The Circle of Crochet

Remember two years ago when I created a mandala in honor of crocheter Marinke and mental health awareness?  Today, I received a copy of the book, Mandalas for Marinke, by Crochet Concupiescence's Kathryn Vercillo (you can buy one here.)  And it is beautiful!  It's a rainbow collection of creativity and craft in honor of an amazing woman and an important social issue (you can see my quote on page 57.)  It's such a gift, a blessing, and I'm so honored to have participated.  There will be an exhibition in November, out in California, a wonderful way to celebrate this loving project.

My favorite part of the book is all the color illustrations--and in some of the layouts, the hundreds of mandalas are arranged in mandalas or rainbows!  It's beautiful. And inspiring.  I'm ready to go make some more mandalas (if you want to learn how, beyond a pattern in this book, a book of Marinke's mandalas was published posthumously.)  Here's just one of the shots, from the promotional page (though, I can't find my actual mandala in any of the mandala mosaics in the book.  And really, that's ok; it's not at all about me.)

Look, mine's above the lower left corner, with variegated yarn and a strong yellow round near the middle.

Back Again

I'm having something  of a back episode again, much like the ones so many years ago, when the kiddos were in kindergarten.  It started innocently enough, with my standing up to fetch something and feeling a pop and shooting pain in my back.  I couldn't finish standing up and so sat back down.  Oh, it hurt.  I'd say about an 8 on the famous numerical pain scale.

Here, more than 24 hours later--after rest, ice, muscle relaxers, painkillers, my brace, small walks around, and a trip to my specialist--I'm down to a 5 or 6 (sometimes even lower, depending) when I'm moving, which I can do mostly unassisted once I'm up.  This is wonderful progress, owed in part to our adjustable bed, which helps me up and down; so much easier than last time.  And after years of mindfulness practice, I didn't go straight to fear and panic, and was even able to just think "ok, that's pain," and let it go.  Now that's definitely progress.

The kids are taking it all in stride, pretty nervous when it happened right in front of them and I cried out, but now better since I've explained that it's not dangerous, only painful; they're also somewhat annoyed at fetching, which is fine.  They've seen us through two surgeries and other complications, so they know this happens.  And at least my lessons in how to handle pain and obstacles are getting better.

So, I'm optimistic that things will be much, much better in a few days.  I did have to cancel hospice and such this week, but I know it could be worse.

An Open End

It's been a really good week here at the beginning of my journey to chaplaincy.  First, because I was home with a painful knee (an inflammation flare up of some minor arthritis, apparently--age, weight, conditioning, and most importantly life-long limp related), I was able to spend last week completing my online Chaplaincy Care Volunteer Training course.  And I passed!  This was introductory but gave me some important vocabulary and strategies for my chaplaincy visits.  I also liked the administration of the course and mechanics of the online course and am therefore encouraged in my hopes to do a CPE (Clinical Pastroal Education) unit with them in the spring.

Then I spoke to my chaplain supervisor.  He encouraged my studies and liked my go-getter attitude.  When we reviewed my verbatim--a record of an exchange between patient and volunteer chaplain--he said that I was on the right track and learning quickly.  Yay!

And then last night, I attended a Lay Ministry training, with my fellow UU lay ministers (kinda like amateur community chaplains for our congregation.)  We discussed not trying to "fix it," being vs. doing, empathic listening, non-anxious presence, and open-ended questions.  I was familiar with all of these (from my online course and experience) but picked up some new strategies, specifically a great list of open-ended questions.  I sometimes flounder when talking to patients in how to get them to go deeper and be more reflective.  I rush through the silence, trying to get to the right question to unlock that next level.  Not exactly the best practice.  I liked these questions and look forward to using them.

• What's helping you get through this (really lousy situation)?
• What do you think keeps you from fixing the situation?
• What's been the hardest part for you?
• What's helped you through times like this in the past?
• How would your parents/grandparents have helped a situation like this--rituals, prayers, etc.?
• What are you hoping for? [This one was my addition and is one of my favorites.]
• Is there anything you would find comforting right now? What brings you comfort? What strengthens you?
• Is there anything from a spiritual perspective that helps--music, poetry, meditation?
• How is your family handling this?
• Are there any relationships that need healing?
• What is a moment of awe that you remember? What puts a smile on your face as you reflect?
• What gives your life meaning now?  What is meaningful to you?
• Are there any symbols that are sacred/important to you right now?
• What's on your mind/agenda today?
• What are your biggest concerns?
• Have there been any changes since the last time we met?  What has changed for you?
• Where do you turn for help?  Do you turn to yourself for help?
• How is your spirit today? [I really liked this one and can see using it instead of "How are you today?" which always seems to elicit something physical.]
• Is God/the sacred/the holy part of your life or spiritual practice? [Our minister says she often prefaces this with "This is something I ask everyone."  This is a great way to introduce the spiritual, akin to my question, "Do you have a faith community?"]
• Where is God/the sacred/the holy in all of this?
• Are you connected to something bigger?

In fact, these are great questions for anyone to ask themselves.

I just got a call that my longtime hospice patient had a fall and broke her leg.  I'll see her Tuesday, though, because she can't really verbalize, I won't be using those questions.  We've been together for more than 18 months.  And falls often hasten the end . . . .

Another Applepalooza

It was the warmest Applepalooza party--our fall family fun apple celebration with our friends and neighbors--ever.  At 70F+, the weather was more summer than fall.  This, just two years after we huddled around the fire pit with flurries swirling around!

