Spring Planting

You can bury a lot of your
problems digging in the dirt.
                Author Unknown

Monday Monday Monday

The most courageous act is still
to think for yourself. Aloud.

                     Coco Chanel

Dear Mother - Querida Mãe

All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
                    Abraham Lincoln

Missing you dearly.
Happy Birthday, Mother.
How I wish we could plant
white pansies (amor perfeitos - perfect loves)
together today.

Pansies were among my mother's
favorite flowers, not the tiny johnny jump ups variety,
but the large faced old fashioned pansies
with their charming smiley faces.
I'll plant white pansies with purple faces
today to commemorate her 86th birthday.
Just me, in solitude, out in the garden
dirt where I can carry on a conversation. 

I didn't know it, but the old house at 424 Purisima
had everything I needed
to fill my heart for a lifetime.
While I searched and peace alluded me,
the peace my soul desired was already
within me.

A large garden with an apple and plum tree.
Shasta daisies (margaridas),
fuchsias, roses (rosas), camellias (japonicas),
geraniums (solteiras), and
hydrangeas (hortencias).
I learned their Portuguese common names first.

My mother would garden by the light of the moon while
she cared for father in late stage Alzheimer's.  Her garden
was among the most beautiful of cottage gardens.
The flowers so loved, they lifted their heads to listen
to the outpouring of my mother's heart, to kiss
the sunshine and the water so lovingly provided.

My parents in the backyard at 424 Purisima

My father and me in the parlor at 424 Purisima. Always smiling.  

Me, Father, sister Mericia, and Joe in the parlor

My parents with the Last Supper in the pink kitchen at 424 Purisima

Summer Glorious Summer

No one has homework.  None. Nada.
This is the first summer
where not a lick of homework will be done.
Every day will be focused on getting a little exercise.

Dreaming and creating craft.
Catching a nap.
Eating watermelon. 
Thrifting.
BBQing.
Seeking the salt of the ocean.
Water dancing.
Stopping to smell and water the plans.
Visit all our favorite haunts.
Eating fresh organic fruit and vegetables.

Orange Ave Estate, Salvage and Garden

Upcycle

Loquat   Nispa

Pincushion (Scabiosa)

Where you tend a rose a thistle cannot grow.
                              Frances Hodgson Burnett

This is true in the garden and with children.
Trust your parenting.  Fill your children with love.
Introduce your children to the things you love.

 






The pincushion (scabiosa) is one of my favorite cottage flowers.
Our garden always has lavender colored pincushions but this year,
from seed, we have the lovely Aces of Spades. See how it
literally glows in the night. 

I pray my children will dig in the dirt.

Future Masterpiece for the Garden

See the two of us in the background?
Girl in the foreground with our newest
future masterpiece.

Art Saves

Art saves....what a blessing to grow up in a crafty family. 

Whether you think you can,
or you think you can't,
you're right.

{Henry Ford}

For always I have thought I could do anything.

If I worked hard enough and wanted it enough. 

I could make it so.

This year shook me to my core and spun

me into a wave of darkness.

An undertow so strong it felt like I was drowning.

A place I felt my soul could not escape.

Art....the creative energy and the love of God pulled me

out. Family and friends demanding I come to the shore.

Our maid of honor surprised us with a visit yesterday.

Totally unexpected and so sweet.  

I needed to see her face...to hug her.

Such a comfort to have a lifelong friend or two.

We don't have to explain anything we know the long 

and short stories of our shared lives.

Our children, our broken hearts and success stories

all out on the table. 

What a treat to be together.  

The last time Aileen visited our home

was nearly 11 years ago for our wedding. 

Our men get along very well.  

They enjoyed cigars as 

we gardened a bit.  Aileen always prepared..

see the gloves in her hand?

Truly we are family.

Fushia

Fushias are right up there with my other all time favorite flowers
such as roses, pincushions, daisies, peonies, pansy..mostly old'
fashioned and romantic.

My mother used to tell me about wearing fushias as ear rings.
I used to pretend they were ballerinas or some times jewelry.


Gardening is one of our all time favorites.
The kids pick out their plants and get to planting. 

