RicelandMeadows

The little bush that could!

July 7, 2011

 

     The bush in the photo above was planted last year. It had been confined to a pot way too long. The price was right, free, so I gladly planted the forgotten bush. This year it is loaded with blueberries. The fruit hangs almost to the ground. The little bush is only about 14 inches high.

 

     We planted this bush next to a couple existing blueberry bushes in a bed built just for that purpose. The bigger bushes were transplants too. They have started out slow, but seem to finally be coming on this year. The little root bound, orphan plant is so happy in its new surrounding that it will out produce its taller neighbors.

 

     An early hail storm this spring knocked most of the berries off the early varieties. The little green fruits looked pitiful as they laid rotting on the ground. I had pretty much given up on getting any berries at all this year until this little “bush that could” set its fruit. I am sure we will get some muffins and pancakes filled with the sweet fruit, along with a few for the freezer, thanks to our patch and mainly this little bush.

 

     When I was a boy, we were babysat by a little old lady. She was the proverbial lady, by which little old ladies are measured. She was barely five feet tall, saintly as they come, but filled with a fire for doing right. She was a profound christian woman who was born in West Virginia. She had a cute little accent with a hillbilly twang that just warmed your heart. She called me “Mr. Beaver” and the whole world called her Mrs. Dean.

 

     She was a feisty woman who raised five boys. She had been widowed at a young age, left to raise those boys on her own. She worked very hard to keep those strapping young men fed, clothed, out of trouble and with a roof over their heads. She cleaned houses, did odd jobs, raised a big garden and spent hours praying for all of us.

 

     I was dear to her and she treated me like a little prince. She would even make pancakes at ten o’clock at night! That little woman did whatever she put her mind to, no matter how big the task. In her latest years in life she would tend her garden on the hottest days of the year, can her food and make the best apple butter in the world…. even though many thought it was impossible.

 

     She taught life lessons almost every day, even without trying. She lived by example. I am in her debt, for taking me under her wing, watching out for me and giving me an appreciation for all things small. May God bless your soul  Mrs. Dean. You are still missed by a backwards little boy who loves pancakes and apple butter … not at the same time of course … pancakes are for maple syrup 😮