The View From Mrs. Sundberg's Window

Get your arms around the universe

May 21, 2012

Listened to the show Saturday and it was not bad. I'd just finished making the beds after washing all the bedding and boy, did it feel good to finish. Like I accomplished something. I know it sounds silly, but sometimes even finishing something small makes me feel productive and worth the time and space I inhabit. The kids see me making my bed every morning and for a long time said, "What's the point? You just mess it up again."

True. So why not mix up all your food on your plate? Why bother cutting the grass, it's just going to GROW again. Why put away, fold, or even wash your clothes? Why bathe? You're going to sweat tomorrow. Or perspire, depending upon whom you are. Why get up in the morning? You're going to have to return there. Why open your eyes?

One of my great teachers often said, "There are no stupid questions." Well, I don't know about that. I would argue that there are foolish questions, for sure. Just silly. Some things may not make sense up close, but step back a bit. Imagine all the seemingly pointless order and balance and routine and familiar just disappearing. You'd never find the cumin. No one would know when to show up for church. Your teeth would suffer decay. We'd all be shoving each other on the playground, and we'd have a rougher time finding each other every evening as the sun goes down. Sure. So yes, children. Make your bed, for God's sake. It's one of the simple ways to get your arms around the universe. Same with brushing your teeth, and hugging your parents now and then. Many of the Big Things will take care of themselves, and the few that don't you have little control over anyway. Just sayin'.

It's happened. The Great Rhubarb Hankering. This dessert is worthy of a moment of silence, just before you take the first bite, which, in most instances, will send you reeling.

Buttery Rhubarb Crunch

4 c rhubarb -- diced
1 c sugar -- heaping
3-4 T flour
½-1 tsp cinnamon
1 c brown sugar
3/4 c rolled oats
1 1/2 c flour
1/2 c butter
1/2 c shortening (or butter)

Combine rhubarb, sugar, cinnamon and 3-4 T flour and place in greased 8x12 baking dish. Combine brown sugar, oats, and 1 1/2 c. flour; cut in butter and shortening, and sprinkle over rhubarb.

Bake at 375 for 35-40 min. Enjoy!