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Every journey up the mountain with Aunt Bett was an adventure. Gathering bee balm was one of the most exciting since we had to battle the hungry bees to get our fair share, not to mention the fact that the uniform for bee battling was never to be forgotten. This is the third in a series of stories about my great Aunt Bett, the mountain medicine woman.
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Bee balm grew everywhere along the roads, beside the paths, behind the outhouses, around the chicken house, and even in the corners of the vegetable gardens in the mountains. And we couldn't gather not even one twig of it. Oh, no, we had to go searching far away from humanity to get the very purest bee balm, because Aunt Bett said so. If it grew along the road, it was bound to be covered in coal dust from the many coal trucks that hauled coal from the small mines that dotted the mountainside in the 50's. If it grew beside the paths, too many dirty hands had brushed up against it. And of course we knew better than to pick anything anywhere near an outhouse or even a chicken house, those places didn't even have to be explained. And the garden, no, not there either, because horses and mules worked the garden and that garden bee balm was not pure. So off we went to climb to a relatively clean place up on the side of the mountain. I always wondered why Aunt Bett thought squirrels and possoms, raccoons and rabbits were any cleaner than horses and mules but I didn't dare ask. Maybe it was just the human contamination that she avoided. Bee balm, Monarda didyma, had a long and interesting history according to Aunt Bett. She claimed that it was made into tea that was used by the colonists after the episode of the Boston Tea Party. She also told me that Native Americans used bee balm as pomade for their hair and as a steam bath purifier before rituals. Aunt Bett sure knew a lot and I believed everything she said. We gathered bee balm for food and medicinal purposes, though I secretly knew that Aunt Bett brewed it into a tea which she drank every night. She told me it calmed the bees, and if it calmed the bees, then surely it would keep her calm. Maybe so, because I never saw Aunt Bett in a tizzy over anything. July in the mountains in the 50's was much like July any other year in any other state: HOT. Normally for my trips with Aunt Bett I wore long pants and a long sleeved shirt, but that was simply to keep the bugs and spiders away from my skin. By the time I came down the mountain, I was so hot the pants were rolled up to my knees and the shirt sleeves were rolled up to my elbows, and the stinking asphidity bag was dripping sweat. Gathering bee balm was much worse because we had to protect ourselves from the angry bees that also wanted bee balm. I hope you know what long johns are because I hate to even remember them much less describe them. Needless to say, they are normally a wintertime piece of clothing, all in one piece, and they fit closely to the skin from the neck all the way down to the ankles. Long johns went on first. Long socks were the next in the long line of bee balm gathering apparel. Keep in mind this was in July. Over my head went the asphidity bag, next came the long sleeved button up shirt, and trust me, it buttoned all the way up to my chin and all the way down to each wrist, the tighter the better. Next on were overalls, big overalls that were belted tightly around my waist. No going to the bathroom, that was for sure, and trust me, Aunt Bett wore the same attire, but she usually added a long skirt with pockets over her overalls. It is hard to describe what adorned my head, but I will try. My long curly hair was gathered into two thick braids and wrapped around my head, then pinned in place with at least a gazillion bobby pins. I swear it was so tight my eyes were squinted. But I felt very confident that bumblebees would never get tangled in my hair Then there was a square of white muslin that was placed with the four corners hanging down covering my face, my ears, and the back of my neck. On top of that sat a straw hat. If you dare say, "Oh how cute", I will wish your worst nightmare on you and a used asphidity bag to go with it. To be very honest, the front corner of the muslin could be tucked up under the brim of the hat until we got to the bee balm patch, but then it had to be lowered, simply because the bees had found the bee balm before we did! Aunt Bett promised me that the bees would not bother us if we did not scare them. So we approached the bee balm patch very quietly, but I noticed that Aunt Bett would hum a wordless tune. It almost became one with the hummmmmm of the bees as they gathered honey from one bright red bloom and then another. I watched Aunt Bett for awhile, as well as I could see from the corners of the white muslin that covered my nose, the bees didn't bother her, so I ventured in closer. We each had an old pair of scissors and the ever present brown paper bags with clothespins to clip on them when they were filled. I was to cut about three inches above the root and put the entire plant into the brown paper bag. I must also cut from the middle of the patch outward, and then only every fifth plant, no more, no less. What I realize now is that we were taking no more from nature than nature could reproduce easily. We did not take the roots at all, only the blooms, the leaves and the stems. By starting in the middle of the patch, we were following the bees, because the bees also started in the middle with the tallest bunches. This was the Mother Patch Aunt Bett said. It was where the Monarda started growing, and as its roots spread outward new growth formed and the outer perimeters were made up of the newest and the smallest growth. By the time we got to the outer edges, the bees had moved on and