Wednesday, April 29, 2020

A Thing I Made Today For a Friend


He likes to bake.

There has been an issue with my domain name for the past few days. Hopefully it will be back soon. In the meantime, I'm here at smacksy.blogspot.com


Sunday, April 26, 2020

Smacksy Sunday Links


On home.

The brain fog you're feeling is perfectly normal.

Side effect of the pandemic - reading got a lot harder.

What weird things do you do to make yourself feel better?

This is the special occasion you've been waiting for. A good reminder.

All the ways you can help.

Living through a pandemic

Artists capture a surreal New York.

And platypus babies.

Happy Sunday.


Saturday, April 25, 2020

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Staples


When I was growing up, my mom always kept a bag of Gold Medal flour and six packets of Fleischman yeast in our freezer. When the flour got low in the copper canister on the counter, she filled it back up with the freezer flour and then a new bag of Gold Medal quickly took its place. I never questioned why the back up flour lived in the freezer, I just continued the tradition as an adult.  It wasn't until a few years ago that I learned keeping flour in the fridge was to keep out the bugs they had in the panhandle of Texas, where my mom grew up. Flour was a staple, along with rice and beans and you needed them in the house. at all times, just in case. Her mother did it, and her grandmother did it. It's how it was done.

I like to bake, maybe not as much as my mom did, but I can work my way around a recipe. Back in the 1980s when I got sober, I spent my first few months of sobriety methodically, obsessively, baking bread. It was a deliberate exercise with a beginning, middle, and an end. When my process was finished, there was a tangible result. It kept me busy. One afternoon, I went to the movies with some friends. Because my dough needed to be punched down at a certain time that conflicted with the movie schedule, I brought the bowl of dough with me to a matinee of Less Than Zero at the Beverly Center. Yes I did.

Now, during this uncertain time where we are all locked in our homes, many people have turned to baking bread for solace. Baking is holding many of us together. Loaves of all shapes and sizes are turning up in pictures on social media. I understand this on a deep level. When Mr. Rosenberg turned toward baking bread a few weeks ago, he went through the ingredients quickly and supplies were scarce at the markets. Of course, we had the back up flour and yeast waiting next to the ice trays and the frozen peas. That just in case moment is upon us and we're ready. It's how it's done.






Monday, April 20, 2020

May 24, 1944


May 24, 1944
England

Hello Melva,
We have at last returned from the southern part of England and are about to get things straightened around again. It certainly takes a lot of work to move around and operate. While down there I saw several places that were 600 years-old and some were a great deal older. It included a few castles and such. The houses are built with stone, many with slate roofs. They use wooden pegs to hold the crossbeams in the stone. I got one of these wooden pegs and I'm enclosing it in the letter. It came from an empty farm house down in Wales.

Do hope that you'll keep right on praying for I'm going to need it before so very long. I will take care of myself but you be sure to do the same for I couldn't bear to have anything happen to you or Sandy. Don't get tired of waiting because when we do come back, it will all be worth the while. I just live for the day I can come home.

Love,
Lee (Here is another bear hug.)

Thursday, April 16, 2020

May 18, 1944


May 18, 1944
England

Hello Sugar Puss,
We have been on the move again and there has not been much time to sit down and write as I wanted to do. Your letter was good to get and it almost makes tears come to my eyes when you tell me about baby Sandra. I love to hear about her and the cute things she does. I look at the pictures often.

You know Puss, I write when I can so don't wait 'til you hear from me to write. Your letters are about the only thing that keep me going at times so don't let me down. Gets lonesome as hell over here after the joy we've known and anticipate knowing again in our own place. I miss you truly and when your letters come, it's just as if you are here talking to me. I loves you Puss.

Better go for now -- continued tomorrow if chances are right.
Again Puss, I love you.
Lee





Sunday, April 12, 2020

Smacksy Sunday Links


Just keep rowing.

Faith during the crisis.

Ways to make working from home more joyful.

Minimalism renewed.

Ride on. 

Healthcare workers are putting their photos on their PPE.

Rest in sweet peace, John Prine.

And live cams of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Happy Easter Sunday.


Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Happy Passover


I always think of my mom setting a celebratory dinner table, then taking a picture of it. We have many photos of tables ready for Thanksgiving, Christmas and birthday parties. Today's we celebrated Passover. Because we couldn't be with friends and family in person, we joined twenty-five of Jeff's extended family members from around the country. Like I'm sure many Jewish families, we shared our Seder on Zoom this year. We didn't have matzoh for the occasion so I toasted up some tortillas. Following tradition, I took a photo of our celebratory dinner table. Chag Sameach.




Sunday, April 5, 2020