A Ramble

I did a little more weeding today. It took me over an hour just to do that one swath you see there. I sure would like to get it all cleared out before every weed reseeds. And maybe we could even till in some compost or mushroom compost or chicken shit or something. 

So many of you left such sweet comments about Lauren and I appreciate that. Thank you. She actually made it off of the floor last night and onto the couch and about eight this morning she was able to walk around a bit and get on the bed. This is huge progress! Why do these things always happen on weekends? I am hoping that our much-loved massage therapist can see her soon. And a doctor. I think though that time and continuing the muscle relaxers is what's going to help the most. Lauren is not one to want to lay about. She is a hard worker and almost never, ever calls into work but she has had to. She knew her back was bothering her some but, as we all do, she ignored it and decided to do a bunch of garden work on her day off and the next thing she knew, she was in agony. 

I have not yet heard from the fishing duo this evening but I expect to soon as they should be back on land around seven or so. 

I did get this picture this morning. 

Two happy people! I know they will be worn out when they get in. 

I've been just about useless today except for the little bit of weeding I did. I do not care. Well, I say that but if I hadn't done the weeding, I would be extremely unhappy with myself. I finished listening to "Demon Copperhead" and it got heavy, y'all. I mean, it was heavy from the get-go but then it got REALLY heavy. Kingsolver takes on issues that are dark and deep and important and this book was no different. Some of her books, I have felt lately, have been a little preachy but in most of them she manages to weave the issues into the story and the characters in a way that manages to get her point across without hitting us over the head but does touch us in the heart. 
Not unlike Charles Dickens. 
I am still so impressed with the way she draped her story over the bones of "David Copperfield." I guess we could call that a device but even so, it was done with such respect and ability that I can only admire it. And also enjoy it despite the grim reality of what she describes, just as "David Copperfield" can be loved and enjoyed despite its grim realities. If you would like to read the NYT's review of the book, you can go HERE. 

Many of you also commented on the okra blossom I posted yesterday, saying that the flower was very pretty but that you'd never tried okra and had no desire to do so. 
That makes me sad. Okra, to my mind and taste, is an excellent food. It has the reputation for being slimy but if it's cooked properly, there is no slime to it. I can't imagine gumbo without it, and cooked with tomatoes and onions it is a perfect side dish to go with fish or on its own with rice. I had some leftover from when I made gumbo last week and last night I air fried it and ate it for supper and then again for lunch today. Here's what it looked like. 

Usually, fried okra is cut in rounds but I have found it is far easier to get the batter to stick if I cut them longwise. Some people serve fried okra with one fancy sauce or another to make this most plebeian southern dish into something gourmet and that is fine but to be honest, ketchup goes very, very well with it. 

Another very southern thing I have made recently was Mrs. Matthew's peach "pie". That's what the recipe calls it, anyway. 

It will not be hard for anyone going through my recipe box after I am dead to know that this was a beloved dish. It's basically the same recipe that Truvy says of in "Steel Magnolias" she eats with vanilla ice cream to cut the sweet. 
Pretty much. 

I did, however, use fresh peaches and did not add an extra cup of sugar so it's not traditionally sweet. 

Here's what it looks like before you put it in the oven. The peaches go on top of the batter and then, magically, as it bakes, the batter rises up to cover the peaches to look like this.

Blueberries or any berries, for that matter can be added in. Or used on their own. It is a very fine dessert, no matter what you call it- pie, cobbler, buckle. I just call it damn good. And since it came from Granny Matthews, you know it is authentic. It can of course be served with ice cream, as Trudy recommended, or whipped cream if you'd rather. Plain is fine with me. 

Let's see- what else? I sort of went through the refrigerator and threw some stuff out. That needed to be done. I did not do an actual cleaning because, well, I didn't want to. I pulled out the sourdough starter which I have not fed in a week or so and attended to that. After sitting out in the kitchen all day it is looking like this. 

It smells deliciously sour and tangy and I think I will give it another feed either tonight or tomorrow. I have realized that my sourdough bread baking is very inadequate compared with that of a friend's whose loaves look like something in a magazine. I AM NOT KIDDING! They are true works of culinary art. I have just been so very meh about technique and rules and so forth, wanting to somehow magically create beautiful bread without doing the work. And don't get me wrong- my sourdough bread tastes lovely but it's just not...very impressive. I am going to work on this. 

Here's an old picture of Levon that came up in my memories today. 

Remember when he was obsessed with shovels, calling them "fa-fa's" and moving dirt from one place to another? 

I guess I'll go cook something. 

Love...Ms. Moon