| |
––––––––
Outside the dogs began barking and Mrs. Sullivan got up to check.
"What is it?"
They looked back at her and then as if on command, they raced off into the grove yapping.
“They’re after something,” the old lady said. “I sure hope it’s nothing that will chase back.” She chuckled. “One time they chased a skunk into the grove. I bought out all the tomato juice the grocery had to clean the smell off. We tried everything, but those dogs had to sleep in the barn for more than a week.
Maggie walked over to the door and stood by Katy.
"Mrs. Sullivan, I would like to know how you make that ice tea. It isn't a family secret or anything like that, is it?" Maggie asked.
"Heavens no, dear. I'd be happy to show you." She walked over to the sink and Maggie followed. Katy rinsed the pitcher and sat it on the counter and turned on the heat under the tea kettle. From the cupboard, she brought down a large glass measuring cup and then opened a canister marked tea. She spooned out several tablespoons of the loose product and dropped it in the measuring cup.
"Oh, you use loose tea?"
"Why, yes. Then I use cheesecloth."
"Cheesecloth? Can you still buy that?" Maggie asked with a chuckle.
"Oh yes. Would you use anything else?"
"I guess not!" said Maggie, and gave Josh a wink.
"Pour the tea into the cheesecloth, like this," she said. "Give it a twist and knot it. I've been doing it this way forever so long."
"None of the tea falls out?"
"No." She dropped the cloth of tea into a saucepan and reached for the tea kettle. "Pour about 3 cups... I don't usually measure anymore, but this is how you would want to do it when you begin. About 3 cups of water over the bag of tea and put it on the stove to boil. Boil it about a minute, then let it steep for about 10-12 minutes."
"Oh, isn't this exciting, Josh!" she said turning back to him. "This is how we'll make real iced tea from now on."
"While the tea is steeping we get the honey." From the cabinet, Katy brought out a big crock with a tight-fitting lid. "You don't refrigerate honey, you know. That would change the color and most certainly the flavor. When the time is up, we'll remove the tea bag and add a half cup of honey to the water."
"That doesn't seem like enough tea," Maggie said looking into the saucepan.
"Oh, but we aren't finished yet."
“I can’t wait to make this for Josh’s parents,” Maggie said. “They will love it.”
From the refrigerator, Katy filled the measuring cup with ice and poured it into the pitcher. "Now I pour the tea over the ice, and fill the pitcher - this one is a gallon size - with cold water.
Just then there was a scratching at the door. That is probably Bella. Josh, would you let her in?"
Josh opened the door, and the small dog ran immediately to Katy. She gave a long-handled spoon to Maggie.
"Why don't you stir it, dear. Once it's cool, it is ready to drink."
"That's all there is to it?"
"That's all." Katy picked up the little dog and carried her to the rocker. "Did those big boys fun off and leave you behind? Those bad boys," she cooed as she took her seat. Before long the small dog was asleep in her lap. “This is Bella. Someone just dropped her off by the road one day. Bella is a sweetheart.” She stroked the dog’s fur. “We’re so happy her owners left her with us.”
“Mrs. Sullivan,” Maggie asked. “What happened to Janice and Brice? I'm afraid Barry might come to tow our car before you get to finish your story.”
“Well, we can't let that happen, can we?” she said, with a smile.
