Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was always a special holiday growing up. When we were young we would go to Uncle Frank and Aunt Doris' house. They lived in a small Spanish bungalow in Orange County. The house was set on a large rectangular lot near Magnolia High School. May be an acre of very flat land. They had a chicken coupe, a couple goats and a horse. One year they had a Steer named Dusty. Uncle Frank would let us chase her, which I thought was fabulous and my Aunt and Mother threatened him if he encouraged "the girls" to do anything so dangerous again. After dinner "crazy" Uncle Frank would lift me way up high on the horse's bareback to watch the Disneyland fireworks.

I learned a lot at this Uncle's house. Mostly about how much fun it could be to break a few rules. When I was nine he let us skewer the wedges of pineapple which were neatly arranged back in to the halved pineapple. Only the wedges weren't yellow- he had done something to then to turn them leprechaun green. What he had done was marinated the fruit with a little creme de menthe liqueur. My parents were really upset with Uncle Frank for serving their very minor daughter alcohol. But I never loved him more.

Until dinner. Instead of the usual turkey-with-the-fixings- we had this really delicious prime rib dinner. Some time during the meal I realized I hadn't seen Dusty and I asked where he was. I wanted to play with him.

Only I couldn't, And I wouldn't be able to again. Dusty had been 4H'd.

Now if you ever get a chance to purchase a 4 H animal "after the fair", go for it. Dusty was "my first" taste of hand-raised meat. Made me understand how a farm family could stand to part with what I saw as "pets". They taste way to good only to play with.

The years have passed, traditions have changed, the world has changed. Tomorrow, unless I wake to better news than I have been following the last 2 days, I will be praying for the safe return of 3 little children whose mother decided it was better to go on the lamb with than obey a court order to give an extended visitation with their father's parents. I can't imagine the pain of not knowing where the grandchildren are.

And while I go to God to ask for the safe return of these children, I will be thanking him for this very good life that I live. I am still with the husband of my youth. Our sons are honest and productive members of society, They have chosen wisely women to share their journey in this life. I live in the greatest place in the greatest nation on earth. And I can speak and pray freely.

I wish you all many blessings throughout this holiday season.

Rosemary

"As for rosemary, I let it run all over my garden walls, not only because my bees love it but because it is the herb sacred to remembrance and to friendship..."
Sir Thomas More
The selection of rosemary topiaries in the stores is excellent right now. Before they are picked over, grab one. It is nice to have a living plant in the home at Christmastime. As they are very much an outdoor plant, mine will not come in the house until the first week of December. That will give its best chance of surviving through the holiday season. Just after the first of the year it will be planted outside.
Rub the needles of a sprig between your fingers. The distinct aroma will linger for hours. Close your eyes and breathe in. The scent is something like camphor and pine and eucalyptus. You will never forget it.
Perhaps that it why rosemary in ceremoniesis associated with memory. Greek scholars wore crowns of it into exams to heighten their mental acuity. Sprigs are tucked into bridal bouquets as a symbol of fidelity to the groom and as a sign that the bride would not forget the family she was born to. In some cultures, a sprig of rosemary is tossed into the lowered casket to symbolize the deceased would not be forgotten.

Perhaps most appropriate to the season is the story of when the Virgin Mary on her journey to Egypt cast her cloak over the small white blossoms, they turned blue.

Post Fire in the Garden

Outside it doesn't seem as though two weeks ago the air was thick as smoke and California was in many parts a refugee camp. Tonight it is crystal clear, the indigo night sky studded with stars.

For those of us lucky enough to have been spared fire damage it is time to go out and clean the garden.

Think of the leaves on plants as their filter. That is why it is so it is important to keep the leaves clean. This means in the typical 20 gallon hose end sprayer add 1 cup of baby shampoo and 1 cup antiseptic mouthwash and then fill with water. Then wash away! Preferably in the morning, when the leaves will have a chance to dry before the sun goes down. I like to do this chore just before Thanksgiving, because then everything is clean before the Christmas lights go up.

If you have old mulch that hasn't worked itself in to the soil, rake any build up away from plants. Don't let it build up to the point that it becomes a nesting place for rats.

If you have diseased rose leaves- rust, blackspot or other disfigurement- pull off and throw away.

Pretty surprise

Okay. This is a little over-the-top as far as kithcen cabinets interiors. I think my husband was working in Egypt when I decided to wallpaper the inside of the cabinets. When it is time to change the paper- I think I will sell the house first.

