Digging Sweet Potatoes

 I have to admit that when I saw this Facebook post,

the first thing that came to mind  was 1965 and the extremely popular tune  by Jr. Walker and the All Stars singing "Shotgun." * 

There's a portion in the lyrics that  says, 

" We gonna dig potatoes. We gonna pick tomatoes..."

After arriving it was determined that I wouldn't be digging any potatoes and that most had already been done.

I did come  prepared. 

I can't tell you the friendliness, warmth and welcoming I felt from the people associated with this church. It was if they'd always known me and I was one of their members.  

The weather was beautiful and cooperative. Here's a 360 of the surrounding area.( < :30 length)

What a tranquil site/ sight. Pews and tables located underneath this towering tree. I'm told that services are held here whenever weather permits. In case of inclement weather services are held at the Urban Ministry building located on the block diagonally east to this site. (<:30 length)

   DIGGING UP THE POTATOES  (click the link for video 1:23 length )

OTHER  GARDEN ASPECTS

I was gifted this bag of sweet potatoes by the good people at Community Church Without Walls.

DISCLAIMER:   To my knowledge, no shotguns, red dresses👗 or high heels 👠were involved with harvesting these sweet potatoes.  Although, I can still do the Jerk and the Twine.😊

S'Mores were to be roasted over the campfire later.

*Shotgun was the "Electric Slide" song of the time. You could be sure you'd have a crowded dance floor when Shotgun was played. Years later after reading the lyrics ,they seem to have been made up as the musicians were playing.   Most songs tell a story. This one did, but with some unusual characteristics.😧 Still, it was #1 on the Billboard chart for weeks.

     

Fried Green Tomatoes

 I planted ONE tomato plant in a pot some time ago and below you'll see the results.

Since I don't have a lot of space, any gardening I do is in a pot or something resembling a pot. 

The tomatoes weren't turning red fast enough for my liking so I decided to do fried green tomatoes. I haven't always been successful with these in that the crust won't adhere to the tomato. I consulted  my favorite choice of knowledge, YouTube to search out a recipe that might work. I found Smoking & Grilling With AB

It's been said that reheating  the tomatoes will only make them soggy. The tomatoes I had left over, I reheated inside a regular oven on 350 degrees for about 8-10 minutes. They were fine for my taste.

That's it***

Beauty During A Pandemic Beast- Part 1

Enter the sanctuary of someone who delights and enjoys gardening. Color, tranquility, calm. All stems from a labor of hard work and love from an experienced gardener. Thank you R.M. for allowing me to have this colorful tour into your private world. 

Pineapple

Tiger lily

sago palm cycad

Asian honeysuckle

Gladiolus on lavender trellis

Variegated hostas

Frogs in the garden

That's it 🎕🎕🎕🎕

Next week: The Bounty of the Harvest- Part 2

BOOK REPORT: Recipe For a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown

      2018. Nate and Alice Hale move from busy New York City to a dilapidated 1940’s fixer-upper complete with the former occupant’s belongings in the quiet suburb of Greenville. Nate is ecstatic. Alice, not so much. Happy that Alice has resigned her PR position Nate feels it’s the perfect time to start a family and Alice can write the book she’s anticipated for so long.


Alice isn’t so sure she’s ready for a family. She’s at a loss without her PR job. Whoever heard of being fired for one innocent mistake. Alice feels alone and foreign in suburbia until she meets he older neighbor, Sally.  


1955, Nellie Murdoch, has the perfect life. Husband, home, and a beautiful garden she loves tending. The garden reminds Nellie of the fun times she and her spent together when she was a child. 


Her husband Richard is desperate for Nellie to become pregnant so that he too can prove his masculinity becoming a father like his male counterparts. Nellie has been pregnant before but miscarried the day Richard arrived home from work finding Nellie working in the garden instead of preparing his after work cocktail and placing dinner on the table. A furious Richard chastened her too roughly. 

Nellie finds a friend in Miriam her older neighbor who sees and hears the abuse.  Richard doesn’t allow his abusive nature to be seen by anyone. That would make things imperfect.

Nellie entrusts Miriam to hold on to letters she writes to her mother but never mails. 

In 2018, Miriam’s daughter, Sally gives the letters to Alice. Upon reading their contents, Alice is privy to Nellie’s life as a “perfect” wife. It also opens her mind to what she wants in life.

 As the author relates the stories of both women, the reader can see how both want to be seen, heard and recognized as a person. Examine the similarities and difference in the lives of two separate women living 63 years apart. 

Throughout the book. Alice's chapters begin with an admonition on the duties of a perfect wife.

Nellie's chapters begin with a rolling pin icon and  recipe that the author has collected from vintage cookbooks or one of her own.

My experience making  Herbed Cheese Popovers. From the 5 Roses Cook Book (1913)

Additional recipes and credits 

The covers of this books speak volumes. On the hard cover the title obliterates the woman's face indicating her lack of worth. The paperback copy shows the imperfections of the woman displaying her as jagged. Yet in another sense it could symbolize the many facets of this person. Her face is also covered.

!!!!SPOILER ALERT !!!: I subscribe to Cityline on Facebook. Two of the personalities were discussing the book with its author. If you want to know what was discussed click the Cityline link above. The video is about 18 minutes long.

NOTE: I did notice that the title on the books they have don't cover the woman.

This was a fantastic read. It had surprises that I didn't even know were coming. But I guess that's what a surprise is.😃 If there's a sequel, I'll be in line for it.

That's it ***