Gonged Out of August and Into September

August 27, I drove to Houston. Spent the night catching up with my brother. Next day, had breakfast with longtime friend, Gayle. Afterwards, I drove to San Marcos for a “Gong and Singing Bowl Training” for the weekend. Before the training, I ventured out to see part of the San Marcos River that runs through the town. I went to an area managed by Texas State University. Goodness, it was beautiful.

At the training, we were a small group, but the experience was wonderful. Amazingly to me, hearing the gongs was electrifying to the ear and spirit. Loved the energy vibrating through the space from the two instructors, Siri and Nam Joti, and the other students. An extra treat after the training that Sunday evening, was “An Experience of Sound” community gathering.

Back home, I was pleasantly surprised that my garden didn’t look too bad. Even though the heat did stress out the garden most of August, it must have rained while I was away. Wonder upon wonder, on August 14, I harvested a second bunch of sweet potatoes when I thought there were none. Throughout the latter half of August, I continued to have okra and hibiscus pods. The biggest harvest was on September 2, with lots of hibiscus, some small okra, and big okra too hard for cooking but good for capturing seeds, seasoning and making okra water.

One thing, also, that the heat brought out was snakes. Folks had told me to keep an eye out. I’d considered myself lucky to not have seen any but on August 23 I spotted one in a flower bed. It looked like a nonvenomous rat snake that I left to go its merry way.

I continue to be amazed by life and living at my home place. Taking care of the garden and land is challenging work at times. Critters, including a menagerie of birds, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, possums, deer, bobcats, and snakes, can be a bit much at times. But the beauty of the light before a storm is awe inspiring.

Not to forget, just a few food pictures from the August 16 Table & Plate Project Delta Podcast on the Cookbook Club Sunday Dinner are shared here. They include spices used for the meal; food cooking on the stove; a dish of the leftover chicken added to corn, and whole okra from the garden in a tomato base served over yellow rice; sweet potatoes boiling; and mashed up for freezing later.

Later that week, in true “I am Ruth’s child” fashion, my dinner was a knosh of smoked oysters, pepper Jack cheese, crackers, and slices of my pickled cucumber and watermelon rinds. Good eating!

And before I forget, my art quilt, Village Women’s Work #3, has found a new home and my latest piece, Two Women, is available. Check them out at Portfolio and Gift Shop — Three Blessings Yoga Farm.

Well, that’s it for all my doings these past few weeks. It’s still hot as hell. But as always, blessings to everyone and remember to do what’s best to nurture you, family, friends and your community. Peace, wisdom, gratitude be with us all.