last (wo)men standing

It's snowing here... has been since early this morning. It's not blizzard weather, but it is a steady soft downpour that's building up drifts. It doesn't look like our street has been plowed yet, which makes for a slippery downhill slide. Our "snow sister" is in her element. She starts praying for snow in August, and refuses to stop until the rest of us are so sick of winter we threaten her life.

Another priest was (yet again) relieved when I called last night to say we'd like to give her the day off. She was tending a sick child and thought maybe she was coming down with it too.

Well we are all now "down with it". One is totally horizontal and has been all week. The rest are in varying stages of intermittently vertical, and only two of us are even remotely "still standing". She and I are taking turns with the cooking, clean-up, doorbell and phone messages. She is making a doctor appointment for one elderly die-hard who still thinks this is just a "bad cold." We are muddling through.

Two sisters who are away traveling, are due to return Sunday night. They will be exhausted from their travels though, so not much help there. Oddly enough, the atmosphere is one of sweet congeniality and good will. I was pretty grumpy when I awoke, but have rallied over coffee, and am only occasionally racked with a coughing fit.

Sister is making soup again for lunch and I decided to try my hand at homemade pimento cheese. I found a recipe, all the ingredients and whipped up a batch. Grilled pimento cheese sandwiches with our soup... sounds like heaven to me.

Here's the recipe:
3 cups shredded cheddar (the orange kind looks more festive)
1 6 oz jar pimentos, diced, include the juice
1/2 small onion finely minced
1 cup mayonnaise
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
1-2 TBLSPs Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp paprika

omens

I think we are a superstitious species. Maybe it comes from being self-aware, maybe from not being self-aware enough. Whatever the reason, looking long and hard for meaning can be tiring work. Shortcuts help. I think superstitions fall into that category. Example: I actually slept well last night. On the eve of this auspicious day, that's a good sign. Not only did it mean I am functional already (at 5:00 am) but that I was able to drag my sorry butt out of bed in time to make a batch of almond scones for my sisters, family and friends. What better way to start a life of service than to serve? Except I'm not exactly starting a life of service... I am dedicating myself to a life of service. All that means is I can give myself less slack if I oversleep. Or something.

I think I'm out of silence. (Not totally sure about this... but one of my sisters spoke to me this morning.) My "silent retreat" sign is in my pocket, just in case. Now that I can talk, I have very little to say. Funny how that works. It's almost time for Morning Prayer. If I can sing, maybe it will be another good sign for later this afternoon. If not, well... nobody's perfect.

Here's the recipe for almond scones:

3 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/8 tsp salt
6 TBSP sugar
8 TBSP canola oil
15 TBSP buttermilk
3 tsp almond flavoring
1/2 cup sliced almonds

Whisk all dry ingredients til blended. Add canola oil and mix with a fork (then finish with your fingers) until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in almonds, buttermilk, and flavoring. (If I don't have any on hand, I make my own buttermilk from yogurt, milk and a dash of vinegar.) The mixture will be sticky but not runny.
Drop spoonfuls onto baking pan and flatten slightly. Brush with buttermilk and add a few more almonds on top of each.
Bake at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes, until lightly browned. Makes 18-20 scones