I cooked almond infused scones for the nuns- that they loved. In return one very special nun Sister Michael came out with some sourdough starter that she was multiplying for her weekly bread making. She heard that I have become an obsessive sourdough maker and wanted to share her knowledge with me. Her starter was brought to San Francisco during the pioneer days and then we brought to Reno in the 1940's where she has been keeping it alive and cooking with is since. I must have been drooling a little because she ran back into the kitchen and came back with a jar for me. It was one of the best gifts I have ever been giving. I love the continuity of it. The fact that this start was important enough to people that they kept it alive for decades and now a small part of it has been entrusted to me. I have made two loaves so far (she brought me back a second jar so I could cook right away without waiting for what I had to divide) and it was maybe the best bread I have had since I left Romania.
I was a small gift but it meant the world to me.