Tokens Of Friendship

I have written often about the neighbors who live on my little street. We have only about ten homes on the street, but each houses a pretty nice family.

We have block parties, movie nights, casual chats in the middle of the street and everyone feels they can borrow a cup of sugar or a snip of herbs from anyone else, secure in the knowledge that some of the cookies or a slice of the quiche being baked will show up on a paper plate on their doorstep the next day. On nice days, front doors are open so kids and dogs come and go freely. We have monthly "hen parties" at local restaurants for the women on the street - even the ones still working take time off to join us. In short, I can't imagine having nicer neighbors and better relations with them all.

But, every now and then, one of them goes over the top to make me thank my lucky stars all over again. Remember back in November when I invited the two little girls over to make cookies and have a tea party? They thanked me over and over in person and their mother sent me a charming email to thank me again, all very nice. Then, yesterday, I awoke from my usual afternoon snooze to find an amaryllis bulb kit on my front steps, decorated with these lovely china measuring spoons. The accompanying note explained that time had flown away (it happens when you have two lively little girls and a big shaggy dog and a sweet husband) and that they had meant to offer these gifts for Christmas, then New Year's and, now, Happy Sunny Day.

I will hang the spoons as decoration in my kitchen, start the amaryllis on its climb to red-flowered glory and cherish these sweet tokens of friendship.

Apple Picking

The two young girls down the street, the ones who went on a hobo picnic with their Dad not long ago, have an apple tree in the front yard. I approached their Mom one year about picking her apples for her and we've been friends ever since. Cora and I visit their dog each day and sometimes take her with us on our walks. The girls have gone from shyly silent to calling me by my first name and waving when they see me. So, when their huge apple crop threatened to overwhelm them this year, they invited me over for apple picking.

The girls are amazing. The older girl was up the tree in a trice, picking apples and dropping them into our waiting baskets. The younger girl got halfway up the tree and contributed a few of her own - she's game, but she's small yet. Then I got out my picker and we snagged a few more from the upper branches. Of course, we missed some that dropped onto the grass in a small bombardment - the ones that weren't badly bruised went into the baskets, too.

So, here's my lunch the next day - sweet apple and tangy cheddar cheese slices to remind me of the fun of apple picking with my neighbors. I'm thinking of making apple tarts and inviting them over for a tea party.

Peaches for Apples

I'm sure you've heard the old adage, "What goes around, comes around." A simple statement of profound truth.

Weeks ago, during the rich rush of peach season, when we were threatened with overwhelm by an avalanche of ripe peaches, I picked a whole big bag of them and walked along our little street, knocking on doors and giving away peaches. If the neighbors were home, they got to choose their peaches. If they weren't home, they came back to a bag of peaches hanging on their doorknob. There's more than one way to redistribute a glut of peaches.

This week, I got the urge to make applesauce. I enjoy making applesauce - it's undemanding, always tasty and gives me a sense of accomplishment when I see my jars of golden sauce waiting for the fall and winter's pork roasts or waffles or whatever. I do have an apple tree, too, but it produces what I'd kindly call "lady apples," tiny apples perfect for a Leprechaun's lunch but not much good for making a batch of applesauce.

My neighbor at the end of the street has a real apple tree, one that produces nice red apples big enough to fill your palm, and then some. I noted on my morning rambles that some of their apples lay on their pretty patch of grass for days and days; they are a small family. They remembered my peaches and were happy to offer apples in return. So, I get apples because I gave peaches and they will get applesauce because they gave apples and we all get happy neighborly feelings. Another old adage, "It's a win-win situation."

Neighborliness

We are blessed with good neighbors. While every house on our tiny street contains quirky members, including ours, everyone gets along pretty well and all the children are a joy most of the time. The kids on the street have learned business skills by taking care of our cats while we were on vacation. Two neighbors keep a key to our house, as I seem to lock myself out with baffling regularity. We lend each other space in our recycling bins and watch each other's houses when we/they are away on vacation.

So, when I hear my next neighbor's "hellloooo" and she asks to borrow a couple of eggs, it's just a chance to repay some of the helpfulness they have shown us over the years.

And, later, when I find freshly baked chocolate chip cookies on my doorstep, the good-neighbor karma has come around again in a big way.