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Home My WebLink AboutTimes-Advocate, 1985-03-27, Page 8Page 8 Times -Advocate. March 27, 1985 Gooseberries remind me of friends This morning I got up early and made two batches of jam. I'm thank!ul for a freezer that allows me to du this whenever the inclination strikes, and not as the fruit ripens when I always want to be outside. in- stead of stirring a pot in front of a hot stove 11 was gooseberry jam. today. and gooseberries always bring a thud of 1 positively detested picking them. their horrid. spiny branches pricking and scratching my skinny arms and catching at my sun -bleached hair. And Mother was soparticular, not one berry could be left hanging. even though it was right down in the cen- tre of the worst thorns. Bad as the picking was, however. it was almost pleasant compared to the rubbing. the snipping off of every. tiny. dry end -it It Seems to me... memories. Out on the prairies, dur- ing the 19.tOs, it was so dry that it took hundreds of pails of u-ater. lugged from the well. to encourage Mother's straw berries to produce even a bit of fruit. The black currants weren't much better, although there always seemed to be enough of there to slake a ‘vondertul, dark red drink that was ambrosia to us kids. who rarely. if (V(.4' saw a bottle of pop. in those days, it was a struggle to grow any kind of fruit on the prairies, accept gooseberries. 'They- thrived in the hot. dry weather and produced bountifully. The only trouble was, from beginning to end. I hated them ferociously. by G►nyn Whilsmilh with one's blunt finger nails. Since i sated those nasty berries, and refus- ed to eat them. I figured it wasn't fair. that I had to waste alt that time when 1 might have been reading a book gr- out riding my horse. So. every year, I fussed and grumbled and pouted when I was sent out into the gooseberry patch. When we moved to the East, there -was such an abundance df succulent fruit... apples. peaches. pears and plums. to name only a few. that I forgot about gooseberries until. several years later, a friend served the most scr•t1mptops dessert 1 had . ever tasted. To niy disbelief. it was made from gooseberries. the fruit I was sure I detested. It's hard to describe how that dessert excited my taste buds and how, thereafter, I scoured the coun- try for gooseberries, every summer. Often, 1 was disappointed because they weren't plentiful, but whenever 1 did discover them, i treated them like gold nuggets, bringing them out for only very special occasions. When we moved to this place, a few years ago. some of my good friends gave me a going -away present, a gift certificate from a London nursery. with the suggestion I purchase a flow- ing tree to remind me of them each '"'spring. It was a lovely thought. and I soon made the trip to the city to+ choose from the many lovely trees. Finally, I selected a deep purple. flowing plum and loaded it on a little wagon to take it to the car. On the way, I chanced to pass the fruit bushes, and there, before my eyes. was a small plot of straggly, spike). gooseberry bushes. Just the sight of them activated my salivary glands, the sharp, zingy. addictive taste of the berries filling my mouth. I wheeled around, returned the flowering plum and hurried back to load up with gooseberry bushes. Then, driving home quickly so they could be dug in i READY FOR PLAY Joan Hoffman accompanies Kathy Hayter and her little lamb in Thursday's fashion show sponsored'by the Dashwood Businessmen's Association. Fashions were supplied by Looking Good. WMS annual The :lath annual meeting of the Synodical of Ilam ilton and London %%Omens Missionary Society of the Presbyterian ('hurch in Canada will be held in Elmwood Avenue Presbyterian ('hurch. London on BUYING AN ANNUITY? FOR THE HIGHEST QUOTE AVAILABLE EXPERT RRSP i ANNUITY ADVICE CALL ABC ANNUITIES (TO. 53 WIST ST.. GOOIRICH 524-2773 (can.O8 is detailed Tuesday. April 2:1 and Wednesday April 24. Theme is "Get -involved through Faith". Registration wi11 commence at 10:00 a.m. the 23rd. and the opening session will teat 1:15 p.m. The presi- dent Mrs. Jessie Rayner will preside. Worship services will be conducted by Dr. Margaret Kennedy. Toronto. Bi- ble study will he led by Miss Evelyn Miurdoch. On Tuesday evening Nirs. Dorothy Neal. by slides and commentary. w111 share her recent trip to China and Taiwan. Guest speaker on April 24 will be Dr. Mary Whale of Toronto. 'Now Available' SPRING MAID PERCALE SHEETS You've asked for them so we've got them INTRODUCTORY PRICE (Now while quantities last) *Twin flat or fitted 2 1.95 ea. Double flat or fitted 29.95 ea. Queen flat or fitted 39.95 ea. *King flat or fitted...........52.95ea. Pillowcases 1 9.95 pr. White and ivory in stock Double and Queen in stock 'Other sizes - twin, king Other colours - special order No iron percale 65% polyester - 35% cotton, Machine wash, tumble dry. 180 thread Count 14)r wedding grit' r►r lust tut \cuu.t'It 405 Main St. Exeter 235.2957 and get started on their growth, I couldscarcelywait for the next year's crop. It didn't disappoint me, but it was a tiny bit difficult to explain to my friends why 1 had bought prickly gooseberry bushes instead of a beautiful flowing tree in their remem- brance. Still, they proved to be stalward comrades, and good sports. to boot. Actually, the gooseberries were a perfect choice because they remind me of my friends many times through the year. I think of them with great fondness when I pick off the luscious fruit that hangs along the branches like drops of exotic pale jade. My mind soars with their praises whenever I bite deeply into a heaven- ly gooseberry turhover, like my mother used to make and which 1 foolishly refused to eat. ( What a dif- ference the years make)) This mor- ning, lovely memories flowed round me as I stirred up the jam. and when 1 spread it on my toast over the next several weeks, 111 remember my good friends with deep gratitude: So. it turns out that sour gooseber- ries are good reminders of sweet friends. That's how it seems to me. anyway. The Ever Thrift Store IS OPEN We have a large selection of stylish, expensive clothing at a very love price. Something for everyone. We accept good used clothing on consignment. It will be a pleasure serving you at 157 Main St. Exeter 235-2687 If you're looking for carpet or vinyl for a small area or an entire hdtr e • Save Time • Save Money • See us First Do 11 yourself or have our installer E• Allen do it .r 355 Main St., S., Ex•t•r 235-1990 • • Mens Dept. 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