#potato problems

Edith invited me out to the woods a few Thursday’s ago when I was coming back from the city, with the caveat that she was going to be in the garden capitalizing on every bit of sunlight she could -things have remained awfully wet and soggy in these parts.

Naturally, I didn’t mind joining her out on the property.  I picked up a few local ales and a special Belgian beer I hadn’t had in ages I reckoned she may have a taste for.

When I arrived Edith was busy in the potato field, so I walked the several hundred meters to join her, through the new deer fence surrounding the garden noticing the chirping birds and Oklahoma sky beginning to opalize as the sun prepared to retire for the day.  I was thinking about how precious it is for me to get to admire my home terrain by proxy of spending time with a babe.

I was pretty smiley as I approached, Edith was rattled by all the bindweed taking over her potatoes.  Yet somehow, despite troubling circumstances and choosing a tireless vocation, she still radiated there in her overalls and balanced disposition.  I ask how I can help and she pauses to survey things, sighs then steps into gear showing me how she removes the bindweed and we move along the rows in parallel.  She asks about my last few shifts at the art collective and I respond, not moving nearly as quickly as she does while I try to consider my words and make sure I’m not accidentally removing the potato plant itself.  We come back through with a wheel barrel and collect all the discarded weeds.  We wash off some of the cutest little white, red, and purple potatoes she’d harvested before I got there, and put all the tools away.

As Edith lets me in on some of the adversity she faces I find myself more and more enamored.  It’s one thing to witness someone in their element, in flow, and another degree of intimacy to see a demonstration of resilience.

When we got inside her kitchen she got the brews cooling off and gave me a kiss, thanking me for the help, and pausing to say “Soo.  I spilled gasoline on myself earlier and I’m covered in natural plant chemicals. Would you mind if I quickly showered?”  I did not mind.  And asked if I could begin to get dinner prepared while she washed up.  She keenly nodded and withdrew a cutting board and knife for me, placed her hands on my waist and softly spoke into my ear that this is how I should know she’s comfortable with me -turning me loose with a task while she took a moment for herself.

It's like f*ckn school all over again. At least people loved me more than... I even had haters...

（ ＴДＴ）

after i had a wisdom tooth removed i lived on ice cream and yoghurt for two days before i realized mashed potatoes are a thing and to this day i have never tasted anything better than those home made mashed potatoes

oooh that sounds rough. i’ve only even had canines out so i didn’t have to deal with any major food restrictions

make potato salad!