Chinese Cabbage

Sitting here beside the window as the sky lightens and the air warms, sorting through and discarding most topics for this morning's chat, my mind returns time and again to one thought. A single idea. One non-discardable item. It just won't be ignored as easily as the others. Believe me, I've tried.

Chinese Cabbage.

That's right. Chinese Cabbage. So...

Happy Monday and Chinese Cabbage from the nutty New York writer!

Hey, that's got a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Happy Monday...Happy Chinese Cabbage...

Why Chinese Cabbage? Let me explain.

Hubby and I have been married for--well, let's just say we've been married for a long time. Really long. I mean, so long I can hardly recall--oh, right. I'll save that thought. Now, Chinese Cabbage. Another time, how long we've been married and the effect it's had on my memory. Gotcha.

For years Hubby's told me, "You've got to try new things." New things? But I like the old things. "Once in a while, try something new." Why? I don't want new. And, maybe one of my favorite things he says, "You just might find something you like." Hey, that's how I found you, wasn't it? But that's a story for another time, too...

So. Chinese Cabbage. When I planted in the greenhouse in early spring I tried new things. Things I've never eaten. Things I don't have a clue how to cook. Things I'm not sure I'm even going to like.

Chinese Cabbage is one of them. Along with...well, along with a bunch of other stuff but let's tackle one new thing at a time. Now the gardens are in full swing and all these weird--ahem, new things are flourishing. Including, you guessed it, the Chinese Cabbage.

I'm jazzed the gardens are full-out gorgeous. Vines and runners, flowers and even small fruits and veggies abound. I love seeing violet eggplant flowers again; it hammers home the whole summertime feeling to see a wave of green and purple in the eggplant garden. I'm even thrilled by some of the unusual varieties of old favorites I've planted. But seeing that greener-than-grass, foot-high Chinese Cabbage growing in the greenhouse garden? It gives me the willies.

Why? Because sometime this week I'm going to have to step outside my comfort zone and try something new. And if you haven't already figured it out, I'll let you in on a secret: I stink at trying new things. Really. Well, mostly. All right, some new things, like dark chocolate instead of milk or yellow petunias rather than the usual pink or even weekends in the mountains instead of on the beach are all things I can adapt to. Enjoy, even. But by and large, I stick to the things I know I like and while I see there may be other things, still untried, that might please me I prefer to stay with the tried-and-true, time tested stuff.

Chinese Cabbage isn't one of those things. What have I gotten myself into? Imagine how nuts I'd be if I couldn't see a way out of this Cabbage quandry. But I do--see a way out, that is.

This morning we have an early appointment. Then we're meeting my mom and stepdad for breakfast. Now, my mom knows about Chinese Cabbage. I figure I'll go out to the greenhouse garden, cut a couple of heads of the green villan and bring it to breakfast. I'll pump Mom for info about the dreaded vegetable, figure it all out and voila! my Chinese Cabbage woes will be, in some measure, settled.

That's the plan, anyway.

Chinese Cabbage probably wouldn't weigh so heavily on my mind if this week wasn't already filled with new stuff. A lot of it's exciting but still, it's not the usual hum-drum country living we're so accustomed to. A book release, family visits, July 4th holiday, camels and Chinese Cabbage--all in one week?

"Try new things." All I can say is, he'd better keep that piece of sage advice to himself for a while. All this trying new things has me wondering if the Pancake House serves mimosas.

How do you fare with new things? Do you jump in, embrace exotic, untested waters? Or do your palms sweat?

And...you want any Chinese Cabbage? I know where you can get some. For free.

Hope you have a great Monday!