we never cut from that youngest perimeter. This method of gathering contributed to continual new growth of the bee balm and assured its renewal every year. All the brown, clothes pinned paper bags went into the big burlap sack that Aunt Bett kept stored in the big pocket of the skirt she wore over her overalls. I didn't have the job of carrying it on my back down the mountainside until a few years later when i grew a little taller, because at that time, the sack was much bigger than I was. I have to tell you the combination of attire and asphidity bag certainly saved my life more than once. I never got a bee sting, nor did Aunt Bett. To this day she is the only person dead or alive who could ever get me crammed into a garb such as the bee balm attire. Whewwwww! Makes me sweat just to think of it. We got our bee balm gathered and moved on down the mountain, stopping in the shade of one of the huge old trees to partake of our cold well water in the mason fruit jars, and a honey filled biscuit left over from Aunt Bett's breakfast. Before we started on down the mountain, I was allowed to take off my hat and muslin rag, the belt around the overalls, and even the long sleeved shirt, but still the long johns, the asphidity bag, and the overalls stayed. I would have been a lot cooler if I could have stripped down to the long johns, but Aunt Bett was a very modest woman, and no niece of hers would be caught on the mountain with her long johns showing. When we returned to Aunt Bett's back porch, the clumps of bee balm were tied together with strong twine and were hung on nails from the rafters. There they remained until they were dry enough to work with. Aunt Bett used the Bea Balm in two processes. The first was grinding the dried plant, all of it, and storing it in sealed brown bottles to use as a tea. We also reserved whole leaves of the Monarda (at least 3 bottles full) to use in making canned apple butter. The tea was made using one teaspoon of dried bee balm in a cup, covered with hot water and steeped for at least ten minutes. Before drinking, the tea was sweetened with honey. Not only did this drink act as a mild sedative, but it also was good for treating colds and sore throats. There were times when we would inhale the fumes from the steamed plants in order to clear our sinuses or a stuffed nose. It always worked. Aunt Bett used the flower and the leaf of the bee balm in cooking as well. The leaves were always added to her apple jelly or her canned apples and pears. Monarda is a part of the mint family after all, and Aunt Bett treasured the extra flavor it added particularly when she used her canned apple butter to make stacked cakes for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The other use that Aunt Bett had for bee balm was as a decoction, a process that involves boiling, and boiling again to get the strongest strength possible from the plant. The final process leaves one with about a pint of strong liquid that is mixed with vegetable oil and beeswax to create a very soothing balm. That balm would often have a red tint depending on the amount of flowers that were used, and it also smelled slightly of mint. The balm itself was used on parched skin, on burns, and on excema and rashes on the surface of the skin. I still find myself searching natural food stores for that balm, because it is wonderful for dry winter elbows and heels. If I still had my longjohns, maybe I could make my own, but then I would need an asphidity bag, too. Sad, I know, but I never learned how to make an asphidity bag. Here is Aunt Bett and my Granny Ninna's recipe for Stack Cake: 3 eggs 1 Cup brown sugar 3 Cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 Cup molasses 1 1/2 Cups butter 1/2 Cup buttermilk 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ginger 2 teaspoons vanilla "Cream butter, sugar, add eggs. Sift flour, soda and spices together and add alternately with buttermilk. Add vanilla. Turn out on floured board and knead. Pinch off in even balls big enough to flatten and cover bottom of iron skillet. If you have more than one iron skillet and a big enough oven, you can bake as many layers as you have room for. Bake in hot oven for about 25 minutes until brown. Set aside to cool while you bake the rest of the layers. You should have about 4 or 5 balls of dough from this 'receipt'. The more layers you have, the better the cake for a big family. When balls have flattened and baked and cooled, start with first layer on plate, cover with apple butter. Stack second layer, cover with apple butter. Repeat till all layers are stacked. Do not put apple butter on top layer. Cover cake with clean cloth and store till suppertime. Cut one slice at a time so the cake will not dry out. It is better to let covered cake 'set' overnight before eating it. The apple butter will soak in good overnight." I don't have the recipe for apple butter, but I am still searching. I only remember what a treat it was to sometimes find a piece of a leaf in a jar of apple butter or even in the middle of a Stack Cake, because I knew it was probably one of the leaves from the bee balm that I helped Aunt Bett gather. We can find Monarda in new and interesting colors now, ranging from pale pinks to deep reds and dark purples. In the days of Bee Balm gathering with Aunt Bett, we gathered only the wild deep red Bee Balm, and it still is my favorite, although I love to see all the new colors clustered in gardens. Next time you go gathering Bee Balm, don't forget your longjohns! All photos of Monarda in this article came from DG Plant Files. Special thanks go to Todd Boland, Sheila_FW, KevinMc79, Dicentra63, and Joy for use of their photos. Their love for Monarda is apparent in the beauty of their photographs. The photo of the Apple Stack Cake is from Laura Bryan: wwwlauraskitchen.com, with special permission for its use.
