Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Perfume

I mix the batter of steaming milk from Sally's cows, honey from Fain's, a family beekeeping operation not too far down the road from my parents, spelt flour milled by me this morning, grown by farmers under vast Montana skies, and a spoonful of yeast.

I smell grasses and wildflowers, the fragrance rich and heady filles my bakery.  Because I get to be a part of this alchemy twice a week, for years now, my faith is made certain, and I know that somehow that batter of honey and grain and milk from Sally's cows, formerly milk from my own cow, will be transformed into bouncy, pliable dough and rich loaves of bread to be used by my customers and my family for sandwiches, toast, snacks, comfort.

A couple of verses from the Bible popped into my mind as I imagined the bees hovering around weedy flowers tucked here and there, gathering pollen and nectar.  One out of Psalm 81, "You would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."  Another out of Psalm 147, "He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat."

For a few moments, I forgot my troubles, my senses remembering my fortune, the gift of milk and honey, the finest of wheat (and spelt, granddaddy to wheat, cultivated over 5000 years ago!) and I had to stop and give thanks.

4 comments:

Chris said...

Beautiful!

Jody said...

Stumbled across your lovely blog. I'm in Fort Stockton!

www.jodysdevotionaljournal.blogspot.com

Greener Pastures--A City Girl Goes Country said...

Pretty post.

gingerhillery@mac.com said...

Hi Chris! Sorry to take so long to respond to your comment. I am glad when you guys check in with me. Miss my blogger buds, but hope to be up and writing again soon.

Jody, hi neighbor!!! Come by the bakery sometime if you are ever down here in Alpine. I will check in w your blog.

Debi, thanks! I checked in with your blog the other day, and am hoping you are doing alright.