I REMEMBER
This guest blog is by a friend whom I met here at the Oaks. As she told me of her group’s memoirs they were writing, I conned her into sharing one of her memories. How fun!!!
Taffy Pull
Hudson, IN
It was a quiet Sunday afternoon in rural Northeastern Indiana. The yard, garden and house were ready for company. Dad suggested that I complete my chores a little early. I believe he realized that he would have to complete the milking all by himself as Mom would be helping me entertain my MYF group. I complied. I put the milkers together, put a scoop of chop in front of each cow stanchion, then rounded up the cows ( they were in the large pasture south east of the barn) and brought them to the barnyard. My chores were completed by 4:30pm
As Mom worked in the kitchen, I made myself presentable. She asked me to cut small pieces of wax paper (about 3” x 3”) which would later be used to wrap bite size pieces of taffy. She was a great candy maker as was the minister. I had confidence in her skill and that pulling the taffy would be fun.
About 5:30 the minister with a carload of teenagers drove up the steep driveway followed by another car. My friends excitedly made their way into the house through the back door. We kids talked as the adults started working the sugar syrup. Mom and the Minister would not allow us in the kitchen explaining that hot syrup is very dangerous, and they did not want us to get burned.
When we started smelling ‘caramel’, we were directed to wash our hands We only had one bathroom so that took awhile. Once we gathered back in the family room, we were instructed to liberally butter our hands.
The cooks watched their syrup very carefully. They were using a candy thermometer to check when the syrup reached 255 degrees. They also used the age old method of dropping the syrup into a bowl of cold water to check if a hard ball formed indicating it had cooked long enough for ‘pulled taffy’.
We watched from afar with anticipated excitement.
Once they were sure the syrup was done, they carefully poured it onto shallow metal pans which were lined with buttered wax paper.
After allowing the candy to cool down to a ‘handle-able’ temperature, we each were given a ‘glob’ to work. During this time they explained we were to pull the mass apart, then fold it back into one mass. We were told that the pulling action worked air into the taffy and continuous pulling was necessary. OK, that was simple.
Someone held the back door open for us to take our candy masses outside to finish pulling and folding it. As we pulled the taffy it became lighter in color and weight. It was fun.
Well, someone decided if we had twice the mass, we could pull it twice as far: We could start working as partners. Dah, that seemed to be the goal all along after all it was a fellowship group. That worked. Then someone thought if we pulled it far enough, then, perhaps we could swing it like a rope maybe even jumping it.
We were able to stretch the taffy until it looked like a rope. Oh we were so proud of ourselves.
As we swung the stretched taffy, it became brittle. It shattered! Oops. Laughter turned instantly into regret.
Oh well, no use trying to gather tiny pieces of taffy from the grass. With less pulled taffy for the group, we could share what was left.
With the stop in action our leaders decided we had most likely worked the taffy long enough. They gathered the remaining globs of taffy into one mass and instructed us to go inside to wash our hands. They divided the taffy into two sections, then started cutting the taffy into bite size pieces as quickly as they could. With clean hands it was our responsibility to wrap each piece in wax paper that I had prepared. A couple of our group divided the wrapped pieces by placing them in enough mounds for each participant.
Hand pulled taffy tastes great. Besides the taffy tasting wonderful, we had learned about candy making, taffy pulling, and group dynamics.
Helen Bunnell
I smiled all the way through as I imagined a group of teens and their antics. I wonder if kids today still have this type of opportunity. Sounds like something we old folks would enjoy as well! Thanks to Helen for sharing her story and being my friend.
Ecclesiastes 5:20 NASB ‘For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.’
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 The Message Bible. ‘After looking at the way things are on this earth, here’s what I decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that’s about it. That’s the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, Both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given, and delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now.’
Blessings
Kara Beth
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