeling better before we all went down: Doug, 4 PM on Wednesday; Caroline, 7 PM on Wednesday; Hannah, 4 AM on Thursday; and Tim, & AM on Thursday. Really bizarre! It was a bummer to miss the good weather this week, but we’re all back on our feet. No complaints here.

UNDER PLACES
There are some places in my home that I avoid. I call them the “under” places: under sinks, under refrigerators, under the stove top, and this place…

It is a picture of space under my oven. That is where there is usually a drawer. “They” say it is for storage, but I believe it is where oven accidents and monsters live. I don’t open that drawer, unless someone’s life depends on it. 

While I cannot imagine what possessed the man to do it, tonight Doug decided to clean that under place for me. I walked into the kitchen to check on supper, and found the drawer was gone. He was working away at it in the tub. God bless him. He said he wanted to surprise me—he really did! 

BOOKMARK & PINS
I’ve been purging bookmarks and pinning, instead. If you aren’t familiar with Pinterest, but utilize the internet often, it can be a great way to organize things you find online—recipes, websites, ideas—or even to coordinate an event with other people. For me, it’s a great work space.

APPLESAUCE
The church that hosts our weekly prayer meeting has a food pantry, and I got the idea (Thank You, Holy Spirit!) this week to ask Doug to bring me the worst apples—the ones no one would want. I was making the applesauce for Lucy, but on Day #2 of our Big Sick it was all some of us could eat. The Lord’s provision, for sure. Such a blessing!   

A GIRL & HER WHISK
She was sooooo sleepy here, all snuggled up with Poppa at the end of her playtime, with her favorite puppy and a new favorite toy—my antique whisk. I honestly can’t blame her—I love it, too!

A girl & her whisk? Go figure.