Marking Time – Autumn

The passage of time can be marked in many ways. Minutes, hours, days, weeks, years all measure our passage of time. Certain activities and events mark time and we pause, even for a moment to reflect on a particular time.

In the kitchen is a small broom closet. Over the years this closet has been painted several times. However, parts of the door have not been painted as often. When the Pariser family lived in the house, this door was used to record the heights of their children, grandchildren and at least one pet.

The first marks were for Seth in 1971. He stood a tall 33 1/2 inches on February 1. He was growing fast and had gained nearly 2 inches in height just 2 months later.

Measuring became popular and moving up the door it is filled with a jumble of markings for not only Seth, but also his sister’s Gia and Amy.

Heights were not the only thing recorded. It was important to note high school graduation. Seth at nineteen, almost!

The Pariser children were also not the only ones to be measured, Pebbles reached a measurable height standing on hind legs. Presumably being held up by someone, or maybe Pebbles was an acrobatic pet.

The measurement of time and growing up. How many homes around the world have writing on the walls or doors featuring the growth of their occupants? Surely there must be thousands of homes with these preserved time capsules. Do you have one? Would you ever paint over such a testament to time?

Seasons also mark the passage of time. When I lived in Germany I became aware of the seasonality of food. The market doesn’t necessarily sell things all year. Fruits and vegetables are sold in season. This makes one appreciate all the more when certain fruits and vegetables are available. Like marking a door, seeing fruit is a measure that summer is over and the harvest is ripe.

The grocery store where I shop had a sale of locally grown pears. I bought a bag full of beautiful pears.

To mark the end of summer, I made a pear tart. It is fun to take a basic recipe and modify it to become a new recipe. I just need to remember to write it down.

A crust, consisting of pecans, flour, butter and sugar, was the first step.

Cream cheese, vanilla and sugar were blended together to make a filling.

I cut the pears in half and poached them in water. After removing the pears, I reduced the water to a simple syrup. It was a beautiful golden brown color. The sweetness of the pears and the sugar gave the syrup a delectable flavor.

The end result was a delicious pear tart.

We ate the pear tart with ice cream and a drizzle of the pear syrup.

With Autumn fast approaching, enjoying a pear tart and reflecting on the inside of my home, my focus has shifted away from the garden. There remains much to be done outside to prepare for winter, but indoor activities will increase in number and importance. How will you mark the season – with comfort food like a pear tart, measuring your child’s height or looking out the window to see the leaves slowly turning?