There is one thing more insidious than the infection, and that is how I got it to begin with. We have no idea. The doctor pointed to a tiny scab on my thumb, no bigger than the period at the end of this sentence. He said THAT was the source of the infection, which may have been an insect bite or tiny scrape that I got while going about my business outside and never noticed. But since I had such an obvious source of blame in that awful opened blister on the same thumb, I had just assumed the infection stemmed from that.
Well. So now I am at home with a swollen thumb which is alternately throbbing with pain or numb, and the limited use of my right hand is KILLING me. You know, I am one of those people who think that even if I am home sick, there ought to be something that I can get done around here.
In the Garden: Well, we have everything up and flowering, but our lettuce is coming to an end. I am enjoying the black raspberries which are doing well, but wish we had planted more of them. For now I am going to freeze them, and when there is enough, can pie filling.

In the Kitchen: Cantaloupes are hardly in season yet here, but they must be in season somewhere since I found them on sale and brought home a couple, which were so ripe and sweet I could have devoured them myself in a couple days time. One thing I wanted to try making was spiced cantaloupe, which I love at picnics during the summer. I was going to call my Aunt M- and get her delicious recipe, but I knew exactly where she would send me to get it. That old stand-by, the Mennonite Community Cookbook. So I took that recipe and refined it, and scaled it down to make one quart.
Spiced Cantaloupe
1 medium-large cantaloupe, cut in strips, chucks, or melon balls.
1/4 Tablespoon alum (to help the melon keep its shape)
1 quart warm water
2 cups sugar
1 cup vinegar
1 cinnamon stick
1/4 Tablespoon whole cloves



Oh my goodness! I hope you are recovering quickly. That is scary to think that such a tiny scab was the culprit.
ReplyDeleteThe recipe sounds interesting ... I'll have to try it.
That infection sounds nasty - I do hope it clears up soon.
ReplyDeleteAre black raspberries the same as blackberries, or different? I've never heard of black raspberries, only ever the red ones, and since they do look the same (in fact I think I thought they were the same as a small child), I wondered if it was a case of American and English english being not-quite-the-same.
Anyhow, I've never met a blackberry or a raspberry I didn't like, so I'm sure they're delicious - hope you enjoy them!
Best wishes,
Jo
Oh I feel so bad for you - that's why I never try and work too hard, I just don't want to get any infections. ha ha It's a bit scary, too, when they take you in that quick and get you hooked up that quickly - they're not messing around. Feel better and hire a gardener and maid. :D I'm thinking about you ~ ♥
ReplyDeleteJO- Black raspberries have a unique taste all their own, although they do sort of resemble a blackberry. For some reason, black raspberry is most widely available here in the states as an ice cream flavor, but you don't see it in other things outside of the midwest.
ReplyDeleteI'm like you- all berries are good to me whether red raspberries, black berries, and even mulberries.
Oh my, I will pray that your hand heal quickly and the discomfort ends soon! I'm like you... even when I am sick I still have to have something to do!
ReplyDeleteI love all sorts of berries! Mmmmm, there are lots of mulberry trees in our area, and lots of purple fingers. =)
I've never tried spiced cantalope, that sounds delicious! Another recipe for me to try, thank you!
Get well soon!!
Hope you have a speedy recovery!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about the infection. Imagine that, a hole the size of a dot resulting in this. Get well soon and don't work too hard.
ReplyDelete