Pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting is making me happy these days. Probably a little too happy. I had a new friend over to bake on Friday and together we produced 3 loaves of chocolate/pumpkin bread (she gave it a thumbs down, but I just can't leave it alone!), 3 loaves of regular pumpkin bread, one pumpkin roll and a pumpkin trifle.
I shouldn't admit this, but the pumpkin trifle was my friend's genius as she watched as what was supposed to be the second pumpkin roll completely fall apart as I attempted to remove it from the pan. I'd made these rolls several times before, but this was an utter flop. There was no amount of frosting that could bridge those chasms. It looked more like a pumpkin mountain range...not a smooth, even plain ready for a flood of cream cheese frosting.
But thanks to my friend, the mountain range was broken into pieces and when layered with pumpkin pudding and cool whip in a pretty trifle bowl, it worked and it tasted good. I'm glad Jodi was there to suggest the salvage operation...otherwise the whole thing would've ended up in the trash.
Salvaging. Seeing beyond a messed up appearance to what can be. The person I know who is best at this is my mother-in-law, Connie. She has a mechanically-wired brain, so she knows how to fix a lot of stuff. She's a veritable sewing machine whisperer -- takes them apart piece by piece, cleaning and fixing as she goes, then puts them all back together, sometimes into a newly refurbished cabinet to boot.
My sewing machine was giving me fits recently, so I sent the contrary machine her way and she had it working in no time (of course, it helps to have the bobbin inserted in the right direction if you expect your machine to be happy). She's also great at getting stains out of stuff that others would give up on. It has greatly reduced the amount of money I've spent on clothes over the years! Connie just sees value and life in stuff that's a little beaten up and knows how to get it there. I tend to think that kind of stuff has just had its day and needs a merciful, quick death by way of the garbage dumpster. I like the wisdom of Connie's way and while I don't aspire to dismantle and repair sewing machines, I know there's much more to learn from her.
Funny...all this because of a pumpkin trifle. Who knew that layered deliciousness would prompt anything beyond a "Hmmm, that's pretty good"?
Granted, this may all be for my benefit alone. But in the spirit of Thanksgiving, it's a simple but good reminder to choose to see what is good in what looks dismal or maybe downright hopeless. Nothing new there but I know I need that reminder today.
There's stuff in my life that disappoints me. Stuff I wish were different. But when I mentally camp out on those things, I'm not at peace and not fun to be around. But when I discipline myself to articulate what is good in life and cultivate gratefulness, peace comes and I'm free to enjoy what is.
Hope you enjoy a peace-filled Thanksgiving and may each bite of pumpkin pie (or trifle) remind you of the sweetness that can come when we look for the good that lies just beyond the mess.
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