This Fall

This Fall, so far, lots of things have been happening here at Girasole Farm. 

We are patiently awaiting the arrival of Gran-baby #4- a BOY! 

I suspect he will make his grand entrance this week or next. 

We're still working on the back porch addition, finishing up the roof. We have the posts set and the cross beams up. It's been a work in progress that's for sure. 

Caveman's last day of work for the year is November 15th, and he will return to work on January 6th. 

This is the time of year when the long, long, work days of Summer really pay off. YAY! 

We've collected wood from the mountains, and officially had our first fire in the wood stove just a few days ago. 

 I spent a day baking a cake with Laci and Mia. 

I can cook a mean pie, but cake..well... 

I'm not so good. 

I can certainly make a tasty cake, but let's just say there is severe lack in presentation.  

In my cookbook obsession, I purchased this book on cakes...

Most of the recipes make nice small 6" cakes. 

The pans used are 6" round, 3" deep, although the only pans I could find were 2"deep. 

Isn't that cake on the cover lovely?

Simple, clean, and beautiful. 

That's what I tried to achieve...

but it didn't turn out so well...

Yummy none the less. 

I had positively adorable helpers...

Mia

Laci

We had a really great time together! 

That is what really mattered. 

Then there was Halloween...

 which consisted of a Butterfly
(Laci)

A Little Stinker Skunk

                                                                                                                    (Harper)

                                                                          A Ladybug

(Mia)

 Ryan, Tonya,

Laci and Mia

Kristina and Harper. 

In other non-pictured news-

Cousin Aletha came for a visit. 

I put up 3 batches of Pomegranate jam.

I painted  and re-decorated the Hall bathroom.

My sis and her boys came for a unexpected, Pre-Thanksgiving visit, this past weekend. 

My head is swirling with all sorts of ideas for Thanksgiving.

We are blessed enough to have some extra special family coming to be with us this year. 

My home will be full of family, friends, and LOTS of babies this year. 

Our hearts, as always, will be filled of  love, contentment, and peace. 

I see skies of blue, 
And clouds of white. 
The bright blessed day, 
The dark sacred night. 
And I think to myself, What a wonderful world. 

-Louis Armstrong-

The Girasole Lady

Last Week's Wrap-UP

                        At last, after all the past months of waiting,  Ryan, Tonya, Laci and Mia are together as a family under the same roof, in their beautiful new home. I couldn't be happier for them.  It's a good life, full of fun, and adventure.
Tonya and the Babies had their last night at Momma's house. Tonya, as always, tells a touching story.

 (gee...do you see the resemblance!)

When the moving dust settled, I realized just how quiet my little home had now become.
Yes- I'll admit it... It's been a little too quiet when I am home by myself.  Laci lived with us since the day Mia was born on 7/31/2011, and Tonya with both the girls have been staying here every day since Mia came home on 8/25/2011 from UC Davis. It certainly doesn't help that Caveman has been working 12 hour days plus Saturdays, and that it rained literally every day last week too. I've scrubbed and cleaned, the kitchen, the pantry, the living room, the craft room, the laundry room, and the dining room. I have a few more deep cleaning areas that I yet need to tend. My cure for everything is to keep busy. A little sun wouldn't hurt either.

 Silly- huh. I see Tonya and the girls everyday. Today is the first day I haven't been up to Tonya's since she moved out last Sunday. I couldn't imagine to be a mother who has children living hundreds, even thousands, of miles away from her. I love that all three of my daughters are "home-town" girls who plan on staying put. I'm sure, if ever faced with the situation, I would be supportive, and  loving, towards their decision, but I can guarantee you my heart would be breaking inside. Go ahead-- call me selfish, it's true. I can't change that right now-so that's my story and I'm stickin to it!

I've never been good at change anyways, good or bad. I always make it through the changes in life, bringing the good along and leaving the bad behind.  It's just the way I am.
"This to shall pass".... 

To celebrate being in the new home, Tonya and Ryan had a family dinner yesterday. One of many, many more to come in the future.

This morning I went grocery shopping. I have a stew in the Crock Pot, and some cookies to be baked.  It's been a gray and rainy weekend for the most part, but I see the sun is trying to make an appearance. I'm gonna run outside and take some pictures......

Jasmine on the front porch just waiting to burst open with wonderful smelling flowers.

We planted a Western Red Bud a few months ago, and it is getting ready to flower. It seems really happy in the spot where we planted it.

Peek inside the Green House. We built the shelves and put them in a couple of days ago. Now I need to get busy and start my seeds. I'm a little worried, I am not a very good seedling momma.





I bought some Alyssum and Johnnie Jump Ups a couple of weeks ago, and haven't gotten around to planting them yet. They look pretty cute just sitting on the garden bench.

 Look... there is something growing inside the Green House.This Sunflower sprouted, all by itself. I think I am going to plant some durable ground cover underneath the shelves.

 Johnnie Jump up from, who knows when, making an appearance.

                                                                                 I transplanted these Hydrangeas a week ago to the small garden. They were not happy where they had been the year before, and they almost died!!!!

 The Crab Apple tree out front is in full bloom.

 Succulents on the front porch are blooming. I love succulents. Look at the intricate flowers they have. Succulents are so easy to grow. My front porch faces the west, so it's a great area for Succulents.

I'm wrapping up this Sunday and looking forward to another week ahead. Tomorrow I am sure I will be headed up to love on my Grand Babies. The sun is suppose to shine tomorrow, right before a few days more of rain. I'll be checking in a little later this week.

The Girasole Lady

November 25th: Central Park NYC

Remember earlier this year, January, when New York City had that horrendous snow storm?
Well, my daughter Beth was there for a Market show to work the Mary Lake Thompson booth. Beth flew from Dallas to New York, and was in New York for a couple of days by herself, waiting for Mary, and another co-worker to arrive. The weather was so severe everyone had trouble getting into New York, due to numerous flight delays. Beth, my baby, ALONE in the Big Apple all by herself! I'm her mother, of course I was worried. Beth has been to New York many times and loves visiting the City.

As always, Beth was in her glory, and had a marvelous time. Central Park was absolutely beautiful in the still quiet of the City. Beth described it as beauty beyond imagination. She trudged through the snow and took amazing pictures of the park...............

After walking in the park Beth took the subway to the American Museum of Natural History.

She'll be going back again this coming January.

For today-we shopped downtown Oroville and had a great family outing once again.

Tomorrow is another big family day, taking a field trip to Tonya and Ryan's house to see the building progress, and a dinner of ham and beans back at my home.

I'll be back, I promise.

The Girasole Lady