Frost in the Air, Green Beans, and Stepfathers

There's a Fall-ish tinge to the air here in the Rockies.  The San Luis Valley had a frost advisory last night.  We got our garden in rather late this year because of confusion about where we'd be living (more on that later) when the harvest came in, but the garden is starting to produce and I have some thoughts about extending the growing season so that we can "catch up".

 

I came home from work tonight and threw on my jeans and my ratty wool plaid bathrobe and went down to the garden.  Started picking green beans which, overnight it seems, had grown into something edible.  Now, whenever I pick green beans I think of my stepfather, Tom Kennedy.  I remember how he used to come into the house with a basket of beans and with great delight would cook them up for supper.  All of them at once.  He'd dolly them up with lots of butter, pepper, and onions.  After supper he would pour off the pot liquor into a tall glass and - to the absolute horror of my brother and I -drink it with relish.  He'd even smack his lips for more effect.   

I haven't yet gotten the taste for green bean juice, heavy on the butter, but I do love a green bean pot.  Fresh green beans, onions, bacon or ham chunks, potatoes, basil, bay leaf, and pepper.  Tonight I added some sun-dried tomatoes that I dehydrated over the weekend.

 

And when I pick beans I always think of my stepfather who taught me to love a garden.

Comments

[mandy storey]

Wow your garden is looking so great... Are you staying where you are or still moving? When we have beens they never get to the kitchen as we all love them raw...

[Lilla]

Your gardens look fabulous! I am still waiting on my tomatoes to mature...I have lots of green ones, but this dang weather we've had is very confusing to the plants. I'd love to hear your plans for extending your growing season into the fall and winter. I've got a lot to learn about high altitude gardening, that's for sure!

[karen gordon]

Ohhhh, your pot of green beans looks so yummy! I only planted tomatoes this year in containers - nothing else. I am having a heck of a problem with cats that poop everywhere there is soil. I dug down 5 inches and there was poop that far down. I don't know what to do. We have a neighbor that feeds stray cats in a baby bathtub. Oh my, I don't know what we will do, but I can't plant anything because of them. My poor dogs can't even play in the yard because of all the poop in the flower beds. I have a lovely yard but my beds are not good because of the cats. I have used sprays to try to keep the cats them out. Do you or anyone reading have any suggestions? Sorry for the gross post! I am out of ideas and looking for anything that would help. Thanks in advance for any advice. Have a great week. Karen

[Vicki]

Your beautiful photos are making me HUNGRY! The canned green beans I had for dinner pale in comparison to your dish! I am going to have to go to the Farmer's Market this weekend and buy some fresh produce and see if I can replicate that wonderful looking dish! It rained so much here this spring, that I never got the garden in. V.

[C]

Okay, I love green beans; but drinking a glassful of the pot liquor???!!! I am, however, gratified to know that you know what pot liquor is! So many don't. C

[pam]

What a lovely garden! ...and a mouth-watering photo. I use similar ingredients too in the dish, but had not thought to use bacon and use red capsicum (I think you call them bell peppers?)instead of tomatoes. I'll try your version - thanks!Recently I boought and planted a flower my late grandfather had in his garden. It is lovely way to remember those we care about.