Picking Okra

This morning I woke early and thought of the okra that I should’ve been picked yesterday. I have a theory that okra needs to be picked every other day. If it isn’t you have very large okra that may or may not be able to be eaten. If it is tender still, it can be up to 4 or 5 inches long. That is the maximum length. I love the small ones 1-2 inches steamed…sometimes in cooking (just like broccoli) it gets cooked a little longer and loses its bright green color. It is funny –either way my children will fight over it. Other families are amazed, you might hear—she got 5, everyone got the same, yeah but she got the big ones! How many do we get- why didn’t you make more? Many families don’t even eat okra in soup. It is satisfying that there are family stories to tell.

I went out to the garden this morning and it was slightly cool and overcast and I was able to pick okra (2 quarts) and tomatoes (half a bushel). It was very quiet except for the birds and occasional dog or truck. I am able to think and reflect a bit while in the garden. There seems to be some magic there—well a spirit about it. Sometimes I wonder if my mom or mom mom visit with me. I feel a garden is important to have, temporally and spiritually. I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for a garden, a yard, and a home. We always have so much to do, I figure maybe it is like a world, there is always something to do.
Margot, Tuesday, August 12, 2008, 8:40pm