Wildflower Ride in Paradise

My son in law is up in the area today, well down the hill actually with his parents in Chico. This weekend is the infamous 100 mile bike ride race. It's actually for those who are insane. We live on the top of some buttes, that's why they call it Butte County. Sometimes youngsters delete the 'e' on the state sign posts and for a while we are all butt's, I always smile when I come back from San Francisco and see the changed sign. I live with butts .... too funny.

Anyway I digress, so we live 2000' above the valley floor, and the cliffs resemble the Grand Canyon, only on a smaller scale. There is a road called Honey Run, that virtually climbs straight up the cliffs. It's one lane, they say it's two, it isn't. AND there is no honey about it, it's not a sweet ride it's a nightmare and terrifying honestly. Do not drive this road. When you cross the covered bridge, turn back and save your sanity. Anyway this is rather the beginning of the ride from Chico, hence me saying it's insane. Of course later there's the climb up Table Mountain to the plateau later on. I remember back 2006 and Dan did this right before the wedding, I wasn't very nice when I think I said you will be at the wedding even if we have to prop you up, do not have an accident. He didn't thankfully.

So on to other things Etsy is all in a dither they apparently are not as focused on handmade as they used to be, which is rather sad in a way. I know things evolve. However, in this day and age where evolution has taken a turn for the worse especially in the growing of plants and foods, where GMO is ruining the future. And more and more folk are returning to growing and nurturing the land by hand and using heirloom seeds. This move by Etsy almost seems to fly in the face of a new revolution taking place. I'm not sure in the long term that this bodes well for Etsy. It might, but I think the handmade concept being an exclusive thing on Etsy has shrivelled drastically especially for their client base. Quite sad to watch and read about. There is a forum thread about show your hands, and in a way was why I was posting today. I'm older, made my bones so to speak in the corporate world.

Now my hands made my life happy. I dig, weed, cook, paint, create, knit, embroider, sew. I owe all to my Mother who did all of this so well, and she wrote, poetry and words that I treasure. She also loved opera. A vastly superior person to me, I just do the basics, and that's fun, I love simple, can't do complicated things. I am outspoken, because I can't dissemble well. I speak from the soul and gut. I do know I'm not malicious so that's good, and I don't do envy.

handmade with love

So back to today, I baked bread for the first time since I was in Domestic Science at Sir Thomas Bennett in Crawley by hand, I mixed I kneaded and I most of all enjoyed the process. My creation today, is f'ing awesome, smells great, the hubby loves it and it was cheap to do, and not labour intensive. Seriously a lazy bread bake :) And this is the blog where I found the recipe, seriously do not throw this link away, you will need it one day. So with these old hands I baked bread today, I finished sewing up a thing that my daughter saw on Pinterest out of linen and cotton, and managed to redesign and create something that I think she can throw on and be happy wearing.

waiting to cool

In the oven

Crikey it's March

We've had splendid weather, well too splendid for several months, and sadly the rains didn't come. BUT huge but the rains have arrived, we had 6 inches from yesterday afternoon to this morning, where we had to tip out the rain gauge because it was overflowing. This afternoon it's already caught over an inch, steady heavy rain and we are supposed to have rain through Sunday. I don't like dreary weather but I shall endure only because it's good for the farmers and the growing process.

Bought several new trees and planted through out the garden. I now have a couple of Magnolias they are the evergreen type and blossom in late summer unlike the more popular ones that blossom in Spring and have no leaves.

My sister is doing well, and happier than she has been in a very long time. Oh don't get me wrong she's happy that her children are doing well and of course over the moon with Ava her grand daughter. She loves biking, going to the gym and eating healthy. But I think now a new phase of happiness for her and is so well deserved. My fingers are tightly crossed for her.

My daughter her family are toddling along and doing well, extremely well considering so many aren't. I still wish they could move to the country and be farmers but that's just me being a Mum. City living is good, and San Francisco is one of the best cities what can I say. They have great jobs, good health, a wonderful nanny for Ms. Zadie, speaking of which sounds so like a little hooligan on the phone I just want to squeeze her to pieces. What a giggler and chatterbox.

Due to the rain, I've been forced (laughing to myself) to paint and amuse myself while coming up with interesting healthy meals and menus. I'm getting to the end of the cold season where I'm tired of making meals and just want to munch off branches and plants outdoors while I might be weeding or seeding. I must say I've actually worked on my own selling site for my painting, small steps what the heck .... The Sisters' Studio

Mid January, good grief

Last time I posted was October, okay I came down with pneumonia, then the doctor said I had lung damage, which might have been technically correct but all she meant was I could get bronchitis or pneumonia again, and I thought she meant lung cancer et al. But as I usually do went off the deep end, I did stop smoking that some applaud. But then I got even more ill and achy, seems that my smoking might have helped with other stuff. "THEY" think now Fibromyalgia. I'm thinking up is down, and down is up. Presently I'm muddling through with the help of the YaYas, just trying to get at least 6 hours sleep at night, with a goal of 8 which would be a miracle, but much better than 3 hours nights at a time. Last night, BeBe surprised me at 3:00 AM, and tossed and turned against me for the rest of the night. Tonight I shall close the bedroom door, I really care for her, but I need sleep more than I need her company.

The evening sky tonight is a deep mauve, and feels like a blanket overhead. Spent a lovely afternoon redoing pathways with my husband, I think it will look splendid when completed and in fact something I've wanted to do for about three years. The pathway used to be the driveway from the front of the house out to the side street on Kibler. It's looking more like a wandering path that I have always wanted it to be.

