Wrens and Fruit

Look carefully at the right side of the roof on this charming birdhouse and you will see the occupant, a wren. The little chatter box continued to sing as I got close enough to take the picture.  Here's one of Emily Dickerson's poems that suggests the joy expressed by this plain and yet charming bird.

For every Bird a Nest

For every Bird a Nest—
Wherefore in timid quest
Some little Wren goes seeking round—

Wherefore when boughs are free—
Households in every tree—
Pilgrim be found?

Perhaps a home too high—
Ah Aristocracy!
The little Wren desires—

Perhaps of twig so fine—
Of twine e’en superfine,
Her pride aspires—

The Lark is not ashamed
To build upon the ground
Her modest house—

Yet who of all the throng
Dancing around the sun
Does so rejoice?

 My joy from picking and eating two fruits matches the wren's rejoicing. Here are black currents from two bushes. The fruit are abundant and waiting to be picked. I like the tartness of black currents and especially with oatmeal. They add a special zesty taste to the oatmeal that lingers on the tongue while eating.

I discovered that black currents and cherries from the Garden's two trees are a delicious combination. I picked nearly a Rubbermaid full of cherries, shown in the next picture.

The cherries are only on the lower branches of the two trees. The upper portions have no cherries. I speculate that frost may have been a factor explaining this unusual distribution.

The black currents are underneath the cherries. As I carried the combination home, I envisioned making scones and adding bits of chocolate. Colectivo, a very popular coffeehouse, just a half block from our apartment, offers cherry chocolate scones. They are to die for (oh, not really that good!).

After considering the work involved in making scones and recognizing the ease of getting Colectivo's scones, I consulted Google for a sauce recipe. Within seconds, I found a simple six minute recipe that yielded about a  cup of sauce. I scooped the warm sauce on vanilla Greek yogurt. A very tasty and low calorie dessert.

The next morning I enjoyed the sauce with my oatmeal, which I often have for breakfast. Oatmeal is a lifelong favorite, including oatmeal raisin cookies. I fondly recall the large black cast iron pot full of oatmeal on the wood cast iron stove my mother cooked on before the gas range arrived. Her oatmeal was the old fashioned kind that required more cook time than my two minute zap of a single serving in the microwave. Large pots of oatmeal were needed to feed our large family. My family had nine boys and five girls.  During my late childhood and teen years, besides me, eight others were at home. What a crew. Enough for a softball team.

I have pleasant memories mixed with awe for my Mother's fortitude and skills needed to raise such a large family. She would have approved and liked my special cherries and black current sauce.