 | I am a retired high school art and humanities teacher. I grew up in the Appalachian mountains of southeast KY and now I live with my two rescued cats, Jazz and Daisy, in far western KY. I love daylilies and perennials, and thanks to my DG friends this year I am adding roses to my gardens.
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Subject: Two things for you......
Posted by PaulFromAL (from Piedmont, AL) on May 9, 2008 at 5:26 AM:One the picture I'm sending you, a special one for me anyways....My wife peaking her head through some bee balm in my first garden I ever had right after I got sick....A container garden when I lived in the dreaded Atlanta....:).......One of these days I'll tell you bout the first time I ran into bee balm in the mountains, I used to hike up in the Smokey's quite a bit when I was a young man....Second, I got a running list in my head of people I wish I'd met but didn't in this life of ours, I'm adding Aunt Bett to my list......Loved the stories, one other thing, I smiled inside when I read this line you wrote and smile inside now writing to you about it.....About how your mother was in awe of Aunt Bett "but not so for me; frankly, she scared me to death!" Gawd I loved that....... That's funny in a million ways....
Thanks for everything Sharon......
... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 9, 2008 at 10:03 AM: Paul, how beautiful your wife is, and my favorite red Monarda! Thank you.
I thought you might like Aunt Bett. She tends to drag our childhood right out in front of us.
One time I was listening on a conversation between Mom and Aunt Bett. I was swingin in my swing that hung from the limb of an old apple tree that never produced much more than yellowjackets. I leaned too far back and flipped over backwards and breathless. She came runnin over while I laid there tryin to breathe, ran her hands over my arms, legs and the back of my head, then pulled me up, sayin....You ain't hurt, chile, but you sure squashed some yellowjackets. ..... I had landed on a rotten apple that was dinner for the jackets I reckon because they were fairly flat where my butt had been. I was to scared to even cry, of her, not the yellowjackets.
Thanks Paul.
... Posted by PaulFromAL (from Piedmont, AL) on May 9, 2008 at 10:21 AM: You are so welcome, thank you.....And thanks for the comment about my wife, she is beautiful but I'll tell you the truth as I get older more and more I realize how much more inner beauty means and is more important to have, than outter beauty, in my wife's case she's got both and I'm such a lucky man....
Alright, I got news for you, my granny had one of them same apple trees that ain't good for nothing but producing yellow jackets......but the lady next door had some that produced the best apple pies you ever put in your mouth....man I wish I had one of them right now.....
You have a wonderful weekend Sharon.....
Paul from Alabama
... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on May 9, 2008 at 10:31 AM: You too, Paul, thanks.
I think I am going to zero in on Aunt Bett this weekend and see what she has to offer by way of words.
And Paul," warn't no lady next door to me in the mountains", but there was another apple tree out in the field. Fried apple fritters come to mind..... ...
Subject: great story
Posted by rubyw (from Crozet, VA) on April 11, 2008 at 7:27 AM:Sharon - I feel as though I am there when reading your stories. You do very well describing everything about your mountain trips.
