Sunny days and sweatshirt nights.
I suppose it’s obvious from several of my recent posts that I have waxed nostalgic for Northeast Ohio of late. Honestly, I don’t regret having made the move south all those years ago. The moderate temperatures of a South Florida winter still hold sway over the seemingly endless string of grey sky days, sleety nights, slush and spring mud that are all too frequently the typical snow belt winter.
AdmittedIy, to keep everything in perspective, I do have to remind myself periodically of the straw that broke this camels back; winter that began in October (1995) with snow and freezing temps and never relented for a moment until after Mothers day the next spring. (1996)
After spending an entire day shoveling snow off the roof due to leaks and worse - concern about possible roof collapse. I’d had enough.
Prior to my surgery a few weeks ago, I spent a great deal of time frantically working outside. Stuff I knew I couldn’t do during recovery. Some pretty strenuous projects. Installing pavers, cleaning up flower beds and the yard. I got used to the heat and endless sweat of outside activity here years ago. I’m actually ok with it. It’s just that by early September I’m done. I’ve had enough of the upper 90 degree temperatures. I start thinking about fall. Now that I’m retired and can get away - I want out!
Labor Day in my old stomping grounds has always been accompanied by the Great Geauga County Fair. Warm sunny days and sweatshirt nights. I’m not really a big Fair aficionado, but I’d usually stop by at least once to make a circuit or two of the midway and catch a sausage sandwich. There was always a good possibility of bumping into an old friend I hadn’t seen in years. Sure northeast Ohio weather is pretty unpredictable, but this time of year when its nice - it’s real nice.
When I was in high school, I was in marching band. We always had some part in a Fair Event. I recall parking in the field once with ankle deep mud from incessant rain. Marching on a soggy racetrack in drizzle and trying to keep warm in a soggy uniform afterward, but that wasn’t the norm.
It’s still a little early for any fall color but you’ll start seeing some empty corn stalks. The fall harvests are getting underway.
This always reminds me of my one and only foray into vegetable gardening.
In the early 80’s I had cleared a couple acres of our land. Being the enterprising young fella that I was, I decided that dedicating an acre of my newly cleared ground to sweet corn and pumpkins could provide a nice little nest egg in the fall to help offset the cost of our winter heating oil. I did a bit of homework and found three varieties of good sweet corn that all matured at different times - roughly 2 weeks between each. If I played it right it should begin ripening in mid August and run well into September. We could put a little produce stand by the road and sell it. Between that and a good crop of Pumpkins we could market later, we should make a tidy profit.
I don’t recall who plowed and dressed the field for me but we got it done and dedicated 3/4 of an acre to corn and the remainder to pumpkins. 24 hills.
All went well. The weather was perfect that summer, warm sunny days with just the right amount of rain. I was so excited to see the first shoots coming out of the ground. I recall spending time out there weeding but undoubtedly not nearly as much as I should have. My pumpkin patch was pretty good but I did neglect the corn a bit. Nevertheless, that garden thrived! Row after row of beautiful corn stalks. Pumpkin vines plentiful on their hills.
“Knee high by the 4th of July” was always the benchmark. I was right on target.
The pumpkin vines had begun to blossom.
I don’t recall when the first corn came in but I’m thinking later August and man it was good! I was elated.
But one minor problem.
All of it seemed to be maturing at the same time!
Evidently, it had cross pollinated. Suddenly overnight there was ripe sweet corn everywhere! We started picking as fast as we could but couldn’t begin to keep up. Furthermore it appeared every farm for a thousand miles had a bumper crop. You couldn’t give the stuff away! We ate so much corn we were sick of it! I told everyone I knew to feel free to come by and pick all they want.
I seriously doubt we picked a quarter of that crop.
It was disappointing but at least we still had the pumpkins.
Or so I thought.
It sure looked like it would be a great harvest - I had pumpkins growing everywhere, but they were the most peculiar looking pumpkins I’d ever seen. Kind of long and skinny. Oh well, I figured they had some time to fill out yet before harvest. I’d go out there every few days to check, keep the hills weeded, hoping to see some improvement. Oh they were growing all right - longer.
I had the sinking feeling that something was amiss.
I’m not sure who finally broke the news to me but it had to be done. I was the unwitting farmer of a bumper crop of Zucchini! It seems the seed house up the street had mislabeled the seeds. I didn’t know wether to cry or go hunt them down and do despicable things to them!
I hate Zucchini! With a passion! As soon as I could arrange it, I had the entire crop plowed under.
Anyway, sorry about the diversion.
This time of year I do get homesick for Ohio. I miss fall.
We were able to go up two years ago for the 200th anniversary of the Fair. They had some really great displays and memorabilia dating all the way back to the beginning! The few times in recent years that we’ve been fortunate enough to be there during Fair time we spend most of it sitting on the front lawn of my brother-in-laws place directly across the street. It’s so refreshing to just hang out with family, see a few old friends, people watch and occasionally scoot into the fair just long enough to grab a sausage sandwich, an elephant ear and get out! Evening rolls around, the sweatshirts come out. So does the wine if you hang around long enough.
Last year we went up in late September. Beautiful days and cool nights. Perfect weather. The trees were in the early stages of autumn color. Saw the most incredible field of sunflowers ever!
Unfortunately we won’t get there this year. Physical therapy on my hand is scheduled weekly through early November.
So if you’re at the Fair this year - I hope it’s nice!
(Enjoy that sausage sandwich! Maybe keep a sweat shirt handy.)
