Sunday, March 1, 2015

Hannah Ate and Her Face Was No Longer Sad



But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit.

I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink,

but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.

Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along

I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation."

Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel 

grant your petition that you have made to him."

And she said, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes."

Then the woman went her way and ate, 

and her face was no longer sad."

I Samuel 1:15-18



Has it been the snow--which I have always professed to love,
and Otis obviously does?

Has it been being iced in, the paths too dangerous in this shady valley 
for me to risk walking on?

Cooped up, little sunshine, so suffering perhaps from SADD?

Insomnia? (Writing this post at 1:30 a.m.)

Fatigue, from doing what, I don't know?

Vexed in spirit, as Hannah was?



For whatever reason, and ashamed to admit it,

I've found myself lately having lost my savor of….

life

housework

blogging.

It seems that all I've wanted to do is read my old cookbooks

and eat.

Odd things.



But I smiled when I read my devotion onThursday morning.

There was Hannah, vexed in spirit, 

feeling anxious and….well, worthless,

and I felt a kinship with her.

Eli prayed for Hannah that God would grant her petition

and Hannah went her way and ate,

her face no longer sad.

I was encouraged, and I made the old recipe for Cucumber Cream Salad,

that Frances Parkinson Keyes used to make when her husband

was Senator from New Hampshire,

and take to the Senate Ladies' Luncheon.

Is there still a Senate Ladies' luncheon, perhaps a Senate Spouses' luncheon?




Frances Parkinson Keyes' Cucumber Cream Salad

Soften 1 envelope of gelatin in 2 tablespoons cold water.

add 1/4 cup hot milk and stir until gelatin is dissolved.

Add one cucumber, cut into small cubes,

two stalks celery, cut into small pieces,

3 scallions sliced fine,

1/2 cup olives sliced thin.

Stir in 1 tablespoon tarragon vinegar,

juice of one lemon,

and seasonings (salt, lemon pepper, whatever you like).

Then fold in 1 pint of heavy whipping cream, whipped.

Turn into a mold or dish and refrigerate for 12 hours or more.

Serve with French Dressing.

Combine 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt,

1/4 teaspoon sugar and pinch of cayenne pepper.

Add juice of one lemon and 1/4 cup tarragon vinegar. 

Beat in olive oil to taste (1 cup suggested).



Fix a pretty luncheon plate of Spode Morning Glory of the salad, apple slices, pecans sautéed in 
butter and salted, and pour the dressing from a pretty little demitasse.

Have for lunch while watching Judging Amy.

Give at least half of salad away to son and warn him that it is not a sweet dessert
even though it looks like one.

Soon Spring may come, the ice will melt off the paths.
I will get out of the house and go buy groceries, have a haircut, drop by Goodwill.

Perhaps I'll even go to a Ladies' Luncheon once more,
with my daughter, and I'll smile.






15 comments:

  1. Spring is sleeping under a blanket of newly falling snow here :)

    The recipe sounds strange but I'll bet that it was tasty! :)

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  2. I love this post, Dewena. How often we get discouraged when the sky is grey, we can't get out and life seems so dull and uninteresting. But, there is always a rainbow or a silver lining. We just have to look for it. God bless...

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  3. I hope spring comes soon for you, Dewena... for your spirit as well as your weather. I believe, just as we are told, that there is a season for everything... some seasons I'm not so fond of, but food does seem to help with those. ;)

    Your cucumber salad looks so beautiful! And, I love the applique on your linens... and your beautiful dishes... You made a work of art from all of it! May your spirit soar with joy and passion soon... very soon... blessings ~ tanna

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  4. What a gorgeous picture of the two of you. You are such a beautiful lady, Dewena and a beautiful spirit. My family in Tennessee has been keeping me informed of the snow. LLLuckily for you it will pass and you will see the ground soon. In Bradford we haven't had a reprieve from it for months now. All those feeings you have..triple them for me. I'm way tired of the whiteness and cold. You found a good distraction with cooking..yum!

