By: wellerwishes,
on 5/13/2008
I had been working on an illustration for my weekly post at the PBJ’s. I really liked how it was coming along, so I started compiling ideas of ways to improve the picture. I implemented these changes and I think they have really improved the piece aesthetically as well as from a narrative standpoint. I’d love to hear what you think!
Version 1
Revised version
.jpg?picon=834)
By: Mary Cunningham,
on 9/27/2007
Okay, I'm downright confused. I admit to being a Yankee. A Yankee living in West Georgia. But, what is it with Southerners?? They've never tasted (and in some cases, never heard of) RHUBARB?!?!
I wrote, what I thought was a very poignant memoir about my grandmother. She not only tended an amazing garden filled with tomatoes, corn, cabbage, well, all the typical Southern Indiana garden stuff...she also grew rhubarb from which she'd make the best rhubarb pie this side of the Mississippi.
I decided to read my story, remembering rhubarb pie... to my critique group. When I'd finished reading, I quietly took my glasses off and sat there, expectantly, waiting for the critiques to roll.
The first question took me by surprise. No, surprise isn't strong enough. It was jaw dropping.
"What's rhubarb?"
Tell me I didn't just hear that. What's rhubarb? Do these people come from some cave-dwelling society? Some never-before-seen culture that hasn't cut into a golden crust and pulled out a forkfull of the sweet/sour mushiness that is rhubarb?
Please, people! Tell me that someone out there has, at the very least, heard of rhubarb! That's all I want. And, don't...I repeat, DON'T tell me about your great-aunt's strawberry-rhubarb pie. That's just wrong.
* Rhubarb's Appearance In America:
Early records of rhubarb in America identify an unnamed Maine gardener as having obtained seed or root stock from Europe in the period between 1790-1800. He introduced it to growers in Massachusetts where its popularity spread and by 1822 it was sold in produce markets.
Hence my confusion entirely when I assumed rhubarb came from the south?! It's from the North?
I guess I have to wait for the story to unfold to learn more things about this strange pie.
:-)
Hence, MY confusion, Church Lady! I'm beginning to think that Rhubarb pie originated in my grandmother's kitchen!
Actually, it originated in China as a medicine. But, more about that, later
Hi Mary -
What? How could anyone not know what rhubarb is?
When I was a kid - everyone had gardens - and everyone had rhubarb growing in it - and every parent warned their kids never to eat the leaves.
There was always rhubarb something for desert when it came into season. ((Poor me - no amount of disguising this aweful plant with sugar or cinnamon or sugar or more sugar was enough for me. I couldn't stand it back then.))
Of course now I love the tart taste.
I had a friend who could eat it raw. UHG! I was sure she would die a horrible rhubarb death. Surely the leaves had touched the stalk at some point.
Oh well - Rhubarb I know. Collard greens and okra? What planet do those come from?
Dee
Oh, I'm so glad someone knows rhubarb!! Thanks for your comments, word.
I guarantee, if you'd eaten my grandmother's rhubarb pie, you woulda loved it! It was never too tart. Always the right amount of sugar. YUMMMMM!!
(I miss my grandma)
i grew up in NC, and i do know what it is, but only vaguely, to be honest. i've had rhubarb pie though!
now if you'd said okra, the southerners would be right with you!
My grandmother used to grow okra, too, Melissa. She would stew it with tomatoes, onions, and corn. Even as a kid, I loved it! I think most southerners eat it fried, though. I love it that way, too.
Speaking of fried; I had my first fried pickles when I moved to Georgia! Oh...they are the best!!!
Thanks for stopping by.