I've been busy eating - Watermelon

And peaches . . . And blueberries . . . And corn . . . And zucchini . . .And . . . Mississippi summer has kept me busy eating and preserving. Since I last wrote, which I realize was a while ago, my family has eaten 8 fabulously sweet local watermelons, scads of blueberries from my neighbor, and peaches picked from our own backyard. I'm at a point that I don't want to look at another cucumber or squash and corn has lost its early season luster. We harvested five or six hundred ears of corn, which I cut from the cob and froze. My hands were like claws for days, but we have enough corn to eat corn once a week until next corn season. We are still eating corn, reluctantly, from the garden, but I'm finished freezing.

In addition to the corn, we are picking peas in 5 gallon increments. Once picked, we shell, blanch, and freeze them. Of course, we eat our share. Butterbeans started this morning. I picked an enormous basket. We'll eat as many as we can, but will freeze most of these, too. About the time the butterbeans finish, the canning tomatoes will be ready.

I know that in some places the canning, pickling, and freezing is drawn out over a few months, but here harvest seems to be fast and furious. There is not much time for anything else, if the garden is doing well. Though the work is grueling and hot, the rewards are great. The satisfaction of seeing all those bags of peas, corn, beans, peaches, and berries lined up in the freezer and seeing those beautiful jars standing as sentinels in my pie safe is extraordinary. Knowing that the food I will serve my family during the year is safe, delicious, and didn't travel to my table from points unknown is priceless.

I'll be scarce for a few more weeks, then will try to find time to write. I've taken pictures of the various canning projects and will post when time permits. Until then, think of me cooking and eating the best, freshest foods available. I'll be down the road in a few minutes looking for another melon. I traded eggs last time. I wonder if they've eaten them. Would a jar of honey be an equal trade?