Big Mamas

My brother and I have been saying for sometime that we should've been writers for Jerry Seinfeld, or at at least consultants for the shows that included his parents.  Today, still less than 24 hours into their visit, we drive to Pete's Herbs so my Dad could stock up on tomato and pepper plants that he can then brag about to his friends and neighbors back in Virginia...the conversations, once back home, will go something like this:

Dad:  "Did you hear?  We found Big Mamas down in South Carolina when we went visiting our daughter."

Random Person (it could be ANYBODY):  "Big Mamas?  What's a Big Mama?"

Dad:  "Oh come on, you know (with a wink).  Anyway, I couldn't find any Whoppers though.  I really wanted some Whoppers.  There was alot of other stuff, just no Whoppers.  And I don't like the Wonders.  Really glad I found the Big Mamas though."

(By this time the Random Person has walked off, confused.  Dad doesn't care, because the next Random Person has showed up.)

So driving out to Johns Island in search of Big Mamas, we had a 40 minute conversation about the car in front of us.  You see, this car had it's left turn signal on for about 20 miles.  I never doubt where I got my inquisitive nature from - my parents came up with at least 10 solid hypotheses regarding why this turn signal remained on.  And there I was, thinking it was because they just hadn't turned it off yet.  Anyway, that 40 minutes could've easily been cut down into a 30-minute sitcom.

So, with my Dad, I've learned all sorts of things in 24 hours.  Like what FOX News goes on and on about.  I'll be honest, I never listen to it, even to just increase my general life awareness (which is always a good thing) - but this morning I did for awhile...and WOW.  According to them, Bin Laden is FREAKED OUT, RUNNING SCARED, and catching him is JUST AROUND THE CORNER.  Any day now.  No wonder there is such a divide.  This divide is the new ocean forming out in the northeast region of Ethiopia.  Hopefully it won't swallow us all up as it grows.

Now, with my Mom, I have come up with the perfect solution to keep her from talking with me about building a new house or how I work so much or why my recipes aren't in some kind of order...it's called LABOR.  Yep, I put her to work in the garden.  I usually give her a dog to keep her company (also knowing that she doesn't like them too much) - which she appreciates now since I've told her all sorts of horrible snake stories.  Now she looks at my yard as one big Reptile Zoo, instead of weedy and out of control.

Oh - you can order seed for Big Mama tomatoes at The Cook's Garden or just rush out to Pete's Herb on Johns Island.  Better yet, drive eight hours somewhere to get them - in a warmer zone than your own, so you can brag to random people when you get back home.

Comments

[Heather]

I found your blog through Lowcountry Blogs on PostScripts; it's fantastic.

I made our first tomato pie of the year. Heaven.