Inspired by Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Things Found in a Kitchen
BeckyB: lines&squares
Watch me!
What I remember most are her bright red fingernails.
Each shiny nail a perfect oval.
I must have been quite young as her hands were close to my line of sight at the kitchen counter. Watching my mother demonstrate how to flute a pie crust.
First flatten the dough onto the pan’s rim. Press your right forefinger into the dough on the edge. At the same time, pinch the dough around it using your left thumb and forefinger…to form an even point. Repeat the process around the pan until there is a circle of neat grooves. Sealing the top and bottom crusts together. So the juices from all the freshly sliced apples don’t leak out during baking.
The process of fluting is difficult to explain – which is probably why she showed me. Many times.
She was careful. Gentle. No hurrying. No impatient sighs. Voice unusually soft and low. See? This is how you do it. I was mesmerized. Each indentation she made on the crust’s edge forced bits of dough and flour onto and under her nails…red polish slowly disappearing. The tips of her fingers eventually a dusty white.
My mother also wore matching lipstick…which outlined the ever-present red slice of discontent on her face…
…which momentarily slipped away when she was working on a piecrust.
Calmly focused on the pie pan as she expertly rotated it…pressing her manicured fingers methodically into the fresh dough…she was an Artist at Work.
Creating a masterpiece. All her own.
one letter UP ~ diary 2.0 
What a great portrait of your Mom. My mother tried to teach me too, but I never did learn to it her way.
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Thank you. It did take a while to learn.
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Another touchdown, OLU! (Home run, slam dunk, goal… you pick the sport.) Love the photo and especially the story. Thanks for sharing that special memory.
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Thank you so much!
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Your mother sounds like a talented woman. 😎
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Thanks! She was an excellent cook and baker.
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Aww…I love this post! That reminds me of my grandmother who wore red lipstick and painted her nails too and baked pies!! I don’t know about you, but the pies are the only tradition in that scenario that I carried on 😉
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Thank you! Haha – yes, the pie making continues but not the rest 🙂
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🙂
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I loved the way you used the short sentences “She was careful. Gentle. No hurrying. No impatient sighs. Voice unusually soft and low. See? This is how you do it.” It really emphasized the patience your mother had when baking, makes me feel like I’m right there.
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Thank you! I’m glad it came across that way. As I was writing, I felt right there – it is a positive memory of her, which I am grateful for.
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Wonderful that you have that memory to cherish.
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Thanks.
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I know this is crazy, but I burst into tears reading this…that you had such kind as well as beautiful mother…even if you could see her inner discontent, it doesn’t sound as though she regularly took it out on you. Possibly I’m ascribing more to this snippet than is accurate…but it really hit me, which means your words painted skillfully.
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I am glad you are seeing kindness (oh dear, sorry you’re crying!). I am striving to uncover those – unfortunately somewhat rare – positive moments I had with her. It is often difficult to do so, but in this instance not. A pleasant surprise for me.
Thank you so much for your heartfelt comment!
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I apologize that I’ve forgotten so soon, the exchanges we’ve had previously concerning family matters…memories inherited. That’s why I added the bit about ascribing too much to your slice of life portrait. I have but one or 2 good memories of ‘mom’…but I should take your words as encouragement to write something, even a brief poem, acknowledging the positives. Once again I’m struck by how healing it can be to connect with bloggers who share authentically. May you be hugely blessed today, dear friend.
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No need to apologize! I am glad you are back in the blogging world again though. I think we have more in common than we realize. And, yes, working to find a positive about a past relationship (such as this topic was) can be a huge challenge, but worth it – at least so far! Hope it’s not the last.
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It’s been a blessing to know you through blogging…as you say, we have a fair amount in common 🙂
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What a clever photo for both lines and kitchen. 😀 😀
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Thanks! It was fun to combine them 🙂
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beautiful photographic lines and evocative story lines – perfect
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Thank you!
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