Early this morning, Sophie and I went outside. My plan was to do some yard work before it got too hot. Too late!
I got my equipment out of the basement, cut a couple of limbs off a holly bush, and gave up. Sophie was standing at the basement door with her tongue hanging out, having cancelled her planned chipmunk hunt. And my clothes were already soaked through.
The heat and humidity we're having is not normal for June, even for Alabama. It's what I imagine it feels like in a tropical jungle. You feel like your slogging through a vat of honey or syrup (or maybe swimming in what's left of the Gulf of Mexico). I hate it. It's awful. I long for October--or at least a garden home with a 12' x 12' yard.
I think Soph has found a perfect spot to spend a hot muggy day: snuggled on the back of the new chair. There's an air conditioning vent on the floor behind the chair, and the cool air is blowing right on Sophie.
But boy, do the plants love it! Look at the white crape myrtles across the street.
I wish you could see them up close, but I'm not going back out in that sauna to photograph them up close. Just use your imagination. The limbs are heavy with blossoms, and the bumblebees and working the harvest. If you stand under one of the trees, white blossoms shower down on you like snowflakes. (I wish they were snowflakes.)
Yesterday, my friend and neighbor Jennifer gave me a sack of fresh sweet corn. So last night, I made a skillet of creamed corn and called Andy to come up and share it with me. Otherwise, I was afraid I'd eat the whole skillet full--which would not have been a good thing. Below are some photos of the process.
First you have to shuck it.
Then you have to wash it and get all the silks off.
Then you have to use a very sharp knife and slice just the tops of the kernels off. Then use the edge of the knife to scrape the remaining part of the kernels off the cobs. This is the messy part. I always manage to get corn juice all over the kitchen, on my face, in my hair, and on anybody else who happens to be nearby.
Put your corn in a large skillet, add a plenteous amount of butter or margarine, a little salt, and a little sugar. I didn't have to add the sugar; this was the sweetest sweet corn I've ever tasted. I add water to the mix and cook that down (slow simmer). Then I turn the heat off and add a dash of half and half.
Fresh vegetables are God's way of saying that there's something good about summer after all.
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On 06/12/2010, MarieSews said ...
I've never had fresh creamed corn - just canned which is, to my taste, terrible - right up there with canned peas - yeck! But you make creamed corn sound wonderful.
I was in Florida once when I swear the air just hung on us. Thank you for reminding me to appreciate CA.
On 06/12/2010, Julie in WA said ...
Can you send some of that heat this way? I am still running my furnace here in the Seattle area...
On 06/12/2010, Barbara Anne said ...
It's a scorcher with high humidity here, too, and I'm sipping iced tea. I was soaked by my trek next door to get AMIL's newspaper and to help her look for something that's been misplaced. My trek home and for our mail just about did me in. There is simply too much water in the hot air!
Serious YUM about your fresh creamed corn! What beautiful corn it is and I can imagine how it tastes. This is my favorite veggie on the planet (not the canned version) and I add pepper to mine. You know, once it's simmered to the point it's finished, you can let it cool and put serving sized amounts in freezer bags to have later in the year. We have some while it's fresh, but always freeze the leftovers. If there's only a bit left, I put in the soup bag in the freezer so it will be part of our next pot luck veggie soup. Dearie me! You've flung a craving on me.
Stay cool and enjoy your pretty house!
Hugs!
On 06/12/2010, Kelee Katillac said ...
HI Susan!
It is very humid here too! And big storm this morning. Oliver has been on my lapp--he gets scared of the thunder. Sophie has it figured out on her perch!
That corn looks delicious!
Veggies are the reward of summer.
love, kelee
On 06/12/2010, Joan said ...
Here in England today it is not very warm . Not very much sunshine either but plenty of grey clouds. This was supposed to be the better day of the weekend so not much to look forward to tomorrow weatherwise.
On 06/12/2010, Zannah said ...
Gosh - I don't envy you. It's been warmish today in England - warm enough to sit outside for a short while, but you did need a cardigan or jacket every now and then...
On 06/12/2010, KAI said ...
I relate! Remember - I'm in Houston! Arrrrggghhhh! Ninety-six today with a feels-like temp of 105-110. I want snow, too! Of course, I ALWAYS want snow! LOL! And, creamed corn is one of my three favorite comfort foods! My Comanche Kaku (grandmother) made it almost exactly as you do, only with a hint of bacon drippings. Yum, yum! These days, tho' she crossed over when I was only 10, I think I am still WEARING some of her creamed corn on my backside. Stay cool, you and Sophie! Kai LOVES you!
On 06/12/2010, Melinda said ...
Oh - I need to make creamed corn your way. Looks yummy. It is miserable here in Georgia also. Looks like it will stay that way for a while.
On 06/12/2010, Debbie said ...
I started bush hogging at 6:30 this morning...by 9:30 I had to quit! I feel like I'm drowning. It reminds me of growing up in Louisiana...it's always humid there! I don't know why it's so bad here this year...but, after all the snow we had and all the time I spent indoors with cabin fever during the winter...I'm not going to complain!
On 06/13/2010, mom2fur said ...
Our weather has been nuts up here on Long Island. You don't even know what to wear. One day it's 90, the next it's 60. Let's not even talk about the crazy on-again-off-again rain. We get black clouds, then they vanish without rain.
But at least we haven't (yet!) had a wring-out-your skin day like you had. Well, at least the plants and chipmunks enjoyed it, LOL!
On 06/13/2010, Nicole said ...
Your post title made me laugh. We don't have the humidity issues you Southerners have, here in California, but we can get warm. Today it is supposed to be in the 90s, but I don't care. My sister is making margaritas and all is right with the world.
Love seeing Soph on the back of your chair. Great view of the neighborhood?
On 06/13/2010, Pat said ...
Oh, creamed corn! Also delicious is adding bacon grease instead of the butter. Oh my goodness! My mother-in-law taught me that! And muggy, yes, in Arkansas, too! Just waiting till October, as you are...
On 06/13/2010, Pat McDonald said ...
Hi Susan, I'm a few days behind on blog reading but just had to let you know I love, love, love...the style and fabric of your chair. I want two of them!!....Don't let the sudden flow of tears bother you. My sister is in stage 3 of throat cancer and responding very poorly to treatment. My 91yo dad is living with us after surgery for cancer. (A lot is on my mind.) Well, I was in the market Sat. and reached for a jar of Claussen pickles. The pickle jar fell, broke into pieces and I started to cry. The man nearest me said "don't worry, most people would RUN down the next isle and pretend it wasn't them." That made me laugh!I will probably shed more tears but I'm determined to look at the funny side of everything! God bless your week. Pat
On 06/15/2010, Stephanie said ...
We are having similar weather here in Michigan, and I agree. It's miserable. I love fresh corn. Yum!
On 06/16/2010, barnyard said ...
Hello .. I love your home and dog and story telling gift and I know I would also love your favorite thrift shop, such wonderful treasures you find there. One being the chicken planter. When you asked what you should put in her I immediately thought of cloth napkins made in all of your colors. They don't have to be watered and when they're dirty you can throw them in the wash. I too have auto-immune disease(s) that cause pain, fatique and dark depression. Some days there is no way out. I hope that you have more good days than bad. Give that Sophie Belle Patterpaw a big hug from The Barnyard Bunch.
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