November 23, 2015: Looking Back

 I posted a blog entry each day for the entire month of November 2011, being reminded of this thru social media with those time hop reminders. You know those ones that pop up daily to remind you of what you did on this day, in this year, or that year. It's been fun to look back and be reminded of those memories. Truly something I have missed. 

Life truly does go by so quickly. So much has happened over the years, things I should have been documenting all along. But then you hear things that discourage you, and disrupt your writing habits. Words that make you feel vulnerable and suddenly just a bit anxious about sharing with readers. There also comes a time when you tell your heart to write anyway, because this is my place to document my memories, my life. 

 
 So I'll sit and remember....
My family has grown so much.
                                 
                                      Tonya and her family. Laci 6/Mia 4/ Noah 2
                                                  (May 2015)
                       
                                                         

Kristina and her family

Harper 2/Brooklyn 1

(September 2015)

                                                  Beth and Momma (me)
                                                     on her wedding day
                                                            (June 2014)

 I am going to try again. Maybe not every day, but as often as possible. 

It's chilly outside tonight and there is a warm fire burning in the wood stove. I'm making plans for Thanksgiving, or ThanksFamily, or whatever one chooses to address the 4th Thursday in November. 

In my home it's a time to spend being together and looking back on the past year and sharing the things that we are thankful for. It's about slowing down and catching up with one another. It's a time for being held close, and letting those we love know how very much they mean to us. It's for remembering those from the past, keeping them alive in our hearts. It's for creating a haven for love to grow and hold us close for the days still yet to come. My home is filled with love, laughter, family, friends, and really good food. In trying to keep up with 'preserving a past to be proud of', it's my hope that each person takes a few memories home with them to store up in their hearts. Traditions to carry on for the future generation. The little ones too will remember these times, and it will teach them that home is where you find your very being, within the love of your family, and these very moments shared together.                                                           

                                                                   

                                                                     

The Girasole Lady

Judging

'We can never judge the lives of others, because each

person knows only their own pain and self-sacrifice.

It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but

it's another to think that yours is the only path"

-Paul Coelho-

Remembering November, and Other Thoughts

If one word could described November for me,
 it's Plenty. 

*We had the precious addition of a Gran-SON, yes a BOY, on the 13th.  

Noah Bryce Edwards. 

*Mia had a trip to the ER for respiratory distress, Bronchitis.
she's fully recovered and feeling like her perfect self now

*All the Gran-kids had been sick with colds. 

*I've been watching Harper 4 days a week, she's BUSY and has learned to WALK.
She will be a year old on the 22nd!!!

*I almost warded off two attempts of the cold virus attack on myself, which sadly ended in a relentless cough for 2 weeks. 

*My baby, Beth, turned 27 on the 12th. 

*My sis, Jen, came for a weekend visit (pre-Thnksgiving) the first weekend in November.
Together we put up 3 batches of Pomegranate jam.

*I planned and executed a very successful Thanksgiving Turkey meal,

 -cooking for somewhere around 20ish adults and 6 babies-

*I cooked 2 turkeys this year- one 23lb and another 12lb
(which we demolished for turkey sandwiches on Friday) 

*I repeated the same hustle and bustle for a Saturday Ham meal.  

*Not only were the usual family members able to be with us this year, we had an extra special visit from my cousin, his beautiful wife, and their adorable 6 month old baby girl. 

*My brother, sis in law, two nephews, and my Sis in laws Mom, were able to join us this year as well.

*I cooked.

*I cleaned. 

*I took care of people.

*It's what I do. 

*It's who I am.  

*We finished the back porch addition, just in time for all the festivities, 

the weather was amazing, and we were able to fully enjoy the extra space outdoors for socializing and eating. 

*Our home was filled with love, laughter,and loved ones, making memories to last a lifetime. 

*I couldn't have asked for more. 

*Well maybe except, that I have absolutely NO pictures of any the above.
It just wasn't in me this year to take the extra time out for picture taking.
-unless you count the turkey brine in the stock pot that I made on Tuesday evening-

I started out with the best of intentions...
 Yep- it's true.

Right after Thanksgiving the weather turned COLD...

It seems each year in November I spend a fair amount of time in thought to myself.

I thought about how the last two plus years have been at home since leaving my office job...

I thought how I'd noticed the shadows in my home, as the sun changes them from day to day, especially in the late afternoons. Something I had not taken the time to notice while I was busy working.
I know that must sound a little weird, but in the absolute quiet and stillness
(you know that moment that rarely happens)
I notice how the inside looks, all the while barely noticing it for so many years.