The lace edging came later. The corners of the paper was wearing and I am not ready to sell the house- so the lace was found on eBay, ironed and hotglued, It is protected by the invisible corner protectors sold at any home center, cut to fit the inside of the shelf edge.

And yes- the packets of instant dressings and the like are alphabetical.

Live In The Moment

The garden teaches that when a beautiful moment is at hand, stop and savor it.

A few moments after this shot was taken, the indigo had lifted from out of the sky. The display of Indigo Sprires Sage and the red Pineapple Sage is still beautiful: but it doesn't glow quite the way it did at that moment the moon sun first broke open the daylight.

The purple blue Indigo Spires Sage is the result of a happy accident of natural cross breeding. It popped up one day in the 1970's at the Huntington Library and Gardens.It is assumed to be the child of two mexican heritage sages which were growing nearby, S. farinacea and S. longispicata.

Indigo Spires is not a shy plant. It grows in most conditions, but best in full sun with moderate water, where it stretch to a good 5 x 5 floppy bush,with the calyxes reaching out up to another foot. This plant shouts for the attention of butterflies and hummingbirds. If you have room, I highly recommend it.

The Pineapple Sage is fussier about sunshine. It requires lots of it to bloom like this. However, its greatest attribute is its sweet smell. Plant it where you can enjoy the aroma when you brush against it. While the variety in the picture is the standard type, there are smaller cultivars readily available.

Beauty is Not in Perfection

If you can't read the words on the picture click on it, reading the words will bring back memories and uplift. If not, then perhaps your heart has problems not of the type solved by a cardiologist.

Beauty is not in perfection.

It is in friendship.

This engraved stone monument reminds me to be grateful that I have not had to journey through life alone. I owe so much to other people who have entered my life. Some on purpose. Some quite by chance. Some stayed. Some ran out quickly.

There is a companion quote by the Roman orator, Cicero.

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.”

It is an irony of life that from this vantage point, I know there are those wonderful individuals that can never be repaid directly. The ones that when I stumbled showed forgiveness, love and a helping hand back up.

One of the beauties of having a garden is that when I am alone in it, I get lost in thought. Sometimes in the wonder of anonymous freindship. Of happenstance meetings that changed my life for the better.

When I am in my garden, I thank God for all of you. And pray that when I come upon someone in need of a hand up, that I will follow your example.

Offer Holiday Cheer to Families of Fallen Heroes

¯Ralph Waldo Emerson said,“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, and to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

I would like to refine that statement a little. When you are honorable, compassionate and generous with whatever you are able to, that creates happiness within.

My son's mother-in-law got permission to share this letter. Please consider participating in any way you are able to. This is a very organized effort and is first-come best choice on assignments. The organization has a web site for any who need more information





Dear Family and Friends,

If you are a proud American and want to give back to those who defend our freedoms please read this and forward it on to everyone you know. We need your support and your help to get the word out and get people involved!!!

Dan and I volunteered for an organization called Snowball Express in 2006. We had such a wonderful and touching experience that we are now on the committee for 2007. Their mission is to reach out to the surviving children and parents of our fallen heroes, specifically the US service men and women killed during the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Snowball Express, a non-profit 501c3 organization, provides these families with a fun filled, all expenses paid weekend in Orange County. Between November 30 and December 2 they will attend an exclusive concert at the Grove in Anaheim, a spectacular party at Oakley headquarters in Foothill Ranch and a day at Disneyland. Many mothers who attended last year said this was the first time they saw their children feel joy since the passing of their father. Also, in bringing these families together it connects them to others who share and understand their difficult reality.



These families have made the ultimate sacrifice and their lives have changed forever. Because of these service men and women’s heroism we continue to enjoy the lifestyles and freedoms we have grown accustomed to and sometimes take for granted. I became part of this organization because I felt that we should all do more to show our gratitude, give service to these families and let them know their loved ones have not been forgotten. I’m hoping others will get inspired and get involved too.

We are looking for donations of money, toys, or time from many people and companies. No gift is too small, every dollar helps. Please talk to your friends, neighbors, family and employers about this wonderful program and get on board with us. We have specific volunteer needs and we are open to your ideas as well. Share your talents and special skills or lead a fundraiser at your work or school. Please join us and help make a difference in these families’ lives!!! If you would like to donate or learn more please visit www.snowballexpress.org. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please e-mail me at m.barto@snowballexpress.org.



Best Regards,

Michele Barto