Bless Her Heart

Wordless Wednesday: apron...

Wordless Wednesday: The hum of the machine...

Gratitude: Unexpected Gift

You may recall that I have a bit of an apron obsession.  I've shown great restraint lately and resisted adding any more aprons to my collection...even though sometimes it feels like the cutest apron is the one you don't have.   The other day I received a very sweet apron (see above) as a gift from my friend Jam.  If you patronize local Austin eateries than you probably know Jam as co-owner of Thai Fresh.  She is one the hardest working women you'll ever find...and her food is so. damn. good.  I was in her place months ago and complimented her on the apron she was wearing at the time.  She told me they were thinking about selling them in the future.  I asked her to let me know if she ever did, because I'm always looking around for a good apron.  Well the other day I was on the phone with my mama and she mentioned that she had a gift for me from Jam!  Thai Fresh has just gone through an expansion and they are busier than ever.  That she remembered our conversation from so long ago in the midst of expansion mayhem is craziness.  What a thoughtful and unexpected gift.  Did I mention it's reversible?? 

30 Days with a Grateful Heart - 23

 Day 23: Aprons

If I am picking small things to include in my daily gratitudes then I have to include my aprons.  The girl snapped this picture this evening while I was making dinner...and this is hands down my favorite apron. I have a bit of a collection (for me and the kids) and they all seem to cater to different moods in the kitchen, but the apron above is my daily apron.  It feels so old fashioned that sometimes when I put it on I can imagine myself channeling chefs from years gone by.  Is it weird that putting on an apron makes me feel like I have arrived in my kitchen?  I feel a bit like Mr. Rogers...only in that when I enter the kitchen to cook a meal I often take off my sweater and my shoes and in exchange I tie on my apron and throw a dishtowel over my shoulder, like I'm leaving behind the work of outside the kitchen in exchange for the work inside the kitchen.  Truth be told, I would be happy to be in the kitchen cooking all day. It's odd really...we have an ordinary suburban style kitchen, but it has beautiful light throughout the day and I love the way that I feel when I am in there. When I'm wearing a beautiful apron, coupled with the soft natural light coming through the window, it's hard not to dream of spending every waking hour in the kitchen creating new dishes...and taking pretty pictures.