Ruby ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 11, 2008 at 11:34 AM: Thank you, Ruby. You enjoy those mountains every day! ...
Subject: Like reading a great novel!!
Posted by DonnieBrook (from New England/Florida
(United States)) on April 10, 2008 at 5:57 PM:Sharon - I can't tell you how much I thoroughly enjoyed reading this latest article in your Aunt Bett series! You are a natural writer! What a treasure to have such wonderful memories of this special lady! The knowledge and experiences she exposed you to have surely enriched your life in more ways than you probably even realize! I also love that you thoughtfully included the recipe for the stack cake. That photo of it makes my mouth water!! I hope you can find the apple butter recipe with the mondarda leaves! Please keep these coming!! No wonder you have such a following already! I'm thinking published novel........Louise ...
Subject: Aunt Bett
Posted by daisyrock1 (from Norfolk, VA) on April 9, 2008 at 12:49 PM:Another in a hopefully long series of Aunt Bett stories! I can see it in my mind as I read it, sure sign of a good storyteller :) ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 9, 2008 at 1:50 PM: Thank you, so glad you enjoy them. I have a few more but am afraid my memory will run short very soon. It has been too many years! ...
Subject: Thank you for sharing these stories!
Posted by grrlsmom (from Taylorville, IL) on April 7, 2008 at 3:51 PM:Love all your writing, but Aunt Bett is priceless! It's like the Foxfire books! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 7, 2008 at 4:04 PM: Thank you, it is fun to write them, and I am so glad you enjoy! There will be more! ...
Subject: Indoor Apple Butter recipe
Posted by Dollykat (from Lucasville, OH) on April 7, 2008 at 12:11 PM:Real apple butter is made outside in a giant copper kettle over an open fire, stirred constantly with a special wooden paddle, by an experienced apple butter person, usually from Kentucky. They are the experts, in my opinion. It cannot be allowed to scorch, or it is inedible. Here is a recipe for those of us who do not have the time, place, or experience to make proper apple butter (factory-made is ghastly.) It is not as good as the real thing, but it serves the purpose,
Five pounds (about ten large) cooking apples, such as Golden Delicious (not Red), Granny Smith, or a combination, which I prefer. Peel, core, and dice the apples, placing them in a 6-quart slow cooker. Add two cups of granulated sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon. Stir a little to mix it all.
Cover and cook on low for ten hours. Uncover and cook on low heat for another two hours or until desired consistency is reached. Most large chunks of the apple should dissove and the overall effect will be like soft, slightly grainy apple butter. Warm setting on a crockpot will not produce the desired result; use a low setting. Allow the apple butter to cook before you place it in airtight containers. Refrigerate or freeze it until you are ready to use it. It will keep covered and sealed in the fridge for up to a week, in a freezer for up to three months. Thaw it in the fridge before you use it. If you want, before you refrigerate or freeze it, you can mash any lumpy apple bits with a potato masher or puree with an immersion blender. I recommend eating this apple butter on homemade buttermilk biscuits (buttered first, of course), which I believe would meet Aunt Bett's approval. A container of this apple butter makes a welcome hostess gift or a thank-you present to someone. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 7, 2008 at 12:49 PM: Dollykat, how nice to hear from you, and you are right, except in my early years, it was made in a huge iron kettle outside, then placed in mason fruit jars. I will certainly try your indoor recipe, the closest one I have to the original method.
Thank you so much, do you have KY relatives? ... Posted by Dollykat (from Lucasville, OH) on April 7, 2008 at 3:45 PM: Thank you, Sharon. I probably have a lot of them. My grandfather (whom I never knew) and his family migrated from Johnson County KY probably about a hundred years ago. His last name was Caudill, and many with that name still live in eastern KY, but unfortunately I don't know any of them. I have had apple butter made by some ladies in Greenup County, and it is the best I've ever tasted. I have a large copper antique apple butter kettle and a paddle, but I haven't the nerve to try to make apple butter in it. The crockpot method is the best I can manage. (I see a typo, in which I typed "cook" instead of "cool." ) I found that recipe in the Cincinnati Enquirer last year. I have read about those stack cakes, but I have never tried to make one. The women of KY were inventive, resourceful, and hard-working ladies who kept their families going, just as your Aunt Bett did. Thanks for your stories. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 7, 2008 at 4:08 PM: Dollykat....
