I never think that things are going to take as long as they do. Now, my husband is far worse than I am when it comes to time estimates but I'm pretty bad. Also, I have to throw laziness in there for me. And the but-firsts, wherein you're going to do something but first you have to do something else like when you go to make the bed but first you have to convince the cat to nap elsewhere.
Okay, it's usually more involved than that.
But this morning I woke up, and Glen was already up and out of the house to head to the river to fish. And I didn't sleep crazy late or anything because I really had planned to get a few things done in the garden and go take a walk before it got too hot and then go to Publix and then get some of the Easter cooking done.
Well, you know how that goes.
I did not get my okra planted, which is one of the things I'd really wanted to do. Yesterday Mr. Moon made me beautiful straight rows to plant the seeds in but they remain empty of seeds. I don't know why I'm planting okra. It is the most contrary damn plant. It draws ants like crazy which bite the hell out of you when you pick, and the leaves sort of sting you and it can be a damn mess. Also, I never seem to do very well with my okra. However, hope springs eternal and I love okra and pickled okra is about the best thing in the whole world. So why not give it another try? We have the dirt, we have seeds. Might as well.
But that point is moot today because no, I did not plant it and the only thing I did in the garden before I went to Publix was to turn on the sprinklers. I didn't take a walk either. This does not surprise me nor does it surprise you, I imagine.
I did wash the sheets and got the bed remade so that was done.
Then I went to Publix which was crowded with all the other people buying their ham and their Hawaiian rolls. I don't know why but I didn't buy my ham at Costco this year. I think I'm just tired of their ham. It's the only ham I eat all year, usually, and I thought I'd go for another brand so I did and it's not pre-sliced like the Costco kind so maybe it'll be moister.
I can hear you vegetarians gagging as we speak.
Sorry.
When I got home I did turn off the sprinklers and pick the collards for Sunday. My collards and kale both are browning and gettin' et by bugs as we say around here. But I got plenty to cook. And this whole chore of getting the collards picked and cut up and in the pot and cooking took me at least an hour and I'd estimated I could do it in about half an hour although why, I do not know. It's not like I've never done this before. But at least they are in the pot, simmering away and after a day's rest, they will be even better on Sunday.
I was going to get a green bean casserole ready to bake. I volunteered to make that casserole because I still have a goodly number of jars of green beans I canned last year in the pantry and if things go as they generally do with the rattlesnake beans, I'm about to be awash in fresh ones very soon. I'll do that tomorrow. There's always tomorrow, isn't there?
No. No there is not.
But in this case, yes there is.
Yesterday it took me all day to do the plant-potting-swap-meet thing. I repotted my beloved seagrape that I grew from seed I picked up under the seagrapes near Wabasso beach a few years ago when we were visiting Roseland. I really hope it will survive the transplant into a bigger pot. I was so careful of it and its roots.
OK....I did puke about the ham.... but I got over it. LOL! Enjoy your ham while I pay around with a carrot (don't get any smart ideas there!) The ash magnolia is beyond beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteParanormal (veggie) John
Oh dear P. John- who among us has not played around with a carrot?
DeleteI am sorry about the ham but in my estimation, the pig is sacred and I do indeed acknowledge that.
I mostly eat ham at Christmas and prefer it drier so I buy a double or triple smoked ham in a small portion size so there will be less waste. I always thought greens should be lightly cooked but you simmer yours to eat two days later? Do you drain them or do they become soup? I know you eat a lot of soup and in the winter I do too, because it is body-warming as well as nutritious.
ReplyDeleteSome greens are far sturdier than others. Collards (and kale) when fully mature, are best cooked for longer periods of times. This is how it works in the south, anyway. I mean, I have stir fried collards but traditionally, we simmer them for a long time. We don't drain them, actually. The liquid we call pot likker (or liquor) and is delicious. We often use that later in soups.
DeleteThank you. We don't have collards here, not that I know about anyway, we do have Kale but usually baby kale or young kale is sold in salad packs and I don't like it anyway. I prefer cabbage which I do cook in soups, but also have it lightly fried with other vegetables, or steamed.
DeleteWell, you sure have been busy. I’ve only had okra a couple of times. I didn’t take to it, but maybe it was prepared well. The ashe magnolia is a sculpture!
ReplyDeleteYou gotta know what you're doing when you cook okra. I bet you'd like it fried. Or pickled, maybe?
DeleteIt's surprising that you didn't once mention the crucifixion and how Jesus died for our sins. I wonder if he liked collards and freshly caught bream from the fridge. It is said that he could have filled your fridge with bream just by snapping his fingers... SHAZZAM!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised too.
DeleteDang Jesus never showed up and I'm going to have to cook that fish myself and make my own loaves. I've got one ready to go in the oven.
I eat meat and bacon is divine but ham is nasty. I can tolerate it chopped in bits in a soup or in scalloped potatoes. xxalainaxx
ReplyDeleteYou don't like ham? Have you seen a doctor about this?
DeleteCrazy how they call the day their god was killed 'Good' Friday.
ReplyDeleteI have several things that need to be repotted but I need to get more potting soil and compost. My 'but first'.
I have wondered about the name "Good Friday" my entire life. WTF?
DeleteThere are always but firsts. Always.
You always say you didn't get much done and then you list ALL of the stuff you got done and you always get A LOT done, Mary. At least it sounds like it to me. I will get my food for Easter ready this afternoon as I have 2 soccer games to go watch my grandsons play this morning. I have most of tomorrow, too, as we don't gather until 4-4:30.
ReplyDeleteWe will have fun family days tomorrow and the food will be fine!
We're getting together early because Lily's kids have to go to their dad's too.
DeleteThe food will be good. No doubt.
I have finally decided that I need to do nothing for Easter but wake up and treat it like just another day.
ReplyDeleteExcellent idea. Is your sweetheart doing the flowers for Easter Sunday?
DeleteI love the curl of the Ashe magnolia's petals. You had a busy day -- immersed in plant stuff just like me! :)
ReplyDeleteIt took me so much longer to repot all those plants than I'd thought it would.
DeleteThe mystery of accounting for time! My husband has always been challenged in that department - and he leans heavily on the excuse that it's a learning disability (a notion he discovered somewhere). I find that recognizing that EVERYTHING is taking so much longer than it used to is one of the most difficult parts of aging to reckon with. Your flowers are stunning. Thank you for sharing with those of us in the frozen north!
ReplyDeleteYou're right- things are indeed taking longer all the time. I mean, I love everything from my train of thought to the item of food I JUST HAD IN MY HAND TWO SECONDS AGO!
DeleteI’ve said before but I ADORE your verandah
ReplyDeleteI am so lucky in porches.
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