The weather in these parts has been crazy this winter. Exceptionally mild fall, fairly green Christmas and then – a DUMP of snow, freezing rain and YUCK.
Yesterday, after a night of snow, then rain, then freezing temperatures meant that most cars were covered in a thick layer of ice. The sounds of scraping, cursing and more scraping could be heard city-wide.
I was sitting comfortably in my living room, savouring a hot cup of coffee when I finally registered that the scraping of ice was coming directly beneath my window. I looked out and saw that a bundled up angel was scraping the ice from my windshield! A kind neighbour had taken it upon himself to save me some time, and maybe a couple of fingers by clearing the snow, then the ice from my van.
I debated going out side to thank him, then thought that maybe he wanted this to be anonymous. We don’t know each other that well and had had an unfortunate incident involving his poorly parked car and our van earlier this year. While cordial, there remained a little tension between us.
And on Twitter there has been a little chatter about kindness. Read more about it here.
After some consideration, I decided that I would not go outside, but instead return his kindness with some home baking. (He’s a bachelor and all…)
I make a mean banana chocolate chip muffin. Really. They are moist, perfectly sweet bundles of yumminess. So that’s what I did. I left some on his doorstep – continuing the random anonymity. It’s a delight to know that you have made someone’s day that much sweeter.
Kindness is contagious. Pass it on.
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins **I don’t know where I got this recipe – I’ve made them since I was 12 and have it memorized.
1/3 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar (white or brown, whatever I have handy)
1 egg
2-3 bananas (medium to large)
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda AND 1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips
Melt the butter, add sugar and cream. Beat in the egg, then the bananas.
Add the flour, baking soda and baking powder & salt. Mix well.
Stir in the chocolate chips. Divide evenly into a greased (or paper lined) muffin tin. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, until nicely browned.
You’re welcome!
*** Just a note to say that I did see this neighbour in a store later that day. I thanked him of course. To my surprise, it was just as nice a feeling to do that as it was to leave some muffins on his doorstep.
What a great idea! Sometimes a small gesture can completly make someone’s day.