Pumpkin cookies

Growing up my best friend was my neighbor Alice. Her children were grown, but I never really thought of her as a grandmother type, she was just my friend. She loved gardening and I would spend many hours helping her with all of her vegetables & flowers. I would make mud pies, eat rhubarb dipped in sugar, can pickles, try to pick 'money' from the money plant and also bake with her. We moved away when I was in 6th grade but my memories of her are some of the best of my childhood. As I grew up and moved even farther away and started my family we started writing to each other. She would tell me about what was happening with her husband, children and grand children and I would send pictures of my new baby. She grew up in the mountains of Kentucky and only had a 3rd grade education so but her letters  were the best gifts. My favorite letters from her included her recipes for pumpkin cookies & rhubarb pie...two of my favorites of hers as a child. Every fall I make the pumpkin cookies just like she did and I am reminded of my dear old friend and how much she meant to me. Since moving to the country I can't help but wonder if one of our neighbors will become my boys' 'Alice'. Thank you Alice for being such an important part of my childhood. ❤️