Amazing Maize

I am giving thanks early this year - in July, because I'm too excited to wait till November. I hope to have more things to give thanks for then too - but meanwhile, I'm just enormously relieved and thankful, so I'm giving thanks for this part right now...there is CORN and it is GOOD!

Though I haven't had a lot of success in recent years with growing corn around here - this year, though there is corn, that looks, smells and tastes like CORN. In other words, it doesn't have anything weird going on with it. I would give you a visual of past corn failures, but I didn't document them, and trust me, you do not want to see what some of those past ears of corn, have looked like. Though if you have a strong stomach and can actually believe that James Beard considered such things to be a delicacy, you can look over here. That is, if you want to see some sort of mutant corn from another planet...

Though a few chefs and some people in other countries, apparently think that kind of space alien corn is a delicacy - they are not the cooks, here.

The people at our house, prefer their corn to grow into neat little yellow rows like typewriter keyboards. So at some point during supper, at least one of those people can pretend that the corn cob is like a typewriter roller, and they can 'ding' when they reach the end of the kernel row...something they saw on a cartoon, some time or other, and never got over. Neither did I apparently, since I laugh every time they hit the 'carriage return,' even though I know I probably shouldn't encourage them in playing with food at the table. But the people in question are grown up - at least technically...though eight years old at heart -- and they don't do that in public. At least not that I know of...

Anyway, we were really happy that the corn has done so well this  year  Though we have had some small past success with corn by growing it in raised beds - once we finally gave up on trying to grow it in our heavy clay soil - we had more ears of edible corn than I can remember since my mom's vegetable garden. I think the real secret was finally remembering my mom's  Three Sisters story - no, not her actual sisters, but this story. She had told me that story, when I was little - when I was mostly not paying attention to what was going on in the vegetable garden other than eating from it. I'm so glad I found it again and remembered. That we had a Three Sisters garden of our own, this year - because it really works!

I love folklore - and finding the real world truths behind them. The beans fix the nitrogen in the soil for the corn, and the beans have something to climb up on - the corn! The prickly squash leaves protect the corn from uninvited four-footed diners, while the corn helps shade them from the hot sun. Also, there are nutritional reasons why people need to eat corn with beans, so it's a good thing people figured out to have them both on hand, along with the squash that has its own vitamins that we need...

This is the kind of thing -the story behind the story -- that just amazes me. That people who did not yet have a written language, knew or intuited all these things...and they found a way to pass this vital information on, through their storytelling.  Hurray for storytellers! Makes me wonder, what other real world helpful hints are hidden in stories of old. What other truths might be hidden behind the magic words... 

So now that we finally have lots of corn, we grilled it on the barbeque - along with plenty of squash, green beans and some other veggies. Like potatoes, bell peppers and onions marinated in olive oil, garlic and herbs from the garden (a sprinkling of thyme, oregano, rosemary, marjoram and a little basil) - oh and a little balsamic vinegar on the green beans, too. All of which made the veggies go from ho-hum to y-u-m. We packaged most of them up in foil and tucked them around the coals - but we cut the squash into thick slices - so after taking a swim in the marinade, they could go right on the grill and soak in some of that smokey atmosphere - like veggin' at the spa...well, except for that whole grilling at the end part...

Actually, K. was the GrillMaster - since he did most of the actual cooking, while I mostly played with my camera and doodled a cartoon in my journal, inspired by the feast.   I attempted to help initially, by trying to light the charcoal, but after half an hour and half a box of matches, I ceded to his superior fire power. I cheered him on though - at least when I wasn't busy playing around, paying homage to corn and the three sisters garden in my journal

Though in my defense, I did contribute somewhat - growing the veggies, harvesting and slicing them....

And playing with my camera er, photo-documenting the weather was important too...I like how all the moisture in the air sparkled like fireflies or little fairy lights...

It's been much cooler here - which is good, since the humidity has been much higher than we're used to - with little puffs of clouds floating around, though only a few sprinkles of rain. There have been some fantastic evening light shows, from lightning over the mountains - and thankfully, no resulting fires.

The cooler weather and our corn feast was the perfect ending to a full weekend - filled with fun times with family. I gor to meet my newest great-nephew for the first time! I'd forgotten how wonderful it can be to hold a new little person. But I've already gone on and on - and there's a free concert in the park - must pack a picnic now - so that's a story for another day.

Comments

[somepinkflowerss]

corn!

i'll be right over
with the butter...

:-)

i am lucky to grow
~basil~
in this florida heat...

corn!

[giggles]

Yum love it all especially the descriptions! With the price of gas and food rising, these little treasure are actually gold now!!

Hugs Sherrie

[Janet]

As a kid growing up in the Midwest, I was always surrounded by corn fields. And I've eaten a ton of it....but I've never heard that story before! Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Love your drawing, too!

[stephanie]

You grow corn!! I have a hubby that eats his corn in perfect, typewriter rows...carriage return :) yes!

I'm drooling, our local corn is not ready yet...

yummmmmm
x..x
steph

[violetismycolor]

I grew corn a few times, with mixed results...I had some great and yummy years, and then a plague descended on my corn crop the last time I tried...horrible bugs that ate lots of the yummy goodness...

[Tammy]

We might try corn next year so remind me to do the beans. Loved your drawing Tink. HUGS

[miss*R]

I lurve corn on the cob! with butter and tons of salt. I grew up with it... it grew locally and we had it every night when in season!

[3rdEyeMuse]

yippee to the extra good crop! and thanks for the link to the Three Sisters story. :)

[Carmen]

Hurray for storytellers!!!
Hurray for YOU!!!
One of the finest!
LOL
Hugs!

[Pacian]

Growing space alien corn is surely an achievement of its own.