Green Beans and Griffin's Falls (Life in the Finger Lakes)(OT)

Yesterday was what Mother used to call a red-letter day. This Summer has been an old-fashioned Summer, with many cool days, and dry air, and towering bright piles of clouds in blue skies. Before I go on, I should tell you that green beans are one of my favorite foods. Which would be a minority choice, but I love 'em. And the waterfall in the gully in my backyard got christened yesterday, which seems like a special occasion.

I went up the hill at about 8:30 in the morning to see if the Sauders had any green beans. At the little farmstand by the road across from their all-but-falling-down barn where they keep their buggy, there were none set out, but Lydia, the matriarch of the family, went around the far corner of the house to look for Naomi, her daughter, who she thought might be out in the field even as we spoke. She came back with a smile and said, "She's heading in with the beans right now." A moment later, Naomi, wearing a black bonnet (showing she is unmarried) and a brick-red apron over her ankle-length dress, came around the corner of the farmhouse. It was a beautiful morning—as it has been all Summer, the air was very clear and carried a lovely fresh scent, and it was not yet hot, and the morning sun still seemed to tinge everything with a touch of gold. Naomi carried a wooden basket full of freshly-picked beans and I paid her three dollars for a quart container. Plus a dollar for a ripe peach, for dessert.

I decided to have them for breakfast. I usually fix half one day and half the next, but I was hungry so I cut all the beans I bought. I indulged myself—I'm not supposed to eat butter, but I love my green beans with butter so I break the rules a little. I still have more than a stick to go on my first pound of butter for this calendar year, so I don't eat much. I steamed the beans and ate them with the butter and not quite enough salt to taste. They were lovely, soft, and with a delicate flavor I just never taste in week-old green beans from the supermarket. It's possible I've eaten beans as good in years long gone now, but I am also willing to believe there is no such thing as beans that could ever taste better. A treat of the season.

Naming rights
Later, throwing the ball for Mr. Handsome—he must be the only dog who will sometimes walk out to get the ball when I throw it and then walk back—I heard some children shouting in the gully, which is dark and shrouded with leafy trees in the Summertime, so I walked over to see what was up. There were four little kids climbing around in the creekbed, two girls and two boys, none older than about ten, all cute as could be (I'm sorry I don't have a picture, but I wouldn't put up a picture without their parents' permission anyway). They were discussing frogs in bright voices. I hailed them from the bank, which took them by surprise—people of any age almost never look up on their own—and said hello. They said they couldn't believe that there was so little water this Summer, because sometimes there's more, and I told them that sometimes, in the early Spring, there's so much water that you can't see any of the rocks—the rocks that surrounded them, that they were standing on and walking over. They were politely amazed by this. Soon the older girl asked me, "Did you know it has a name? This waterfall?" I said I didn't, and she said, "It's Griffin's waterfall! That's what we call it!" I asked her how it had gotten that name, and she indicated the sturdy, shirtless, smiling boy in red shorts standing next to her. "This is my friend Griffin," she said, "and they came to visit." Griffin looked to be eight or nine. "It's Griffin's waterfall because he found it!"

Well, I thought on it some, and this seems perfectly reasonable to me. Discoverers get naming rights; if he found it, then Griffin's Falls it is. At least if I have anything to say about it.

Or in case anyone ever asks.

Mike

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Thor D.: "Thank you for sharing this little slice. This was the most pleasant thing I have read in a while."

Rich Szmyd: "You made me really hungry for green beans! I'll have to look at the farmer's market this weekend to see if they have any that are as fresh as yours. Yum."

Dillan K: "I am bombarded by a steady stream of partisan politics, anger, fear and misery. I think it's terribly important for all of us to remember the really important things in life: the innocence of childhood, the taste of fresh green beans, playing ball with the dog, and the shy beauty of an Amish farmer's daughter. There is good in this world. Thank you for the reminder."

Comments

[Ray]

A delightful story in two parts - the beans and the waterfall. No need for an illustrative photo on either, as your words created vivid mental imagery better than any photo. Many thanks, Mike.

[Dave Levingston]

What a simply lovely bit of writing.

[Eric Peterson]

Then there’s Nelson’s Bridge over a small stream in Costa Rica. So named because Nelson hit one of its guardrails with his truck and left a permanent signature. Not a very big bridge, not a very big truck.

[Hans Muus]

Beautiful short story. The logic of the plot somehow reminds me of Alice in Wonderland, only this is real - after all, you’re a photographer, not a painter. Thank you !

[Mike Marcus]

A perfectly telling of life during a perfect morning. Thank you.

[Richard Alan Fox]

Just like the beans I savored the words, no butter needed.

[Jim Metzger]

This whole post just made me smile.

[Jeff1000]

Hey Mike, you’re like Thoreau with a camera. 😀👍

[Rene]

Nice story, Mike. Life as it should be.

[A. Dias]

You may want to try a good first press virgin olive oil over boiled beans, instead of butter - the Mediterranean way.

[Richard Tugwell]

Sure is off-topic, but nicely written!

[John Camp]

Nice piece of writing. When I was a kid, I was made to work in vegetable gardens, not because I was good at it or my labor was really needed, but because it was "good for me." I don't know, maybe it was. From this days, I have harbored a great hatred for beets, but a great fondness for radishes and green onions. But apropos your taste for beans (I'm neutral on beans), people who haven't tasted a good variety of sweet corn, quickly blanched within an hour or so of picking, really don't know what corn can taste like. Hot, sweet, just a bit of butter. Nothing better in the veggie world, IMHO.

[Clayton]

A small sign would seem to be in order, just so someone else does not change the name.