My maternal aunt married a Caudill, so I have several Caudill relatives. Where I grew up is only about 40 miles from Johnson County, so I am sure the recipes are much the same.
A lot of people dried their apples, then cooked them down to make the stack cakes, so it wasn't always apple butter they used. I just happened to like the apple butter ones best.
My maiden name was Webb, and Mom'[s maiden name was Adams....along with Caudill, those are common eastern KY names.
I hope you sometime try your hand at a stack cake!
Nice talking with you. We might even be related. ... Posted by Dollykat (from Lucasville, OH) on April 7, 2008 at 11:32 PM: We might indeed be related. Seven generations back, my direct ancestor, a Matthew Caudill, married Sarah H. Webb, daughter of a James Webb, sometime in the late 1700's. One of my cousins, older than I, has spent his retirement years tracing geneaology, so I have a pretty complete Caudill family line back to the original immigrant from Scotland. I look forward to more of your stories about Aunt Bett and you. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 8, 2008 at 12:18 AM: How fun! I have my geneaology traced back to about 1600, and there is a James Webb in it. Tomorrow I will dig through my books to see if he had a daughter named Sarah. I will let you know what I find.
Where is Lucasville?
I do have relatives in Ohio, near Dayton, and also had a great uncle in Columbus. Both Webb. ... Posted by Dollykat (from Lucasville, OH) on April 8, 2008 at 9:12 AM: It is in south-central OH, about 80 miles south of Columbus, ten miles north of Portsmouth. The James Webb in my ancestry was married to an Elizabeth "Lettie" Nelson. James Webb's father was John Webb, Jr., his father was John Webb, Sr., born in Tetbury, Gloucertershire, Eng, died 1711 in Philadelphia, and HIS father was Robert Webb, born in 1615 in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England. I cannot take any credit for all this ancestry digging. My cousin sent all this information. But I have looked many times at the Johnson County genealogy website which is part of [HYPERLINK@www.rootsweb.com.] It has a lot of information, including old photos, census, cemetery records, and much more. My grandfather's family lived in an area in Johnson County called Barnett's Creek. My grandfather had one brother and four sisters--all gone now, but I have to tell you the girls' names--Cora, Dora, Flora, and Nora. Their parents and the six children all came here en masse in the early 1900's. ...
Subject: You made my day!!
Posted by daylilydaddy (from morehead, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 11:56 PM:Sharon
You have no idea how long I have been looking for the stack cake recipe. My aunt Minnie(more like my granny) made these using her dried apples. I have friends who have ancient apple trees and make apple butter for me. I just got a dehydrator and wanted so bad to make the dried apple stack cakes like my Aunt Minnie. Now I can!! My friend got me my own cookbook called Butter, bacon and grease. "the best from the collection of George Taylor's recipes". (I am a good ole country cook and my friends love it)You have made it possible to add to it a recipe I have been looking for forever.
I love your Aunt Bett adventures! Keep the articles coming. Now to find an old fashion Jam cake recipe made with blackberry jam and I will be a happy camper.
Take care my friend
George ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 5, 2008 at 12:23 AM: Well, George.......
I will add to your day. I have my grandmother's recipe for the blackberry jam cake, and when I find it I will be happy to share it with you.
And how about gingerbread??
I am glad you enjoy the articles, and how fun to share something that you can use. I wish we lived close enough so I could have a bite of that stack cake! ... Posted by daylilydaddy (from morehead, KY) on April 5, 2008 at 10:10 AM: Sharon
If you come to the ORV RU you will get to have a bite of it! I would love to have your grandmother's jam cake recipe. My sister had all my mother's old fashion recipes and some how lost them all. She finally fessed up a couple of Christmas's back. She made a jam cake and I knew it wasn't the right taste. It was good, but not mom's. Mom made her's and would cover it and let it set for about a week. I think she also drizzled a little rum on it. The top of cake would be like an icing it would have that gooey texture. You are a great writer. I love your description of things. I could feel the heat from the clothes and the hum of the bees in your article. By the way. I have 4 or 5 types of Monardia/bee balm if you ever want some. Red, lavender, purple, pink and the wild type we call burgamont(sp) I also have the alba/white in winter sown jugs thats coming up nicely.
