Cutting The Cake, Amelia’s hands cutting the cake on the day she turned 70, Central Pennsylvania, November 2007, photo © 2007 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
I’m sitting in Amelia’s kitchen. The smell of homemade chicken and dumplings spins across the room. My brother and sister-in-law stopped over for breakfast. Amelia made Canadian bacon, grits with butter, crumbled bacon and sharp cheese bits, scrambled eggs, scratch biscuits, orange juice, and French Roast.
My sister-in-law had us in stitches over a story about a trip to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. We were cracking up over our second cup of coffee, and it reminded me of all the rambunctious activity, laughter, and fun that’s taken place in this kitchen. Mom has lived here over 40 years. I find it comforting that she has the same Ma Bell wall phone with same old-fashioned “ring” and the same 20 foot coil of cord that extends all the way across the kitchen so she can chat while she cooks.
In this fast-paced world, it’s nice to be able to go home. And for home to still be there. Home and hearth were so closely connected in Mom’s generation. And many generations before her. These days a family is lucky if even one parent can stay at home, much less the whole family sitting down to a home cooked, family meal around the kitchen table at the end of a long day.
Mom turned 70 last Saturday. She’s seen a lot of change. The week before, my brother called with an idea to fly me home. My five siblings chipped in to buy a ticket from Minnesota to Pennsylvania so that I could surprise her. Everything went like clock-work, from pre-Holiday ticket prices, to flights, to coordinating busy schedules. It was meant to be.
It was so hard to stay at my brother’s for two days without calling Mom and spoiling the surprise! The first surprise was the party with my 4 brothers, 1 sister, and all of the extended family. I didn’t get to see this part, when she walked in with a huge smile on her face (I was hiding out in an appliance box!). She hugged everyone, my sister placed the tiara on her head, and she sat down to open presents. When my sister gave the verbal cue, “It’s too bad QuoinMonkey can’t be here.” Out I popped, arms spread, singing Happy Birthday off-key from a wrapped, bowed and ballooned, dishwasher box where I had been hiding the last 20 minutes.
Mom burst into tears. I was soon to follow. I’d never seen her so surprised! (She’s very intuitive and we were rarely ever able to keep any secrets from her when we were growing up.) We exchanged a long hug. The whole family poured into the kitchen, and dove into all the homemade Southern food. There was banana pudding, pork barbecue, beef barbecue, hushpuppies, biscuits and sausage gravy, black-eyed peas and rice, sweet tea, lemon meringue pie, and a glorious birthday cake. (Hey, all family, please chime in in the Comments if I’m forgetting anything!)
Home and hearth. What matters to you? Each time I come back home, the grandkids, nieces, and nephews are taller, the parents and siblings are older. Health fluctuates, situations challenge and change. Home connects me to the past, and forges the future. It’s as if everything I ever did tumbles through a parallel universe. It’s good to spend time with my family.
Happy Birthday, Mom.
-posted on red Ravine, Wednesday, November 14th, 2007
[…] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerptHome & Hearth – On Turning 70 November 14, 2007 by QuoinMonkey [IMG Cutting The Cake, Amelia’s hands cutting the cake, the day she turns 70, Central Pennsylvania, photo by QuoinMonkey, November 2007, all rights reserved. ] Cutting The Cake, Amelia’s hands cutting the cake on the day she turned 70, Central Pennsylvania, November 2007, photo © 2007 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved. I’m sitting in Amelia’s kitchen. The smell of homemade chicken and dumplings spins across the room. […]
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Great story! What a fantastic surprise for your mother.
And that is the most delicious-looking cake I’ve seen in a long time. I think I need to go find some food now.
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[…] Read the rest of this great post here […]
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I’ll let my sister-in-law know about the cake. It looked delicious and had these cool candles on top that spelled H-A-P-P-Y B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y (there was also a big 7 and a big 0). But by the time we got around to cutting it, it was late and I was so full of all that Southern food, I don’t think I was even able to eat a piece!
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[…] Read the rest of this great post here […]
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Happy Birthday, Amelia! Woo-hoooo…big 7-0!
Sounds like a great party. The food, my gosh. And is that a red satin cake?! Blast from the past. My sister makes them all the time. I tried to make one not too long ago; I was feeling nostalgic. My came out terrible.
I can only imagine how hard it was to keep the secret. It’s probably a good thing you guys didn’t plan it too far in advance. And who would have known that you could get such good deals on airline tickets? I thought the tickets would have been higher because of the holidays and the short notice. Yep, the powers that be conspired in your favor.
(BTW, QM, the scrawlers loved this story — did you see? Three links to it?! Must have been a combination of home, hearth, turning 70, and Pennsylvania.)
