Who knew I would grow to love bread pudding as much as I do? This recipe is from the October 2004 issue of Martha. It is incredible. I have modified it but it is always a crowd pleaser. I have shared a bit about a couple of people in our lives who are terminally ill and this was made for one of them. We lost my Aunt two weeks ago and being immersed in so much of this lately, I have to say I am learning so much about dignity and patience ,trying to let things go as they will and acceptance. This has been going on for a year and my feelings of not knowing if she will be o.k. or not have been replaced by wondering how long she will be with us at this point. She called us today to ask that we find Elvis's gospel CD because thats what she wants played at her funeral. It is heart wrenching to think of this. To search the internet and find this somewhat onscure CD so she can have the music she wants-music she won't hear with us. And at the same time, it is so delightfully unexpected that this stoic digified lovely woman wants Elvis at her funeral. It just hints to the treasure that she is to me. When I think I have her figured out, she suprises me. At this point, there is nothing we can do to keep her with us as much as we want her to stay. So I bake her bread pudding and fold her laundry and try to show my love to her in these ways. This has been a good place to write down some of what I am thinking with all of this. Its a good way to help me process some of this.
Life has to go on around us, especially with kids, so this weekend we took the kids to the annual Apple tasting at our favorite local nursery. They have about a million types of apples to try and buy and all kinds of fun things for the kids. One of our favorites was a scavenger hunt that took us all over the nursery looking for these little guys:
The next thing we did was to paint these tiny pumpkins and get the kids faces painted. Check out all these darling decorated pumpkins.
It was wonderful to just get outside and listen to good music and run around such a beautiful place. Last but not least, here is a shot of some of the entries for last weekend's Lord of the Gourd. There is a pot in the right corner for scale. How perfect is that pumpkin on the left. It won most perfect pumpkin. I think it looks like the one Cinderella would have chosen for her carriage. 
How strong and good you are to be by her side right now. It is so tough seeing someone we love slip away. It looks like you had a lot of fun at the Apple Tasting. Good for you for getting out to enjoy life.
Posted by: beki | October 17, 2006 at 10:46 AM
You will treasure all the moments you have with her, and she will feel the love you have for her with your acts of kindness and love. God bless you all.
Posted by: Karen | October 17, 2006 at 08:40 PM
I'm so glad you joined the vintage swap!
Posted by: Lynne | October 18, 2006 at 06:08 PM
OH no WAY ! I just had the April 2004 issue in my hands on Tuesday and saw that same BREAD PUDDING ! Seriously. That is SO weird !
Gawd, YUM ! I love Bread Pudding ! And your's here is KILLING ME RIGHT NOW
I am sorry to hear about your Aunt and that you know someone else too that is facing this illness. I have just gone thru it and .. I am not sure what to say. But it is sweet that you made the Bread Pudding and looked for the Elvis tune. I am suspecting your Auntie to be in her sixties then if she has a favorite Elvis tune...? I was curious to know which one it was as my mother was so fond of Elvis and I had to hear those records growing up. I think i know them all by heart !
I know it is not an easy time your heart faces. I will think of you.
MUCH Love, S.
Posted by: Art Tea Life | October 19, 2006 at 09:31 PM
oh I just remembered who the other person is , we talked about this some time ago.....
Posted by: Art Tea Life | October 19, 2006 at 09:33 PM