Saturday, December 22, 2012

Thinking......

Rodin's the Thinker by kitamaria99
Rodin's the Thinker, a photo by kitamaria99 on Flickr.

I was up with the larks. The day was just beginning to crawl out of the east. The fruit had been soaking overnight in expensive booze. No procrastination---I'd start right in! Deep breaths, but first----coffee, and get the eggs and butter out to warm, all seven of the one and three sticks of the other....Christmas is not a time for dietary caution! Oh, and what about a nice bit of brown soda bread, slathered with butter, for breakfast?

Right, ready to roll. Three and a half cups of flour, done. Baking powder, done---careful not to mix it up and do baking soda instead, as has been known to happen.

Big swig of coffee. Thinking---it would be so nice to see the Ohio boys for Christmas......They're growing so fast, the teen years are looming! But Ohio? Cold. Brrrr!.

Next, salt and nutmeg. Whisk everything together. Feeling like a domestic goddess here! Thinking----how did it get to be the 22nd. of December so fast?? Tomorrow already the OC will be home! And please God, let that all-important letter be in the mail today for The Bean!

Onto the butter and the sugar. Beat together 'til light and fluffy. No problem. Thinking---- the shame of it all! Yesterday, the realization I hadn't sent even one Christmas card sent me scrambling to e-cards.

"What?" says the Little Blister on the phone...."no nice, hand written note?" Hanging my head in shame...."'Fraid not!" As she cackles across the distance---she's no better herself!

In go the eggs, one at a time. Even broke each into a little custard dish first. Wouldn't want the disaster of the seventh into the bowl being the dodgy one. Scrape down the bowl after each. Busy myself with drying dishes in between. Got to make sure they're well mixed! Looking good. Thinking----too bad England is so far away. It would be so nice to see them for Christmas, especially now that little grandson is nearly four, and about to get a new brother or sister!

The bowl is ready, the oven's hot. Spoon the lusciousness in, smooth the top.....Thinking.....Hope California Girl won't be too lonely.....Hope her package arrives to her in the Boonies on time!...Thinking.......Thinking----It's a little too smooth. What's missing?

Bloody hell!

The Fruit! Where's the fruit? If it was a snake I'd be in trouble---right there under my nose! 'Tis a fruit cake you're making, woman! When were you planning to put in the fruit?

Mess and daub. Extricate the batter. Stir in the fruit and try again! Hope there's no harm done.

In she goes, for better or worse.  Thinking.....It'll be so nice to have youngest and oldest sons with us on Christmas. Two out of five is not great, but we'll take what we can get!

Ah! There's the buzzer! Let's go see.......

Ta, Ta! None the worse for all the thinking!





I wish you all a very Happy Christmas! I'm holding out for Peace and Goodwill all around myself!

21 comments:

StitchinByTheLake said...

If that had been me I'd have remembered the fruit after the cake was baked and we'd be spooning it over the nice pound cake I'd made. :) blessings, marlene

dianne said...

bwah ha ha!!! i can do even better - banana bread without the bananas (thinking, "why or why is this batter so doggone stiff?!?)

have yourself a merry Christmas!!!

dianne said...

and end quotation mark after the "?!?"

i really ought to edit before i hit the publish button ... but i'm always thinking, "i'll have another chance after i can't prove that i'm a robot the first three times..."

whew ... i REMEMBERED the end quotation mark this time ... wonder what i didn't remember that i won't notice till it's too late?

persiflage said...

Well done. All's well that ends well, after all!
What's that little white circle thingy?
Christmas cake making helps me gain a little more serenity, and it tastes so good.

molly said...

Persi---that's the middle of the Bundt pan---don't you have them down under?

Lee said...

Now that does look yummy! I made my Christmas cake a few weeks ago; and I'm so proud of myself that I've not yet succumbed to the temptation to cut it!! :)

I wish you a very Merry Christmas, Molly. And I hope 2013 treats you kindly. :)

PS...yes we do have Bundt pans here Down Under.

Birdydownunder said...

and a very Merry Christmas to you too Molly. Like you my family is scattered but now its only 2 of us. The Scot could take it or leave it.... but well you know me a Christmas-atholic... so fraid I bought the cake and the mini puds... but I am making a merignue tower tomorrow. And the turkey is in the fridge defrosting. Patio ready for dinner.
ah yes of course its worth it.... love and hugs from downunder

Elephant's Child said...

Looking very good indeed. In my worst ever Christmas cake disaster I left out the self-raising flour, resulting in a fruity brick.
Peace and goodwill to all sounds a wonderful wish.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

I'd swap turkey and bread sauce right this minute for some soda bread . You have just given me an idea/another thing to do , drat it !
Have a wonderful Christmas !!

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

On the other hand , it was time well spent !

Anonymous said...

Have a blessed Christmas! I enjoyed this post where you take us along with your thoughts! :)

Wisewebwoman said...

Oh that's me cookin', bakin', all these thoughts running through, same with the knittin'.

Looks like one gorgeous cake and note to self - must get me a bundt pan, I've never owned one.

XO
WWW

Secret Agent Woman said...

Your head runs like mine when I'm cooking.

Pranavam Ravikumar said...

"Dashing through the snow.. In a one horse ...." Let the bells jingle through out for bringing happiness and prosperity to all... Gud wishes and Cheers!!!

Pam said...

And a happy Christmas to you, dear Molly!

Thimbleanna said...

You're so funny! I think we've all been there, haven't we? The final product looks delicious. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Btw...I'm thinking you should check your stats -- there's NO Way that babe in England could be almost 4. No. Stinkin'. Way!

Birdydownunder said...

Happy New Year Molly. I loved Harold Fry. Thought I had it all sussed out and then wow the ending is great.
btw have explained my nickname on my blog.

cheers .. I get to 2013 before you lol .... um if that good or not.

Birdydownunder said...

btw mince pie is still warm for you and a cuppa.
More book recommendations pleeeeasssse.

Pauline said...

Ah, the joys and pains of holidays when loved ones are far away! Hope your Christmas was a merry one - and that the fruitcake was as delicious as it looks!

Birdydownunder said...

lol we seem to communicate via comments... you don't have a reply to with your comments.
Have you guessed the ending of Harold Fry.... To be Sung under Water I found on your list. Hard to get into but found I just had to keep going.
Presently reading In the Land of Invisible Women~Qanta A. Ahmed.
Happy New Year.

Susan Kane said...

You have me salivating at the memory of fruit cake, Irish style! We lived in Cork City area 25 years ago, but still can taste the brown bread with butter and marmalade!