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yb, I did see the scrawlers. They hit pretty fast, hot cities, hot cities, hot cities. I think you’re right – the combo of words you mention might be the key.
I had to ask my brother about the cake. I’m at his house and he’s cooking dinner tonight. (Most of the boys in the family cook better than I do!) Anyway, YES, he says it a Red Velvet cake (or satin, take your pick).
Are they really a blast from the past? What time period? I don’t remember them. But apparently they are quite popular. I like them because they have a lot of red (my fave color right now). Oh, and the chocolate.
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Chocolate? I’ve never had one with chocolate. Only the red insides and white outsides.
I remember them from when I was a kid. Like in the 1960s. My sister Janet always makes them for our dad’s birthday, Mom’s birthday, things like that. They remind me of family get-togethers, but ones that harken back to when we were a young family.
Not all family gatherings generate that kind of energy, of being kids again, if you know what I mean. Red Velvet cake helps ; – ).
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Yeah, the kid energy was present this trip. It’s playful and fun. And all the food from growing up. It does harken back to simpler times. (I like the word harken. It reminds me of angels.) I just yelled into the kitchen and asked him, and my brother says the Red Velvets are chocolate cake dyed with red food coloring. I wonder if the rest of my family is reading this. Maybe they’ll chime in too. 8)
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I loved this post, QuoinMonkey.
One of the things I liked best about the past year, while my husband was on sabbatical, was living back east (in Pennsylvania) near my family. I’m just about the only one of a large family to have moved away from New Jersey. Being only an hour away, it gave me a chance to visit at least once a month and to start getting to know my brothers (3) and sister, as well as spend time with my parents and learn all about all the nephews and nieces.
I was also there for the big family reunion, and that was grand.
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LOL. I love how you’re egging the rest of your family to start commenting. Come one, guys, tell me something about QM in the appliance box…and the look on Amelia’s face when QM came out! Did anyone else cry?
Red Velvet is chocolate cake dyed red? NOOOOOO! I didn’t know this, and I’m not sure I like knowing it. It’s like finding out there’s no Santa Claus. I thought that Red Velvet was some special concoction. Pomegranate cake, or super-secret red cheese-but-not-cheesey cake…
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By the way, I *love* the name Amelia. I have every intention of naming a future daughter Amelia. Hmm. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that, because when I do get around to having a child, I won’t want her name out in the blogosphere. Oh well. It’s a long way off, hopefully.
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The celebration of Amelia’s 70th was awesome. We had a great time! And QM, you forgot to mention the shot of moonshine you had with K to celebrate! What a wonderful surprise when you jumped out of the appliance box! I for one was in tears. I have never seen Amelia that happy!As for Hearth & Home I would like to add the word “Heart”. One of my favorite wooden signs in my home reads “Celebrate Family,Friends,Traditions.” Enough said……
love you always!!!D
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Thank you for commenting, D!! Was it real moonshine? Like in a clear bottle with no label?
Really good addition…heart, hearth, home. I love the word ‘hearth’ and I didn’t realize until you said that that it had ‘heart’ in it.
teaspoon, ‘Amelia’ is an old-fashioned name. Very beautiful. And here I thought you’d name a child half-a-teaspoon or quarter-teaspoon or maybe serving spoon.
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yes it was real moonshine! Made illegally here in PA. I will never divulge my source! QM had no more than one shot. (What a wimp)D
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Wow, I might have taken two, three if I were super adventurous. But I suppose you can never tell with the hooch (is that what they call it 8) ??).
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I know that sometimes if you drink more than three you inherit the name Hoochie Mama!D
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I HAVE to chime in, as I also turned 70 this year, as QM knows, and was TOTALLY surprised, when 3 of my kids appeared at my door! They had flown in form MN,OH and CO!! I had a whole week of surprises, beginning with one at work, planned by my boss, and an open house with friends dropping in all afternoon,
plus the family. My daughter who lives next door to me, planned everything and all involved kept it secret. The 3 spent the weekend, and then the oldest Grandson flew in from OR, and spent several days. Believe me, I wasn’t looking forward to reaching that particular milestone, but for such a joyful reunion, it actually made turning 70 worth it! It was the best Birthday I ever had!!
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Congratulations to Amelia and Marylin on those birthdays. Seventy doesn’t seem old to me anymore … not at all. Both parties sound like such fun. Thirteen years ago I surprised my mom and her mother by showing up in Las Cruces, NM at my grandmother’s ninetieth birthday. My mother was in tears. Her mother didn’t seem surprised to see me. That figures….
Buy hey, QM — I’m consumed with curiosity: does your family actually call you QuoinMonkey?
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They’re trying to change her name to Hoochie Mama, but she’s not buying 8) .
