Sauteed Greens Beans

I have a prolific crop of green beans/string beans this year.  My friend Mike shared some Roma II seeds and I got three good 20+ feet rows.  These are a bush bean which I usually don't grow, but these jewels have really changed my mind.  Tasty, easy to snap and produces like crazy even with the lack of rain.

Since I am not crazy about green beans boiled down to mush, I have been experimenting with a few ways of cooking these beans.  I have settled on one in which the flavor can be adjusted by the seasoning.  In a large dutch oven, fry 3 slices of bacon (I have tried both pork and beef bacon with great results), add the beans a handful at a time stirring to turn and coat well with the grease from the bacon.  Season to taste - I add a little salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic and onion.  Do not add water.  Cover and reduce heat to medium low.  The beans cook in their own juice, remain crispy and are full of flavor.  Try your favorite seasoning. 

Also have an over abundance of zucchini.  Any recipes are welcome as I have tried just about everything.  My favorite so far is a Paul Dean recipe for stuffed zucchini made with spinach.  Also really like scrambled sausage with zucchini and tomatoes.  Would love to receive your favorite!

I Miss My Granddaddy!

A couple of months ago Hubby and I were at the Buggytown Auction when several cages of rabbits came up for bid.  I made the statement that I would like to have some rabbits and I got "The Look" - you know the one that says "have you lost your mind?"  Well, I let it drop and we came home with a couple of chickens instead.  I haven't mentioned those cute little balls of fur that can be cuddled like no chicken ever could and I went on about my business.

On Friday afternoon I was talking to my granddaughter in Dahlonega about her upcoming visit and things we would like to do. Hubby comes in and the little one asked to speak to him.  She wanted a rabbit - a brown rabbit!  I thought to myself as I listened to them talk that she was wishing in the wind.  After about thirty minutes of haggling back and forth over money and upkeep, hubby handed me the phone after which we said our goodbyes.  Hubby advised me we were going to the sale barn to get some rabbits.  My three granddaughters have far surpassed me in manipulating their PawPaw - even from 150 miles away they have more influence!

Off to Buggytown Auction we went and home we came 4 hours later with 5 chickens and 3 rabbits.  They all spent the night in the "keeper" pen, but I knew that was not to be their new home.  Off to Tractor supply we went for wire, feed and a bottle waterer.  By Saturday afternoon those little bunnies had a wonderful home and plenty of feed and water and have really settled in nicely.  The youngest two granddaughters had to come see the new "pets" and make sure they were settled in okay.  After two days of multiple visits and all the moving, they have had a quiet day to adjust and rest just in time for the older two grandchildren to arrive mid week. 

Rabbits do make good pets, but when I said we were finally going to have some good rabbit stew, my daughter in law looked at me like I was delirious.  She vowed never to eat any rabbit and neither would the girls.  She'll never know the difference as I will fry those offspring in a heartbeat and tell them it is chicken.  Nothing is better on cold wet winter nights than a pot of rabbit stew!

Next I would like to add a couple of Pygmy goats to my menagerie, but the middle granddaughter is begging for a horse.  That I do believe will be Pawpaw's waterloo and he has said he will never have another horse.  We will see!

Until next time. . .

Happy reading!
Belle

Alabama

Hubby and I travelled to Alabama over the weekend for the wedding of a dear cousin and his lovely bride.  We met a lot of terrific people whose company we enjoyed all weekend.  The food at both the rehearsal dinner and the reception was exceptional.  The bride and groom entertained through all the festivities and still managed time for each other.  A lot of good memories were established by this unique pair.  Their love for each other, their God, their family and their friends was expressed throughout the rehearsal, wedding and reception.  I came home feeling blessed to have witnessed the occasion.

Mother's Day was bittersweet as I was not with either of my children as hubby and I travelled home.  Spoke with both though and I know as they know they are very much loved and have given me great joy.  I feel blessed to have such a wonderful daughter and daughter-in-law.  They are both good mothers, wives and daughters.  The same applies to my son and son-in-law.  I know I have the love of my family and I can think of no greater gift on Mother's day. 

I received a most delightful tub of Impatiens from my youngest granddaughters.  Impatiens is my most favorite summer flowers.  Also known as jewel leaf, this is one of my favorite herbs as it has both aesthetic and medicinal value.  Whether the girls realized the double value of their gift is doubtful, but that tub sure made me smile!

Before I close this little note I feel the need to ask for prayers for the people of Alabama.  The tornado damage is very widespread in this state as we witnessed through our drive through central and north Alabama.  I have been told that the southern parts of the state were damaged much worse than the areas I saw.  An insurance adjuster I spoke with during my stay said the damage was more like the results of a hurricane.  Recovery is still on going and many people are still homeless and doing without. 

Until next time  . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

Perspective

Many times I am childlike in my thoughts. 

I have seen the many pictures of the damage caused by the recent tornados and after the initial shock and the roads were cleared, I visited some of the disaster sites.  However, until a friend sent me a video made from a plane did I ponder the significance of the human race in relation to this storm.  The people in the video appeared to be equivalent to the ants on a glorified anthill and the storm path nothing more than a boot kick along the surface of the earth.

The sight brought to mind how truly unimportant we are in the whole scheme of things and all those material possessions may make us feel better and puff up with pride, but in actuality they have little value in the overall picture.  I grieve with my fellow human beings and I pray for the safety of those left without homes, families, and friends.  Very seldom do we witness the physical power of our mighty God and it is a frightening thing.  The Bible tells us that our God is one of love, but also advises us not to provoke Him to anger. 

I do not pretend to understand the purpose of the storms, but I do see so much love, sharing, concern and joy in the people of our community that has been hidden behind a hard shell of protection.  Sometimes we all have to have a slap in the face to wake us up to the needs of others.

God told man to go forth and be fruitful and multiply and man surely did that.  But the Bible also says that he counts the hairs on our head and so I know he has me in his hands as he does my fellow ant people. 

I have come closer to understanding the fear, the loss, and the grief of those people who suffer through the hurricanes, the tsunamis, the earthquakes, the floods.