MEMORIES OF MY CHILDHOOD DAYS WITH MY FATHER

MEMORIES OF MY CHILDHOOD DAYS WITH MY FATHER

I remember my childhood days

And the handsome man who stood tall,

At least he always seemed that way

When I was young and small.

He gave me love and laughter

And taught me so many things,

The love of the ocean and poetry

And the joy that reading brings.

We rode our bikes together

Along the lines of the shore.

He taught me the love of words ~

He taught me so much more.

A sense of love and justice,

Pride in work well done.

He taught me to discuss and debate ~

To watch the setting sun.

He taught me to value good food,

Cooking with him was a lesson too

There is so much of him in my life

In everything I do.

He took me shopping and gave me gifts ~

Showed me life in its fullest measure.

His journey is over and I am left

With memories to treasure.

I feel his presence in my life

In the simple everyday things

A piece of music, a newspaper folded

And the joy his memory brings.

© Linda J. Vaughan

RECIPES AND COOK BOOKS

RECIPES AND COOK BOOKS

  

I have lots of recipes

On Scraps of paper and in books,

Some cut from magazines and such

Others handed on by great cooks.

Some I’ve used many times

And they have become a part

Of all the special family times

I have stored within my heart.

I cherish the recipe books

Which have been passed on to me,

They tell a story of other days

And other children at another knee.

Simple recipes used often

When money was scarce indeed,

Helpful hints to make it so

Another mouth we could feed.

Cakes and chocolate and pies,

Savoury dishes and festive fare.

These bring to mind other days

Of tenderness and care.

Cuttings from a newspaper

Clipped and often used,

A recipe for shoe polish

For leather boots and shoes.

Many other recipes

For healing and for pain,

Old fashioned pictures

Of days that will not come again.

A Christmas pudding recipe,

“Grandma’s Wedding Cake”

Her recipe for Tomato Chutney

And other things she’d make.

  

It is rather like a journey

Going back in time and days

I remember other women,

Their cooking and their ways.

They shared their recipes

Helpful hints in full measure.

Take a trip back to that kitchen

For memories you will treasure.

© Linda J. Vaughan