Columnist busy with canning, pickling, “putting up” veggies

I came very, very close to not even writing a column this week.  I have got so much to do. I would love to have a "Hazel" living with me.  I used to love that show.  I canned beans last week, made a batch of pickles, made two makings of blackberry jelly, and put up squash and zucchini along with carrying on the usual cooking, babysitting grandchildren, trying to keep clothes washed and keeping things watered.  This week is starting out the same way. I complain, but I am thankful we have all these things.  I am not the only one.Eeveryone is doing the same thing.  It will be good this winter to just go to the pantry and get it out.  We are really thankful for blackberries.  I have not made blackberry jelly in several years, but this year we went picking around the lake and got a fair crop of them.  I think Bruce wanted some more, so he went and bought some from a man to add with the wild ones, so I have more juice to make into jelly.  We love all these things, but it does take a lot of time and work to get it all done.  You have to "make hay while the sun shines," as the saying goes.  As soon as I get a chance to try this recipe, I will pass it along to you; it is for "Mock Crab Cakes" made with zucchini.  One of Raegan's gymnastic friend's family is vegetarian, and Carrie got the recipe from them.  They say it tastes just like real crab cakes.  They also gave them a recipe for zucchini-carrot cake that sounds good.  I might just have recipes one week in my column.

Larry Bruce had some heart trouble last week and ended up having to have a stint put in because of a blockage in one of his heart arteries.  I hear he is doing good and feels a lot better, which we praise the Lord for. We are sending out our sincere get-well wishes and prayers to him as well as to Maxine as she is still undergoing radiation treatments.  We hope and trust they will have much better days ahead.  We also send out get-well wishes and prayers to Karen Lindsey here on Baldwin Dairy Road as she underwent gall bladder surgery recently.  We hope she will be out and about soon and back to her regular routine.

We extend our heart-felt sympathy to Johnny Ray Messer and his family in the recent death of his father, Ray Messer, last week.  Mr. Messer had fought a hard battle with cancer this last year.  We also extend sympathy to his wife and daughters, Sylvia Moon of the Swords community and Heather Gardner also along with their families.  Mr. Messer enjoyed coming out to Johnny Ray's and seeing what vehicle he was working on and he probably ended up helping him sometimes, knowing him.  He enjoyed being with all his children and grandchildren and having get-togethers with them.  Our thoughts and prayers are with all of them.

Michelle Cathey was the guest of her parents, Tommy and Raynor Cathey, on Sunday.  Michelle has just returned from a wonderful trip to Ireland recently with friends.  She said it was an absolutely fabulous trip with the most beautiful scenery she has even seen.  She says everyone should go there; she highly recommends it!
Ellen Bruce celebrated a birthday last week with a family get-together at Bob and Danielle Bruce's house here on Baldwin Dairy Road.  Happy Birthday, Ellen.  May you have many, many more!

We congratulate Tewksbury Farms over on Barrows Grove Road as they were named Farm Family of the Year for the Madison-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce at their annual awards meeting last week.  They have a huge garden there on Barrows Grove and they sell locally as well as to out of town farmer's markets.  Congratulations to all of them for this honor!

Will Porter was officially inducted as the NE District Vice-President of the Sr. Board for 4-H this past weekend at Rock Eagle.  He received his traditonal "green jacket."  Congratulations, Will!

Clay Porter had a big weekend, also as he particiapted in the SCTP State Finals.  He shot a 100 straight; a perfect round of skeet.  His HOA for SCTP with a score of 199.  He is the champion concurrent for B Class and champion Jr. shooter, third high Georgia state skeet with a score of 99.  He only dropped one target all weekend.  What a way to end the season!

I saw Mike Eaton, Mrs. Olena Eaton's son, this past Saturday as he had been down to have breakfast with his Mama.  We ran into each other in the grocery store.  He said he and his wife and son, Chad are living in Pickens County now, but they still maintain a home close to Lake Oconee as well.  He and his family have turned into real cookers and chefs.  They have opened a restaurant in Pickens County, Jasper, Georgia which is known as the first mountain town at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  It is called Mike's Place and they serve up great country cooking except on Saturdays when they just operate the grill.  On Saturdays, he and his wife come down and have a booth at Harmony Crossings where they have an open-air farmers market all during the summer from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.  They make jellies, preserves, sauces, pickles, etc. that they serve at their booth.  They had started that even before they moved.  They are busy people!  If you are ever up in that area, check them out!  We wish them all much success in their new endeavor.

Mike used to help us milk at the dairy when he was growing up.  This was in our early goings and Bruce was still in the National Guard.  He would have to go one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer to camp.  When that happened it was Mike and me at the dairy.  He was good help and I was sure glad to have him those two weeks.  Oh, the water that has gone under the bridge through the years!

Printed in the June 28, 2012 edition