To give just a tad bit of history, about the time of this picture I did a short summertime stint not working and being home with the kids and did massive amounts of work in the kitchen. I learned how to can, freeze, make jelly and jam, and loved the baking until Ole asked me to 'knock it off' as he was gaining as much as I was. I promptly got my feelings hurt and didn't bake anything that I hadn't bought in the store (no more homemade bread or rolls, cookies, cakes, pies, NOTHING). But I never made any sort of Christmas Candy and believed others when they described how difficult and time consuming and boring it was. I, like Grandma Betty, always had trouble with my weight, so she never made it and so I never learned.About the time school started, I went back to work at Ms. Malia's there in Myrtle Point. Among my loyal customers was Mr. Caudle who, along with his dear wife Burl, were friends as well. Mrs. Caudle (who Jeremy lovingly called "Little Caudle"; another story) baked Christmas candy each year and sent it over for the kids to enjoy. And enjoy it they did. S'te was a bit young (but now I'm thinking it must've been a bit later as I do believe she was about 3) so she didn't realize that this was a real treat quite like Jeremy did.
Anyhow, to get back to my story, Jeremy (God Bless his heart, where ever it is) was about 8 (I think), so that would have made S'te about 3, (remember this is in late October and their birthdays were in late May and early June) when Wayne (Mr. Caudle to the kids) came in and asked what kind of candy Jeremy and S'te would like for Halloween. I forgot to ask that evening but the next afternoon they stopped in after school and Mrs. Caudle was there to ask them what they wanted. Jeremy thought for quite awhile before piping up and announcing that he had made his decision. Now, you have to picture this, Jeremy was always just loving being the center of attention and a bit on the dramatic side, milked this 'decision' for all it was worth while S'te just grinned and chatted away with everyone, she was such a cutie with those big blue eyes!!! So anyhow, Jeremy finally came to his decision and announced in a huge voice that he wanted some of Little Caudle's special profanity for Halloween. Everyone just stopped. Now, Mrs. Caudle was every bit the lady. She didn't have any profanity, nor would she have used it if she did. After a good bit of questioning - a light finally started glimmering in my head. So I asked him to describe it. He did and Mrs. Caudle made Christmas Candy a couple of month early that year. Jeremy wanted profanity and Mrs. Caudle made him a huge batch of it for him and S'te to share.
Can you guess what Jeremy's profanity was? His description was white, fluffy, with nuts, and it melts in your mouth.
I'll bet you've come up with it. Jeremy just loved 'Little Caudle's'
DIVINITY!!
So, how's that for a great funny story? To this day, every time I see Jeremy's profanity, I have a special little smile that hits my heart. :-)