[Fred Haynes]

Green beans are a favorite of mine too. Several times, I tried growing them, and never had any luck. I always got lumpy beans, and tough. The wrong variety I suppose. I recall a picture you had posted Mike, of a purchase from your local farm stand. This was a few years ago. It may have been what pushed me to try growing my own.
I like them steamed or stir-fry with a drizzle of olive oil, and a bit of vinegar or lemon juice. I like my veggies, crispy. A snack is a raw carrot or a stalk of celery . My wife made broccoli the other night, steamed with a bit of oyster sauce. Loved it, though a bit salty, and I have to watch my salt intake.
I’d love to visit your neighborhood, it’s nothing like mine.
Fred

[fred]

Count me as a great fan of green beans also. Butter is only used for fresh beans in our household but instead of salt try a little nutmeg. Every person I have suggested this to has become a convert. YMMV of course.

[Michael J. Perini]

I Grew up in Brooklyn NY in an Italian Family. We had (for Brooklyn) an unusually large plot of land. My Father bought it in 1949 and made an apartment for my uncle (his Brother) and his wife. My uncle was an avid gardener and practiced organic gardening long before I ever heard the term. I would occasionally help him. I learned about double digging, sifting and adding compost to garden soil which was 24" deep. He even had a fisherman friend who would bring him bushels of sea weed which he would use as mulch and later turn in.
He grew Beans, tomatoes, corn, squash, cucumbers carrots, radishes, onions, spinach, lettuce, and Rhubarb. In the summer when the green beans and tomatoes came in together, my Mother would make Italian Green beans in Tomato sauce. I can still taste it.
There is nothing like 'just picked freshness'
Here is a nice approximation of her recipe, hers was probably a bit simpler.
https://www.insidetherustickitchen.com/italian-green-beans-tomato-sauce/

[Roger Overall]

A perfect picture in words of a slice of your life.

[Pi Manson]

Mike: we live on different continents, we have decades between us in age, we’ve never met and our lives could scarcely be more different, you and I.

Yet I feel privileged to “know” you through this blog, your wonderful writing and the glimpses of your photographic and day to day life. This was a beautifully evocative little glimpse, that reminds me of my own childhood on the Welsh borders. Thankyou.

[Kent Wiley]

Thanks for sharing. It doesn't have to be about cameras all the time, as you've proven numerous times.

[Sam Pieter]

Man! You’re so good at writing.

[David B Graham]

This is why I come back. Not your pool or politics. You live in a blessed neighborhood and bless us with how it is to be there. I got a little misty eyed reading about those children. I could see her standing there, hands on hips declaring the name of the waterfall because of her friend. I also like when you write about photography too.

[MikeR]

Or, a red lettuce day, as John Lennon might have said.

Beans are easy to grow. If you have a mostly sunny spot near your house, stick a cheap, narrow trellis or two in the ground, poke some holes, and insert bean seeds. Some nice varieties in the Burpee catalog. But, do continue to support local agriculture.

Kids occupy a wonderful world of their own making. I miss being with my two youngest grand kids (3 and 6), even though they live just 20 minutes away. My daughter has been very careful with coronavirus precautions. Necessary, but sad at the same time.

[Bob Feugate]

A truly charming post. Makes me think about leaving Arizona for the Finger Lakes...then I think about winter

[Moose]

Sweet stories!

I too forget to take photos of the beautiful food - before it's gone.

\;~)>

[Merle]

Maybe you've tried it but, if not, try Miyoko's Organic Cultured Vegan Butter - https://miyokos.com/collections/vegan-butter - instead of butter. If you can find it and feel you can afford it, that is. Not the same as butter, but still pretty darn good.

[Thomas Mc Cann]

Green beans. Yuck

We live in a country area so have ended up fixing our own names to roads and junctions. I blame it on the motor car. 60 odd years ago most country people in Ireland walked or rode a bicycle so social interaction was greater and local names exchanged. Now the most you get is a wave from a passing motorist

[Ger Lawlor]

TOP's editor-in-chief 'waxing lyrical' (in the literal rather than common sense of the phrase) on life at finger lakes provides welcome respite from the trials of this strangest of years. And writing these lovely cameos in what this European reader sees as 'proper American English' puts the icing on the cake. Thanks Mike.

[Patrick Dodds]

Did I imagine it, or were you thinking of moving house? Are you crazy?! :)

[David Brown]

A perfect day.

[Richard Parkin]

If I knew what “ green beans” were this might be the one occasion I can agree with your food recommendations, not that the others haven’t been interesting. I grow in my garden what we in U.K. call climbing beans or climbing French beans which are usually green but can also be yellow or purple and can be round (usual) or flat in cross section.

[James]

@ Richard Parkin.....
When I were a lad in the UK, we called 'em 'Runner Beans'
I remember in the early 1950's my grandma (Nan as we called her then) grew them. As did everyone else that had a garden in south London and had lived thru rationing.

[Richard Parkin]

@James. No, no, runner beans (which we also always grew in what is now South London) are an entirely different animal and much hardier in our climate than climbing ‘French’ or green beans. I am growing both currently. Runner beans are actually a perennial though only grown as an annual and a common variety is the Scarlet Runner. Green beans eventually ripen to become Borlotti/Cannelini etc, a common (and excellent) variety being Cobra.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/vegetables/runner-beans
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/vegetables/french-beans

[Kye Wood]

Wow! It felt like reading Twain. I hope you take that as a massive compliment. What a nice change of pace Mike. Thank you.

[JOHN B GILLOOLY]

Really special.

[Ken Ford]

I'm just getting caught up with the last week of TOP. Apparently I was in your approximate neck of the woods this past Wednesday as I flogged a 26' U-Haul across I-90 from Illinois to my new home in NH. Gorgeous country you live in!