Daily life. So boring. Not really. Every day is an adventure! We just need to pay attention. Spent this week at home. Walked around town. Bought some groceries. All of the fresh fruits/veggies cost me $3.00 at the native market (not the grocery store). This would cost me way more at home. Here the average salary is $10/day (many make less than this). So you need to work about 1/2 day to afford these.
I used these veggies and a few more and made homemade soup–at least to the best of my ability. I cooked it all day. It reminded me of Momma’s and Grandma Pat’s soup. I used ground chicken because it was all they had at the grocery story. Granny Pat always used ground beef and momma used stew beef meat. It turned out to taste somewhere in between. I realize if you are not here you cannot imagine what it is like not to have access to familiar foods. I cooked this soup all day real low and slow. The house smelled like Momma and Grandma’s when they cooked soup–JUST LIKE LOVE!! When I could not smell that good country food cooking smell, I walked outside to rest my nose so I could go back in and have that, “just walking into the house smell”. If you are from the country, you will know what I mean!! Food cooking smells like LOVE. When I was a kid, I equated the smell of something you loved to eat cooking with someone loving you. Those “love smells” always make me think of Momma, Grandma Poole, and Grandma Pat. If you had that experience–please respond to this post. I would love to know if other people have these experiences.
It was so good I ate 2 bowls!!
See there is adventure everywhere. I walked to get a Coke–every time I crave a Coke I think about Aunt Sandra. While I was sitting in front of the store, I watched with much interest this guy washing bikes. He was very entertaining and seemed to take it seriously. Look at how he set up the bike wash. Pretty smart.
Credit card update. Took 3 people to get it mailed–Mike, Tim, and Astrid (at Fulbright in Jakarta, Indonesia). Took 2 shipping companies (FedEx and Tiki) and the guard who brought it to my door. The card arrived today. Woo hoo!! So happy to see some plastic.
17 responses to “Nov 11 (2022) My House Smells Like Love!”
That was interesting glad you got your card
Love this and love you stay safe I know you are doing what you love to do. You make me want to make some soup maybe next week when Steven is here always make a big pot Kellie loves having some to take to school for lunch
Yum!!! I know your soup will be waaaayyy better than mine! Do you use ground beef like Grandma Pat or stew beef? I was not kidding about the Coke. When I crave a Coke, I think about you. In my memories of childhood, you would crave a Coca-cola. I could have this memory wrong–you know how memories are. Grandma Pat had Pepsi. Momma had Coke. So of course, as a kid, I thought going up to Grandma Pat’s and having some Pepsi was a big deal. She would make me a picnic sometimes. She would make me Ritz crackers with peanut butter and put Pepsi in a Thermos. I would take it out to the woods and have a picnic by myself. Now that I am older, I am sure she was doing that to keep me out of the house because that is where I wanted to be all the time. Love you too!
I love the way you compared the smell of home cooked food to love. It makes me think of mama, Grandma Pat, and. Grandma Vallie. Great memories, and I’m glad you enjoyed the soup. Take care! Love you!
Thank you! When I was writing about the experience, the word love was the first thing that came to mind. People cook for us because they love us. I feel that way when I cook. I love to cook for the people I love. Love you!
Trish, I’m right there with you about walking in the house and the smells of the kitchen giving you such a “lovin’ feeling”! I loved fresh baked bread in Granny and Mama’s oven when I was growing up and many more aromas from the kitchen. Remember the fresh baked cake and pie smells? I even liked the smell of turnip greens cooking with a pan of cornbread from the oven. But then I like the taste of turnip greens. Maybe that makes a difference, too. Ahhh … childhood … growing up in the country … to be a child again in a child’s world like it used to be. Hope you are well. Keep writing. Love you.
Yes. I do. I loved when Momma cooked a cake or pie. I understand the turnip greens–one of my favorite smells that people think is gross brings a warmth to my heart–collard greens. My Grandma Poole made the best collards I ever ate. I try to make them the same as her, but I cannot never seem to get them as good as hers. AND the cornbread she made to go with them was heavenly. I loved walking into the kitchen and seeing my favorite big bowl of hers full of collards. When I cook collards, I see that bowl in my mind and I see her holding it. Happy memories that bring a tear to your eye. Love you!
I love food smells that smell like mamas.
Grandma Poole was the best cook I ever met. She made me this chocolate stuff in the mornings before she took me to school. I would love to have some again. Do you know what it was? How to make it? Whenever I asked Momma she always said she did not know. She cooked it in a pot. I have not seen anyone else make it. Her cornbread is still my favorite cornbread. Her collards are still my favorite collards. Her peas are still my favorite peas.
So glad that you were able to get fresh veggies. That soup looked yummy and yes I know what you mean by the “smell of love ”
Take care dear friend
It was so good!!! I know Momma and Grandma cooked better, but at that moment it seemed like the best I ever had. Sending my love!!! I hope the babies are OK. I thinking about you and them. You know how I feel about this–but tell the church to pray for me. I know you do every night.
So glad the CC mess is finally resolved!
OMG me too!
So happy your home for awhile!!🙌🙌
Hope Mike is going to do with Surgery & a quick recovery also.🙏Give Beautiful Cooper a hug & kiss for me!💕
Mike says hello!
I don’t need to tell you what I think about that smell… you know we’re just alike when it comes to that😘
Love you miss you😘😘
Yep. Love the smell of food take you right back to good memories.