Now that it’s spring, we wish to get out and dig within the grime, plant some flowers, and benefit from the hotter climate.
After I was a child, my dad was among the many first within the neighborhood to plant a backyard. And he at all times did it in a giant manner—a lot of tomato crops, a lot of potatoes, corn, beans. You identify it, he planted it. And naturally, he concerned the entire household.
Because the backyard grew, he would drive across the neighborhood to see how our backyard in comparison with others. He took an excessive amount of satisfaction within the backyard. You see, again within the day, nearly everybody had a backyard. It wasn’t farm to desk, it was backyard to desk. And my people had been huge on sharing with others. They might decide the produce and ship it to anybody they thought may get pleasure from recent fruits and veggies.
My mom was a very good cook dinner. She was actually intelligent with stretching leftovers and all.
I don’t keep in mind consuming out infrequently after I was a child. We at all times had greens from the backyard and ate what we raised. My mother and brother would decide blackberries and Mother would make jam and jelly and freeze blackberries to make pies and cobblers. Our neighbor had a giant discipline of strawberries. We might decide on the thirds, that means for each 3 quarts of berries we picked, we’d maintain one.
So, we additionally had strawberry jam and strawberries within the freezer. Within the fall, we’d journey to Normandy Apple Orchard. We might come residence with what appeared like tons of apples. We had an outdated apple peeler which I nonetheless have. It was simple to make use of and did an ideal job of peeling the apples, then “kicking” them off the peeler. Mother made applesauce, apple butter, and we had a lot of apples for pies.
I hated all of the canning, and I used to be the one who at all times needed to wash the canning jars. I swore that I’d by no means do this after I grew up. And but, I did. Nicely, really, Tom and I had a giant backyard, however we additionally had a dishwasher that took care of washing all of the jars. Our boys realized learn how to plant and look after the backyard.
With this final blast of chilly climate and snow, I sat desirous about what to cook dinner or bake. I get in a rut and appear to repeat the favorites and acquainted too usually. I nearly at all times have consolation meals–soup, gumbo, and spaghetti sauce within the freezer. My husband is so type and considerate that he usually suggests take out so I don’t should cook dinner. I get pleasure from “studying” cookbooks.
Nonetheless, as I’ve gotten older, I’m much less more likely to strive a brand new recipe if it has too many components. I like those which might be easy and predictable. And one different kitchen gadget that I discover important is a magnifying glass. Why is it that the print on the packaging is so small as of late? And why are the instructions and components printed such that I need to attain for the magnifying glass?
I’m grateful for the farmers who enter every season with hope and optimism that their crops will do effectively. And infrequently they don’t. Farmers are on the mercy of the climate, pests, and lots of different components which might be out of their management. Right here’s an Irish blessing for them. A lot gratitude for the farmers!
“Might the rains sweep light throughout your fields;
Might the solar heat the land;
Might each good seed you’ve planted bear fruit,
and late summer time discover you standing in fields of a lot.”
Bonnie Brown writes a weekly column for The Oxford Eagle. She might be reached at bbrown@olemiss.edu.