It's What You Make Of It

My passion for cooking began when I was a little girl, living in our modest, yet homey cabin in the woods. Our cabin was built by my dad, completely by hand, and was a testament to his love of all things handmade and salvaged. Our home was filled with items found in old landfills or secondhand shops and treasures passed down within our family. I didn’t own toys, rather, my collections were the things that my grandmothers had used and cherished over the years. Their cookbooks, banded bowls, measuring cups, depression glass, and hand beaters. And what I loved most of all was to spend my days reading through their cookbooks spattered with the ingredients from their kitchens of long ago, deciding what I’d like to bake that day. And because I never got to meet either of them, it was my opportunity to be close to them in my own special way.

My Grandpa, Grandma, and Dad

Our cabin in the woods was high in the mountains and had an old wood cookstove, but no refrigerator, electricity or running water. Teaching myself to cook at a high elevation with the fluctuating heat in the stove was a challenge, but not unlike the rest of my life, where improvising and making do was just the way it was.

Our first kitchen, in our family gypsy wagon home.

When I was in sixth grade, our local newspaper, the Siskiyou Daily News, advertised a baking contest and I was overjoyed at the prospect of participating. I chose a complicated whipped cream and chocolate cake that required refrigeration. We made a special trip to town to buy huge ice blocks for the ice chest and the special ingredients for the cake. I spent all night working on the cake, which was so delicate and fluffy. I discovered a way to keep the whipped cream from separating and had all of the elements ready to assemble the next morning. When I awoke, my heart skipped a beat, thinking about the impending contest and I excitedly went to work, piecing everything together. And when I was finished, my fluffy little cake was a masterpiece I was so proud of. Time was of the essence. My cake had to get to town quickly, so the judges could see and taste if before it warmed up. So I wobbled my way to the front seat of our car and placed my masterpiece on my lap. And as we drove down our three mile long dirt road into town, I held onto that little cake with all my might. But as we rounded the bend in the road, our car hit a huge pothole which sent my cake straight onto the floor, where it landed, along with all of my hopes for the contest.

After I got over the initial disappointment of the cake crash, we were able so salvage much of the cake and enjoyed it as a breakfast treat at home that day. And my dad proclaimed it to be a real winner.

And it was delicious.

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You can read more about my childhood here.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Comments

[Tammy]

The love of your childhood family life warms my heart, Serena. So wonderful to to be able to see what's truly important in life. I think that cake could have picked up a dirt icing and still have been the most delicious in the world! ;)

[teresa]

I too love hearing your childhood memories....I have always loved your attitude.....life is not always perfect or even near perfect most of the time....I love it when people make the choice to be Happy.
Thanks for sharing.

[Bonnie Hughes]

I always loved hiking over the hill (mountain to most) to visit with your parents. I was always amazed at all the collections and the amazing garden. Everything so bright and full of color. Nowadays most people would think we were "deprived" growing up so remotely in the mountains, but to I wouldn't have wanted to live anywhere else. The appreciation for the beauty of what is around us is imbedded deep in my sole now. We learned to cherish things that most would not and learned to see things that a lot of people take for granted.

I hadn't ever heard your cake story. I agree with your dad. I am sure it would have won first prize.

[Trish]

That is an awesome story Serena, sad...but awesome! I guess we've all had similar happenstances haven't we? If I was to learn one lesson from your tragic cake misshap it's this: It doesn't really matter what other folks think of you or your skillz ;)...what really matters is that you share them with (and for) the ones you love the most. Thanks for the reality check...it's one I need quite often.
T.
:D

[Connie]

Hi Serena!!

I too love your stories, they bring back memories. I remember you as a child, I lived in the cabin just across the Ash Creek Bridge.

Connie

[kimberly]

I first came across your blog a few years ago. Maybe via Country Living? I thought it all was pretty, but somehow too perfect. I figured it all to be just the work of a couple of rich chicks who could do whatever they wanted. Not able to relate to my image, I moved on.
But I came back recently. And I am so glad I did! You are real and honest and not at all what I expected. I misjudged you and I am sorry.
Thank you for sharing your life, the good and beautiful as well as the struggles.

[Serena]

Wow, Kimberly. Thank you for your kind sentiments. I'm so glad you found your way back. Much love, Serena

[Serena]

Connie,
Thanks so much for connecting after all these years. It's wonderful to hear from someone from my childhood.
Love, Serena

[Serena]

Bonnie,
I agree. And the time I spent with the Hughes families are some of my best memories.
xxoo, Serena

[Kathy]

Hi Serena, I love your childhood stories! I too, grew up in the Northern California mountains with no power,running water or phone.

I was cringing as your car hit the pothole...same thing happened to me as I was clutching a gallon of fresh cows milk in a glass jar that crashed to the metal floor of the pickup truck and splashed all over the leather shoes my mother would sell in town...

Keep your stories coming, I love them all!

[meghan]

i just love this story. that is all. xo

[Beja {Howdy-Honey}]

OH. My goodness. I love your story. I am so glad that your dad was able to make you feel like you were amazing.

It's so crazy that I just posted a story about going to my grandparent's home in the Piney Woods of East Texas. My grandad built the homes, the barn, the shop, the fence. No central heat or air, but it is HOME. The woods, the sounds, the tastes.

My grandparents are gone, but I got to relive being there and using my grandmother's dishes, and table. Tears coming! Your story reminds me of my own love of all those details.

[Sarah S.]

My husband passed this link my way because he thought I would relate and enjoy- I do very much.

Thanks for sharing. =-)

[Yvonne]

It is nice to see someone's dreams come true! No one can take away our dreams.

[Amy G]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful story. I say it's beautiful because it's such an example about how we can deal with road bumps in our life. We can sit and wallow. Or we can be sad for a bit, then get over it. It is what it is right? (Oh that can be so hard sometimes!) I'm glad you at least had something sweet to console with. Thank you again for sharing a bit of your heart.

[Kelly]

Have you ever considered writing a book about your childhood? I love when you share those stories! They're so well- written! Thanks for sharing this one! :)

[Kristy Lawrensen]

Your story really touched me, Serena. My dad is just as sweet as yours sounds. What a great story. It's so nice to have the support of family especially when you don't have much of anything else in life. I always felt that way growing up, and still do with my wonderful husband. I think you need to make your own happiness and have to work at it every day. Money only buys so much....
Kristy

[twildman]

I feel as you do. I think that home was amazing! I look back to my childhood and realize those were the best days of my life. Sweating in the fields, working the garden, and learning the lessons of life that I have held to this day. I would give away my cellphone, cable tv, and a lot of modern day comforts for a warm, cozy cabin in the hills where mother nature and I would learn to get along. Nothing tastes better than fire baked goods and I am currently making a bread oven out back for just that reason. Thank you for sharing your past and helping some of us re-live ours.

[Elyse Adams]

Hi Serena whenever I need to be centered I always come to your blog ! This story is son
Wonderful especially at this time of year! I love your story of the trinity wilderness. I used to camp and spend summer time there! I loved the pics of your family! Have a beautiful Christmas! All

Allnthe blessing for a happy Holiday
Raining on the vineyard today in Sonoma
Elyse

[CAROL]

Such a cute story, Serena! It's how we handle life's little disappointments that prepares us for the "big ones". One of my first graders told me a few years ago that her daddy said when she was complaining about something that you just need to "make a bridge and get over it!" Keep writing! I look forward to y9ur blog!

[Debbie]

I love reading stories of your childhood, of a simple time. I like you, your humbleness, your ever positive attitude, and the fact that you have carried the simple goodness of life into adulthood. I wish that you would write a memoir, it would be lovely and heartwarming.