A Mess of Beans

Grandma called it that--a mess.  I'm sure it was not something she brought over from Norway.  She was probably just talking "old farmer/garden" talk.  On any given day in the summer, she would cook up a mess of greens, a mess of beets, or a mess of peas.  One never referred to fruits this way, nor corn, but I'm certain you could have a mess of potatoes.

When the Things I get to do today mean bringing down the remnants of the bean vines, it gives an opportunity to glean the very last of the summer crop.  They looked spent six weeks ago, but a few little blossoms popped out, and as bean blossoms will do, they turned into beans.

Blessings Abound

So tonight we are celebrating our last mess (not mass--they aren't Catholic though they do have a nearly sacred flavor) of beans.









Minced garlic is added to the rosemary olive oil in the frying pan. Next the cut beans land in the hot pan. When they are all lightly seared, in go two tablespoons of water. And, quick, clamp on the lid.  Six minutes later, take off the lid, add salt, toss and serve. Hot, crunchy and reeking of garlic, this gleaned, past-the-end-of-the-season mess was better than dessert.  We are so blessed!

Called String Beans

Beans headed up the strings

I know why--'cause these pole beans, you gotta put up string for!  What I want to know is do they always wind themselves up counter clockwise?

On a mission

It's been nearly 30 years since I planted bush beans.  I wasn't any shorter in those days, and to pick bush beans you have to bend over.  I was 8 months pregnant at the time.  A firm resolution was established to ALWAYS plant pole beans.  I love picking things close to where my hands and arms are.

Stringing for the beans was first of the Things I get to do today one recent morning, and I marveled at the beans eagerness to get going up and counter clockwise.  Pea hooks seem to prefer that direction as well.  And the hops.  And the Scarlet Runners.  What do you see in your garden?