(((HUGS))))
See ya on the journey and keep the articles coming!!
George ...
Subject: Apple Sauce
Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on April 4, 2008 at 8:43 PM:The way I learned to make apple butter is to (1) wash the apples. (2) Quarter the apples into a heavy pot, such as an iron kettle. Don't bother to peel or core the apples. (3) Add cider or water to cover. (4) Bring to a boil and then simmer until the apples look like apple butter. You can add sugar if the apples are not sweet enough, but it is not necessary. Optional. You can add cinnamon and/or cloves.
(5) When done process the apples through a food press to remove skin and seeds.
[HYPERLINK@www.paulnoll.com]
Since most of the nutrients of apples is in their skin it is best not to peel the apples first. And don't use apples that have been sprayed with insecticide or fungicide.
Serve the apple butter on fresh baked bread slices and with home made butter.
Excellent article, Sharran. Once again.
gloria ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 8:51 PM: Ahhhh, that's it, Gloria. The food strainer! That is exactly what was used to make the apple butter....it also was used for blackberry jelly, strawberry jelly, raspberry, and for tomato juice. How could I have forgotten.
It has been so long since I cooked like that, I didn't even remember. And somewhere I have my Mom's food strainer stored away.
Thank you.....you just solved a piece of the puzzle that I could not find in my memory stash. ... Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on April 5, 2008 at 8:41 AM: You are welcome. Ill send you my address for a jar of apple butter, please. ...
Subject: }:-) (evil smiley)
Posted by diehrdsouthrnr (from Bluffton, SC) on April 4, 2008 at 6:51 PM:oh how cute...
there i said it!!!! lol
i'm just giving you a hard time ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 7:05 PM: Oh! Bad!
Watch the mail for your asphidity bag!!!!!!
(It's on its way!)
... Posted by diehrdsouthrnr (from Bluffton, SC) on April 4, 2008 at 8:17 PM: lol ok i'm waiting!!! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 10:12 PM: 
...
Subject: The Official Aunt Bett Fan Club
Posted by darius (from Appalachian Mtns, VA) on April 4, 2008 at 12:03 PM:Count me in! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 12:35 PM: Thanks Darius....I'll make you president! ... Posted by darius (from Appalachian Mtns, VA) on April 4, 2008 at 1:06 PM: LOL! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 1:13 PM: In one of them I talked about climbing to the top of the mountain and looking over the other side into Virginia...and that is the truth. The roads around there have changed so much since I was there I probably could not find my favorite spots anymore. They sure are a bunch of good memories, though. ... Posted by Dutchlady1 (from Naples, FL) on April 4, 2008 at 1:54 PM: I love your walks down memory lane.... ... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on April 4, 2008 at 2:27 PM: Another great installment, Sharon! Thank you. ... Posted by AYankeeCat (from Bridgeport, CT) on April 4, 2008 at 2:58 PM: Great article. I look forward to new adventures with Aunt Bett. ... Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 4:35 PM: Another wonderful story that was told so well. Love them! ... Posted by Soulja (from Louisville, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 9:15 PM: So Aunt Bett huh? I'm a little late getting in the fan club because I just found out about her with this fine article Sharran, but I'm off to search for the others right now and she sounds like a bunch of fun, so count me in!
I love it Shar. You are so gifted. I always learn the most interesting things from you and I hope you continue to warm the hearts of us all with your articles and your stories and your daily musings on the forums. You Rock Shar! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 10:06 PM: Y'all sure do make writing articles fun. Thank you for your comments, and i am happy that you enjoyed my memories.
Now I am craving stack cake and apple butter! ... Posted by Zanymuse (from Fortuna, CA) on April 4, 2008 at 10:53 PM: Aunt Bett fan here. I can't help but wish someone had taken a picture of the two of you in your bee balm attire...you must have been soooo cute!
Evil grin and running now... ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 10:55 PM: Watch your mail, Z........you might not want to open the little package that is oozing and reeking.