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  5. Netflix art films are my go to when stuck inside for weather, flu, whatever.

    Your lunch plate is the perfect southern, Magnolia Tea Plate. Of course that restaurant has closed. Fun to see it pop up on your pics.

    Your dog. Childhood friend had a long haired Dachshund, Brandy. She loved chasing cockroaches ! Of course we did live on the gulf coast.

    Rain predicted all week. Past 2 weeks with rain/ice/snow and wrecked schedule.

    Love that Spode pattern, hard to believe I've never seen it.

    Garden & Be Well, XO T

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  6. Winter can cause one to become depressed and lack-luster. I loved your devotion...isn't it wonderful how we often get exactly what we need when we need it! The cucumber salad sounds delicious and I loved how you made a presentation of your meal, and used your Spode. Hopefully lovely spots of spring color and warm sunshine will bring you some cheeriness too!

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  7. oh hon, I am so sorry that you are feeling "the blahhhhhs"... and I hope you will be able to banish them.

    and you are the second dear blogger, who has been suffering from insomnia. -sigh-sigh-sigh- I know, I am so very lucky, to not have this!!! and wishing you and Mona, an end to your insomnia.

    gentle hugs,
    Tessa~

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  8. dear One,
    would you please consider a visit to your doctor? when my body is not perking along, as it usually does, I feel that my body is trying to tell me something. I do.

    and I would ask a health care professional, about my symptoms.

    no one likes to take any more meds, than necessary. but... perhaps... a simple blood test might show that you are low in some vitamin or mineral or some such. a simple thing! easily dealt with.

    or your doc might have another suggestion.... one of those special light lamps, for SAD? or whatever...

    please don't just suffer! don't just "wait for spring." each of our days are special. please don't any of us, let any of our days go by, feeling more down, than we have to.

    gentle hugs,
    Tessa~

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  9. Dewena, it's so common for some to get the blues in the winter months, especially January, and even more so when all you see is snow and no sunshine or warmth. Spring will be here before you know it, and I hope it gives you the lift you need. This verse certainly came at the perfect time for you, don't you think? This cucumber cream salad looks so good.

    Thinking of you along the way, and sending love.

    ~Sheri

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  10. Thank-you, thank-you for reminding me that when we are vexed in spirit the God of Hannah is the God of today. Your post has blessed me this morning. God bless you as we seek in every stage of life to shine for Him!

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  11. i want to be there. to have lunch with you.
    to visit. or maybe just read old vintage magazines with you and be still.
    to pet the darling heads of all the furries. to soak up the sheer beauty of valley view. inside and out. to give and receive huge bear hugs. to take long naps.
    to be the best of friends. and sisters. ♥

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  12. My dear mon ami,

    Seems we are in sync, once again, as we've discussed via our correspondence! But that was sans the appetizing plate of yummies you so lovingly whipped up for us, here! Surely this is a tasty and tempting antidote to our pre-March melancholy; so wish I could share it with you, in an in-person, tête-à-tête. But for now, I'll settle for a cyberspace serving of this eye candy, to sweeten my smile, with its savoury flair.

    Hope you're feeling a little lighter in spirit. I know I always do after such delicious therapy! A date with our daughters would definitely do the trick! And a double date would be pure indulgence!

    Sending love,
    Poppy

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  13. This too shall pass my friend, and when it does, that lovely smile will brighten the day for all who are fortunate enough to see it.

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  14. Dear Dewena ~ I just came from Rue's blog and I'm glad I did. Your devotional about Hannah is just right for me, thank you. It was inspiring!

    I do hope spring will come to you soon. Let God lift your spirits as your lift spirits with your blog.

    FlowerLady

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  15. Hi, Dewena, I came from Rue's blog and am enjoying your blog!

    I think we're all in hibernation mode until spring arrives. Once everything starts warming up and turning green we will all wake up and feel life surging through us again.

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