Lunch with the Masters ---- Gardeners, that is!

~~~Note the zucchini in cup to the left~~~

That squash was the prize given to the Master Gardener book club yesterday when they invited me to join them for lunch at Panhandle State Bank. It was my first zucchini of the year, and they told me it's almost too big.

So, lesson learned: pick zucchini early; then you don't have such a heavy bag to dump on your unsuspecting zucchini-impaired neighbor's doorstep. Plus, you've got more energy to run quickly so they'll never know who left it.

I was busy working on a writing project when the phone rang around 9:30 a.m. Shirley Barksdale of Wrencoe (note the 'e' on the end) called and told me she had a strange proposition, especially knowing from my blog that this was a busy week.

"Well, what is it?" I asked.

She told me the Master Gardeners do take time out from weeding and watering to read. They had selected Pocket Girdles as their book of the month. Of course, I was flattered.

Then, she invited me to join them to discuss the book.

Already into gear with my newfound response that I don't do public speaking any more, I hesitated and then asked her when this would be.

"Noon," she said. "Today."

My brain clicked into gear with a different take from what I had planned to say to her.

"Well, I guess if I haven't had time to think about it and get nervous, I guess I could." I told her.

That's the key with me. Wake me up and tell me to start talking, and I'm good to go. Give me a week to think about it, and my body and mind will work up the biggest set of inner turmoil a person could ever imagine.

So, we agreed that I'd meet with her and the group at noon. She told me I'd be a hero, and she'd be a hero, and everyone would be happy. That didn't sound like a bad thing.

And, it wasn't. I had a great time with the ladies in more of a visiting mode than public speaking mode. It was a hoot, and we laughed a lot.

It was fun to hear their snippets from stories I haven't revisited for quite some time and fun to hear their reaction to them, i.e., "Starvation Week," the slipping saddle on old Darkie when Mother and I rode to Jack's Lockers to get meat, and, of course, they all had their girdle stories and they're all as relieved as I am that society has changed its attitudes on "proper attire."

I gave them that zucchini in a wine sack. Someone mentioned a cork screw and then out came the squash. Someone else said the squash was almost disgusting. I hadn't thought about that. All I thought was that Master Gardeners could tell me how to cook my squash this year without mush.

The smaller the better they told me. Shirley said olive oil, parmesan and a sautee pan were a good combination.

So, the next time I see a squash within six or seven inches long, I'll pluck it from the vine and throw it in the pan.

I figured since the theme of today's posting revolves around Master Gardeners, I'd show off some of my garden bounty. How 'bout them melons!

And, of course, it takes a nice sun to help all those little veggies and fruits get to where they're going, so I've included a shot of a most beautiful sun coming up over the Cabinets earlier this week.

Thanks, Shirley, and thanks to all the great gardening ladies who read my book and laughed.

You made my day!

And, speaking of flowers, ROSE Marie, I know you were the culprit! You owe me one!