But thanks.... ... Posted by Zanymuse (from Fortuna, CA) on April 4, 2008 at 10:57 PM: With a Cheshire cat sized grin... you are welcome! ... Posted by amethystsm (from New Haven, CT) on April 4, 2008 at 11:40 PM: another wonderful story - thanks!
amy
* ... Posted by tucsonjill (from Tucson, AZ) on April 5, 2008 at 12:03 AM: I hope I'm not too late to join the fan club! Love the stories, and the mental images they call up! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 5, 2008 at 12:23 AM: Never too late! Thank you. Glad you enjoy them. ... Posted by JasperDale (from Long Beach, CA) on April 5, 2008 at 12:42 AM: Another great read, and sympathy provoking, as well. That outfit you had to wear sounds like sheer torture for a little girl.
I hope the neighbor boys didn't laugh at you!
When are you going to post a picture of Aunt Bett ????? ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 5, 2008 at 12:46 AM: Hi JD, there weren't any close neighbors, boys or girls, thank goodness!
In the first Aunt Bett article: Aunt Bett, Poke Sallit and the Asphidity Bag which ran a month or so ago, and which you can find if you go to my DG homepage, has a picture of her taken in about 1900. I am searching for one from the days of our mountain adventures, but so far, still searching.
Trust me, when I find one you all will be the first to know!
Thanks for reading the article. ... Posted by Horseshoe (from Efland, NC) on April 5, 2008 at 12:48 PM: Yay! What a great adventure! Thanks for sharing, Sharron! It reminds me of my days tromping thru the woods while growing up with my GrandMother. I was right there with ya! (Except for all those clothes you had to wear! Yikes!)
Thanks for the journey!
Shoe ... Posted by georgiagarden3 (from Arlington, GA) on April 16, 2008 at 10:07 AM: I just found the Aunt Bett stories and love them all please add me to the Aunt Bett Fan Club. I can't wait for the next one. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 16, 2008 at 11:06 AM: Thanks Georgiagarden, I hope you have read the one for today. Glad that you enjoyed. ...
Subject: Informative
Posted by weedsfree (from Magna, UT) on April 4, 2008 at 11:46 AM:I just love your article. I want to grow bee balm and now I know how to use it and where to get the best quality ones. Thanks for the recipe too. Just love your article! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 12:39 PM: Glad you liked it, and I hope bee balm grows well for you. It is one of my favorites, too.
I still can't bake a stack cake that tastes as good as theirs, but I keep on trying.
thanks. ... Posted by weedsfree (from Magna, UT) on April 7, 2008 at 1:33 AM: Thanks. I will need that well wishing. :-) You keep trying. One day you will get it I am sure. I can't remember what you said in the article, do you still hike in the mountains to get the purest monarda? ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 7, 2008 at 1:47 AM: I haven't hiked in the mountains in a long time but I plan to do just that in about a month.
And I have monarda growing in my flower gardens, untouched by human hands!!! (except mine!) ...
Subject: Dear Aunt Bett
Posted by Bettypauze (from Victoria Harbour, ON) on April 4, 2008 at 11:28 AM:Wouldn't it be Shar, the highlight of anyones life to be remembered as you do Aunt Bett...such a tribute to her memory..as always, love the stories, you keep writting and I'll keep reading... ... Posted by Seedtosser1 (from Glenview, IL) on April 4, 2008 at 11:54 AM: HAHA, Shar can you hear my laughter of delight??
What a great story. Added more happiness to my already wonderful start of day!!
i just want to stand and cheer clap, clap...big big smiles.
LOL, I am not saying those dreaded words, least I am wished nightmares, hehehe, but I smile I as I am t h i n k i n g...of you and your Moutain Bee balm attire.
...Oh Yum, your grannies, Aunt Betts receipe sounds simply devine...going to check the cubards!
Please whens the next Aunt Bett story? Just love them. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 12:38 PM: thank you Ladies.....they are fun to write and I am glad they are fun for you to read. You will be reading more of Aunt Bett this month. It seems that April was the time we started trekking up the mountain.
Thanks again. ... Posted by Starzz (from Newcastle, ON) on April 4, 2008 at 4:35 PM: Hi Sharon,
Another lovely story that enchants and educates.
I have some Bee Balm growing in my garden and I will remember your Aunt Bett story when
it is in bloom and the bees are buzzing.
