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

Looking Back

Today is Mia's 2nd Birthday. 

Mia is truly a miracle.

Two years ago Mia was born with CDH.

The details of CDH are HERE on Tonya's Blog. 

Mia is an angel that changed all our lives forever,

but none so more than her Mommy & Daddy...

I wrote about 

A Mothers Love HERE...

Sometimes it's hard to look back at this picture.

So much mixed emotion, and heartache. 

Hungering for just a glimpse of hope. 

Struggling every moment to just hang on. 

But WOW- we have come so far, so very far indeed, and at times it seems so very, very, long ago. 

Still, every time I look at Mia I am reminded at how fragile life can be.

How precious is each and every breath, every beat of the heart, truly precious.

If I think too much about it, I cry very easily. 

But most of all it reminds me to never ever take anything for granted again, never.  

That life is truly a blessing, 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIA

I Love you to the moon and back-

Grammy

The Girasole Lady

This & That

We have a 30% chance of rain here and there for the next few days, so I went out to the garden this morning and scattered some seeds of Marigolds, Carrots and Radishes, in the raised garden beds. 

I'm settling into the comfort zone of having a smaller garden and less work. 

On the average day I spend 15-30 minutes pulling a few weeds, mulching up the soil, and adjusting the sprinkler heads. I have a timer on the faucet, sorta like a kitchen timer, that I turn to whatever amount of time the plants need watering, and then it shuts off automatically. 

I'm coming to terms in regards to my limitations as to what I can, and cannot, accomplish. 

Our local farmer's Market, and surrounding road side fields, have been filled to the brim with all sorts of local berries. 

A Summertime favorite here at Girasole Farm is Blackberry pie...

Fresh berries...

Homemade pie crust...

YUMMY pie! 

I made some yummy Blueberry muffins too--- (sorry no pictures) 

and while I was in the baking mode, I made some homemade pizza too...

I'm not really sure what happened, but I started to take pictures of the pizza process, but apparently only got as far as the recipe. hmmmm  

My nephew, my sisters boy, graduated from High School this year, so we headed to the Bay Area last weekend for a graduation party!    

Whaoo---- I took 2, as in  t.w.o., pictures-

Bubbles

(my sister was obsessed with the bubble machine)

and Miss Mia swinging in her night clothes, with crazy morning hair.

Way to go...NOT... 

I just couldn't find the picture inspiration, which I now regret. boo-hoo

But I can say we all had a great time, and the memories will just have to stay in my heart. 

I've been sewing, and spending lots of time outside. 

The weather has been just lovely. 

Caveman and I are still working on the back porch addition. 

Last night we finished the plumbing for the water, and the line for the electrical. 

It's been a slower process than I would have liked, but Caveman has been working 73.5 hours a week. 

That's right!

 6am-6pm Mon-Fri, and 6-2:30 on Saturdays and Sundays. 

And yes, he is TIRED, really tired. 

(we're not as young as we used to be)

I hope this afternoon/evening we are able to level the gravel and set the re-bar.

That should just about finish up our part.

We have hired someone to do the concrete pour and finishing. 

As far as the roof to cover the addition, it will probably have to wait until our slower time in the Fall.

Speaking of the Fall... we will be Grandparents again! 

Tonya is having BABY # 3! 

due to arrive in November.

We get very excited about every baby that gets to join our family. 

That will make 4 Gran-babies....

we already have 3 gran-baby girls...maybe a ... boy?

Tonya will find out next month. 

Be good to yourself.

Even if that means accepting your own limitations. 

I know, for me, that I cannot DO IT ALL. 

The Girasole Lady

Sleep Over

On Saturday afternoon the girls came to Grammy & Papa's for a sleep over. 

It's the first time we have had both the girls here for a sleep over since Mia was born. 

When Mia was born with CDH,

 Laci lived with us for almost a month while her mommy and daddy were staying at UCD with baby Mia. 

I wasn't sure if the girls would really end up sleeping over, but they did, and everyone had a great time. 

We ALL slept on the living room floor on a makeshift bed.

The girls snuggled with Grammy and Papa and drifted off to sleep.

Mia woke up about 2AM, and was a little confused, but snuggled up with me and was fine. 

Although I might mention that she was awake off and on until after 4AM, at which point I fixed her a bottle and snuggled up with her on the reclining couch and we dozed together until morning. 

Yes, indeed, it is our job as Grammy & Papa to spoil the babies all we want. 

We spoiled them even more with a kid 'friendly' breakfast. 

Breakfast started with plain shaved ice

and cake pops! 

(aka- a donut hole with a toothpick inserted)

 Oh goodness- my kitchen is a mess. 

Special order pancakes....

a Puppy for Laci

(hand 'carved' by Papa)

and a heart for Mia

I love that our gran-babies are close enough to us to feel the comfort of 'home' here with us. 

I can't wait until Harper is old enough to join in on the fun as well. 

I have to admit I was exhausted by the time Laci & Mia went home Sunday afternoon,

But it was so worth it.