QM is on a plane now, so we’ll have to wait to see if her red Ravine moniker has been adopted by the family.
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Mom’s celebration was memorable. QuoinMonkey spent more time than she wants to admit in that box waiting for the big moment. We had to air her out a few times by opening the lid for her to get air! She missed her first que when I quipped “To bad QuionMonkey couldn’t be here – then the party would be complete”. So I waited a few more minutes and asked, “Have you heard from QuionMonkey today?”. That’s when she sprang out of the top of the box and sang . . . and, yes, she was off key. I’m just glad we didn’t get all the other renditions in her repertoire!!!
I vividly remember another time QuionMonkey surprised our Mom to tears. QuionMonkey was in her 20’s living in Montana at the time. It was Halloween night. The rest of the family was in Amelia’s kitchen eating dinner before trick or treating. There was a knock on the door. When the door was opened there were two masked trick or treaters chiming “trick or treat”. Mom gave them each a piece of candy, closed the door and returned to the table. A few minutes passed, and then there was another knock on the door. The same trick or treaters were there again. I remember Mom was a little agitated until the two removed their masks and then she burst into tears. Behind those two masks were QuionMonkey, and her friend, who had driven from Montana to PA to surprise the family!
Our family is like a patchwork quilt. All completely different, sewn together with love to make a beautiful quilt that we all wrap around ourselves. Some pieces are torn and tattered, some are faded, some old, some new, some brightly colored, some muted. We all wrap ourselves with this quilt for comfort, warmth, and most of all . . . love.
If you haven’t guessed yet . . . I’m QuionMonkey’s little sister! Love you Sis!
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QM and family: I advise you to make no further statements regarding the moonshine. Your lawyer
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My mouth is zipped…Burp.
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QM’s family does not use her red Ravine name. We loving refer to her with a name she does not prefer others calling her!
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Hmm. It’s dinner time in Georgia, and I could go for the meal y’all had! Especially red velvet cake, homemade.
You have a close, warm relationship with your mother that really shines out when you write about her. A great post right before Thanksgiving.
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Red velvet cake! Yes, a true blast from the past! What a great thing the whole family did for Amelia. I enjoyed reading this.
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Sis of QM
I love your family “quilt!” Made me feel warm all over.
Good writing must be in your family’s genes!
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Holy Cow, Hoochie Mama here! I just got back from a long day of travel. It’s late but I just had to check red Ravine before bed. The comments have really taken off in this piece since the last time I checked in!
What alittlediddy says is true! But I guess I’m not Hoochie Mama because I did only have one. K. was right, BTW; she warned me it would be fine at first, then burn the rest of the way down. That’s exactly what happened. I’d never had moonshine before. And even though my lawyer advised against it in Comment 22, I just had to mention the hooch again. 8)
alittlediddy, I wonder if I subconsciously noticed the home, hearth, heart sign in your home when I was staying there. And then when we were sitting around the kitchen table that morning, it made its way into this piece?
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Grits In PA, I had completely forgotten about that Halloween when we surprised Mom. I remember it well. I either had or was just about to move to Minnesota. Whew, that was many years ago! Great memory to remind me of. Thank you.
Oh, was I really that much off key? YES, I know I was! Singing’s not my strong point but the intentions were good. I just could not pass up the Happy Birthday. OH, and I totally cracked up when I missed my first cue from you to jump out of the box. Luckily, I was on cue for your second reminder.
What a beautiful story about the patchwork quilt. It touched me. Thank you, Sis. It was so great to see you and the family last week. It’s strange to have been in PA this morning, now MN tonight. That always gets me about flying.
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I really enjoyed reading all of these comments. I just read them out loud to Liz as I was sitting here on the couch and we were both laughing and touched the whole way through.
Amelia is a beautiful name, teaspoon. I’ve always thought the same. I think that’s why I often call Mom by name when I write about her. (Not something I do in person!)
Robin, I thought of you when I was in PA. I’m the one in my family who has moved half way across the country. Most are still within a few hours of Mom. It is a great gift to be able to return home for quality time with family.
ritergal, you have longevity in your family. Regarding QM, I think my family may be calling me that more and more if they keep commenting on red Ravine. 8)
Marylin, it was wonderful to hear Liz talk about her trip to Wyoming and what fun she and her siblings had surprising you. She had a wonderful trip but she said it was way too short!
C, Mom and I were just talking about going back down to Georgia before I left. We thought we might plan it again for next Spring.
Franny, I’m happy to know we’ve got the best on our side.
ybonesy, I really think it’s red dye. Not to worry…there’s still the Tooth Fairy. 8)
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Red velvet cake?
Very Central Pennsylvania indeed!