Feel squishy soil.

Buy proper tools...and gloves.

Experience joy.

Julia Child

The passions are the only orators that always persuade;
they are, as it were, a natural art, the rules of which are infallible;
and the simplest man with passion is more persuasive than
the most eloquent without it.

La Rochefoucauld




In my house we follow the Lord.
We are passionate. 

Julia Child rose... I go outside to visit Julia and her
may hues. Mrs. Child was a late bloomer.
Once she found
her passion she was off and running.


Miss Gertrude the Hortensia, she's not blooming right now,
joined our garden from the hand of Mary Lou Heard. 
This weekend is the Mary Lou Heard Foundation
garden tour. 

The first of my painted doors in the upstairs hallway.
An intense purple door with a glass tiger eye knob.
At least, that is what I am calling it.  The screws
need a touch up.  Maybe black.  Behind the

keyhole, too. 

Yesterday was so beautiful outside.
The storms rolled through here over night.  
The air is clear.
I can hear the birds singing and the bees buzzing.
Just gorgeous.

Hot Chocolate bud

Hot Chocolate rose

Fava bean.  Hen and Chicks succulents.

 .




















The best part is I can smell my mother in the garden.
She always smelled fresh of Palmolive bar soap and
the perfume of flowers with a little rosemary, flat leaf parsley,
and mint.  The crisp scent of a Shasta Daisy. 

David Austin Cabbage Rose

If you are entrusted with the care of an elderly parent
or other relation trust that in time you will feel blessed.
It is exhausting some times and you will have to be
as patient as you can be but in due time.  Way too
soon your work will be done.  And you will
praise the Lord for having given you the heart
to care for your loved one.

Antique Rose: Reine des Violettes

Mouth watering green apples

Little Pine Tree

Prior to setting a wedding date speak of the things
you know are in your heart.  From a very young age, I
knew that I wanted to care for my parents if the
time came.  It was in my heart and any future spouse
would have to agree or move on.  Really it is that simple.

Our garden looks magnificent this spring.  
There are still more roses in our tiny garden.
My husband is the most patient and loving man.
   

Garden Memories

Mr. Lee made my rose bloom on the dark little balcony
of our first apartment.  We used to sit at our little bistro set
and pretend we were in France. The top of the bistro table was glass
and reflected the sun down to the rose beneath. 

My choice are David Austin roses but Mr. Lee likes the Teas.
Long single stems.  His fondness for roses is limited due
to the years he spent pruning and shaping roses for the nursery.

This beauty is christened Senora Aldora. 
She is nearly 20 years ago and started out as a bit of a cutting
from my mother's friend's, Senora Aldora, garden in Half Moon Bay. 

The single petaled Betty Boop.

This rose is Joseph's Coat.
Joseph recognized that God had been the author
of the entire series of events (Genesis 45:7).

This is the Flower Girl shrub rose. 
She was purchased years ago at County Roads.
My mother was with me.  I asked her advice.  She asked do you love it?
If you love it purchase it now.  As the youngest of 5, I often served
as the flower girl at the weddings of my siblings.
This rose displays an abundance of bouquets just like this
one. 

A girlfriend recently make a great suggestion. 
She advised the placement of markers for each plant.
The name of the plant, where purchased and the date.
These markers were purchased on the Susan Branch site.

I like to plant Alpine Strawberries all over. 

Thank you for visiting my little urban garden. 

Green Scene Fullerton Aboretum

My pai, pronounced like pie,  (father)  was an animal whisperer.
He was the village vet with no formal training.
Everyone in the village knew and would call on him for their
farm and domestic animals. It was a quiet compassion.  A
little spark of passion when he was around animals.

I was unable to walk down to the pond but look how
Daddy documented the magic moment.  The kids are so
sweet they understand and don't push when I hurt. 

I dare say Holly has a bit of it, too.

Pai could also tell a good yarn.   She seems to have  inherited
that skill, too.   If fills my heart with joy.

Jacob was interested in the carnivorous plants. He has his own garden
of succulents.  Not more prickly cactus I say.
His pick for the day was a Venus fly trap.
The best part of attending an event like is 
the enthusiastic expert information you receive.

