Fibermania

Silver Queen for Dinner

Dave was getting antsy from practically a whole day without shopping so he left me alone with my laptop and TV and went over to the next town, Gruetli-Laager, to the Ace Hardware for a browse. Next door is Dollar General and then the Piggly Wiggly. What more could a man want?

While at Dollar he met up with Bill again, our neighbor with the Silver Queen corn for sale. Bill was paying for his purchases from a handful of change that included several 22 caliber bullets. Since he was robbed several years ago he never wants to be without some ammo. He worked hard for what those robbers took and it has obviously affected him deeply. In our twice meetings with him the subject has come up both times.
When Dave returned from shopping (broom, oil filters, Q-tips, pry bar, shovel) he insisted we go back to Bill's and get that sweet corn before it gets too old to eat.

Bill and his 'signifikin' other' Clara were out in the yard having a brewski and listening to the chickens. Clara is a 'widder lady' that was married to a pal of Bill's who died about six years ago. Bill attended the funeral and then the very next day Clara invited him over for a chicken dinner and they have been together ever since. Ah, romance blooms in Palmer.

Before we got the corn we were regaled with stories of the folks around town. The Widemore's were 'goin' on the innernet chasin' down their roots' and found kin down in Alabama and then had some free time and found themselves going up to Kentucky in search of another Widemore. They located the home of Charles Widemore and knocked on his door. A black man answered ,


"Are you Charles Widemore?"

"I is, I is!"

That ended their interest in chasin' down their roots.

Bill started telling us about Sarah who was old when he was a kid and now must be 147. She is such a gossip that they call her the Mouth of the South. He wanted to tell us more but Clara made him stop.

Clara and Dave out in the field of corn. There is so much here and not that many customers.

" You can freeze corn," sez Bill. "We eat it all winter."

I guess.

Speckled red beans. These don't give Bill gas like the pinto beans, we were informed.

Thanks for the info.

Their garden was hiding lots of surprises amongst the weeds, including several varieties of watermelons, such as these cute icebox sized beauties.

Clara called this a sweet potato squash. It is HUGE. That is my dainty foot for comparison. I have never heard of this variety, but then I am from the city.

Pumpkins from Mars.

And okra. My first time to see this vegetable growing. Now I know I am really in the South.

We bought a dozen ears of corn and Dave paid double for the pleasure. I had the water boiling the minute we got back. Real butter, kosher salt and cracked pepper and...a cold glass of beer. O August, your bounty exceeds our imaginings.