Of tender thought, the simplest strain
Can touch it with peculiar power.
Thomas Moore
Whatever Mama wants, Mama gets; yes I know the original version is all about Lola
but this is the version I sing to my Mom as I dance around her at unscripted
times. She usually laughs and says “You darn fool”, this makes me smile every time.
It is 7 a.m. Saturday
morning and I stare out the window watching the snow come down, the beaters
from my mixer clang against the sides of a metal bowl; I smile as I watch the
egg whites turn into fluffy mountain peaks reminding me of the snow covered mountains
through British Columbia while on that train trip of a lifetime last year with
Melissa. The distinct clanging of those beaters sounding like the bouncing heavy
train wheels passing over those sometimes very bumpy steel rails back then. I
will never forget that trip and all those seemingly small simple memories that
continue to make me smile. I turn off the mixer and scrap the meringue out of
the bowl and pile it onto the lemon pie I had promised my Mom for supper
tonight. Whatever Mama wants.
I swirl the fluffy whiteness
over the creamy yellow and make more mountain peaks, I place it in the oven to
brown while wondering what else we shall have, even though just pie and a spoon
has high appeal to Mom at different times. I smile as I think of that saying “The
apple does not fall far from the tree”. Since we had a nice Crock Pot Turkey Stew last
night and I watched as Mom devoured a huge bowl with a large bun I try to think
of what else she likes. I remember a phone conversation last week that was all about
hamburgers and how much she loved them; hamburgers it will be. My sisters and I
always try to make things we know Mom loves to eat, and we all agree we love
watching her devour it with a huge smile on her face, this was not always the
case, I hope it lasts. Whatever Mama
wants.
I think about our Friday together
and with the aroma of that turkey stew coming from the kitchen I had asked Mom
if she thought it was time to take the Christmas tree down or if not maybe we
could just pack up the Nativity that sits beside her kitchen table where she
enjoys it while she eats her breakfast. She refused saying it makes her happy.
We set the table with those pretty Christmas scene plates and she smiles. Whatever Mama wants.
The timer goes off and my
thoughts are disrupted, I put on oven mitts and pull out the Lemon Meringue
Pie, Mom’s favourite, this should make her smile. Whatever Mama wants.
Most times in life it is
those simple moments or sentences that keep you smiling. Whatever Mama wants.........."You darn fool". Smile!
Later
Great post! You are some baker and that last photo is precious.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet, sweet photo. I love how you led up to it.
ReplyDeleteThat Lemon Meringue Pie looks amazing too!!!
My Mom loves hamburgers and sweets. My hubby LOVES Lemon Meringue Pie. Three more inches of the white stuff on the ground when I went out this morning.
ReplyDeleteYou had me right there with you all the way through. How tender and lovely- truly so, my friend.
ReplyDeleteSo sweet. Yes, give her what she wants while you still have her. Lovely shot of the pie and her hand. Love the turtle ring. :)
ReplyDeleteI bought lemons last week to make just this pie! And then the next day wondered why I had bought so many lemons! Wow, what a blast that was. lol. Will have to do that tonight...
ReplyDeleteYes, our mom's are lucky...but we are luckier. Thursday and Friday are my days and I spend all week trying to think "What would mom like this week"...ha!...xoxo
ReplyDeletevia rail? I did the cross Canada trek with my two eldest daughters when they were 9 and 11 to visit my brother in Northern B.C. I was blown away with my intense emotional response to train travel !Give me ten minutes to pack any time and I would be ready to go again!
ReplyDeleteHands say so much- about strength, tasks completed and also frailty. the photo speaks to all
oh i loved this b, you are so sweet, kind and loving, just what mama needs!!
ReplyDeleteAwww, how sweet! "Whatever mama wants" is a good motto for life! Haha. The pie looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteMama deserves to get what she wants, and you are a wonderful daughter for making sure she does.
ReplyDeleteI can see that smile and hear those words. So happy that I was able to get 2 visits while I was home. She is and always has been an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteLove You both BA
Bless you for taking good care of your mama. Love the photo.
ReplyDeleteThat pie looks fabulous, Buttons - the crust looks so flaky and the filling so yummy - you are quite a baker!
ReplyDeleteWhat a devoted loving daughter you are. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI so agree. Mum is 92 and we are so lucky to have her. she lives 4 hours drive away and I'm not allowed to drive at present so I look forward to when I can get there and, meanwhile, try to please her over the phone and all sorts of other ways!! Bless you1 Joan
ReplyDeleteLove those golden tear drops on the meringue. We are in a nostalgic mode food wise these days. I've been making macaroni and cheese casserole, scalloped potatoes, shepherds pie, pork pie...all the old and golden goodies.
ReplyDeleteGreat looking pie, B! Often have flash backs to my mum and some of her little sayings. Thanks for your lovely comments on my music post. Sometimes it is a bit deflating when you put a lot of effort into a post and not many comment. I appreciate you following my blog as I know you have lots of followers. I love the honesty that comes through in your posts.
ReplyDeleteOh yummy I love lemon meringue pie I would have loved a piece of yours.
ReplyDeleteI think it's great you make meals your mum loves to eat. You are a good daughter. :))
Lovely post and Yummy pie ! I made Papa a vanilla lemon cake on the weekend ! If your mum still wants her tree up Maybe she would like it decorated with some valentine hearts , birdies and spring things ! Just a though ! Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteOooh, it looks amazing. Your mom is one lucky woman ;-)
ReplyDeleteabsolutely! whatever she likes...
ReplyDeleteYummy! Yummy! Yum!
ReplyDeleteYou're making my mouth water! I haven't had a lemon meringue pie for ages!! I hope your Mom enjoyed every bite!
ReplyDeleteSO blessed you are to have her and to give your mamma what she wants... what I wouldn't give to have just one hour with my mom, on March 5th she'll have been gone for 26 years...
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you made sure that momma got what she wanted.
ReplyDeleteThat looks so yummy, one of my favorite pies. You are a wonderful daughter. Now that my parents are getting older and won't be around much longer I try to do things for them that they like and make them happy.
ReplyDeleteYou are a great daughter!
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky that momma will still find pleasure in SOMETHING. Wish we could say the same.
ReplyDeleteI made a gluten free lemon pie the other day, it was so yummy! It's one of those February things, when the lemons are in season!
I LOVE this post. The "Whatever mama wants" stuff between you and your mother sounds like the kind of exchanges my mother and I used to have. Made me smile just to read it. PLUS lemon meringue is MY favorite, too...
ReplyDeleteShe is a lucky, lucky woman. :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Debbie
Wonderful story and a beautiful photo to go with it. Your Mamma is so blessed to have you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and yet made me cry, as I watch my mom struggle with health issues , and remember my special visits to grandma,when I would bring her a treat , just one thing , and she would clean it up like it was the best ever.Always just one thing at a time as the dememtia made a full plate to hard to understand. sigh I did love her so. Bless you and your mom
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet, sweet daughter you are! I love the song you sing to your mom! :)
ReplyDeleteI love those little beads of moisture on the top of the pie!!!
ReplyDelete