More Than A Blender

it started when I agreed
to see him one more time

and then another
and another
and for weeks
upon each of our goodbyes
I really didn’t know
if I would ever
see that Bohemian again

it was a milestone
when I bought him that purple toothbrush
the one to keep at my place
and then
eventually
I scooted
gave him half a drawer
which slowly morphed
to two

it was effortless
how space was made
and filled
now men’s shirts
hang neatly next to blouses
and we practice
saying ‘our house’
through silly smiles

but appliances
now that’s big stuff
and when the blender
and the food processor
both broke in one day
we took it as a fated sign
which lead us
to our first joint purchase

now we’re steaming soups
making sorbet
creating concoctions
in the Vitamix
the appliance
that’s, oh so much more
than a blender

Ahh Aloe!

I now have a vat of aloe vera juice in the fridge.

After hearing about the medicinal benefits of internal ingestion, the Bohemian harvests aloe from the backyard and blends it with honey and lemon from neighboring farmers. It’s a homegrown concoction that’s quite tasty, though my intuition hints at imbibing it with caution.

Isn’t aloe vera known as a powerful laxative? This morning’s online searches confirm my hunch.

Jessica Dofflemyer ~ all rights reserved

Regardless, this tonic is better than any of the latest aloe vera drinks we’ve been seeing pop up on the natural food store shelves.

Besides, this homemade version’s virtues are touted with an exotic Czech accent that keeps wanting to pronounce the silent ‘e’, to make it “alo-eh”.

Jessica Dofflemyer ~ all rights reserved

I may only be sipping this alo-eh elixir. But I’m drinking in the beauty of its goo. Wow!

Jessica Dofflemyer ~ all rights reserved

But for the Peppers

They are small and quiet things
but for the peppers

how the Tupperware
and mass of lids
all a wreckage in the drawer
just got stacked and sorted

or that dirty corner in the laundry room
the brooms now in a row
floor swept

or how about the coffee grinder
the one he doesn’t use
shining and free
of bean dust

these silent signs
I notice

there is a suspect
at the sink
I see his bare back
busy washing
Hawaiian chili peppers
the harvest so big
just standing by the pile makes us cough

I ask things
like
“did you sweep out the laundry room?”
or
“did you clean the coffee grinder?”

without turning
“uh-huh”

simple
how this newness settles in
a few books in a foreign language
now sitting on my bookshelf
a jar of frankincense
befriends my sandalwood
my one peacock feather
has flourished now to eight

slow and seeping changes
but for the peppers

the Bohemian must have cleaned and chopped
four hundred last night
touching so many
set his skin on fire
leaving us to douse fingers
with gooey aloe
and noni lotion

I think I’m relaxing
into this gentle melding of our worlds
so loose am I
I bake chocolate cake at night
try new recipes
let Jeb stay up past his bedtime
no issue
these shifts

book shelves
drawers and cupboards
house soft and subtle changes
but yes
there is still spice

Man!
those peppers…

Jessica Dofflemyer ~ all rights reserved