Saturday, June 09, 2007

Beets


Beets
Originally uploaded by linfrye
Before I left Rebecca's this week, her brother gave her a basketful of beets from his garden. She generously shared some with me. When I got home, I rendered them into pickles ....the first time we've had home-grown beets since I gave up my extensive vegetable garden to take my current job. They were delicious!!! and so packed with memories of early morning gatherings of ripe squash, tomatoes, beans, lettuces and various fruits.

Though I am a long way from retiring, I know how important it will be for me to return to growing our own food once I am home more consistently. I do miss our large garden, the fresh food (substituted now with farmer's market varieties), and that important connection I feel to our own land.

I still maintain a few raised beds with lettuce, red mustard, tons of herbs, squash and a few small tomatoes and flowers -- and for the days I am home that is about all I can manage to water, weed, harvest .... and so that satisfies a bit, especially in the cool of the morning, with the dew still on the leaves, the birds awakening, the beginning hum of insects and hummingbirds, the scent of the day as it widens into its typical heat.

Ah, summer ....and gardens ...!

12 comments:

Sandy said...

Fabulous Lin, You achieved a wonderful clear deep plum color - just Lovely and the memories are so clear and thoughtful - I would love to have your beet pickle recipe too (DH loves beets AND pickles)

Anonymous said...

Lin,

What a great vegetable painting. It would make such a great notecard!

Jenny said...

Absolutely beautiful. Love you colors and shadows.

Africantapestry and Myfrenchkitchen said...

Oh, fresh beets from the garden...that is simply heaven! And yours look exactly like that...you've achieved beautiful color! I agree, what wonder summer is with its abundance of fresh produce from the earth, even if it is only one leaf from a single pot of herbs from a windowsill..
Ronell

Linda said...

Lovely beets! They are a wonderful subject to paint -- I'll leave them for you to eat, pickled or otherwise! :-D
Your description of the garden is wonderful, too.

Tami said...

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Excellent job on the color blends!

jill said...

absolutely lovely. i so wish i had your skill!

caseytoussaint said...

Your garden sounds wonderful -you write so beautifully about it. These beets look delicious and you've painted them beautifully. Shirley's idea is a good one - why not make note cards from this illustration?

Terri said...

Beeeeautiful Lin!!! Fresh beets are fantastic. I had some today actually made into a wonderful tasty dip and served with crusty bread toasted and brushed with olive oil and garlic. Yummmmmm. :o)

Felicity Grace said...

This is fabulous! Love, love love the colours and the looseness and those little spotty bits! :)

MD said...

These are just gorgeously delicious!! lovely lovely work!
MD

Margaret McCarthy Hunt said...

hmm your post makes me want to get up early and garden...well almost:> these beets are just glorious...great color...great technique...YOu have GOT it!