Caroline Gerardo's Blog, page 27

Home Made Ginger Ale

 
Ginger root chlorine free water love.Hidden potion store caught by iphone.You might call it a subconscious selfie.Aging women duck posing sans lipstick. Are you also obsessed with jihadist poison?Epicurious ginger beer recipe soothes souls.The root is poverty, shame, and gnarly inside.Eating slowly they say coke dissolves a penny.But not ginger beer secured in ancient bottles.Probiotic magically changes like our prayers.Chanting joy in my garden heals the earth.Rain feeds wildflowers up in the canyon.Have a sip and sing to overcome hate.


Caroline Gerardo copyright © April 11, 2016  Home Made Ginger Ale Poem

House Burning

Morning wild chicken dance.Neighbor can't speak. Arms flapping she circles me,"house burning!"I put down a panel of glass ready to load in the rental..The thick green liquid is about to go in the back. Grab tool box, hand her a big crow bar.I boss her into action, "come on."Every door locked with bacon and eggs cooking.I run past the kitchen. Smoke alarm shrieks.  Pots in center island with flames visible from outside rising.All doors and windows secure. Rear patio door has hinges on the outside. I pound out hinge pins. But the door gets caught on a rod.  No success."Go call 911!" I tell her. Rooms are invisible from the outside. Fumes fill the house.My phone is in my car two doors down.I smash the laundry room window with the pry bar.Icy pieces of safety glass scatter. My pry bar scrapes the window clean.Reach in, unlock the door. Sirens are approaching. From the smoky inside I open the garage door andfind a hand held fire hydrant. In turning to face the mess I hear loud  men's voices."Who is inside?""Just me." I cough."Go outside we got it from here."My neighbor is outside under a pink blooming tree.She is dancing and muttering, "house burning."  "No everything is okay," I say.We hug.I pick up a couple of the flowers from the groundcrushed by the boots of handsome firemen. I give her one.One rode with me today in my pocket.

I wave thank you,hustle to bring my windows for glazing repair.When I move will I have new neighbors who I grow to love?Smell of creosote, rail road ties in summer,hangs on my day. 
Caroline Gerardo copyright April 1 2016Not April fools - this was my morning 

Peony

First sweet pea opens over hillsides of the dump.Proper, a closed landfill, named after historic battle where Natives buried unaccounted.Methane feeds flowers, glorious sunset, launching torches of perfume.Peonies are my besties;  I've rose patentscertificate Master Gardener, but children won't listenwhen I strum Richie Blackmore.Peonies don't care for heavy metal.Farmer's Almanac spouts herbaceous  require certain cool nature.My parents were screamers.Never hit mine. My knee required stitches, after two weeks dentist said, "OOH, late for pediatricianfor the sewing needed."Wounds heal with care.  Treasures prefer relaxing Epsom baths.One day ghosts jump from blue plastic tarps brittle, discarded pillowsand bobs needing recycling.I worked, planned, cried, worked plannedbut did I do enough by myself?Peonies Pleasetell themyoursecrets.
Caroline Gerardo copyright 3/28/2016 Peony Poem

Avocado Salad To Die For

I wrote before about my vegan daughter and meat eating son.My son surprised visited home for Easter Weekend, but flewhome before dinner.Saturday night I prepared this easy healthy yummy salad that is vegan.Ingredients:3 fresh corn husks*2 fresh great tomatoes*1 red bell pepper1 can black organic beans*half a red onion*2 cloves garlic3 limessalt pepper paprika to tasteif you like it hotter a sprinkle of red pepper*1/2 cup cilantroteaspoon of great virgin olive oil3 ripe avocados

Remove husks of cornSnap in half and cover in pot of water. Boil corn for 3 minutes. Allow to cool in the water.Chop all the * ingredients Combine in bowlDo not cut - save the avocados until right before servingsmash and chop garlic  and cilantro very fineZest of one lime on top,Juice and squeeze out every drop of lime juice into the mixtureAdd light salt and pepper - light and check it later before serving1/4 teaspoon sugar Drain the beans and rise in cold water - toss them in wholeCut the corn off the cob and that goes in the bowl as wellStir and cover - at least 2 hours but overnight is betterrefrigerate the chopped salad
Right before you serve cut the avocados in half, remove pitand sliceAdd a teaspoon of olive oil on top.Stir taste for salt, pepper sour... maybe add red chili pepper if you likeCan be served on top of bowl of torn greens as the most healthy salad.I use mustard, kale and romaine as the base. If you are trying this on pciky eaters use milder butter lettuce Salad greens mixture should be 1/3 of the whole - or in other wordseach bite should have two pieces of avocado and yummy veggiesThe creamy avocados make this luxurious.My children never leave left overs. Pico de gallo and guacamole flavors will start your party!I served this Easter afternoon. My son was still eating a bowlon the way to the airport. His comment:"I'm sad that TSA doesn't allow food in the Airport. I think if I letthem have a taste they will let me bring it in?" 

Natural Organic Easter Eggs

Organic Easter Egg Dyes fromturmeric, nasturtium, lavender, borage, celery leaves and fever-fewall edible flowers and plant materialCut flowers from garden.Put a teaspoon of vinegar into each color bowlI used a mortar and pestle but you could just cut up and smashAdd flowers into vinegar and warm waterPaint or soak boiled eggs with the colors and have fun





Okay some of my Easter eggs are great but the lavender ones look grey, and paprika turns out ugly
My children are college age but they still like a little holiday fun

Elephant Seals

Bullet diver. Swim oceans elegant breath, see Fukushima radioactive isotopes?
Extinction survivor. Die before your children is better than wailing on shore search for pups.
Crafty MacGyverGive tourists a circus show,bark at stealing photographs.
Elephant thriverEnjoy sun upon your skin.Protect your harem families.

Seal of silverReturn from turquoise travels,avoid the boats.


Caroline Gerardo copyright 3/24/2016Elephant Seals Poem

Patriot Burial Grounds

Burial GroundsPatriots sleep under warm blanketsA kid rents cars and builds bombsComprehend evils re-reads news Pot smoking brothers murdersIn custody they say he criesLife different in Boston or Paris? 
Caroline Gerardo copyright 3/18/2016


Paris terror suspect captured 3/18/2016

Snowman

Snowman
Stand above trees,
climb falls, and
defy melting.
Laugh at stealers.
Water made hand.
Create balls of ice.
Nourish the forest.
Lodge pole pines
give oxygen love .
Make
great
build
think
do
artfully
new.
Get to work
snowman.


Caroline Gerardo
copyright 3/13/2016

Ions Sing For International Women's Day

Seconds before sun ~ slips lingerie on the sands ~ sounds of ions sing.
#haiku
#internationalwomensday

Copyright Caroline Gerardo March 8 2016

Snow Angels

Yosemite meadow whispers, wind brushes snow. "Where no man has gone before!" My brother says, dropping his body prone on his back then laughs hysterically, swim his arms and swish legs.Leave a perfect angel.Back out cover tracks,  branch of cedar perfume.Driving home pass the valley where  El Portal restsunder the cover of fog.Is Cary Stayner still alive?Do ghosts haunt the town?His brother returns from abduction, scarring the family.Those Devils never learned how to make snow angels?
Caroline Gerardo 3/5/2016 Copyright