by
Jean Hughes
August 21, 1995

These are sweet-corn gold and scarlet tomato days, days of pale-apricot cantaloupes and shocking-pink watermelons.

The children and I had a big, cold watermelon this week. When I stuck in the butcher knife and began to cut, it snapped open, deep pink and all glisteny. Merry could not contain herself. She shouted, "Happy birthday!"

We took big pieces of watermelon and went into the yard to eat, so we could let the juice drip down our chins and spit the seeds. That is such a good part of the fun of watermelons. I told Chris he could probably spit his seeds through the vacant place where two teeth had come out, but it didn't work. His new teeth got in the way.

We do enjoy watermelon. Others in our family are passive watermelon eaters, but to Merry, Chris and me, a shiny-pink, juicy watermelon is "Happy birthday!"


I am not going to give a zucchini recipe. But I do have one piece of advice: Pick them while they're small, then you don't have so much to contend with. I should never have mentioned zucchinis. "Down, zucchinis, down!"

If relishes are to be made, the time is ripe.

Mae's Cucumber Mix
Place in separate bowls: 2 quarts peeled, ground cucumber, 
3 ground green peppers, 2 ground sweet red peppers, 
1 head cooked cauliflower florets, 2 cups cooked corn, 
2 cups cooked lima beans and 2 cups chopped onion.
Distribute among the vegetables: 1/2 cup salt. 
Cover all vegetables with ice and allow to sit overnight.
In the morning, drain juice for all vegetables, squeezing it from the juicy vegetables.
Make a solution of: 4 cups sugar, 4 cups vinegar, 1 T. mustard seed, 1 t. ground hot red pepper and 2 t. tumeric.
Bring mixture to boiling. 
Add: 1/2 cup cornstarch mixed with 1/2 cup water. Cook and stir until thickened. Add drained vegetables.
Bring to a rolling boil. Seal in sterilized jars.

It is late in the afternoon. The children and I walk to the little creek to wade. We almost have to swim through a field of golden-yellow coneflowers with brown gumdrop centers. At the spot where only yesterday the horsemint bloomed, now golden wingstems sway. Pokeweeds hang heavy with green fruit that is not edible but is good for dying wool.

Wild pinks hover over the creek bank. The water sings, plink, plank, plunk, in varying order. The white-hot sun filters through the tree tops. Its light is reflected from the water onto the limbs of low, overhanging trees. Like glittering, blinking spotlights, it plays along tree branches.

Minnows swish. Bees drone. Birds speak in whispers. Butterflies waver. The children splash and laugh, and the dogs run plop, plop through the water. The wind sings a steady shhhhhhoo, shhhhhhoo through the leaves. Here, at this moment, there is peace on earth.

* * *
It is night, and all within my house are still. I walk my road to watch the August moon explore the fog. It lights the leftover apples on my summer apple tree and turns the yellow fruits into flickering candles as the wind moves them in and out of the moonbeams. The golden moon shines through the walnut tree.

Sky Flower
       The moon's an August rose that blooms at night.
       It starts out as a bud, all curled up tight.
       It shines, full-blown, in pearly pink and gold.
       And when it fades, an August has been told.
       But now the August flower is at the bloom,
       And glows into the corners of my room. 
       And as moon petals drop into the break,
       I sip the moonshine one moon rose can make.
Copyright 1995, Jean Hughes.

Jean's book of ramblings and recipes "A Country Mile of Winter" and her book of poetry "The Earth's My Home" are available for $4.95 each plus $1.30 for postage and handling. Her nature letter "Diary of a Back Yard Naturalist", published 5 times yearly, is available for $12.50 per year. Ten of Jean's favorite recipes will be included free with each book or nature letter ordered. Order from...

Country Mile Publications
616 E. Monroe St.
Delphi, Indiana 46923

Return to the Main Page.