I thought about sewing, quilting, gardening, books, and my family and all the babies that surround my daily life.
That how when I left my job I had only one gran-baby, and now I have FOUR.
Laci-4
Mia-3
Harper-1
Noah- 1 mo.
It's only been 2 1/2 years since then.

I thought about people who have passed through my life,
some staying that I thought would go,
and others drifting that I thought would never leave.
Sometimes, it's painful.
 I learned that this year.
It's ok, I'm ok too.

I thought about some changes I would like to make for myself.
Not big, just small things.

Learning that I just cannot be ALL the things.
Each night I pray for kindness, patience, and compassion.
Each day striving to do better than the day before. 

I thought about spiritual things....
am I religious person?- No I am not
am I a spiritual person?-yes I am
Is there a difference?
To me there is..
I personally do not feel the need for an external validation of my spirituality.
Does that make me a bad person? - No-
It makes me a quiet person...

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands. 
~1 Thess. 4:11

The Girasole Lady

Cookbooks

It's no secret I am a cookbook fan.

I collect cookbooks for various reasons.

Sometimes a book tells a story with the shared recipes.

Sometimes I buy them as a remembrance of a place I have traveled.  

But for the most part, I'll be drawn in by the recipes and the photographs of the food. 

I have been known not to purchase a specific cookbook based on the fact that there are no pictures of the food. 

These are just a few of my favorites

 

'The Farm Chicks In The Kitchen'

 Not only are there delicious recipes inside, but crafty projects galore.

Embellished Dishtowel how to...

Food Covers...

And who can resist Susan Branch...

 'Vineyard Seasons' by Susan Branch

 'Girlfriends Forever'-Besides being a  'Girl Food' cookbook, it is filled with stories of girlfriends. 

 I adore Susan's art work. I'm sure I have every book she has ever published. 

Alisa Barry 'La Bella Vita'

 Alisa tells of her story in traveling to Italy, and how she fell in love, with not only the food, but the people, the landscape, and the language, but most of all the love of simple fresh food.  

You can almost taste the fresh basil and mozzarella. 

I have used the recipe for 'Pane' basic bread dough a hundred times. 

Sweets

'Soul Food Desserts & Memories'

 by Patty Pinner.

Patty was raised in a small town in Michigan. 

Patty tells of spending her childhood helping the women of the house,

the 'Queens Of Soul Food'.

She shares her family's stories, part recipe and part history. 

Who can resist the Pioneer Woman's 

Simple Perfect Chili? 

My kitchen would not be complete without Ina Garten -The Barefoot Contessa. 

Ina's introductions are such a joy to read. 

In her book 'barefoot contessa at home' she begins by saying that she didn't always know how to make a home. Her philosophy is this...

'A good home should gather you up in its arms like a warm cashmere blanket, soothe your hurt feelings, and prepare you to go back out into that big bad world tomorrow all ready to fight the dragons'. 

Ina talks about table setting, gathering family and friends, lighting candles and good music at any social gathering to set the mood.

Just reading her cookbooks makes me want to have a party. 

Positively, my favorite COMFORT food cookbook is the cookbook

I purchased when Beth and I went to Williams-Sonoma for a cooking class. 

There is not a single recipe contained within that I would NOT cook from this book. 

I've cooked almost all of them, and each and every one of them are heavenly. 

As a matter of fact I am making Chicken Pot Pie this week. 

This is/was my very FIRST cookbook. It was a wedding gift in 1976, the first time I marred Caveman. 

 I used it for many, many, years. While it does not host any photographs, I adore it none the less. 

It has a special place in my heart. 

A gentle reminder of a young bride who married very young, and knew absolutely nothing about cooking. 

The pages are soft and well worn, full of stains and some small tears. 

My Aunt & Uncle who gifted this to me are no longer here on this earth, but I am reminded of them each time I look through the pages. 

Brillat-Savarin wrote: 

'The pleasures of the table are for every man, of every land, and no matter of what place in history or society; they can be part of all his other pleasures, and they last the longest to console him when he has outlived the rest'

Tell me...do you have a favorite cookbook?

The Girasole Lady

Unmotivated

                                      I wish I could say that I was productive this past week. 

I'm not really sure why, but for the better part of the week I was totally unmotivated. 

I had plenty of time, and opportunity, to get busy.

I just didn't. 

I managed to pin together the strips for the the quilt I am working on,

and that's about all I got done. 

I failed at having early dinners, except for two of the days.

I hardly even cooked at all this week.

I am pretty sure caveman was disappointed, even though he doesn't say so. 

I spent November and December gathering up new hopes, anticipation, making Holiday plans,  

being surrounded by my family and friends. 

Moving from the lights and glitter of Christmas into the January bitterness of Winter,

the cold, and barren landscape. 

