Gilly was certainly being picked on today. Aunt Nelly told him that it would be his duty to escort me to each door, if the people weren?™t home we were to leave a loaf of bread, a jar of starter, and the Friendship Bread recipe on their front door step. Gilly began to protest by saying ?œAwe, come on Aunt Nelly, I can?™t be seen setting that stinking stuff in them there jars on folks??front door steps. You are kidding, aren?™t you???No one laughed. Gilly sure didn?™t, he just let out a long slow breath with his hands propped on each side of his hips and his head going slowly from side to side. Finally he said, ?œok Aunt Nelly, only for you, and only this one and only time!??/P>

I was glad to have been given the duty of taking the bread around the neighborhood. The kitchen looked like someone had dusted it with flour. Looking out the window I could see it was a beautiful, bright, warm, sunny spring day. Elizabeth and Grace would stay and help the Aunts clean up from the days work. It was past Grandma?™s nap time so she was on her way to the cozy quiet solitude of her and Grandpa?™s room. As we past her in the hallway on the way out to start the deliveries, in her soft sweet voice, of which I can still hear echoing in my ear, she said ?œRee, one day you?™ll look back on this as a memory making day.??She was right, she always was.

STARTER FOR BREAD (the stinky stuff)

A WIDE MOUTH GLASS JAR must be used or a small crock. DO NOT USE ANY METAL UTENSILS OR CONTAINERS this will ruin your starter. A wide-mouthed mayonnaise or pickle jar will also work. Wash your jar in a hot soapy solution, then scald the jar by running very hot water over it for about 2 minutes. Place jar on counter top upside down to drain and air dry. It is best not to put a towel inside to dry as it could introduce unwanted bacteria. There is nothing complicated about making starter, it must be a very clean process. Here?™s how you do it:

1 C of warm water
1 C of flour
A pinch of sugar