of gardens and corn and tamales

---

23 August 2009
Sunday 12:33 PM

Garden update.

Our neighbor’s turkeys flew up and ate most of the leaves of the green beans. They’re not looking so hot. We planted tomato seeds and peas where there were two empty spaces. There was one empty space from onion seeds that never sprouted. And the other was from the radishes. Some sort of worm came in and demolished the radishes in two days. So now we have peas sprouting where the radishes were. And tomato sprouts where the failed onion seeds were. We have also thinned out the chilies and moved part of them into where the chives were planted…that didn’t grow, either.

Now, since a good part of the garden is made up of root vegetables like onions and beets and carrots and, once upon a time, radishes, I am not so sure of how to tell when they are ready. I don’t believe I have ever grown root vegetables as it’s always easier to buy them.

I prefer things above ground. Chilies, tomatoes, green beans, peas.

So that is the Baade Torrez Garden Update.

In other news, the first corn harvest is in and we are all busy shucking corn and making and eating tamales and montuca, which is just another kind of tamale that has meat in the middle. I don’t mind meat tamales, but I prefer plain ol sweet tamales covered in cream.

Basically we are shucking corn while someone else is cutting up the green insides of the husks - in which the tamales are wrapped - while another is cutting the fresh corn off the cobs. This fresh corn will be ground and then mixed with sugar and who knows what, wrapped in the corn husks, and boiled to a sweet perfection.

I prefer the sweet ones to the more savory meat filled ones. Covered in cream.

For all of the cream and fresh cheese and oil and sugar I eat, it is amazing I am still losing weight. The main difference is that all of the food is fresh. Like, nothing has preservatives. Except the Pepsi we buy in 3 liter bottles when there is extra money.

Speaking of money. I have no idea where 4,000 cords, or $200, goes each month. But I am convinced that I can spend half of that each month and save the other for… visitors. Or a wedding. Or whatever. But surely I can get by on 500 cords, or $25, a week. There is no reason why not. Unless I go to Esteli or Managua. But I don’t plan on going to either in September or October. Wait. I have to go to Managua at the end of September for my mid service medical exams. And perhaps Lenin and I will have to go to Managua to get his tourist visa.

I am rambling. And I am hungry. I wonder if tamales are cooking…

---

Comments

[Mom]

Oh, man......
I am so sorry about the onion seeds failure to grow! You had specifically requested them -- a great idea, though seeds had never really occurred to me. Will have to send more and see if maybe it was just that batch or somethin. Molly!!! Just came to me....NOW your true "Nebraska Cornhusker" heritage has come to pass! Ha! Who ever would have guessed that it would be in NICARAGUA, though!! Somehow reminds me of FOREST GUMP, only with corn instead of SHRIMP!....roasted corn, baked corn, fried corn, corn on the cob, etc. Love you!

[Mom]

PEPSI???
Pepsi?? Ha Ha! I am amazed each and every day at the contradictions of your life down there. You carry all of your water; you use a latrine dated 1922; you do your laundry on a rock in a creek; etc. AND YET....you drink Pepsi; you sit on Wal-Mart-type plastic chairs; your family has a Nintendo system (but no frig!); etc. Yes, help them with the barrell oven before you leave the PC. And the "new" latrine. Good goals to leave as a legacy, Dear. XO