Making Tomato Juice

Let me begin this article by telling you about the mistake.  In February I bought some new tomato seed and planted them (along with other varieties) at the time suggested by the almanac.  I wanted Romas because they are noted for making good tomato juice.  We nursed 90 baby tomato plants here on the sun porch and I…

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About Corn 2003

Corn has long been a staple here in the south and especially here on Sand Mountain.  Sweet corn is not our favorite corn to be “cut off the cob.”  It’s good on the cob, but our favorite to be “cut off” and “fried” is Malsby.  This is an old field corn variety, white in color, and…

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Aunt Bill Rambles

Years ago we had a family what lived down the road and they wuz tenant farmers — moved every year or two.  They had a house full of young’uns —  Y, they’d have one in the spring and hit’d be fall before they’d have another ‘un.  They now live over in the forks of the creek and I heer’d…

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The Pipes Come A Callin’

What a pleasure it is to have some of John’s favorite cousins visit.  How these kin met is quite a story.  A number of years ago our daughters wanted to join DAR, started the search and then had to have documentation.  In the genealogy search, Donna found a man in Florida with the name Crumly, contacted him…

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Peach Preservation

It’s that time of year — or at least for our youngest it is.  Beth sent these pictures and suggested this article (thanks, Beth).  She lives in Georgia, recently visited in peach country and bought a box of culls for a good price.  I don’t believe she knows what variety they are, but I can tell by…

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Remembering a Slower Time 2005

A recent e-mail made me pause and remember how it was when we used to travel two-lane roads to wherever and enjoy seeing the countryside.  This was a time when “modem” meant what Pa had done to the hay fields (he mowed ’em) and “download” meant gettin’ wood off’n the wagon.  There were no interstate highways…

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A Windy Knoll Report

We’ve had so much rain we discussed looking for plans to build an arc, but John decided we wouldn’t need one since we live atop Sand Mountain.  He said, “Let those people over in Wills Valley worry about that.” It’s a busy time here — the garden is growing, but so is the grass therein. …

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Old Kitchen Utensils Seldom Seen 2008

As I sit here peeling potatoes and look around this kitchen I see several kitchen items or gadgets no longer used.  If I glance up to the top of the cabinets I spy a set of blue canning jars.  We used these for food preservation in years gone by.  To can in this type jar…

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Quilting in the Summertime August 2001

The quilt is on the frame and the frame raised up toward the ceiling so the floor space can be used.  In olden days the frames were hung from the ceiling, too; however, then the twine was wound around the ends of the frames and then raised  up all the way to the ceiling — there was…

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Aunt Bill Rambles

Last week my granddaughter wanted me to come eat supper with her and she lives in town.  Well, she come and got me — she lives upstairs in just a little one room place with lots of other folks living around her.  I saw her take something out of a box and put it in…

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