Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Breaking green beans brings tranquility

The late row of green beans is producing a better, more abundant crop than the early ones did.  I watered them some in the early stages, but haven't lately, and figured they would quit producing.  Today after dinner I went out with a bucket and got more than enough for a canner full (seven quarts) of beans from half a row.  This makes fourteen quarts of green beans I've put up this year.  I will probably put the rest in pints tomorrow.

I absolutely love to sit in the shade on a hot day and break green beans for canning.  Because it's such a routine task, my mind wanders here and there pleasantly, mostly back to my childhood and memories of seeing Mother or Grandma or Aunt Mary or Aunt Ruby picking, breaking, and canning green beans.  Anything that takes me back to childhood is an instant stress-reducer.  The whole gardening process is a way of touching base with the people who helped make me what I am today, people who loved me no matter what.  I can almost imagine them sitting beside me, helping with the task.

When I think of my childhood, it leads to memories of First Sunday singings and all-day meetings at church.  That, of course, starts the old hymns rolling through my head.  Today it was this one: 

 

Who needs a shrink?  Give me some beans to break and a good old Gospel hymn anytime.  

7 comments:

  1. I remember breaking beans with my mom and grandmom. It was a delight.

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  2. Sounds wonderful to me also!! Canning always brings back wonderful memories from my childhood as well. Like watching my Mom and Grandmother can and etc!!

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  3. My beginnings were in a Catholic church, so I missed those heartfelt, southern hymns as a child; though there's always been some sort of Christian music in my life.

    I remember helping my mom snap beans. Reading this post makes me miss some of the simple things about life.

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  4. I love green beans and hardly got any. I'm very jealous!! Watering plants is good therapy for me.

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  5. I remember both of my grandmothers breaking green beans, and it always did seem to be a pleasant, routine task. Nowadays it's almost a lost art.....

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  6. You have some great memories and I too can remember my grandmother breaking beans on the porch. How great you did so well with those beans this year. Having a stash like that for the winter will be great.

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  7. I enjoy snapping beans. It is relaxing and brings back some great memories too.

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