POWDERED SUGAR & SPRINKLES

      High winds were blowing the clouds away as I drove into town this morning. In every direction, the distant mountains were covered with a skiff of snow, as if dusted with a gigantic shaker of powdered sugar. The sun was shining brightly on the peaks, but town was gray and dismal.

       At the opposite end of the seasonal spectrum, I noticed masses of bright red tree blossoms sprinkled into heaps at the curbs, as if spring had only a moment to visit before being blown away. Circumstances crowded the dining room before and after lunch and called for another soup pot filled to the brim.

       Doug and I had the kitchen to ourselves today, and I admit that I enjoyed it! BOB has been denied a position he was hoping for there, so he probably won't be back. That leaves just me to open the door for the Christians, and today they were early! Fluffy didn't come. Perhaps she'd changed her mind about BOB or knew of his circumstances…

       Doug had a plentiful supply of chicken salad and #10 cans of fruit, but he didn't have anything else for lunch. The mystery box has been neglected lately, but I found several cans of Progresso Recipe Starters. I used 2 cans of "creamy portabella mushroom," one can of "creamy parmesan basil," and two cans of "creamy roasted garlic." They're quite flavorful, but not very pretty in a soup pot. To those we added a #10 can of pintos and another of green beans. We poured in 3 cans of chicken broth and a box of beef broth. There was a small can of Veg-All, and Doug had 6 bakers which I cut up and dropped in. This was stone soup's finest hour. When the brew was well done, I added five fistfuls of curly egg noodles to stretch it out. The huge pot was nearly full. In a small pot, I put another can of chicken broth, two cans of chicken noodle soup, and more egg noodles. This brew would come to our rescue if the main pot fell short. When all was said and done, there might have been 2 small bowls of soup left over. Doug declared it to be the best soup I've ever made. I reminded him that he witnessed it's creation, and there was a lot of luck in the pot.

       Angry Mom (and boys) are still with us—long after their allotted time. The woman had her boys seated at a table during the first 90 minutes I was there. She served them foods on plates (I don't know what foods). She stayed in that dining room right up until we had Gatekeeper announce that the pre-release could come in. She milked her remaining seconds by carefully wiping the table where she'd sat. She had come to the counter several times, asking for "cream" for her coffee and what's for lunch… and she knows my heart is hard where she is concerned. I need to work on that.

       To my delight, the pregnant pre-release was not sent back to prison "for being pregnant." Our generally mean and nasty Bureau of Prisons director decided the young woman could just "go home" 2 months early. Here is a rare opportunity to see the system get it right.

       The tall, handsome intimidator and the tall, handsome sweet one were at lunch together. They were both charming today. The nice one wanted some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, but I could find none. I had put a marshmallow-filled chocolate heart (or a pack of gum) on each plate. While the mystery box goes begging, the candy box runneth over.

       Our homeless diners numbered about 30, and they stormed the dining room before being called in. One fellow has a rip-roaring case of pink eye (since last week), and I was warned to not touch anything he had touched—which begs the question: How do the others avoid that? Angry Mom did not bring the boys with her… When I asked her if they'd be coming to lunch, she said, "Not yet." They never came.

       "Somebody" punched a fist-sized hole in the hall wall, outside the dining room. His identity was determined, and Doug and Gatekeeper have the task of reporting him… or not. Doug was feeling "awfully guilty" when I left, but I reminded him that the next "wall" might be someone's face—a woman, or a child… It's not okay to do that.

       It was too cold to shoot hoops off the back porch; however, Doug has a friend who wants the loaves for her goats. This is much better than sending them to the landfill.

       As the tall, dark, handsome sweet one said on leaving, "Have a good week!"