When Blossom was pregnant with Cully May she discovered something we mothers all find to be true as our bellies expand with new life - that cooking in the kitchen is messy work and you cannot help but get food stains across your rounded baby bump.
So I loaned her an apron. Which has not been returned. Nor do I believe it will be. Nor do I want it back.
My girl loves having 'bits of mum' in her home and when I saw my apron hanging in her kitchen the other day a warm and fuzzy glow spread through my heart so then and there I surrendered any desire to take it back.
When it was time to leave we hugged each other at the door, and I silently blessed her with a prayer that she may know the joy of homemaking beyond even that which I have enjoyed these many decades.
On returning home it seemed sensible to plan a new apron for myself, because, like pincushions, one can never have too many. In fact, I think now that it's probably a good idea to always have some spare pincushions and aprons on hand to give away should the need arise.
As I'm just shy of 5 foot 1 inch tall a yard of fabric is enough for an apron, and my basic template was cut from an apron Fee made me about five years ago.
I decided to add a pocket to the front with a feature stitchery (one from my Stitchery Club last year)...
I bordered the stitchery, backed it, turned it right side out, sewed a scant 1/8 inch seam around the stitchery and that became the pocket.
The pocket was then sewn to the front of my apron.
I double hemmed all around the apron itself before making a halter neck which was rounded on both ends and secured to the apron with large vintage buttons.
Two long ties were made from 4" wide fabric lengths, doubled over and sewn into a 45 degree angle at one end. I pulled this right side out and secured the raw end by doubling it over and sewing to the side edge of my apron.
It's a very cheery apron, made from fabric I bought a couple of years ago. In fact I used a little of it sewing Blossom a cosy for her French press (back here) and have been waiting on an idea for using up the rest. It's nice when you can finally give life to fabric that's been patiently waiting for it's time to shine!
I think a nice twirl in the kitchen this weekend is the perfect christening for my new apron.
I was thinking of baking a simple sponge cake. Our favourite sponge cake actually. The recipe that never fails.
The cook book I take my sponge recipe from is pretty old, rather tattered, and very loved.
Last year I gave a pile of cookbooks to Blossom when I was thinning the bookshelves in our home and this one was placed in the box. At the time I ummed and aahed all day before finally deciding to 'pass it on'.
Every time I went to her place after that I'd longingly look at this book on her new bookcase, her own shelf of cookbooks having grown with the inclusion of my gifts, and wonder what possessed me to give it up when I wasn't yet finished with it?
Over time my phone became a pseudo file of this book as I'd drive over to her place and take photos of recipes I needed until one day I simply asked if I could have it back. She laughed and handed it to me. It wasn't until the book was gone that I realised how many of the meals, desserts and treats our family regularly enjoyed had found their origins within its pages.
When my time on earth comes to an end, or I find I can no longer cook, Blossom can reclaim my favourite cookbook - but for now she can borrow it any time she likes or create a recipe file from it on her phone - I'm just rather chuffed to have my old friend back within arms reach again.
In fact, if I had to choose just one cookbook to keep and give away all the others, this would be the one.
Do you have one cookbook you'd keep above all others?
Please tell us what it is in the comments below.
Mine is The Family Circle Recipe Encyclopedia
ISBN - 086411401 X
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It's over here.
hugs
