September 3, 2010
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Impulsiveness and Imperfection
These two words describe me to a crooked T. I organize, plan and arrange, and then it never happens. My day’s list, at the end of the day, is often untouched, and I’ve filled my day with all sorts of things I had not expected to do. Or… I set out to do things in a perfectly logical way, and they almost never turn out as I’d imagined. When I make things, they never look like the picture…the one on my table, lap or in my head.
A long time ago, when I started doing needlework, I read that in little girls’ samplers, the ones stitched by their mothers’ sides to learn how to do embroidery stitches, they were encouraged to make one deliberate mistake. The thought was that God is the only one perfect and we shouldn’t even pretend to be. Well, I do not have to be deliberate about imperfection…I always have a mistake! And usually, they are too numerous to count.
This morning was going to be closet-cleaning day. I couldn’t wait to get started! Organize, give away, straighten, clean, find….and the end result would be so nice. I was really looking forward to it!
Instead, I impulsively made an apple pie. This morning, my husband looked longingly at the bowl of apples on the counter and said hopefully, “Are you going to make me a pie?” So the closet smiled indulgently and said, “Go ahead, make him a pie. I’ll wait.”
I can’t make a pretty pie. My crusts are patchworked together, thick in some places, thin in others. There’s no cute apple-shaped cutout on top, just some slap-dash slashes. And the apples aren’t pretty either, just some windfalls that blew off the tree in a little thunderstorm. My rolling pin is aging, like me…she’s going on 41, a gift from my mom when we got married. Her complexion is no longer smooth and unblemished, but she still rolls. My pastry blender is likewise showing signs on having lived a busy life; it is now missing one of its blades, but it still works.
I’ve just popped the pie in the oven, and I know it’s going to cook over. These are apples that cook down quickly, making lots of juice. Later I’ll have to clean out the bottom of my self-cleaning oven. About five years ago, the oven gave her notice….she no longers clean herself. She does still bake, though.
I hope this pie tastes good, because I know it won’t be much to look at. But if it’s sweet and juicy, with a sort of flaky crust, there will be a happy Farmboy at lunchtime….he really isn’t interested in perfection, thank goodness. Or he wouldn’t still have this farmgirl around.
There are some good smells coming from the kitchen…better go check my pie!
Postscript: Run over, she did! All over the bottom of the oven…but I wish you could smell this pie! She looks good enough to eat! Come over and I’ll cut you a piece!
Comments (13)
Great post, Janet! I think we have a lot in common! Impulsive, don’t quite get to the list of things when something else comes up, doesn’t have a need to purposefully add an imperfection, and patchwork crusts – describes me perfectly! Oh, but the self cleaner on my oven still works!
Don’t know what you’re talking about. That pie looks SO GOOD!! And I’m sure the Farmboy appreciates pie more than organized closets. Yum yum!
I’ll be over for dinner’s dessert! Thank goodness you’re MY impulsive mamma–love that about you.
If only I lived nearer to you, that pie would draw me for a visit to your home! Sweet post. I would have let the closet go until later also. Have a nice weekend.
Don’t knock your pie. For some reason the pie crust/fried chicken genes missed me. I can do neither. AND I TRIED and TRIED and TRIED before I gave up. I LOVE a good flaky pie crust. (Lard ones are the very best!) Thankfully God blessed me with a bestest friend that makes wonderful pies that she shares with us.
I think, from the looks of THAT pie, a grade of PERFECTION is in order. Who cares about the apple design?!?! You didn’t give us your address. LOL
Yum Janet. Looks like a perfect pie to me. Closets will still be there..believe me.
I’ll be right over. I’ll bring the steaming coffee to go with it. Even on a hot day I can take a warm piece of pie and cup of coffee.
You have a great day and thank you for blessing us with this sweet post.
I can totally relate!!! In fact my hubby was watching me cut something up in the kitchen the other day and he remarked “we are sooo untraditional!”
:) Thanks hun…I think…..:):)
I keep tinfoil in the bottom of my oven n then when something runs over, I pull it out n put in fresh sheets of foil n it’s good to go again!:) p.s. your pie looks very yummy!!
Passing by and wanted to leave my “hello”. Any pie left? LOL
I would presume that your husband doesn’t care how the pie looks but was blessed because his wife set aside the time to do something special for him! I think that was a good use of your time.. better than cleaning closets.
It’s been a while since I visited.. I’m glad I stopped by!
I can’t see a SINGLE thing wrong with that pie…I bet it was delicious. Sometimes the least anticipated paths lead us to the most interesting places.