Cotton Flower

Posted on October 30, 2010 by TheJessicaness

This plant is actually a shrub and grows in a boll, a protective barrier, around the seeds. This type is Gossypium hirsutum and makes up 90% of the world’s production. This field is in Northeast Florida. Caleb and I had gone to a corn maze in Hilliard about 50 minutes from home. We had waited too long as the maze had already been run down by disrespectful families.  We could see through the maze and it was misguiding as to which direction to go. The farm had tall stands that enabled me to see how big the maze was and how much further we had to go.

There was an excellent variety of farm animals that parents neglected to educate their children on. We saw a bull, two horses, a pig, two peacock, some ducks and chickens, and a rabbit. There was a pumpkin patch, hay ride, go-cart track, small country store, and food stands. There was also a tractor to sit on and a decorated haystack.

On our way home, we noticed a cotton field and this was Caleb’s first time to touch the actual plant, my second. Cotton picking didn’t become popular until the cotton gin in 1793 and now we know why. Amongst those fluffy white puffs are little hard seeds that stick to the cotton. History is more interesting to me when I can read all about it and then see and feel where it took place. Cotton is a big part of southern history and continues to impact the world today. There is something I can appreciate about starting from the beginning; the long process that used to go into making clothes that has been simplified so that many take this process for granted.

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The Walk for Ta-Ta’s

Posted on October 16, 2010 by TheJessicaness

Sponsored by Mayo Clinic

Usually I am the one finding things for us to do, but this idea wasn’t Caleb’s alone. Jon, guy he works with, and Amanda, wife who works at Mayo Clinic, spread the invite to Making Strides at Jax Beach and we happened to be the only ones from Mayport Ops, navy base, to show up. It was a 5K on the beach and we were given large pink shirts. I happened to find an unclaimed small white shirt also dedicated to the cause on the return walk.

I think it’s neat that so many people find the time to volunteer for causes they believe in. Before going to college I had nothing but time. Now I enjoy balancing my hours between helping a cause and writing a paper for class.

Jon and Amanda invited us out for sushi later and we arrived at Daruma Japanese Steak House at 5:00 pm. They were not there yet so we walked to an antique store next door and the lady watching it for her friend kept us entertained for ten minutes telling us about her riding a scooter in her over-sized home and how she is downsizing and bringing items to the store. We went and waited at the bar inside the restaurant and ordered unsweetened teas with lemon.

Amanda and Jon arrived and quickly ordered a few rolls of sushi. We ordered the vegetable plates teppenyaki style, also known as hibachi, where the chef cooks your meal while you watch. Sometimes the chef will also perform tricks such as building a flaming onion volcano. We were too full for the Cold Stone Creamery dessert trip they made after, but maybe there will be a next time.

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Canning Lesson

Posted on October 9, 2010 by TheJessicaness

Before I started helping Talidra, the BBBS (Big Brothers Big Sisters) gave me a book of events to do with children in Jacksonville, FL. Come to find out, I am only allowed school visits for whatever reason and decided to try some of the events in the book with Caleb. One was the Canning Center, an extension office of the University of FL. They have a community garden and a huge kitchen, as you can see, that people use with the help of volunteers to learn how to can veggies or jams properly in any amount or bake for a wedding.

I have a beginners’ garden with a variety of twenty small underdeveloped plants, some even with one fruit or vegetable on them so I was anxious to be introduced into my future world where I have blooming plants all season and great meals all winter. Caleb’s parents canned as he was growing up and still do so they were anxious for me too. Terri, Caleb’s mom, is always so helpful and kind; the opposite of the Hollywood or redneck version of mother-in-law.

We arrive early and park. We see signs to enter in any other door but the one that we arrive at. We find one that is open and eagerly approach as we are redirected to where we are supposed to be. Apparently, just because you see people going in and out of a door doesn’t mean the next person can be you. We arrive to air conditioning, smiles, and refreshments.

There was a speaker that introduced us to recipes, tools, equipment, and the time needed and necessary for fun and safe food preserving techniques. She was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. During some Q & A we were given some recipes to try at home and then escorted into the kitchen where some nice volunteer ladies showed us how to mix, cook, and can jam. Then a man showed us how to seal the cans in big silver pots. The pots seal the mason jars and there is an assembly line heater that seals metal cans. It seems like a heck of a process, but one that seems necessary for a serious gardener or one that prefers to save money and enjoy peak season veggies year round.

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Corn (Maize) Maze

Posted on October 8, 2010 by TheJessicaness

I don’t think that I ever fully watched Children of the Corn, but I was ready to see it for myself in a town called Elkton about 40 minutes from home. We show up around 6:00 pm and the sun is still up so we walk around and look at the pumpkin patch, big piggy, two goats, one donkey, some chickens, a tractor, and a corn-box (maize version of sand) before we head in. The maze is divided into halves and the direction you choose is based on the answer to Girl Scout questions. We found one through five and number nine about four times, but could not find the tenth sign. We went back through and took a picture of each sign and soon were also trying to scare people walking through the maze with their flashlights.

corn at night

I was enjoying the darkness, but soon we had our flashlight on too and thanked the manager on the way out. It was exciting to have corn taller than my head and thick enough that I couldn’t see through it. I would still like a chance to attempt the Labyrinth for its possibility of getting me lost but also for the possibility of getting lost with Caleb. Unattended teenagers can quickly damage a maze by jumping and running through it; makes them more efficient at scaring children and old folks too. It is good to try new things and this is another I can cross off our bucket list.

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A Drive to Lake City

Posted on September 24, 2010 by TheJessicaness

Most people probably don’t like getting lost, but my mom taught me differently; it’s a great way to find your way around a new place and in a Ford F-350 it’s a great way to get stuck on tiny dirt roads. Well technology would be looking out for us on this trip. My husband always gets lost and doesn’t appreciate it much. I felt like a drive so I picked a city we have not yet been to and, without our dogs, we drove.

We passed a house with dead animal bone decorations, another with cows painted on the side, and happened to notice these cars procreating in the yard. Lake City is about 75 miles west from our house. There are plenty of restaurant choices upon our arrival but we are not yet hungry enough to eat. Only a 30-foot bull and a tattooed biker caught our attention before we left. I’ve heard that sometimes the journey is more interesting than the destination; in this case that theory is correct.

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