This morning we woke from a lovely sleep and breakfasted at The Girls R Cookin’ restaurant that is part of this lodging complex. It was a simple but delicious meal of eggs, bacon, sausages, potatoes and toast with coffee. The place was completely empty, and the gal that served us seemed that she’d rather be doing anything but waiting tables, but we didn’t let it ruin our good morning. We headed off to Joan’s after that and spent the whole day catching up, sitting out on the porch, watching the turkey vultures overhead and little Oscar dog running like a silly nut all around the grass and clover. He’s had a bit of a tough life, this poor tiny hound, having been attacked by another dog leaving a giant scar across his back, and then getting into a tangle with some unknown foe who blinded his right eye. Joan told us about another time when he came home with a bunch of porcupine quills stuck in him, and she had to have a couple of people hold him down as she removed the quills. Poor thing! He is such a friendly and loving little doggie, he loves to sit in laps and be scratched. He can open and close the screen door, and he fancied going into an old deserted trailer on the property that houses many critters that he likes to visit, a place Joan says she won’t set foot in. Joan says he hikes all the way down to some neighbors that raise horses, but neighbors here live miles away! She said they’ll call her and say, “Oscar is here!” and he’ll hang out in their homes, soak up the love, and then they bring him back over to Joan’s. So cute!
Despite recounting some painful and unpleasant memories from Joan’s last visit to Minnesota (after Jan’s death), catching up on family history was needed before moving on to more mundane chatting. We then headed off for lunch at the Roadkill Café, where the service was much friendlier and served very yummy food. Joan and I had hamburgers and fries, John and Jenny opted for the roast beef sammies with gravy and potatoes. All delicious! Driving in Joan’s truck is an adventure in itself as she takes the snaking, hilly, crooked 10-20mph roads at speeds more like 45-50mph. Thankfully I was tucked in the back seat and could distract myself talking with Jenny and looking at the floor anytime I thought I might squeal like a pig in sheer panic. (Ok, I had to make the Deliverance reference.) We headed to Everett to pick up Trinity, another second cousin, from school. She is absolutely adorable, has pink and purple streaks in her hair and a little shy, and her accent is even more pronounced than Joan’s. They definitely have a drawl out here, but Joan kept saying that we were the ones who “talk funny”. Jenny and I kept exaggerating our Minnesota accents after that, and Trinity suppressed giggles at us. Ashley must have been off with friends, so just Trinity came back to the trailer with us, she flaking out with the TV and snacks, and us old farts out on the deck with the dog and fresh air.
I took many photos and harvested a bunch of white clover that I hope will make the trip home so I can try making a clover wine. I was hoping to make red clover wine, but white clover has many similar properties, though I wonder if it may be more bitter tasting than the red variety. Perhaps an ale is in order? The more I read about clover, dandelions, common plantain, lamb’s ears, mullein, nettles and other so-called weeds, the more I marvel at the utter crime it is to dismiss and attempt to eradicate these wonderful, healing plants! Speaking of herbs and healing, when we were packing at home, I had a feeling that Joan might like a sample of some Amish Black Drawing Salve that I recently made, and when I mentioned it in passing at lunch, her eyes lit up. She said similar products are sold for like $20 a tube here, mine was very inexpensive to make, and it made so much there’s no possible way I’ll ever use it all, so I told her I’d bring over the salve for her. This drawing salve does not use the controversial bloodroot, but uses common plantain, activated charcoal and betonite clay (among other ingredients) for their drawing properties. It’s good for stings, venomous bites, removing splinters or glass imbedded in the skin, and even for removal of moles and skin tags. For those of you who don’t know, I’ve turned into a HUGE herb nerd, and I make many of our household and body products now. I prattled on about the many properties of different plants, how to use things like baking soda for shampoo and vinegar rinses for conditioner, how I make awesome laundry soap that is unbelievably cheap (and good for HE machines, too!), as well as countless other experiments in my beauty kitchen as we rode back. I get all jazzed to think about the magic and wonder in each and every thing growing on this planet. I keep meaning to get an Etsy shop set up, but what I’d love is to someday have my own little herbal apothecary in a tiny storefront in NE Minneapolis or something. Serve the locals, you know.
It’s uncanny, truly, to be here talking recipes with Joan. I feel like in a tiny way I have a piece of Jan back, and I bit back emotions a couple of times today as she talked about canning, something Jan and I always intended to try together, but suddenly ran out of time. Canning, and the fact that we never did try it, became a strong symbol to me of important memories that never were. Of what could have been, should have been, and how Time, the great equalizer, sneaks in to remind you of its silent, ominous click. I do not want to let Time cheat me out of a single moment to experience life with love in my heart. When people spend too much of their energy running on that great hamster wheel we call work, when they cruelly gossip or snipe about others, hold grudges, become enthralled in the minutia of meaningless things, it makes me sad. I can’t help but wonder if they take nearly the pleasure in those things as I do a simple day, having a beer with my Hubby, lounging with my soft, purring kitties, tea with Mum, times spent with loved ones. I do not live to work; I work to live. I believe meaningful work is good and necessary for us all, but when done to death, there’s nothing left of you. Don’t miss a single second of life with love. Love for ourselves, our families, our partners, our pets, this great Earth, is worth more than anything you could ever squeeze from a paycheck. Living is hard enough, but to give more than you get is a sure way to drain your Time bank even quicker.
On that deep note, I will sign off. I wish everyone a wonderful night filled with happy-happy-loving-fun-time! Thanks for reading!
R&J
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