Guess what's going on over here?
Here's a clue.
Can you see through the steam? It's the chicken stew-like thing I make to cook my dumplings in because we have two dumpling lovers here, spending the night.
I am a lucky woman in so many ways. And I know it.
School's out and Mama worked an overnight last night and is working one tonight. Vergil took the guys to the beach today but then he brought them here so we can have them overnight and then tomorrow to let Jessie sleep.
I love these precious boys so much. They needed snacks when they got here and August saw the tomatoes. He got excited. "Could I have one of those?" he asked.
"You want a tomato?" I said. "Sliced? On a plate?"
I love these precious boys so much. They needed snacks when they got here and August saw the tomatoes. He got excited. "Could I have one of those?" he asked.
"You want a tomato?" I said. "Sliced? On a plate?"
"Yes!"
Sure!
Levon had a banana.
Levon had a banana.
They let me read them a few books before the requisite TV marathon began. While I was reading them "The Chicken of the Family," August started sort of rubbing my head. It felt so good. Jessie had told me that he's been brushing her hair while she reads to them at night which is what she used to do for me.
Now, if asked which is better, a foot rub or hair-brushing, I think I'd have to go with hair brushing although both are pure bliss.
Now, if asked which is better, a foot rub or hair-brushing, I think I'd have to go with hair brushing although both are pure bliss.
So I asked August if he'd like to brush my hair and he said that he would. He ran and got my brush and I would have sat there until Jesus returned if I could have convinced him to keep brushing.
He did it so sweetly.
I do not know why more men do not know that the way to a woman's heart is through her scalp.
He did it so sweetly.
I do not know why more men do not know that the way to a woman's heart is through her scalp.
I did not make dill pickles today although I did start a crock of the 14-day pickles although I have no idea why. No one in this world needs a pickle that sweet. But Glen's mama used to make them and they are the secret ingredient in the Christmas chicken salad so there is that.
This will be sitting on my kitchen counter for the next two weeks.
Nice, huh?
I hasten to add that it is not full. It's almost half full. I had six pounds of cucumbers which is enough but not a massive amount. Right now the cucumbers are soaking in a salt brine and in three days, I'll drain that and replace it and then that gets repeated again and then there's more steps in the process involving sugar syrup and spices.
I hasten to add that it is not full. It's almost half full. I had six pounds of cucumbers which is enough but not a massive amount. Right now the cucumbers are soaking in a salt brine and in three days, I'll drain that and replace it and then that gets repeated again and then there's more steps in the process involving sugar syrup and spices.
It's sort of like a science experiment, only one you can put up in jars and store and eat.
I did some weeding in the garden today and I was going to come in and take a break and go back and mulch a little bit but I decided that mulching can happen on another day. It's just hot as fuck out there. I think we might take the boys to the Wacissa tomorrow. Since school's out there will be people there but not anything like the number of people this weekend, I'm sure. Especially today. The Wacissa is the Riviera of Jefferson County, Florida where everyone gathers to see and be seen (especially as applies to tattoos), cool off, and restore our souls.
I think that's all I need to talk about today. Let's give the old Zepbound a rest except that I will say it's still very much working for me. While the men around here eat chicken and dumplings I'm going to have leftovers from last night and that sounds so very good to me. The grouper I cooked was fantastic and could hardly have been fresher.
I am a lucky woman in so many ways. And I know it.
Love...Ms. Moon
when you speak of 14 day pickles, are you referring to Bread and Butter pickles? I love those....but have never made. I buy (when I have an extreme hankering for them) Mrs. Fanuels (sp?) jarred B & B pickles...and they are good....but not as good as homemade! Love your chicken and dumpling *boys*....... they know Mer will feed and love them well and they will do such fun things while in Boppy's and your loving care!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSusan M
that would be Mrs. Fannings pickles......duh! Susan M.
DeleteNo. Although the spices are similar in bread and butter pickles, they usually involve onions too, AND the process of making them takes far less than one day while 14 day pickles take...14 days!
DeleteThose boys are going to be handsome young men. They grow so fast, don't they. I look at Jack, getting so tall, his mama has missed so much of his life.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a reason to feel sorry for Gracie. I am quite sure that at no time in her childhood did she ever think, "Gee, I think I'll be an addict and have to give my child up because I'll be an incompetent mother."
DeleteThe soup/stew looks wonderful! I have never had a grandchild brush my hair, now that I think about it, not a child either. I did have one of the twins pull out the elastic holding my ponytail, but that's all she did.
ReplyDeleteAh- I am the lucky one! Owen used to brush my hair sometimes too when he was very small.
DeleteYes, you’re a lucky woman. With a very lucky family. Those boys are something else! I think we’re having what you would call hot as fuck, too. Aiming for around 100F today and 104 by Saturday. Humidity, however, is below 35%.
ReplyDeleteIt's only 90 degrees here now but the humidity is 51% which is actually pretty low for us. The other evening before we got that little rain, I felt like it was a million degrees. The air was saturated to the point of being heavy. It does make a difference but 100 or 104 is really just too hot, no matter the humidity.
DeleteAre those pickles super sweet with cloves? Because if they are, I would love the recipe/method for making them. Gregg remembers them from childhood and requested that I find a recipe if the cucumbers produce like they did last year!
ReplyDeleteYes. They are super sweet and the pickling spices have cloves in them. You can find lots of recipes online. I think I'm using the one here: https://creativecanning.com/14-day-sweet-pickles/
DeleteI cut my cucumbers into thick slices though, before I start the brining process where she does not.
"The Riviera of Jefferson County" -- ha!
ReplyDeleteNot to be confused with The Redneck Riviera in Panama City.
DeleteI used to make pickles in a crock but my recipe is dill pickles that are not sweet. And you only soaked them for 24 hours, I think. Delicious, tho!
ReplyDeleteThe boys have so much fun with you and it's nice that you can help Jessie out.
I'd like to try dill pickles made in a crock. I might look for recipes.
DeleteOh, how I wish my grandchildren and I lived in the same town. I make my own chicken broth, too. The aroma as it simmers makes the kitchen smell so comfortable and inviting.
ReplyDeleteAugust walked into the kitchen when I was cooking last evening and said, "That smells so good!"
DeleteMy grandmother grew cucumbers and made Bread and Butter pickles. They were sweet and I have not had them in an age. Gran was an outstanding cook and baker but not a recipe sharing woman.
ReplyDeleteLevon and August are looking great. Every picture shows happy, healthy, growing boys.
Your chicken and dumplings look delicious.
I've never understood the philosophy or thinking behind not sharing recipes. To me it always sort of indicated a person whose identity was way too tied up in her kitchen.
DeleteMy grandmother also made bread and butter pickles (referring to Susan''s comment). I have her stoneware crock. My sister had it but now I do. It was one of the few family heirlooms she had that I couldn't get rid of. The other thing I have is a wood bread bowl that maybe belonged to my great grandmother.
ReplyDeleteWe finally got some rain so it's a bit cooler out there today.
Bread and butter pickles, as far as I know, are not made in crocks. They're a quicker pickle. That sounds like a commercial.
DeleteI think I got my crock in an antique store. Ha! My grandmother never made a pickle in her life as far as I know and if my great grandmother made bread, I'd be shocked.
I'm hoping for your rain.
Those are some Adorable Dumpling Lovers those Boys. My MIL did a lot of Pickle making, she did a lot of Canning of everything and the making of Preserves, Jams and such.
ReplyDelete