Left over corn in the garden that never got the attention it needed after the gardening season. 

Freezing temperatures....

this hose normally keeps a slow drip,

but this morning was frozen solid. 

I have a Susan Branch calendar hanging in my kitchen. 

I've had her calendars hanging in my kitchen for as long as I can remember. 

They just make me feel good.

'Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth,

for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire:

it is the time for home'

-Edith Sitwell

The Girasole Lady

Finally Fall

Could it be true that Fall has finally arrived?

I do believe so...

I walked out to the barn this morning and noticed several leaves on the grass under the Maple tree. 

I noticed one or two in the past week or so, but with the heat so intense here in N. California, I couldn't even begin to think about Fall. Our temps are cooling down today to the 80's, and we may see some 70's over the weekend. 

Oh- I am so ready. 

Another sure sign of Fall- Caveman, as of last weekend, does not have to work on Saturdays & Sundays, and he is back to his 'normal' work schedule. 

We are planning several projects to keep us busy. 

First on the agenda is tearing down and remodeling an old fence.

(in process)

Graveling around the shop and out to the barn.

Re- painting our bedroom, and both bathrooms. 

Virginia Creeper is beautiful in the Fall. 

Bright orange and red, full of purplish berries.

(non-edible) 

I'm finishing up the pumpkin project today!

Listen! The wind is rising,

and the air is wild with leaves.

We have had our Summer evenings,

now for October eves!

-Humbert Wolfe

1885-1940

The Girasole Lady

Making Gardens

This year a wild Morning Glory vine has decided to grow voluntarily out in the vegetable garden.
I'm letting it make its' home there, among the dried corn stalks.

 They only have blooms in the morning. 

 I'm going to see how long the vine will last. 

They are so beautiful. 

For a long time now I have been trying to transform my little garden into a 

'Secret Garden' for the Gran-babies. 

My little garden is already separated from the big yard by a huge Honeysuckle bush that grows between the two. 

The other day at Home Depot I found this gate on clearance for $20.00, normally $50.00. 

It was the perfect gate for the garden entrance. 

(I will be painting it)

 We hung it up, and I used an old  'hot' water faucet handle that I picked up at a barn sale.

(that gate picture looks weird.. I took that shot lying on the sidewalk)

 The welcome sign is one I already had, that had been hanging above the other gate that was there. 

The hinges we used are off the door of an old wood shed that Beth has in her yard. 

 I work on it little by little, as I find interesting stuff to 'embellish' the Secret Garden. 

A secret garden for little girls to pretend, and imagine a world of make believe. For secrets, and dreams, and fairies, and frogs. For wonder and innocence, and the precious days of childhood that pass far too quickly. 

“Of course there must be lots of Magic in the world," he said wisely one day, "but people don't know what it is like or how to make it. Perhaps the beginning is just to say nice things are going to happen until you make them happen. I am going to try and experiment.” 
― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

The Girasole Lady

Garden Spiders

I have two Garden spiders in the little garden, I let them be.
Their webs are in quiet spots in the garden, and not in my way.

When I was about 10 years old I read the book "Charlotte's Web". I loved the story and it became one of my favorite books. 

"You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die. A spider's life can't help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that.” 
― E.B. White, Charlotte's Web

Garden Spiders are a guest in the garden, they eat pest and insects that are disease carrying and crop destroying,  they will eat almost anything that they can catch in their web.  
They just need to be left alone. 

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

Late Gardening

Finally, last night we started on the Summer Garden. We had several delays, due to out of town family guests. Family always comes first, and visiting was more of a priority.

(Caveman and Kristina)

May seems to always be a busy month for us, next year we will plant late April or earlier in May.

Kristina and Beth both came out to lend a helping hand. 

We started with the Tomato plants from the Green House...

and some Eisley Peppers

(Caveman and Beth) 

We won't be planting the seeds for another week, because I am headed out of town on the 8th for the weekend. I'm going to my sister, Jen's, in the Bay Area, for a family visit with my sis and brother. 

I don't get to leave town very often, so I am really looking forward to the trip. 

I've accepted the fact that I will just have a late garden this Summer. 

June 5th is the Strawberry Moon. 

According to the 'Farmer's Almanac' 

The Algonquin tribes knew this Moon as a time to gather ripening strawberries. 

Yesterday morning we took our first trip to our local Farmer's Market. 

I picked up Yummy blackberries (for a pie), strawberries, zucchini, peaches, nectarines, and cherries. 

Our Farmer's Market is small and filled with the goodness of local produce. I'm looking forward to more Saturday mornings at the market. 

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” 
― Henry James

The Girasole Lady