Rounding the corner ...

... in our L-shaped kitchen, there's a wooden stool tucked between two cupboards near the warmth of the oven. Mum has adopted it as a favourite place to perch while I'm preparing food, or we're having a go at some baking together. She'd never let me take a photo of her, of course, but Bear has chivalrously stepped up in her stead - though he was re-christened Kipper by our little grandson during his visit. (Mind you, I think Bear is still so grateful to be rescued, he really doesn't mind.) So here's the spot where Mum was ...

... when my kneading the dough took us back to a childhood memory about buying yeasted bread in the village (for soda and wheaten breads would have been baked at home on the farm). It wasn't particularly important or consequential as stories go, and there was no outcome or punchline. It was one of those bread-and-butter family stories - ones which don't look wonderfully exciting from the outside, but have little grains of other things in, are not very big or important in themselves, but still are rich in flavour. Here's how it turned out:

Rounding corners with paper punches or digitally is always a favourite of mine, so I've created an arrow-tipped overlay for this template, and I'll pop it up next week for downloading (along with some tips for recolouring and resizing) if you'd like a copy.

Somewhere just of of sight there's a warm loaf and some pale golden butter awaiting - and the way Himself is edging towards the kitchen door, I don't think it will be awaiting much longer ... Hey! Stop right there, Beloved! Got to go ... wishing you a happy and creative weekend. :)

Comments

[Helenb]

Another beautifully told and evocative story - it reminded me of the stories my Dad used to tell of carrying the bread home and once eating just a lttle and then a little more ... and how cross his mother was to be handed a hollowed out loaf with nine children to feed!

[Karen W]

I just love your storytelling. It's a gift.

[Jennie Hart]

Delicious and evocative Alexa. I wouldn't mind perching with bear for half an hour and listening to your stories :)

[Paul B]

Like Helen, your story reminds me of the tale my Mum told of nibbling fresh, warm bread on the way home from the baker's. Maybe it's a common story from those post war years that fascinates today as it's of its time. No child today would go to a baker for bread or harbour fond memories of it. It's those everyday stories which are perfect to record. It gives those of us who read them a sense of what life meant back then. How lucky we are to have talented writers like yourself, who know how to listen and can tell the story back so evocatively. Px

[Amy]

I'm another with a mother who has more than once told her story of bread nibbling on the way home.
Thank you to you and your Mum for sharing this story today, a little glimpse into the essence of life! And, feel free to add in anything random whenever you wish! :-)

[Jimjams]

It was a different age wasn't it. Walking a mile and a half without an adult to fetch bread. Beautifully told. Thank you both for sharing!

[Lynn]

Another lovely story - I could almost be there. Yum to fresh bread!

[Sian]

I love a bread and butter story :) The very stuff life is made of.

[Jacky S]

Another wonderful story,Alexa.....the essence of family memories.....my own mother had many similar memories.

[Cheri]

Such a beautifully told story. It transported me back to a simpler time in my own life! (although walking to the slaughter house for five pounds of freshly ground beef probably wouldn't seem nearly as tender and yummy)

[Melissa]

Such a great memory to have recorded! I can see now that the stool in the kitchen is going to provide you with lots of stories & memories (old & new)!

[Mel]

This is so precious! What a special memory - hooray that you've recorded it so it won't be lost :) And like others have said, you've reminded me in turn of a story of my own - I love how sharing stories can do this! xx

[Miriam]

Such a lovely story and beautifully told Alexa, I remember nibbling the bread on the way home! A perfect layout too of course.x

[sandie]

That post conjours up a wonderful image and I can smell the bread baking.... sad that many children today won't have those memories to share. Going to Tesco's for a sliced loaf just doesn't quite have the same impact!

[Thoughtsalonglifeshighway]

I am catching up on my blog reading - have been off the grid for a few weeks with no blog reading time... but I am so enjoying your posts and LOVE this one in particular!