"Them DG Folks ain't gonna like hearin' this..."

Howdy Folks.
The other day I was standing on a 14 foot stepladder picking butter beans. Willowleaf Running Butterbeans, to be exact. I couldn’t believe what I was doing! Here it was the first week of November and I was bringing in a bean harvest. Fresh beans, not dried pods for seed or soup!
The weather was a welcome gift, as well as a nice surprise. The sky was a perfect shade of blue yet allowed space for some dark clouds off in the distance hinting of rain. The air temperature was in the 80’s. Ahh, yessss…what a day!

Over and over I worked my way up the ladder, then back to solid ground, moving the ladder as needed, then again beginning the journey back up, picking pods as I climbed. I enjoyed it! However, eventually I began to notice that conditions were changing!

A breeze began to blow. The leaves that were still in the trees began to rustle. (The rustling sounded like an audience applause!) Daylight began to dim and became not quite so day-like.

There I was, standing quite a few feet off the ground (which is scary for me), stretching my arm and body out to reach a few more bean pods. All of a sudden the little breeze grew from a child to a full-grown adult, and the adult appeared to be in a great hurry! The ladder began to wobble! I began to wobble! The bean pods on their branches danced away from me! My hat flew off and the gray matter in my head convinced my eyes that I was spinning! (As I looked at the ground below I wondered if it also felt the spinning!) The trees were waving back and forth, and all the while the audience roared!

It really seemed as though I’d end up with either a broken back or broken legs if I were to hit the spinning ground! And what do ya s’pose went through my mind? “Them DG Folks ain’t gonna like hearing this kind of news!”

Welp, most of my friends know I don’t care to be too distant from good ol’ terra firma. I don’t fly in aeroplanes. I no longer climb trees. When I walk up a stairway I prefer a good solid handrail. And in reply as to why my feet are bare many folks have heard me exclaim “I don’t care for shoes much. They put me too high off the ground.”
In summation I must tell ya’ll this. I survived!

The butter beans are now all shelled and waiting for their turn in the black pot along with a few onions, some butter, a pinch of salt, and the perfect amount of water, creating the perfect broth. (Hmmm…perhaps their friend “SideMeat” may like to join them?)

I’m glad I had the sense to climb down off that ladder when I did. I’m happy and tickled pink I was blessed with fresh-picked butter beans in November. I’m fortunate that I’m gonna eat a bowl of some good home-raised food (augmented with some corn bread maybe? Or plenty of slices of toasted rye bread, you know, for sloppin’ the broth?)
‘Course now, as I write these words I’m also thinking of what else is out in that piece of garden. Why, over there by the mystery beans are some…well, shouldn’t tell ya that. But, over there by the still-standing okra stalks are plenty of…well, better not get ya’ll excited. Then again, next to the No-Work garden, growing on the fence is the …hmm, better not mention those either. I sure hate to make people hungry so I’ll just hush up now. But lookee here, one last thing! In my garden, over there by the…whoops, there I go again!
Sorry Friends, if I continue I’m gonna hear myself say to myself, “Them DG Folks ain’t gonna like hearing this!”

Luv ya! (Just wanted to share, thass all.) ô¿ô

Shoe I sure am glad you are okay! I can't imagine this place without you!!!
Fortunately I am not big on butter beans so that green eyed jealousy monster isn't bothering me.
Said a word of thanks to the important man upstairs for keeping you safe and sound.
Be more careful!!!!
Alice

You're dog-gone right we don't wanna hear what could have been a bad ending!

So happy this story has a happy ending :)

THIS DG folk liked hearin' this.........but jest the oart that sez you's alright and safe on the ground. Yum. Butter beans.

There you go telling us another great story, but you had to scare us in telling it, didn't cha??? Oh Shoe, I am so glad that someone was watching over you that day.

Now pass me a big bowl of them beans and a nice big piece of cornbread and I'll forgive you for scaring us. lol You farmers sure know how to eat good.

Donna

Bless you...................now behave yerself!!!!

"eyes"

I don't care for heights, either, 'shoe. One or two steps on a stool is a good plenty for me.

