Indiana Roadsides

by
Jean Hughes
December 18, 1995

Life in the hills is a bargain. The rest of me might have to struggle with vicissitudes but my heart lives in the lap of luxury.

This evening, just as the sun is sinking low, I walk to Sugar Creek. When I arrive, I sit on the bank at about the center of my half-mile of these beautiful waters. The creek winds out of sight at both ends of my land. At the east end there is a big hill backdrop. At the west end there is a tall cliff.

The sun cuts a wide swath of gold through the water. All of a sudden, the trees turn pale purple from top to bottom. The tree tops on both sides of the creek are in a halo of pink-lavender light. From one end of the creek to the other, all across the sky, there is a purple-trail rainbow that looks like a handle for a beautiful basket of blooms.

Like a bolt, there comes a sight that dazzles me. As the sun sinks behind the cliff, along the opposite shore, big pink balls that look like misty suns bounce through the tree tops. Over and over, they skip from west to east. I do not understand how half a sun and a flowing creek perform these maneuvers, but it is another of those unique joys that I am always stumbling into. My heart sings along with the bouncing balls.

As suddenly as it started, the phenomenon stops. I turn my head toward the remaining sun and gasp with delight. Only a tip of sun remains, but from its light a big web of sparkling color fans over the cliff and down toward the water. I watch the twinkling web grow smaller and smaller as the sun fades and twilight comes to the valley.

Walking home, at the top of the hill, the sun has not yet set. I'll have a double sunset and a double twilight. Ah! There's the evening star! But tonight, my clear call is to life.

We serve these rolls on Christmas morning. To make ahead, bake for only 20 minutes, cool and refrigerate or freeze. If frozen, set out the night before serving. If kept in the refrigerator, set out during the heating of the oven. Bake for 15 minutes and glaze.

Shirley's Orange-Butter Rolls

Dough:  Soften: 1 pkg. yeast in 1/4 cup warm water.
Stir in: 1/4 cup sugar, 1 t. salt, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup buttermilk 
and 6 T. softened butter.
Add gradually: 2 3/4 to 3 cups flour to form a stiff dough,
 beating well after each addition.
Cover. Let rise until light and doubled, about 2 hours.
Filling: 3/4 cup sugar, 3/4 cup flaked coconut and the 
coarsely grated rind of 1 orange.
Knead dough on a floured surface about 15 times. 
Roll out half of dough and brush with 1 T. melted butter. 
Sprinkle with half of filling. Roll up like a jelly roll.
Cut dough into 12 pieces. Repeat with remaining dough.
Place all rolls, cut side up, in one greased 13 by 9 inch pan. 
Cover and let rise till double, about 1 hour. 
Bake at 350o for 25 to 30 minutes.
Pour hot glaze over hot rolls.
Glaze: Combine in a pan: 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup buttermilk,
 2 T. orange juice and 1/4 cup butter. Boil gently for 3 minutes.
Note: This glaze looks very thin, but pour it all on.

As I walked into the barn this morning, I remembered sleeping on the hay one summer to watch so coyotes did not get some sheep that were corralled outside. I sometimes wonder if it was not a part of God's plan that Jesus come to life on earth in a stable, with the scent of hay and the gentle stirrings of animals around, and the night winds whispering, and the starlight shining, rather than in the dark room of a strange and noisy inn?

* * * It is almost Christmas Day -- a special time of giving. When I was almost 50 years old I was given a wonderful gift. It is the gift of seeing the beauty of the earth and feeling a kinship with all the life upon it.

It is a gift that can be passed from heart to heart, and it is my Christmas gift to you. I will wrap it in a kiss and toss it to the evening star, and it will come down to you in the starshine when you look into the heavens on Christmas eve.

Jean's book of ramblings and recipes "A Country Mile of Winter" and her book of poetry "The Earth's My Home" are available for $4.95 each plus $1.30 for postage and handling. Ten of Jean's favorite recipes will be included free with each book ordered. Order from...

Country Mile Publications
616 E. Monroe St.
delphi, Indiana 46923

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