An Intoxicating Aroma

    This is the bountiful year for the apple tree at the hedgerow. We spent time there this spring under its fragrant bower, celebrating the delicate scent of paper thin petals. Now the branches, heavy with yellow and rose dappled apples, cause us to rejoice. 

    Up in the garden the Spanish onions, white and bulbous, are popping out of the ground and the globe basil in the herb bed next to the house is just beginning to flower. All of these ingredients will simmer together to make a pot with the most intoxicating aroma. Yes, it’s Tomato-Apple Chutney time! But before this wonderful concoction can be ladled into hot sterile canning jars the apples must be peeled, sliced, and cored, the onions skinned and cut into quarters, and the tomatoes picked, blanched, and chopped.

    We've been feasting on vine-ripened tomatoes ever since the middle of July. My husband planted two different varieties of cherry tomatoes this year – sweet 100’s and cupids – that ripened fast and furious. I’ve been oven-drying these sumptuous tidbits and popping them in freezer bags to enjoy later this winter.

   The larger tomatoes – early girls, romas, and beefsteaks – followed shortly, thereafter. We gathered at a leisurely pace (in mid-July), strolling up to the garden to pick a ripe tomato or two for tomato basil sandwiches or garden fresh salads. Then by mid-August, when the sun began to lose its strength, the garden took on a golden hue. The tomato crop matured and we were barely able to keep up with the bounty as we hauled bushel full after bushel full down to the house in our trusty old wagon. We mainly sliced those tomatoes into quarters, adding a dash of salt to freeze and process later.    

   This year’s abundant harvest is ample reward for my husband’s labor of love. He staked each of the 50 tomato plants with one pole of rebar, pounding it deep into the ground. This was just to gird up the tomato cages for the duration of the growing season. After weekly downpours and a few violent summer storms, they mostly stood straight and erect, heavily laden with fruit.
    If you've ever picked home-grown tomatoes you know how that one-of-a kind fragrance rubs off on you. The first tomatoes usually ripen in the hidden recesses of the plant, so as you part the leaves and pick the reddest juiciest ones, the spicy scent lingers on your green-stained fingers and shirt cuffs. We call this pungent odor “tomato perfume,” and it reminds me of another perfume I’ve been told that I possess – one that is produced under similar conditions.
     Sometimes the little girls ask for a piece of my clothing to snuggle with at night – a cotton or flannel pajama top they call a “snuff.” Actually, almost any clothing item of mine will do as long as it has that special mommy perfume on it. Sometimes they’ll just bury their heads in my chest and breathe deeply of that nurturing, bonding fragrance, and they’ll say, “Oh, you smell so good.”
    In many ways we mothers are just like those heavy laden tomatoes up in the garden, staked up by the Lord, deeply grounded in His word, supported by His sheltering arms through the downpours and storms of life, until we come forth in due season, releasing the fragrance of Christ.
     Somehow in my mind’s eye tomato perfume and mommy perfume are interchangeably mixed this summer. As the tomatoes rub off on me, I rub off on my children – a smell I don’t want them to ever forget. When I invite them to go up to the garden with me to pick tomatoes, they groan, “Do we have to pick again?” “Yes,” I say. “We won’t have many moments like these left. Summer’s almost over and I want your company.” Soon they forget the hot sun and  scratchy tomato leaves. We quickly fill a huge basket together, and then they’re off chasing other childish pursuits, like trying to catch the dog and hold him prisoner in the “Cucumber Haus.”

    As the dog barks and dodges the grabbing hands, I laugh. Stooping over to fill yet another dress-full of tomatoes, I empty my harvest into a bushel full of memories – soon to be bottled in jars of golden hue, and I marvel at the intoxicating aroma – the unforgettable fragrance of the life-giver Himself.

But thanks be to God! For through what Christ has done, He has triumphed over us so that now wherever we go, He uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Gospel like a sweet perfume. As far as God is concerned there is a sweet wholesome fragrance in our lives. It is the fragrance of Christ within us, an aroma to both the saved and unsaved all around us.

(2 Corinthians 2:14-15 LB)

10:06 AM - Sep. 5, 2006 - post comment

Beautiful...

once again. Makes me want to go make a memory with my children!

DreweLlyn - 5:24 PM - Sep. 9, 2006

Beautiful!

That was just beautiful, Jill! I want to live with you! Actually we had our first mini garden this year and was so blessed with fresh tomatoes. We only had enough to eat each night and maybe some extra to share.

I am walking in faith that the Lord will help me to be a fragrant aroma of Christ to my children. So that when the world woos and tempts, that familiar and hopefully sweet aroma will be irrisistibly strong and effectual! Thank you for inspiring me and for sharing your lessons from the garden!

