Love in the oven...

One of my favourite things to make just for the pure joy of making it, as well as for the pleasure of feeding it to be people is cinnamon buns. I started the dough out this morning with the intention of making bread, but as it was rising we walked to the mailbox and ran into 3 of our neighbours, all older men, all eager to visit and have a little company. Their wives are either away just now or uninterested in being outside working with them and my heart squeezed for each of them. Why is it that too often people seem to grow apart and don't enjoy doing the same sorts of things in their old age? These men were all out working in their yards -- putting up new fences, planting new bushes, pulling out weeds... and their passion for the earth and being outdoors was palpable and so was their loneliness. Maybe it doesn't matter in the big scheme of things -- maybe they have lots of other things in common with their wives that they aren't lonely in all aspects of their lives.. I hope so.

And I hope that Brent and I always enjoy working and playing together...

In the meantime, Annika and Pedar have offered to take each of these men a little package of love in the form of cinnamon, flour and sugar... and so we have an extra large batch of cinnamon buns in the oven and the bread will have to wait for another day.

Postscript: I am humbled and amazed at the effect our cinnamon bun offerings have had in our little "community"! My children set off with such happy hearts to deliver these little love gifts, and returned absolutely high on appreciation and affection. And I received one huge hug from one neighbour, a tearful phone call from another and a moving email from the third. Each was so moved by our tiny offering! We must share ourselves more often!!!