The party was late this year, and small because kids and families are busier than ever, but I liked the quiet intimacy.  Besides, there were still kids running around and lots of little groups chatting.  Oddly, one of the main topics this year was ghosts.  A few of my friends are sensitive to spirits and told stories of haunted houses and visits from deceased relatives; others who have never seen ghosts were fascinated.

And of course, there were a lot of apple treats:  Swedish Apple Pie, my Grandad's Cooked Apples, my Apple Enchiladas, Sis's new Apple Dumplings, Apple Tart, Apple Turnovers, Apple Bacon Leek Quiche, Apple Crisp, Apple Doughnuts.  Yum, yum, yum.

I love this tradition, but I wondered this year--will we still have it when the kids are out of the house? At least I have several years not to worry about that.

Until then, here is a look back at the years I can find: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016 and a compilation of apple recipes here.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Grandad’s Cooked Apples

I remember Grandad teaching me how to make these, with Mom standing by, at the old stove at Raucous in a small dingy saucepan.  We stirred forever and he wasn’t good at clarifying what “jells” meant but they are incredible, especially served with fresh cream.

4 Jonathan apples, peeled and sliced

1 cup sugar

¼ cup water

            Cook with lid on until boils, then uncover and simmer until liquid jells (about 30 minutes).  Serve with cream.

                                                                                                            Grandad

Apple Enchilada Dessert

This was on the menu at the Cinco de Mayo party for MOMS Club when I agreed to run for president.  They were very good (6/06).

1-21 oz can apple pie filling
6-8" flour tortillas
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup margarine or butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup water (some suggest reducing to 1/3 cup)

Preheat oven to 350. Spoon fruit evenly onto all tortillas, sprinkle with cinnamon.  Roll
up tortillas and place seam-side down on lightly greased 8x8 pan. Bring margarine, sugars, and water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring constantly for 3 minutes. Pour sauce evenly over tortillas; sprinkle with extra cinnamon on top, if desired.  Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes (some suggest adding an extra 10 minutes baking time or broiling for 5 minutes at the end).

Makes 6 large enchiladas.  May be cut in half to serve 12.

Apple Ideas for Next Year

Apple Brown Betty

1 ½ teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg
1 ½ cup sugar
3 cups l/4-inch bread cubes
2 tablespoons melted butter
Grated rind of 1 lemon
2 lbs large apples
2 to 4 tablespoons cold water (optional)

Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Combine the nutmeg and the sugar and set aside 2 tablespoons. Put the bread cubes in a bowl and toss with the rest of the sugar mixture, the melted butter, and the lemon rind. Peel, core, and slice the apples into fairly thick wedges. Line the bottom of a heavy 1 1/2-quart casserole with 1 cup of the bread cubes.
 

Layer half of the apples over the bread and top with 1/2 cup of the bread cubes. Layer the rest of the apples in the casserole and sprinkle with water. Cover with the rest of the bread cubes and evenly sprinkle the reserved 2 tablespoons ofsugar over the top.  Put the lid on the casserole or cover tightly with foil.  Bake in the center of the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Take the lid off the betty, and bake for 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until apples are tender and the topping is brown.

Baked Apples

4 medium cooking apples

1/4 cup raisins, dates, or other dried fruit

1/4 cup nuts, chopped

2 tablespoons brown sugar

4 tablespoons butter

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/3 cup apple juice or water

            Preheat oven to 350°F.  Core apples; peel a strip from the top of each.  Place apples in a 2-quart casserole.  Combine the fruit, nuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Spoon into centers of apples; top with 1 tablespoon butter each.  Add liquid to dish.  Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until apples are tender, basting occasionally with the cooking liquid.  Serve warm with ice cream, light cream, or yogurt, if desired.

Better Homes and Garden

BRH'sApple Crisp

I loved this at the MOMS Club Thanksgiving potluck!

6 large apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced

1/4 cup of water

juice of 1 lemon

2 cups rolled oats (I used the quick cooking kind)

2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons cinnamon

1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) melted butter

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Combine the apples, water and lemon juice in an 8x8 inch baking pan.  In a bowl, combine the oats, flour, sugar and cinnamon.  Pour in the butter and stir to make a crumbly mixture.  Spread the topping in an even layer over the apples and bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the topping is crisp and browned.

Mommy Hungry's Apple Crisp

This is the first recipe we really invented together and it is our favorite evening snack, dessert, apple food.

4-5 apples

lemon juice

½ cup flour

½ cup brown sugar

1 cup oatmeal

¼ teaspoon cinnamon and nutmeg to taste

¼ cup butter

salt

cranberries (optional)

chopped pecans (optional)

            Mix and bake in greased pan at 375°F for approximately 30 minutes.

            Alternates:  We don’t even measure anymore, just make enough mixture to cover apples.  Also, this can be made with other fruits, including pitted cherries, raspberries, and blackberries.

                                                                                                                        Mommy Hungry

PDA's Apple Pie

Now this is my signature apple pie, made for all holidays.  And as Grandma always used to say, “Apple pie without cheese is like a hug without a squeeze!”  Mama didn’t believe until she tried it.

¾ cup brown sugar

½ teaspoon nutmeg

6 sliced, peeled apples

¼ cup flour

½ teaspoon cinnamon

pie crust and crumb topping

            Peel and slice apples, soaking in water and lemon juice to prevent browning.  Heat oven to 425°F.  Mix sugar, flour, nutmeg, and cinnamon.  Stir in apples.  Cover with crumb topping.  Cover edge of pie with aluminum foil, shiny side out.  Bake 40-50 minutes, removing foil for last 10 minutes.

Crumb Topping

1 cup flour

½ cup firm margarine

½ cup packed, crumbly brown sugar

            Mix with fork and sprinkle on top of pie.

                                                                                                                        PDA