It's been awhile since I have last posted anything. The holiday were so busy with candy orders and keeping up with family and their various sports and activities.
I had the opportunity to help a sweet woman in the area with her traditional candy making. I won't say how old she is but I hope to be as active as she is in my later years. She is a very happy, energetic woman named Editha, but was fondly nicknamed Eddy. She asked if I would dip for her. I was a little hesitant to dip for anyone else because I don't consider myself to be a very pretty dipper. I don't do a lot of fancy letters and markings on my chocolates. I'm more concerned with relying on good quality chocolate and preventing blooming. She put my fears to rest and assured me everything would be just fine.
She traditionally makes and gives chocolates as gifts at Christmas time. She has grown from using 5 lbs. to 50 lbs. of chocolate for dipping because of her growing list of expecting recipients. As with every experienced candy maker I know,
Peter's was her preference of chocolate to use. As we all say, "After using Peter's, nothing else will do". Doctors are among the many on her list that start asking,around the holidays, when she will have her chocolates ready. It just goes to show that there is something you can give the hard to buy for person that has everything.
She includes several of her friends every year to help her with this yearly project. Everyone was busy with their assigned duties, rolling or cutting centers, bringing me centers and moving the finished ones, putting the finished chocolates in paper cups and containers. I was the dipper. She had quite a system. We did more than make candy. We talked. We shared ideas and recipes, learned new skills, discussed issues, solved the world's problems, and built and strengthened friendships. At the end of our work, we sat down together to enjoy a wonderful meal that Eddy had prepared for us.
We got a lot of candy made. She called me and thanked me for my help and told me how happy she was with the finished candies and how beautiful they were. Eddy, you are such a gracious and kind person. Thank you for the learning experience. I look forward to helping you again next year.
