Spice and daydreams

The fragrance of sweet spices fills my apartment. This morning I ground some cloves to make three loaves of Aunt Kay's pumpkin bread. One loaf I will slice for the reception after tonight's choir concert. The other two I will keep and offer parsimoniously to deserving friends. It's almost too good to give away.

I love grinding my own spices.

Since my teens I have had a book published by National Geographic Society in 1977, Nature's Healing Arts: From Folk Medicine to Modern Drugs. The front of the paper jacket shows an Appalachian woman grinding herbs in a mortar and pestle. In the background, jars of whole spices line the shelves of her shop. Her light brown skin looks so healthy, her face so peaceful. The photo has always enchanted me.

( fascinating herbs )