Have a blessed Friday.

Amy Powers' Workshop

 I'd dozed off.  Daddy is away so we all get to sleep together. 
Only problem is, sometimes, Jacob does the sleeping dance
and falls right out bed CRASH.  He never wakes up.  He
simply crawls back to bed. It is an amazing sight. The thud
and then the little body just up and at it without ever waking
up. 

Holly found a new cartoon.  Princess Holly and Ben Elf.
Precious.  I like listening to it as they watch almost as
much as Charlie and Lola.  I especially like hearing the
characters say "Princess Holly."  It's finish dinner,
check homework, bathes, watch a few episodes of
Princess Holly, like writing it, too, and
off to blissful sleep. Thank you, Lord, for these blessings.

And a multitude of others.  I signed up for an Amy Powers'
online workshop.  Here's hoping...a  few of my little
friends will join me and we can participate together.
Before anyone protests, the class is online and it's not until June.
If you are new to embroidery, Amy has tailored
the class for any level.  Her work is so charming
and she appears to be such an enthusiastic instructor.
I am really looking forward participating and have
already started my happy list for images for the
sampler I will complete.

My sampler will have a little crown, brown and olive green
spots or polka dots, a birthday cake, crayons, a favabean
(will be my screen name), a rosary, rain,
I Love Lucy heart, something wedding,  a black
kitty...the list of happy things could be endless.

 





















And an artichoke.  It might just be me but I think
artichokes are regal.  I grew up eating them on the
coast.  The queen artichoke was every where in
omelets,  quiches, and steamed.  We found this
loveliness at the Fullerton Arboretum.  More
on the Green Scene adventure tomorrow. 

Miss Mash Progress Update

Quick update.  Promise better photos another
day.

This effort has been so pleasant and travels
well.  Therapy for the heart and mind.
Almost all the buttons come from my
mother's stash.  Still so much to do but
a pure joy.  Holly has been promised glittery
shoes. Probably will use a bit of glue and red glitter.

My first inclination was silver glitter but she won't
have it. It must be red glitter.  Can you hear her
little voice?

MORE is our family word.  It is our response to
each other whenever any member of the family
says "I love you" the reply is always "more."

Mr. Lee planted three heirloom tomato varieties.
Can't wait for them to grow. Yard is starting to
take shape.

The Green Scene at the Fullerton Arboretum is this
weekend.  Check out the can fundraiser here.
We will be making one for our yard.

Dark Hours

It is during my darkest hours that I miss my mother the most.
A word of encouragement:
a pearl of wisdom gained through suffering.

Camellia japonica

My mother referred to them as japons.  I have not had
success with the lovely bushes but always feel  a deep
longing it is much the same with hortensias.

Mediating on her favorite flowers pansies, geraniums,
roses and daisies.

Welcome February

Dreaming of a green spring.  Planting seeds, watching sprouts grow.
Is it really February already?

Last Day of Summer Break

It has been really hot here in the Inland Empire.  These little beauties
came from my mother's little tree that is part of my urban backyard habitat.

Goodness gracious I loved that woman.  My mother was one of
the most generous people I have known and she continues to give.

All women become like their mothers.  That is their tragedy.
No man does. That's his.  -Oscar Wilde

Road trip to Half Moon Bay

We are preparing for our next road trip.  If you have read this blog for any length of time,  you have already read many of my musing about Half Moon Bay.  It is where I grew up, where my roots are and where my dear ones are buried.

In junior high school, what sadly is called middle school now, I had a teacher that taught me about warm fuzzies and cold pricklies... My soul is searching for replenishment of warm fuzzies to counter the cold pricklies of this past spring.

During our visit we will explore the beach, attend the Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco, maybe hunt at the monthly Paris Flea Market in Livermore, do a little thrifting and simply breathe.

By the way, this hydrangea's (hortensia, like my mother would say) name is Gertrude.  She was placed in my hand by Mary Lou Heard, herself, at the last sale at Heard's Country Gardens years ago.  She was just a single stem. She looks just like diamonds with her pink loveliness now.    

In the Azores hortensias are common and used as fencing.