I love those butter beans. And cornbread too? WOW. What a meal. I lifted some volunteer potaotes the other day. Some quite nice size ones to be volunteers.

Heheheh....sorry folks/friends! I just had to do it! (This stuff you read is what goes thru my mind whilst working or playing!)

Oh...by the way....

GOTCHA!!! ;>)

Thanks for the comments and concern! Ya'll are the best!

Whoooooooooooooooooooooeeee! You sure the fambly didn't just have some butterbeans before ya and blow y'all down?

Good thing you didn't turn into a flying bean picker. I've heard of pea pickers (Ernie Ford used to say "Bless your pea pickin' heart") but not flying ones. Pass the cornbread, please. Fresh beans in November, wow! that is good.

Thanks for the story Shoe. I am sitting here feeling a bit antzy waiting for the phone to ring and was able to take my mind off it and up that ladder for a couple minutes. Rachelle started labor this evening and the checked her into the hospital at 7:00 pm. now I am waiting to find out if I am a Grandma or a Grandpa...eitherway will be grand to me :~)

Oooh, baby!

Shouldn't be too long now Zany!! Go grandma!!! :-) Shoe alls well that ends well and butter beans!! Yummy!!! Used to pick them and eat them right away!!

glad to hear your ok shoe-cant imagine you as a kite! ;)
I never had them there butter beanz before! I bets theys good!

sillyshoe!!

Aaaaaw, shoe's 'bout to fall off a ladder and the first thing he thinks about is us! :)

glad all is well

Yeh, I think thats what got my attention, too, ecobioangie...the fact that is what came to my mind. (And guess my mind started working from that point on.)

Can't believe notmartha ain't never had no butter beans. That's a cryin' out-loud shame.

Anyone heard from Zany yet? Ya'll might have to come up with some stories to ease her antzy-ness.

You scairt me plum half to death! Butter beans rates just before rice...and they sure ain't worth falling off no ladder fer....now corbread....you are talking my language! Wtih butter please...and a big glass of sweet milk. Thanks for the good tale. Jo

I am still here Shoe. No word yet and those ants are turning into giant woolie bears crawling round in my stomach as we wait and wait.

Good grief, Zany. Long wait, eh? Hang in there...that young'n will come out (maybe the lights are too bright in that room or sumpin').

(Roadrunner! Next yr I'm gonna grow rice, just for you!)

Heck yeah, and you don't have to get on a ladder for rice for sure! :)

Heheheh...

(Shhh...next Roundup, I'm making a rice-and-butter bean cookie recipe, just for Jo! She'll love it!) ô¿ô

Shoe loved the story but sure glad your ok. As for the butter beans I think you can keep them:)

I like butter beans especially if they have onions in them. Glad you don't have broken legs. I "almost" had a broken finger this week. OUCH!

Butter beans and onions??? Never tried that. How do you cook them vic? I love butter beans and also rice. I don't think I want to try any of the cookies though, thank you very much, Shoe!

Shoe ~ you ain't right for scaring us like that! You're a muck (no offense intended)!

Now, back to a 14' step-ladder ~ that's where my mind started rolling! We have to replace a light that is 17' high with nothing underneath that will accept the width of such a high ladder ~ that's where I got to wondering in a weird sort of way...

Glad you're just making these stories as you go about your day & SO glad you were making it up and were safe!

You're such a hoot!

Guess I'll just hafta send ol shoe a card or sumpin to help him get over that scare, fur shur good buddy?
Shirley
§

Morph, sounds like you need an "extension ladder" that you can just lean up against the wall for changing that light.

No card needed, scooterbug. I survived just fine. (And po po Morph thinks I made it up? Tsk tsk tsk.)

Wonder how Vic nearly broke her finger?

Shoe, I really love your story-telling ability. Keep it up!

Thank you darius. (It's me mind, ya know. If I don't let this stuff out my head may explode! Unfortunately ya'll get to be the "captive" audience!)

That's ok Shoe, you just keep tellin the stories and we'll be a good audience and not throw any tomatoes at you.

Shoe, you bad boy! You give Stephen King a run for the money when it comes to telling scary tales! Sooo glad you are okay.