Happy birthday to Amelia. 🙂
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HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO QM’s MAMA
Great story! Appliance box…love that one!
forget the Red Velvet cake…tell me more about those scratch biscuits…
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I have a special request, QM and family: Can you post some of these recipes? Heather’s comment on scratch biscuits caused me to go back up and read the description of food, and I’m sitting here thinking I’d love to make some of those barbeques here. Or the black-eyed peas and rice. Mmmm, banana pudding. My dad loves banana pudding. So do I! (Do you put vanilla wafers in yours? If so, do you layer them?)
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ybonesy, funny you should mention the recipes. I’ve already got a post lined up with one of Mom’s recipes. I actually wrote it last week when she was cooking. So I’ll be posting that one soon. And I had the EXACT same thought…that I should get some of these Southern recipes out there for people. So expect more in the future!
It always freaks me out how on the same page we are with posting. 8)
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Eerie, QM, very eerie. But so glad to hear! I can’t wait to see which ones you’re going to post.
If you have a banana pudding one, that would be great. I’ll make it for my dad.
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[…] Sure enough, Mr. StripeyPants turned 10 years old last week, while I was visiting my family in Pennsylvania. And guess what November 10th is? The same day Amelia turned 70. […]
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Ybonesy,
As I was writing a response to your banana pudding request my phone rang and it was QM asking me not to post the recipe (how did she know I was in the process of doing that) because she is going to post it later. Instead I sent the recipe to her with strict instructions on how to make it “correctly”.
What I can say is that I made a 9×13 inch pan of banana pudding for Amelia’s party and it was gone when I left the party. I also made a lemon meringue pie that I was able to bring two pieces home after the party.
Banana pudding is definitely a family favorite and it doesn’t really feel like a family gathering if we don’t have banana pudding.
So keep your eyes pealed for QM’s banana pudding post and let me know how your’s turns out.
R3
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See, we’re all on a parallel universe made of banana pudding. Yum. I can’t wait.
Thanks, R3!
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[…] of my siblings carry on the tradition of Mom’s cooking. That was in mouthwatering evidence on her 70th birthday last week, when all manner of Southern cuisine showed up on the birthday […]
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[…] By no means is that true. We’ve all got our problems, hang-ups, and quirks. We’re much like my sister said in her first comment on red Ravine – a vibrant patchwork quilt that all seems to fit together, no matter the pattern or stitch work, no […]
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I’ve got the best family in the world. My 70th was the best birthday ever !!!! And yes I cried, which is something I rarely do in public. It was very overwhelming, I was just so suprised and happy. My work week had been awful and to end it with my family was awesome.
The food was wonderful ,too. I love all kinds of food but of course Southern is close to the heart and drums up so many memories. Not all of the family like all of it, but they like the memories the fragrance of it cooking brings to mind. Some are more northern in tradition but southern in hospitality, family, and love. We are a blend of all the best of both worlds.
I’m so proud of the way they have all stuck together and are there for each other. QM was right when she said we all have our little quirks and Grits Pa. said we are like a patchword quilt. That so says it all.!!!!!!
Happy B-day Marylin I know your daughter really enjoyed that time with you.
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Thanks for all of the birthday wishes, I really enjoyed them.
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Mom, surprising you on your birthday was priceless for all of us. And getting to spend time with you over the week was a gift. I especially liked the meditation at Inner Connection. And walking with you by the Susquehanna that beautiful, warm day with the blue skies. Perfect.
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ybonesy and R3, the banana pudding post is on it’s way this week. And it’s true, I did call R3 after your comment, ybonesy, because I just KNEW he was already posting the recipe! (BTW, the reason I want to make it a regular post is because sometimes great things get lost in the Comments. And I wanted people to be able to find the banana pudding recipe in the future.) I’ve also made a note: Scratch Biscuits and Red Velvet Cake.
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[…] even found a recipe for a Red Velvet Whoopie Pie (see Red Velvet Cake commentary at Home & Hearth – On Turning 70). But the best way to experience this treat is to head out to Pennsylvania Dutch Country for the […]
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[…] Script: When I was visiting home in November for my Mom’s 70th birthday, my niece, E. Elise, tugged at my sleeve, and asked if she could read me her latest pieces of […]
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[…] November when I went home for Mom’s 70th birthday, she made Southern scratch biscuits. I’m heading home again next week, and I’ve been […]
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[…] 10th, 1937 in the eighth sign of the Zodiac, Scorpio. I miss her and have fond memories of jumping out of a giant cardboard box and surprising her last year (due to the generous and loving nature of my siblings, their spouses, and extended […]
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Mom, your birthday is winding down. Thinking about you tonight on your 72nd birthday. Hope you had a great time with the family. This year I jumped out of a virtual box to wish you many Happy Birthdays to come.
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