prayer and preparation for Earth Day
i thank You God for most this amazing day:for leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which …
i thank You God for most this amazing day:for leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which …
So you’ve found your local market, and you’re ready to head out–what’s next? Give yourself plenty of time! There’s so much to see and explore. …
So we covered this topic for homesteaders (click here for Part 1 and Part 2), and now that I’m spending my free time outside, I …
I am always amazed how words work their way into my life at just the right time. I stumbled upon this one by chance and …
For much of the last century, religious institutions have missed–or ignored–our responsibility as stewards of the creation and to the Creator. However, people of faith …
My hands are small, I know But they’re not yours, they are my own ~Jewel, “Hands” Raising a teenage daughter comes with it many interesting …
Life on a farm is a school of patience; you can’t hurry the crops or make an ox in two days. ~Henri Alain When I …
Today brings with it several anniversaries for me. By the time, I received my cancer diagnosis on this date 3 years ago, I began to …
In the spirit of preparing for the “busy”ness of holiday seasons, I am reposting this one. Take rest; a field that has rested gives a …
It’s harvest time, It’s harvest time, How rich is nature’s yield In fruit of earth And bush and tree, From orchard, farm and field. It’s …
Oops, I did it again. I got sucked into a Tractor Supply Store on my way to making a presentation in a small town nearby. …
Saturday, I sat down for a rest in my driveway. I had been hoeing, planting, and mulching for quite awhile, and I needed a break. …
Once upon a time a dear old soul was born to a farm family in the mountains of Western North Carolina. When he was sent …
Wonderful afternoon for a farm tour. Want to learn more about ASAP? check ’em out http://www.asapconnections.org/
In his view, we were already a success, because we were doing something hard and it was something that mattered to us. You don’t measure …
This morning, I picked up a book I’ve not read in awhile. I was hoping for some inspiration for a meditation this morning, and when …
Today is Saturday, the day I complete my top-to-bottom weekly cleaning of the chicken coop. Oh yay! There is much to love about homesteading, but …
I was a little late putting the hens up tonight. I heard pecking on the front door and opened it to find the Sisters disdainfully waiting on me.
new year pledges in my hand pumpkin seeds ~Elizabeth St. Jacques, Poetry in the Light Over the weekend, I found a small treasure–a 4 oz. …
Well, today was a magnificent day. I rarely choose such a word and flaunt it, but it truly was so. In the course of finding
2 hours of alone time, I wasted them not and headed to the farmers’ market–the big one, the one with multi-stalls, the place where I met Mr. Arrowood.
My first stop was to visit Ms. Betty and LJ. They are the older couple that I referred to in my first blog on farmers’ markets. Once I spotted the heirloom tomatoes, I began craving Caprese salad (another recipe for another blog!). As I was filling my bag, I observed an older gentleman out of the corner of my eye. I couldn’t help it; he looked like one of those mountain people I aspire to be in 30-40 years.
On his head, a navy blue, plain canvas ball cap perched upon snowy hair. It tilted a bit to his right so that you could catch a glimpse of his azure eyes. Thin, black spectacles framed his gentle demeanor. His beard and mustache seemed to have grown into creases of the years etched in his face–laugh lines and all. It was trimmed but not neat, implying he had more important things to tend to. But his shirt, yes his shirt, was what caught my eye–a brilliant shade of royal blue that some North Carolinians might refer to as “Duke blue.” If I worked at Crayola, I would have called it “deep blue ocean.”
He wanted to purchase heirlooms too, and he asked Ms. Betty about them. Ms. Betty’s not one for talking so she remarked on their price and started tabulating. As I shoveled okra into my brown bag, I heard her ask him, “Do you have a dollar?” Ms. Betty likes to make perfect change. For the senior adults, she rounds down. For the rest of us, she asks us to “pick out a little more” and rounds up to the next pound.
Bob didn’t have the dollar. I looked at Ms. Betty then handed her a dollar. Bob smiled and asked if I was sure. “Of
course,” I affirmed, “glad to help out.” He looked over at the bag I had stuffed to the brim. “Whatcha gonna do with them okra,” he asked. And that started our conversation.
Mr. Arrowood used to live in North Carolina. At 85, he noted he couldn’t remember where he’d been born, but he currently lived with his son in California. I told him that I was taking home my okra and going to pickle them–I was hoping to earn a 2nd blue ribbon at the state fair this year. He smiled and said he didn’t know people my age still made pickled okra. I asked him how he ate his okra, and this is what he told me:
Bob Arrowood’s Recipe for Okra and Beans
“Some people don’t like cooked okra like I do. They call it “slimy” or some other words, but this is the way I like it. Take you some beans and put them in a pot like you would cook your green beans. [If you don’t know how a mountain person in the South cooks beans, it literally takes all day. Cut the ends off your green beans, put in a pot filled with water and 2 strips of bacon. I like to add some bullion cubes or use broth instead of water–more flavor that way.] Lay your okra on top. That’s right. Lay your okra on top–don’t mix it in with the green beans. Let ’em cook with your beans. You’ve never tasted okra so good. Most people don’t think about it, but okra and beans are some good
eatin’.”
I asked him if I could take his photograph, and his face lit up as if no one had expressed that much interest him in awhile. I told him about my homesteading, my farm, and my blog. He didn’t know what “blog” meant, but he said if it helped young people carry down the traditions of cookin’, cannin’, and picklin’ then he could be fine with that.
His photo wasn’t the only thing I took. I took his address down too. I’ll be writin’ Mr. Arrowood and letting him know how the beans and okra are. And I’ll thank him. That’s right. I’ll thank him for taking a few steps with me on my journey as a mountain mama, a suburban farmer, and a teller of tales.
So you’ve found your local market, and you’re ready to head out–what’s next? Give yourself plenty of time! There’s so much to see and explore. …
Last night, I headed out to the gardens. It has been a least a week since I could actually spend time there– sometimes, a homesteader …
This past weekend, I had the opportunity for a girls’ night out with a dear friend. We picked a restaurant that we knew would be …
Give life to the grass by sending us rain. Give life to our earth by sending us rain. Give life to our crops by sending …
Seeing as it is midsummer and most farmers’ markets are in full swing with fruits, veggies, and flowers, I thought I might do a series …
This is for all you girls about 42 Tossin’ pennies into the fountain of youth Every laugh, laugh line on your face Made you who …
i thank You God for most this amazing day:for leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which …
Oh yeah! Finally, the rain is coming down, and the plants are slurping up ever last drop. Little, dry seeds are sending up a chorus …
My foray into root veggies started with garlic. (If you haven’t read that post, let me refer you to “getting ready for the garlic” post.) …
So we covered this topic for homesteaders, and now that I’m spending my free time outside, I thought we’d give the gardeners their due! Here …
Today, I had the joy of having a day off work and a daughter who just wanted to have some down time in her bedroom. …
Give thanks for the farmers, and for everyone in the long chain from soil to mouth via sun and rain. Give thanks for the plenty …