At Christmas we always had dates on the coffee table. In an oval balsa wood box with tooth picks inside. They would sit under their sticky plastic film looking like shiny beetles waiting to be enjoyed.
This Christmas Malia was taken aback when my brother presented her with a box. A joint memory from our briefly shared childhood. She was right in her opinion on this traditional seasonal fare; after years of absence from my Christmas table of goodies, they had taken on the semblance of healthy Texas water bugs, nestled uninvitingly beneath their sugary plastic wrap.
Most unappetizing. My brother took them home with him.
Chestnuts were also under offer and after popping a few in the oven and showing our poor, deprived daughter how to peel one she shared her verdict,
“They have the texture of mashed potato…not a fan!”
I must admit they still tickled my taste buds. I ate the rest, like fresh chocolate chip cookies, they are best eaten when hot.
Today I saw we still have some left on the counter so I ventured outside to take a few for the squirrels.
There was one sitting on my fence-post, stock still in his fluffy grey coat and pure white under-tail. When he saw me step through the patio door he streaked down the rose bush, towards me I thought being used to the bold approach employed by his brethren in the park, but ran instead through the grass to the safety of the half willow tree.
I laid the three nuts on my top step and waited, but I saw him hop, skip and leap to the other side of the garden, trailing his bushy train behind him, and flee into the flower bed bordering our property.
No doubt I will not witness the stealing up and snatching of the nuts from my patio.
I will not even be certain which one of my local garden dwellers was brave enough for the venturesome deed, the Magpie, the squirrel or the fox?
All I know for certain is they won’t be roasting on an open fire.
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
No comments so far!
Leave a Comment