The only butter beans I've ever tasted came out of cans from the supermarket. They were cooked to a near mush, of course, but the flavor wasn't bad at all. But then, I don't think I've ever met a bean I didn't like in one form or another.

hah!...didn't mean to scare ya'll, just wanted to brag about my November picked butter beans! (and how scary it was to pick 'em in a windstorm!)

Mercy me... I think next yr I'm gonna grow em just to send to ya'll folks that ain't never had fresh butter beans. (will even include directions on how to cook em).

Must have been the same wind that came through here the other day. The yard was covered with leafs and now they are all gone. I better look and see if any butterbeans took their place. You are a great story teller that's for sure.
Hey Zany let me know when I become an uncle.

Shoe, You sure are a GREAT storyteller!!!
What a gift you have!

Love your storytelling Shoe.
What are you dreaming up for this years Christmas tree?

Shoe I met your relative the other day.

He was telling a guy all he had to do to get his electric motor to work again was to put the smoke back inside.Ernie

Hehehe, Jim, some of my butterbeans may have blown down your way. Hope you find some!

Howdy Lois, good to see ya! (Maybe next year the Story Telling Festival will be a suitable place for me to let loose, eh?)

Ah, the Christmas tree. Lizh, I knew someone would be asking. I'm really not sure if I can fool her this yr. (In Dec DD will be 9 and 11/12ths yrs old!) I'll be thinking about what to do tho!

Ernie, yep, sounds like you met someone I know! For years I used to have to borrow my neighbors electric battery charger to put a charge on my FarmAll battery. When the battery is charged I didn't realize you NEVER unplug the charger from the wall outlet first, leaving the charging lines still attached to the battery posts. EVERYONE knows if you do this then the charge in the battery leaks back thru the lines into the charger!

Shoe, is Willowleaf Running butter beans better tastin than Ford Hooks(sp)?

I like my butter beans to taste like each individual bean has at least a tablespoon of butter in it, which is what Ford Hooks taste like to me.
Unfortunately, my 2 rows I planted this year were submerged in water from all the rain we got and therefore, no butter bean crop. :~(

Beans (all kinds) and cornbread were always on the table when I was growin up. Mother made fried cornbread, in an old iron skillet. She told me she learnt how to make it that way from watchin Dad's mother, who used to cook on one of them old wood cookin stoves that had 4 individual "burners" and an oven. I remember watchin Little Granny cook on that stove when I was a boy. Seein fire shootin out of the burner when she'd take off the covering to put more wood down it's mouth was a sight I'll never forget.

Have any of y'all ever saw such a stove as this? I'm guessin they may even still make them, for homesteaders and other folk that forsake all the modern luxuries for the simple pleasures.

Your story tellin abilities are worth their weight in butter beans Shoe! And then some!

TC...

tc...I like Fordhook also! Yummy! I even got to where I like the Fordhook Giants (if you cook them with a little olive oil in the water they really become more butter-beany).

Willowleaf is a pole bean, very rampant grower, with the weirdest looking leaves on them, not at all resembling a typical bean leaf. Pic below.

As for the wood stove, YES! I've cooked on them. It takes a talent but not long to gain that talent. By keeping pine wood set aside for the cookstove (reserving the hardwood for the woodburner heater) it is very easy to control the heat of the top burners.

I'll never forget being at an auction 20 yrs ago and there was a wood cookstove on the block. Had all its parts (even had the warming oven on top). I was gonna bid on it then noticed nobody else was and it made me think something might be wrong with it. The price kept dropping and dropping. Finally someone went away with that stove for only ONE dollar! I should've just shot myself then and there!

No, that don't look at all like a typical bean plant leaf Shoe. I may try some of them next season, in our new higher spot we're now etchin out on paper!

Daggone it, don't ya just hate it when ya see a good deal like that and don't jump on it?! Regrettin it ever so much afterwards??

I'd guess that Little Granny probably used pine wood, and knew all the other stuff one would need to know in order to cook on a stove like that. She must've because her vittles were always superb!

Speakin of sumpin good ta eat...I shore wish I had some of yer butter bean soup long about now, and cornbread for soppin! Do ya reckon I'd get there in time fer supper iffin I left now??

TC...