The perfect world
isn’t real
except in goo
of warm pinwheel.
Perfection twice:
Christmas then,
and today rich air
savored again.
My wish, dear reader,
whatever your feast:
may memory and hope
be your yeast.
The other day I had the privilege of teaching my grandchildren about yeast dough and sticky buns, closely related to the brown sugar rolls Grandma O’Hern used to make, and also the Christmas breakfast of their dad’s childhood. Once again the kitchen was crowded, not just with teenagers, but with ghosts happily looking on. (They were happy because they didn’t have to clean up. Sticky buns are so named because of the state of the kitchen.)
I don’t think I look for a perfect world, though I think I’d like it; I do, however, look for a world with some sanity, and that seems completely elusive most days. Then comes a day to bake with grandchildren and I see perfect order in the universe.
There are many beautiful traditions at this time of year; whichever ones you treasure, dear reader, may they bring a moment of peace and wonder to your heart.
Oddments 
December 24, 2022 at 12:17 pm
I cannot imagine anything more perfect than baking sticky buns with grandchildren. Even the cleanup would probably leave a smile on my face. By the way, that sticky bun looks mighty good. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
December 24, 2022 at 1:03 pm
Thank you, Judy! And a very merry Christmas to you and your family! I know that you understand about baking and grandchildren — it’s such a reassuring thing. It puts us right in the flow of life, and that is wonderful. And, yes, the sticky buns turned out gorgeously! I was very impressed at the way both kids took to working with yeast dough, and I do admit we sampled a few — it was a sacrifice, but we were up to it.
December 24, 2022 at 1:06 pm
Sampling is a requirement because quality control is a requirement. 🙂 I applaud those young folks efforts with the ‘y’ because I avoid it all costs.
December 24, 2022 at 1:09 pm
Thank you for that — I’ll have to remember “quality control” next time I sample! I can’t believe you avoid the big Y; you seem a baker of everything! I admit, though, that it can be contrary.
December 24, 2022 at 1:00 pm
Wonderful sticky memories. That’s a good day!
Merry Christmas, to you and that sticky family.
December 24, 2022 at 1:04 pm
A good day indeed! Stickies and all! Merry Christmas, Dan! And to all that ’round your table go!
December 24, 2022 at 2:09 pm
Maureen, your poem is just delightful! Sticky Buns….haven’t made them for a while. Hmmmm, I need to correct that. I love working with yeast. When our girls were growing up, I made all our bread, including an English Muffin Loaf.
What a grand day you had with your grandchildren, but more importantly, what a grand day they had with you! Another wonderful and loving memory for them to tuck away. Priceless.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas Maureen filled with love of family and friends, good health, and a leftover sticky bun.
Ginger
December 24, 2022 at 3:12 pm
Thank you, Ginger, and I wish the same for you: good health, family, friends, and leftover anything with sugar. I too was a bread baker in my young-mother years, and that now is a distant memory, but, wow, that was good eating! An English muffin loaf is something I never tried, but it sounds as though it would make glorious toast! Merry Christmas, Ginger!
December 24, 2022 at 3:02 pm
Merry Christmas, Maureen. May all your memories be delicious. 🎄
December 24, 2022 at 3:13 pm
And a merry Christmas to you, too Lois, with the same kind of memories!
December 24, 2022 at 4:07 pm
“may memory and hope / be your yeast” had me laughing; a funny and clever rhyme, perfect for the season.
I’m glad you had this baking time together. It just go to show that the only universe we can hope to influence is our own. I wish you many sane, happy and sticky times with the grandkids. Merry Christmas.
December 24, 2022 at 6:10 pm
Thank you! A merry Christmas to you too!
December 24, 2022 at 4:14 pm
This looks delectable and your kitchen gathering, spirits included, sounds like good protection against the frigid weather outside. I hope you’re keeping warm and enjoying Christmas with your family.
December 24, 2022 at 6:11 pm
Thanks, Shirah! We do hope for a get-together tomorrow, but everything is tentative. Frigid is the word of the hour!
December 25, 2022 at 10:44 pm
A very merry Christmas to you and yours. Hugs.
December 26, 2022 at 9:55 am
Thank you, Teagan! Though it’s the Day After, I can wish you a happy Christmas season and new year!
December 25, 2022 at 11:49 pm
I am glad everything came together so you could make Christmas memories together. Wiping down a sticky kitchen must have been a small price to pay for that, I actually called in to find out how you are managing in the cold weather. It all sounds very alarming from here. I hope whatever plans you have will not be affected. I am imagining you warm, merry, Christmas jumpered, and sipping from a steaming cup of mulled wine (or hot chocolate with a little shot of Baileys).
December 26, 2022 at 10:08 am
Ooh, that shot of Baileys sounds splendid. As you can tell, it’s the Morning After now, and my sip is very serious coffee to fortify myself for the clean-up. As you note, some clean-ups are worth it. Definitely! The weather has been brutally cold but we didn’t get a lot of snow. The streets here have a little snow, but ice underneath, so they’re treacherous. Yes, I’ve been indoors savoring the other privileges, like warmth and lights and family. I hope your Christmas was a good one too.
December 26, 2022 at 5:47 pm
We were offered hot chocolate and Baileys in a pub when taking a breather during a snowy walk on the edge of the moor, which is why I thought of it. I’m glad you stayed safe. We had a nice day, thank you.