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I worked on a vegetable wagon for a short time as a little kid.. Folks would call down from windows what they wanted off the cart, and I would fill their order and bring it upstairs..

I loved putting the horse up at night, and putting on his food bag and brushing him while he ate.. I stood on the stool and hugged him and warmed up before going home on the streetcar. Once during the winter, around Christmas, the owner gave me a full create of lettuce as a Christmas gift.. I was thrilled to get so much food to bring home..

The streetcar conductor wouldn't allow me to bring it on the streetcar, so I dragged it about 6 miles through the snow.. It was frozen and nearly completely spoiled by the time I got home but my aunt was really proud.. We ate lettuce for almost a week.. Did you know that you can make great(almost great) Lettuce Soup.. :)

Every Spring, all my neighbors have so many heads of leaf lettuce and assorted early greens, that they are begging people to take it!

I braise the greens, puree them with chicken broth and add cream until it is the consistency of a bisque. You can top it w/a little smoked meat of any sort or stir in a hot sauce with a knife to preserve both colors. I also like to add a dollop of sour cream just at serving, to thicken it.

DH is not fond of this, so it ends up frozen in small amounts and used as a base for creamed spinach or broccoli. Or I will have some for lunch, alone or with a girlfriend.

One of the foundations for creativity is learning to make do with what you have. My grandmother's cooking, sewing, knitting, crocheting and gardening skills all came from her youth in a rural Ukrainian village where you had to make most things yourself or trade for what you couldn't do with what you could. My son never knew her, but I see signs that what I have been able to pass down has taken root in his freezer full of frozen seasonal items and his love of experimenting with making everything from laundry detergent to moisturizer, rather than buying it.

We were so blessed with our families. Many in mine were eager to forget the *hard years*, but I cherish them and have no inclination to deny that they happened.

Carlo, I always find myself smiling as I read through your threads. Your wonderful stories spark someone else's memory, which leads to more stories. It's like a family get-together with everyone swapping stories and sharing memories around the kitchen table.

You are an FR treasure. I am blessed to call you friend. :)