It was a day of Rhubarb Rhapsody in the Washington Church, all for a great cause. This tradition has been going on since the 1980s and possibly earlier. Jeanette Klevberg had started this labor of love many years ago. Thoughts of those in our midst who are hungry are what fuels this endeavor. The proceeds have gone to fight world hunger, the local mission, and food pantries.
Two days prior, people were busy pulling the rhubarb that now filled the tables at the church. The day of baking started at 8 a.m. for the men, the women, and the youngest baker. Emma Moore dug right in and helped at every station, from picking the rhubarb to rolling out the pie crusts. Maybe someday Emma will lead the whole production.
This was serious business, and there was no sloughing off as this photographer learned. I grabbed a knife and a cutting board and began to chop. It is possible that they wanted my hands busy without the camera pointed at them. Less talking and more concentration prevented fingers from being severed.
At 3:00, it was time to taste the deliciousness and enjoy a cup of coffee amongst friends. The fruit of their labor was tasty.
The group was very thankful to Jeff Miller of Miller's Grocery for the contributions of baking ingredients. Just shy of 200 pies were baked, and the tired crew with sore backs and pink-stained fingers accomplished quite a mission. Thank you for your heart.
