My children will never remember me for my culinary skills. I can cook. I kept the seven of us alive even through the starving teenage years. Thank you, microwave popcorn, for calming the hungry beast of growing boys between meals. But, I don’t do it as an art form the way my friend Judy does. (Judy happens to both cook and write beautifully, but I’m not jealous.)
When I first inherited my grandmother’s hutch, I filled it with her antique bowls, platters, and cups. Sometimes I pulled them out to serve an actual sit-down meal. But, mostly, I admired them.
The hutch went to Felicity’s house when we downsized to serve as dorm parents. Now that she is downsizing for city-life, and we are living in a house, we trucked the hutch back home. I don’t have hungry teenagers to feed anymore. In fact, my long-suffering husband is happy with fruit, veggies, and a little protein here and there.
So, we moved the hutch to my office. And I filled it with books! At last, this heirloom is displaying things I actually use. I’ll tuck in a teacup or two, of course, to remind me of the women who have gone before me. The ones who really knew how to cook and who used those skills to demonstrate their love and display their art.
As for me, I’ve take a different path, but I think I can accomplish the same goal.
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. Proverbs 16:24 NKJV
Oh My Gosh! It looks beautiful!! I’m so happy.
It looks beautiful filled with books! I like the teacup, too. Maybe you could sneak a cookbook in there? Love you!
That is brilliant, Judy! I’ve written the text for a couple of cookbooks, so that works both ways. I’ve even cooked a few things from them.
You have more pioneer spirit than you give yourself credit for. The old saying is “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!” I would put your beautiful repurposing of the hutch in the “make it do” category for sure. Just because it isn’t the original purpose doesn’t mean it’s not perfect for you!!
Thanks, Carol! That is a high compliment coming from a pioneer woman like you.