* canning date …
I sweated this afternoon. It was pretty yucky. I don’t like sweat very much, we don’t mix well, sweat and me. I try to avoid it all cost, we aren’t friends. I have discovered that living in the south your entire life does not make you immune to 100% humidity. I think I lost 75 pounds this afternoon. Ok, not really, but I lost at least a cup and a half of fluid as it dripped off of my forehead and into my eyes.
The sweat was worth the effort. I have enough squash, zucchini and cucumbers to feed a small tribe of our neighbors here on the Devils Track. Not only did we pick stuff out of our garden, we went down and helped Chrisi in Bapa’s garden (since he is being held hostage against his will and I feel certain was fed some ungodly vegetarian meal that made him sick so he couldn’t come home … he misses us terribly and they won’t let him leave, I think they’ve sold his car). Anyway, he isn’t here to gather the large bounty of goodness from his garden so we shared it with Penny and Randy, I think they are having fried squash for dinner tonight. Richard worked on Dad’s tomato plants for a long time, they’ve grown taller than I can reach and are an unruly mess but full of tomatoes. I cannot wait until they all turn the bright red ripe of summertime and I can eat a fresh tomato sandwich on some fresh bread with mayo, salt and pepper!
As a result of all this gathering, I now have a date for Thursday night. I am super excited. Penny, our neighbor and my surrogate mother, is going to teach me how to can pickles. I cannot be left alone with a pressure cooker or canner, it would not be a wise choice. I would blow our house to smitherines in a matter of a few minutes. At least I am wise enough to realize that some things are just better accomplished with the help of a professional. We’re going to make bread and butter pickles and hopefully, if the stars and moon align in just the right places, we will be making some 14 day sweet pickles like my mamaw used to make. If I master the sweet pickle, I can live out the rest of my life in happiness, plus my children will call me blessed and proclaim me to be the best mother in the universe. After I master the pickle, I plan to move right along to canning tomatoes and maybe even make some homemade salsa. If the salsa gets made, my husband may ask me to marry him all over again … he loves homemade salsa, the hotter, the better! That of course all hinges on him not overdosing on fresh cucumbers sprinkled with salt, I’m getting a little concerned he is going to have a big ole belly ache and there is nothing worse than a whining man person with a belly ache.
That picture up there is just the stuff we picked from our house this afternoon. I didn’t take a picture down at dad’s house, but speaking of pictures … Cat needs to send me some pics of her garden so we can see how our old planter beds are doing at their new home. I hear her squash plants are haauuuggeee!
I am now off to the shower, I stink. I am covered in dirt from head to toe. It’s been a really nice afternoon.
me.
Can I have some canned pickles, pleasssssssssssssssssssssse.
jodie if they turn out good i promise to ship a jar or two north
is thursday night opened to anyone, i have not mastered the art of canning pickles yet
i’m sure penny would be delighted to have you come can with us, its a bring your own jar party … come on over, seriously.
Oh my gosh!! Why in the world did you become a writer???? i just love to read your post writings or what ever!! You are such a great writer Melinda! You are just awesome not to mention all the work you must do. You literally put me to shame! I feel like a lazy butt!! Wow I’m so proud of you!!
holy cow tonia, you made me blush. i promise i am a long shot from being a writer, mostly i just like to babble on … not much has changed since we were little! and i also promise, i am a big fan of lazy … i just really enjoy watching stuff grow. i love that you enjoy reading our blog.
Fried squash, bread and butter pickles and tasty tomatoes. You are making me hungry,
Your dad’s tomato plants must be really tall? What are they 2 1/2 feet? Good looking veggies, don’t forget first fruits come to the church house.
just couldn’t help yourself could you? are you proud? making fun of vertically challenged people is bad business if the non vertically challenged mr preacher man wants some tomatoes! ps: theplantsareatleast5feettallthankyouverymuch!
Love, love, love all your stories. Love everything southern and you put it to words SO well!!! You should write a book. I’m serious!!! I, too, hate sweat, love gardens, love my husband (who loves gardening, too) and my very southern family!!! Can’t wait for the first tomato sandwich on white bread with Dukes mayonnaise (and ONLY Dukes)!!!
hey nobia! what a wonderful surprise to hear from you! and … is there any other kind of mayonnaise than Dukes? i am in complete agreement, Dukes and only Dukes.
Hoooray for your garden!!