Betty - 6:32 PM - Sep. 9, 2006

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such a beautiful bounty(sp) thanks for sharing- huggles me

Rejoice - 9:19 PM - Sep. 9, 2006

Wow

I love those photos! We are supposed to get surplus tomatos to do something with this week from the organic farm. I wish you could show me how to make something out of them!

Thanks for putting all things into the Lord's perspective. It sure helps on days like today.
Nancy

ByHisGraceInColorado - 10:20 PM - Sep. 9, 2006

Fantastic Article

Thank you for sharing that wonderful post on your blog - it was a true joy and delight to read. I could almost feel like I was there, meandering through your garden, enjoying the aromas and later enjoying a wonderful tomato sandwich, with basil and black pepper. I had a garden like that in England a few years ago, it was a tradional English Country Garden, full of roses and perrenials, herbs and vegetables. I found such peace in that garden, it was a wonderful place to be. Our family is in a new house now, with a brand new garden - much smaller than I am used to having, but a garden nonetheless. I am so excited to start planning and planting - it will have to be mostly a flower and herb garden due to size, but I will find a little square foot to plant with vegetables. My family know that when I am in the garden working, I am at peace - it is when I feel closest to God. I can't wait to share this new experience with our daughters and to make a little piece of heaven for us to enjoy - now I just have to get used to the hot midwest summers and see what will grow. Thank you for sharing your garden with us all and for inspiring us all to new memories.

Linda Larson - 10:53 AM - Sep. 10, 2006

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Yummmm.....you've got my mouth watering now! LOL Everything looks so delicious...both in pictures and in words! Bless your heart!

You know, I have a dozen tomatoes on the vine right now....and 1 that has been picked! I got a late start, and now they're producing. I'm praying these will grow some more before we get a freeze. And the first thing I'm going to do with a ripe one? Have a tomato and basil sandwich! Yep! My basil is growing like crazy, my marigolds are blooming all over, my lavendar and roses did wonderfully, and even my bell peppers produced well....it's just those tomatoes I've had a problem with! But soon, very soon, I shall enjoy them all! And then....I'll have that wonderful tomato perfume mixing with my Mommy/Nanna perfume!

Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful insight with us, dearest one. You are such a blessing to me....words cannot express it all! Thank you for being you!

Hugs,
Cynthia Robin

cynthiarobin - 3:51 PM - Sep. 10, 2006

You'll laugh

This weekend my sons and I were in the produce aisles at Pick n Save. I was choosing tomatoes for salsa. (I really like the tomatoes on the vine for this.)

My boys were with me when I happened to catch a whiff of that "tomato perfume" you were writing about. It took me back to moments when in my own garden, then even further back to the days, about 25 years ago, when I used to help my parents pick tomatoes.
Josiah and Elias wanted to know why their mom was so excited to smell tomatoes. So there we all were in the tomato aisle giggling as we smelled tomatoes on the vine. I'm amazed at how a fragrance can bring back so many memories.
Thank you for making what for most is an ordinary event into something delightful. I like the talent you have for doing that. God bless you as you share your talent with us "ordinary" Pick n Save tomato people. Actually, I'm hoping to get a garden come spring. We'll see if I get organized enough.

In Christ ~ Vetta

Redeemed - 4:03 PM - Sep. 13, 2006

I Had to Laugh Too!

Dear Vetta,
I just had to thank you for your comment. To think that the phrase "tomato perfume" rubbed off on you, is a real delight. God bless you as you make those precious memories even if you were at, or should I say, especially because you were at Pick 'n Save . BTW my 11 year old said today, "Oh mom you have your snuff on - mommy perfume and tomato perfume!

Blessings,
Jill

JillNovak - 5:48 PM - Sep. 13, 2006

I love your blog BG!!!

It is so beautiful! I haven't been here in a while... it may not be new. I am into the heirtage stuff... I love it! I am grateful to your son... He has been a real blessing this week! I just wanted to say hello! I hope you are doing well! God Bless!

Garo galu vaer (Have a Blessed day!)
Sincerely,


Jocelyn
Check out my 2 latest posts:
Cloth Diapers

Lois Langley Series

Jocelyndixon - 6:05 AM - Sep. 14, 2006

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These are lovely thoughts, and so beautifully written.

KayinMaine - 12:28 PM - Sep. 16, 2006

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What a lovely glimpse into your garden and memories! It's funny- I can't stand raw tomatoes, but I grow them partly because I love the smell of the plants when it rubs off onto my skin and clothing!
Rebeca

Edited by Rebeca on Sep. 21, 2006 at 11:20 AM

- 11:18 AM - Sep. 21, 2006

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