Yesterday morning around 6 AM or so we went out on our front stairs and gazed at the sunrise together. It was so beautiful and most of all special that I had someone to share the beauty with. We also managed to hang the garden swing in the new arbour.

I did have an epiphany of sorts while working in the garden and it was quite splendid, I realised for the first time my enjoyment was for me actually us. The work in the garden, the house and other alterations were for us. I felt a bit overwhelmed, but it was an awakening to realise that what we were doing was not for family. Real slap up the side of the head. I actually don't care who buys this place anymore (well we have been programed to buy in order to invest or make more money), it's a rambling acre, half orchard, half veggie patch, with a home that has been added to since 1950's, though I suspect earlier since I found a car license plate buried in the dirt from 1923 .... could have been a date night :) So it's a place with some history and where Gary and I have changed the volcanic dirt into good healthy stuff to grow veggies and fruit trees. I do hope they survive for a very long time in the future.

Been looking to buy some real estate in SLC, surprised at the lack of response from the agents in that area. Though the RE is being snapped up at the low prices.

Finished burnt orange beanies for Franny and Greg, working on a little number for Ava, her 2 birthday is coming up soon, and my sister and I did some shopping over the Christmas Holiday, another fun day with Agnes.

And this morning when Gary went out with BeBe for her morning walk, our neighbour Roni was in the driveway, she had seen a boxer and thought we were looking after Badu and didn't realise she had done an escape, sadly Gary let Roni know that Badu was no longer with us. But seriously, what a great neighbour and neighbourhood that is so aware and keeps their eyes open and hearts too. Still miss Badu.

Dear Badu, I shall miss you

We've spent so many wonderful years together. You were my first grand-daughter and very special. You brought comfort to my Dad, and to so many of our relatives you meant so much, Jean and John will be so sad when they hear how ill you got. Gary says he knows we shall meet you again, it needs to be soon.

In the meantime, enjoy chasing the waves, and racing in the sun and shadows. I shall think of you often and miss your woof, we shall be looking for you. I hope it's soon. Luv, e

Well big day for my husband

His birthday is today, and he is now officially 65, doesn't look 65, doesn't act 65, in fact I don't know how a 65 year old should act. He now qualifies for airline ticket discounts, medicare, Amtrak discounts and probably a whole slew of other things that I'm sure we will receive in the mail via AARP et al.

I can't beleive I haven't posted since August, but it certainly has been busy around the homestead compound. Last week was spent digging out the raised beds and lining them so that water and my worm casting dirt no longer escapes through the wood joints, next year water will trickle down to the bottom of the double high raised beds instead of just half way down and running out. That was frustrating to watch this year. Gary made four more raised beds, and nearly all of them are now planted with winter and autumn crops that I am looking forward to harvesting and sharing.

Today is raining, so the seedlings and seeds are getting a good soaking. I have four tomato, several pepper and eggplants remaining, though they are on their last legs. I spent the last couple of days canning, and now have 20 small jars of Fig Jam destined for little Christmas gifts, all the brown kraft labels and just have to be popped on the lids. The jam tastes yummy even although I do say so myself.

Fighting off tomato worms and eating figs

What can I say, every day I wander rather aimlessly in the afternoon when it's too hot to rake up all the oak leaves that are raining down like they think this is October or weeding. (Now that was a runalong sentance. A bit like my wandering).

I do munch my way through the garden, but have also been much better this year at picking crops right before ripening, therefore, haven't shared too much with the birds. The late rain and unusual snow seriously made the garden bounty much less this year. But perhaps the fruit trees need a good rest from producing, in fact I notice that they are much taller and have loads of new growth. I will practice better thinning next year to help them get even stronger.

About those huge tomato worms, well they don't stay on the tomatoes, they also like peppers and eggplant, I've been picking them off and offering them to the birds but they are so well camouflaged they are difficult to spot, and my glasses are constantly slipping down my nose because I am peering so hard though leaves and stalks.

Never mind, several baskets of garden goodies have been shared and loads of stuff has been quick blanched and frozen for later in the year when I am without the benefit of immediate fresh things in the garden. I am in process of persuading Mr. G to build about 4 more raised beds, I do want more, but will ease him into the project. The shade clothe I bought, well I probably didn't need this year (it just doesn't pay to outfox Mother Nature), we haven't been blazing hot in fact only turned the AC on twice so far this year. Quite unusual.

Almost all the major work has been done, now we are waiting for the gutters and downspouts to be installed next week, then we can refurbish the decks install railings and DONE!!

Will get some big tubs to catch rain during the coming rainy season. And then there is the chickens I want, shhhh it's a secret at the moment from Mr. G. But I have picked out the perfect spot for them, huge smile on my face and I found a chicken site that I can purchase the fluffy little things.

Soon it will be mid July 2011

Weather burst into a heatwave, one moment it was in the 60's and now for the last few weeks mid 90's. Good for the heirloom tomatoes, not as comfortable for the folk working on our upgrades to the compound.

The studio inside is almost completed and the painter has been toiling away to make the building match the main house and garage. The breezeway is done, and it's painted, one week we got rain the next 100 degrees, it works we don't get wet nor sunburnt from whatever Mother Nature throws at us. I do have to replant/transplant some things, but I've got until October to figure that all out.

The new Gazebo is going up in the spot that used to have an ancient carport, that was seriously on it's last legs I don't know how it stayed standing. Painter will be here tomorrow to prime the wood, but the start of the roof line is on as of today, soon more shade to putter near the raised beds, now that will be even more of a pleasure.