My mother gardened all her life. It was one of her great loves, next to family, God, and country. Because she grew up during the Depression, she learned to use every last item from her garden for canning, preserving, drying or pickling. Every year at the end of the green bean season she made leather britches, dried beans that would keep for the winter. These were the last beans hanging on the vines. The beans inside had grown to full size with outsides a bit withered. They were beyond the stage to can or preserve, or even to pickle. Although her fried pickled green beans and corn bread were the best in the world. (Well, next to her biscuits and fried apples.) Mother started the drying process with clean beans. She would spread a clean white sheet on a table in the wash room and spread the beans out on that, giving them space to dry. Sometime she would carry the sheet outside and put them on a table in the sun to further the process. The next step involved needle and thread
Happy New Year! Congrats on having your article published. There's pros and cons to any way of living, believe me! In my way of living on the road - we see many wonderful things, we live in warm weather during the winter in beautiful Arizona, I don't have much to clean; on the downside I don't have a permanent home, I miss seeing my kids AND grandchildren, and sometimes it IS nice seeing snow. I think my husband would have made me stay in FL for at least a year if we were in your situation! Ha ha!
ReplyDeleteLoved that story....what a trip and I'm so happy it was published today. I bet it hit a cord with a lot of folks who are thinking that they just can't stand another Ohio winter! Have a very Happy New Year with good health and many more writing projects in print!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year and may all your dreams come true.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I'll hop right on over there. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on being published. I remember reading this article earlier and was very impressed by its wisdom then. Nothing like seeing your words in print -- well done! Happy New Year, Barb and I'm looking forward to reading lots more from you in the coming 1012!!
ReplyDeleteI loved your article. I think everyone who thinks about throwing caution to the wind and going off to live the dream life in a new place should be required to read it before they move on to the greener pastures that they have created in their own minds. I'm glad you realized what you really needed out of life and were able to move back home.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being published. Happy New Year.
Wow! What a story, Barb! How hard that must've been but at least you made it back. Yes, along with the others, I say congrats on publication.
ReplyDeleteBig moves are hard to make. I know, having emigrated!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on being published.
Thanks to all who read the story. I'm over it now. Often when something painful happens to us we have to give it time to see it in a different light i.e. this story.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping, planning, praying to spend more time writing this year.
I love telling story with the pen. Or computer, I should say now. I started out on a typewriter! Yes, back when.
Blessings.
Loved the story Barbara. It is that happiness comes when least expected.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading what I write. I am honored.
Happy New Year.
Wow!
ReplyDeleteI can imagine the big change causing anxiety. We are still trying to get a bigger home, but we can't decided on anything together, and we are just moving in the same city!
I love the new look of your blog. And I loved this story. It's going to be a good year.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the article--and on finding the good life. That's a beautiful essay. I enjoyed reading it!
ReplyDeleteI wish you continued luck in 2012! :)
In my mind, I was following you. My mind was wrong. You have a new follower. It's me.
ReplyDeleteTeresa
Read your article. Love it. Great job.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all who read. Once it's written and read it's time to move on. Now I have to go think up something else to write about.
ReplyDeleteBe back soon.