This is the two hundred and nineteenth day of the year. It’s a blur for me, I have to admit.
There are yellow walnut leaves on the grass, and some of the elderberries are ripening. I have been hearing sandhill cranes at dawn, and the red-winged blackbirds have receded into the background of the birdsong symphony. There is fog in the morning more often than not, and with all these signs piling up, I have to say that fall is almost here.
So what have the Fullers Four been up to all summer?
Tony has been in herbal heaven, exploring fields, and collecting plants, leaves and roots. One of his projects has been to make old-fashioned sassafras root beer. He did some experiments on his own, first using the branches of a sassafras sapling, then using the roots, to see the differences in the flavor. (He basically boils the wood, along with some spices, in water.) After it boils, he adds a sweetener, then mixes in a little seltzer water, and viola! Homemade root beer!
How do you like my snazzy snifter? Tony brought me a taste in this cordial glass that I repaired using a shell. (I never know what kind of flavor I’m going to experience in these tasting adventures, so a smaller glass is prudent.) His root beer tastes a little like the commercial varieties–you can tell it’s in the same genus–but it’s less fizzy and more pungent. After drinking, it warms up my insides! (It might be the spices he uses: cinnamon, cloves and allspice.)
He is also planning adventures with something called “spicebush,” aka Lindera Benzoin, which has lemony-smelling leaves, and smallish berries used as a spice by the native Americans. Tony said that our ancestors used it during the Revolutionary War as an allspice substitute, since the supplies lines were cut off.
The green spicebush berries have a flavor reminiscent of lemon rind and cloves. They are very nice in this form, but when they ripen to a deep red color later on, the flavor changes. We will have to wait and see what that’s like.
Tony has been going to the Reading Farmer’s Market every Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. (at the Michigan Street Pavilion), offering his Baby Balls of Fire (cayenne pepper pills), his Cat Nap pills (Catnip), and has added some fresh herbs for sale, along with potted varieties.
Tony has also finished post-production on his latest audiobook, “Basil and the Tornado.” This one is full of sound effects and is suitable for a younger audience, but as usual, older ones will appreciate it, too! We are working on the final illustrations for it, and he will have that one for sale soon.
Beau has just finished his latest issue of “Beau’s Shorts.” In this one, Dr. Dumb is at it again, trying to put a garden in a bit late in the season. This issue is titled, “Need for Seed.” We get a glimpse of Dr. Dumb’s sister in this one, and boy, is she sweet! This makes the third issue of “Beau’s Shorts,” following “Cheesy Squeeze,” and “Stuck Truck.”
“Need for Seed” is on sale now.
I have been doing some writing this summer, and have continued the sunrise project and all the associated fun that has spawned. I have become interested in tracking the moon through its phases, and have also tried to capture planets and interesting cloud formations. I am amassing pictures, and discovering amazing things by simply watching the sky.
Jim is fine, just very busy at work right now. He has acquired some beautiful black walnut wood, and is drying that for some fall turning projects. Hopefully, we will have more to post about his woodworking in a few weeks.
Thanks for reading, and for encouraging us!
The Fullers Four 