already crazy

I ventured out of work this afternoon to pick up a prescription and after that errand was completed, I thought I might step into a bookstore as well. When I got into the store, I could hardly move for all the toddlers underfoot. Beware of large parents with umbrellas who move suddenly in pursuit of their offspring. Ok, it was a children's bookstore, so what can I expect? I wandered over to Crate & Barrel thinking I'd check out some kitchen wares in a leisurely way, maybe find a nice pie pan for tomorrow. I don't truly need another pie pan. But you know...

Nothing leisurely about it. More vocal children, about knee height; lots of baby carriers, lots of people, long lines at every register. Is this the unofficial prelude to the official biggest shopping day of the year? Grocery stores, yes; wouldn't go near one today. But bookstores? Oh well.

For me, this Friday is Buy Nothing Day. A day on which I celebrate not having to purchase anything at all, and give thanks for having everything I need and more. From now until the beginning of the year, I shop as infrequently as possible and spend as little as possible. I like to eat well on certain special days, but I don't need more *stuff* and neither does anyone I know. I'd rather be creating something than spending money.

This is not to imply that I'm a grinch. I don't walk around with a sour face grumbling at the consumer merriment. I just choose not to partake. What I do like to do is bake. Tomorrow I'm making bread rolls from my Granmother's recipe and two pies to bring to the family that invited me for Thanksgiving. (I'm a little nervous about the cherry pie, since I make it so rarely...) Later this weekend I intend to revive a personal tradition that has been lost for several years: making fruitcakes.

Wait! Before you say "eeeeeeeewwww, fruitcake! yuck!" let me describe my kind of fruitcake:

no yucky candied fake fruit, meaning
no unrealistic neon colors
no preservatives.
not dry
not too sweet.

instead,

a blend of real dried fruit (organic when possible: raisins figs dates apricots cranberries prunes)
lots of hazelnuts and walnuts
molasses and honey
moist and dark
infused with good rum.

I procured the rum last night and I'm sure there'll be some left to make my mother's rum ball cookie recipe, a fondly remembered childhood treat. With the fruitcake endeavor, a studio full of projects, and books overflowing the shelves, I project a satisfying long weekend. And I'm grateful.

Comments

[June]

Matt and I usually venture to one of the huge stores having a humongo 6 AM to noon sale. There's something just... buzzy and fun about being around so many excited people (tho it's also slightly disgusting in an excessive capitalistic way, and we always leave without buying anything). Have fun with all that baking!

[Colleen]

The economy must be back to normal. I noticed that the stores are *alread* packed, as of last weekend.

So...will you share the fruitcake recipe?