The washer is swishing away, I've got coffee, the windows are open and the sun is shining bright. Ma just came staggering in to the kitchen, opened the fridge and grabbed herself a Coke then waddled back to her bedroom. That was probably the extent of human contact I'll have for the day, unless I make it to the dollar store as planned.
Yesterday was the last day of business for the filling station in town. We're all waiting and wondering if someone is going to take it over. There was a sign outside of "K's" one stop convenience store yesterday that stated they were changing owners as of today. I've heard someone bought it, but no news on what they're going to do with it.
Change is inevitable, even in Frog Pond Holler.
I saw an infomercial on the wonders of hoodia this morning, the "miracle" weight loss pill derived from a South African succulent. I remember when "60 minutes" did a story on it a couple of years ago. I surfed the web afterwards, looking for studies and other information. I'm tempted, but it seems a bit expensive.
The HR manager at work stuck a big grocery bag of green beans in my car yesterday. She said her garden out did itself this year. So at some point today, I'll be sitting on the front porch breaking beans, probably just feet from the spot where my granny used to sit and do the same thing with the harvest from her own garden. There isn't enough there to can (and I really hate canning) but there is enough to freeze. I'll have to hit the web to find out how to do that. I think you have to par boil them first. I love home grown green beans, especially cooked with a few potatoes. It's one of those foods I could just sit and eat and eat.
I've got the batteries charged for the camera, I'm thinking about heading out to snap a few shots today or tomorrow. Taking pictures gives me a sense of calm that few other things do. It forces me to find beauty in places and things that I would otherwise over look, like a bug or a fallen leaf. Maybe it sounds a bit dramatic, but it's true. I think it's important to take the time to look around ourselves sometimes, away from the images of supposed "beauty" that is force fed to us by media and advertising, those images which make some of us feel inadequate or undeserving.
In a way, that is one of the good things about living here in Frog Pond Holler. There are no billboards, no images of starving women speeding by on the sides of buses, peddling the latest diet craze, fashion statement or beauty product. Just trees, people, animals and the occasional wide eyed tourist, walking through town in amazement that places such as this still exist.
I still miss the city and more importantly, the coast. And I'd still give my right arm for a Slurpee. But for today, I'm counting my blessings, finding the beauty, in my surroundings and in myself.
Join me?
3 comments:
I use about 1 gal. of water to 1 lb. of beans. Bring water to boil and add beans, cover and set timer for 3 min.
Drain and put in ice water till cool.
Drain and let dry or they will ice up. I pat them with papertowels sometimes.
If you pack them in a bag or container get as much air out as possible. If you want you can spread them on a pan, freeze them then bag.
When I was young, I would sit on the back pourch with my great Grandmother (the one who was born in Wales) and break green beans for hours to be "put up" for the winter. Very wonderful and peaceful memories.
DG
miz: Thanks, you saved me the trouble of having to look up how to do it. I broke beans today 'til my fingers were numb lol.
DG: As I worked in beans all day, I thought often of my Granny and my Mamaw, noticing how my fingers look just like Mamaw's hands.
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