Then it was onto the corn after lunch. Remember how stuffed her refrigerator was in the previous post? We must have shucked 40-50 ears of corn! It kind of looks like scrambled eggs to me.
After Mary shucked, it was my job to get the corn off the cob. There was a method to her madness to make sure I "milked" the corn. I didn't realize that is how it becomes creamy. She says you only have to add additional cream if you don't get adequate milk from the corn. Periodically, I would say, "oohhh, this cob is producing lots of milk!" By 3:30, I was ready for a nap. Whew.
Last night we went to what I now call the "Howard Farm" and picked some more blackberries, white acre peas, lima beans, corn, green peppers, cucumbers, and tomato. When we had finished harvesting, we cut through the woodland buffer to the next door neighbor to deliver shucked corn husks and cobs to his donkey, and give the homeowners fresh produce. We got fresh eggs in return. Then, we stopped at the other donkey farm on the way home to feed the remaining corn stock to his donkeys.
Of course the photo isn't too good because I took it in the dark. This farmer has 2 pens of donkeys. This is the pen I fed. Mary fed the others.
Today was almost as busy as yesterday. This morning we again started by 9:00. I washed the veggies while Mary put all the peas and beans through the pea shooter. Then I had to wash them when she was done. This took us until lunch. We took a break this afternoon and did some errands, and I had to take another nap! This canning stuff is hard work!
After supper we made more blackberry jam. I have this blackberry mushing down to a science. We made 3 batches. Then when the last batch was done, she served a few tablespoons of hot blackberry jam over vanilla ice cream. What a treat!
I rarely eat after 7:00 at night, and because I couldn't resist the special treat, I told her we at least had to go out for a walk. She offered us to ride bikes. Well, we didn't make it down the street before we realized Mickey's bike had a bad tire. It didn't hold air. Mary said, "that's okay, I'll ride Michael's bike (her oldest grandson's bike). Well....I couldn't contain my laughter watching Mary ride his bike with her knees pressing into her armpits. Granted she wouldn't let me take a picture of her on the bike, but here's the bike, so just imagine that image in your head.
I offered to ride this bike, but Mary, being the considerate one that she is, would have no part in that.
So I road her bike...
Needless to say, I must have looked mighty graceful gliding along next to her panting, huffing, and puffing as she struggled to churn those wheels! LOL. :)
Anyway, it was a long day. We had a lot of fun. I don't know how she does this week after week. She goes nonstop like the energizer bunny. I on the other hand had to take a nap every afternoon. I am now more grateful and appreciative when she gives me her canned goods. :)
Tomorrow I head back home to Orlando to recuperate. (Not really, my naps did the trick.) :)
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