Cheers,
Carol
... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 10:17 PM: thanks for your comments, Carol. so glad you enjoyed the story. ...
Subject: love Love LOVE Aunt Bett stories!!!
Posted by ottoson (from Riley, KS) on April 4, 2008 at 7:53 AM:You have such a way with words Sharon...although Aunt Bett would probably not make it obvious, I suspect she would be very proud of your stories about her! Keep them coming! :) ... Posted by dragonfly53 (from South Boston, VA) on April 4, 2008 at 8:17 AM: I agree, I love Aunt Bett stories too! I wish I had an Aunt Bett when I was growing up to teach me about using natures remedies - I learn better when I'm shown things, rather than reading about them. But please, keep the Aunt Bett stories coming! ... Posted by cathy4 (from St. Louis County, MO) on April 4, 2008 at 10:09 AM: Adorable stories, can't wait for the next one! ... Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on April 4, 2008 at 11:15 AM: What wonderful, wonderful stories. Your descriptions are so eloquent I can see every scene as though I were there. More. Always more.
Christi ... Posted by imapigeon (from Gilroy, CA) on April 4, 2008 at 12:20 PM: Me, too! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 12:35 PM: Thank you. Aunt Bett was a true character, and I am glad that I learned from her. Also glad that you are enjoying getting to know her. I think I have learned more about her through these articles than I ever knew at the time of the hikes up the mountain. ... Posted by imapigeon (from Gilroy, CA) on April 4, 2008 at 3:28 PM: Not only that, but you're reminding me of my grandmother and her "ways", which were not so colorful as Aunt Bett's, but certainly had an impact on my love of plants & dirt! ... Posted by pirl (from Southold, NY) on April 4, 2008 at 7:55 PM: Another of your grand memories, Sharon, and as enjoyable as ever. I saved this Aunt Bett as my dessert but that Apple Stack cake certainly sounds wonderful. ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 10:16 PM: Aunt Bett stories are fun and I am very glad for the memories I have. I am also glad that they remind you of interesting people in your lives.
Pirl, there was a blackberry cake that my Ninna made....I sure wish I could find that recipe!
Thank you for your comments, and if Aunt Bett were here she would be thanking you too.
... Posted by pirl (from Southold, NY) on April 5, 2008 at 8:53 AM: Maybe you've heard this one but it still is worth repeating:
God gave us memories so we might have roses in December.
Seems Aunt Bett is a big part of you memories and deserves that place of honor. ...
Subject: Wonderful! Just wonderful
Posted by doccat5 (from Fredericksburg, VA) on April 4, 2008 at 7:50 AM:Sharran, thanks so much for sharing these lovely stories. I can see all this in mind. I think I figured out why you never learned how to make asphidity, though.........LOL I want to plant some bee balm this year. Hadn't thought about adding it to apple butter, and I make yummy apple butter. Like that idea. Thanks again!
Great job!!! ... Posted by dryad57 (from Indianapolis, IN) on April 4, 2008 at 8:23 AM: Oh Sharran, I get so excited whenever I see another Aunt Bett article!!! And I love monarda - such a wonderful plant - I knew it had a common name of Oswego Tea, but didn't know how to brew up any. I always used to stand by it when I worked in a garden center :) I have a few treasured ones in my back yard, and have enjoyed watching them "creep" as they have expanded the past couple of years. Thanks so much for the recipe! I bet if you tried real hard you could remember the makings of that asphidity bag though :) - some things we just choose to permanently erase from our memory banks - LOL! ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 12:41 PM: Thank you Rob and Cathy. This was one of my favorite articles to write. I too love the Monarda, and have several different colors growing in my garden, but my favorite will always be the dark red.
Glad you enjoyed the article. ... Posted by Pamgarden (from Nellysford, VA) on April 4, 2008 at 2:24 PM: Without a doubt, one of the finest short stories I've read in years. How very fortunate you were to have had Aunt Bett in your life. As a child of the suburbs, an asphidity bag is not within my experience, but I intend to Google it and find out what I missed ... Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on April 4, 2008 at 10:18 PM: Pam, I hate to tell you, but you really don't want to ever be very close to an asphidity bag. But they are sure fun to remember.
Thank you. ...
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