Spoiling is a tough job.

The Girasole Lady 

Just Hanging Out

This week my sister is visiting from the Bay Area.
We have been having a crazy, good time.
I've been away from the computer, just hanging out with family. 
Lots of laughter, chatting, crafting, and cooking. 
I'll be back in a few days. 

It's late but...

HAPPY 4th of July

Mia loves watermelon, and her Grammy.

The Girasole Lady

That One Perfect Photo

This unlikely story begins on a sea that was a blue dream, as colorful as blue-silk stockings, and beneath a sky as blue as the irises of children's eyes.” 
― F. Scott Fitzgerald

(This one single picture is the reason I shoot all the hundreds before) 

I'm back from visiting family in the Bay Area. I took a few hundred pictures (yes-I'm sure there were those who thought it to be crazy), for the sole purpose of capturing that 'one perfect' photo. That one perfect photo this weekend was Mia's blue eyes. I swear they are the same color as the blue water in the pool. 

We all had an amazing visit. This morning my heart is full of nothing more than a loving family and the close knit bonds that hold us so very dear to each other. 

 I have so much more to share, but for this morning there are tons of chores to get caught up on.

The Girasole Lady

The Dog Days of Summer

Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.

-- Henry James
The Dog Days of Summer are officially here. The sultry part of Summer between late July and early September. The legend has it that the Sirius, the Dog Star, rises at the same time as the sun.
A time marked by lethargy, inactivity, or indolence. This is a perfect description of myself right now.
August seems to have come and went with little regard to time.

I love Summer.

I took these pictures in Mendocino earlier this year.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

— Mark Twain

  Mia is coming home today.

The Girasole lady

Family and Flowers

Tuesday I went to UCD to see Mia and love her up, and have a visit with my Girl Tonya.
Mia is doing excellent           Mia Update - Tuesday August 16

Tonya came home with me when I left the hospital. She had a slight case of hospitalitis and needed to come see her baby Laci. Tonya and Ryan spent a couple of days here. I cooked for them, and tried my best to spoil them up while they were here. They got to relax, take a break from hospital food, and enjoy time with Laci. The nurses at UCD are amazing. It takes a very special person to give that kind of care to infants. They truly care and nurture those babies as their own. It is so touching to see. Mia is very, very well cared for.

Today is Laci's birthday, 2 yrs old.
This morning I fixed a pancake breakfast and then Tonya and Ryan headed back to UCD to be with Mia.

Even though I miss them terribly I know they are where they need to be and I am where I need to be.

All along this journey I have to keep telling myself  "We are all where we need to be" even if it's not all together. Soon, very soon, this time will pass to nothing more than a memory. Mia will be home soon, maybe in a week or so, and another chapter in life will begin.

Here at Girasole Farm the garden is growing and we are enjoying vegetables every day.

I was planning to do a "trial" run this year with volunteers to receive the baskets, but for the meantime I have other thing to pre-occupy my time. I have been taking bags and bags of veggies to the gals at Mary Lake Thompson. Tomorrow will be another delivery day for them. 

 

 



The

Girasole

Lady

May Wedding for My Girl

Remember my daughter Kristina got married in May? The wedding was beautiful and perfect in every way.

Kristina & Myles

My Girls, Beth-Kristina-Tonya

This cake is beautiful

The Beautiful Bride and Flower Girl

Me and My Girl

The Girasole Lady

p.s.   This afternoon we are going to see Mia.

I am so excited to see her without the vent tubes in her little mouth.
I can hardly wait to touch her.

More Recovery

Some Great News

A Few Updates on Mia

I have been behind on posting Baby Mia updates on my blog.
I've been spending LOTS of time sharpening up my motherhood skills.
Laci and I are getting along just fine and making the best of everyday together.
If all is well this morning Laci's mommy and daddy, Tonya & Ryan, are making a trip back home for a little visit. Maybe later today I can post some pictures and chat more. In the meantime I have breakfast to make for Laci.

A Big Day for Mia

Beautiful Mia

Surgery Day

Post-OP

A Good Day

The Girasole Lady

A Mother's Love

This is My Girl watching Her Girl.

If only Love could heal, there would be no doubt as to Mia's recovery.

A mother's love knows no boundaries.

I know this because when we think we have nothing left,

there is always more a mother's heart can find to give.

I want to say to My Girl how much I love her, something my words are not adequate to express. 

I want to tell her, My Girl, how proud I am of her for the strength she has, even if she does not see that herself.

I want her to know that she is my child, the way Mia is her child, and I can feel the pain in her heart.

The Girasole Lady

Mia

Just a couple more updates from Tonya and Baby Mia

Mia- Four Days Old

Some Better News

The Girasole Lady

Mia

Update........

Mia Lyann

The Girasole Lady

Devasting Changes

Life has given us a devasting, unexpected event here at Girasole Farm.
I will be attaching posts from my daughter Tonya's blog for updates.
For now, this is consuming our lives.

Our Grandbaby Mia Lyann

The Girasole Lady