Sharon Lovejoy's Blog, page 2

Footsteps in the Sand

Canning jars filled with seawater.

Dear Friends,

Not such a long wait between posts this time. First, let me thank KJ for the card, article, and sweet thoughts. Your gardens DO look fabulous. Vicki Boster, your box of tasty delights arrived to great family fanfare. Thank you so much for everything. I don't know how you do all you do.

I just spent a few hours with our new caretaker, walking the gardens, showing him birdbaths, fountains, feeders, getting him into the swing of caring for this old house and my demanding (but worth it) gardens and container plantings.

As I write this, there are suitcases, computers, iPads, and more waiting by the door.

We leave for Maine in just a couple of hours. This won't be our normal long time, but it will be enough time to refill our depleted and tired spirits. Maine. Just saying the word makes me happy.


The perfect reading/bird watching/ dream spot on our little island in Maine.
Where do you turn when things worry you or you aren't feeling peaceful? I make soup, work in the garden, but mostly I walk, walk, walk. A few miles everyday helps to keep my soul happy and my brain receptive and creative. My favorite walks are on starry nights...



... or by day, a walk along the shore, bird watching, finding just the RIGHT rock or shell, or watching the Humpbacks breaching and spy-hopping inside the kelp beds.

This is a short walk with me. At the end of the walk, I am THRILLED to be able to offer a wonderful give-away from Josie Iselin, author, photographer, naturalist, and benefactor of nature. My first offering is the book An Ocean Garden. 



This Abrams book is gorgeous and full of information–a combo I adore. As I was purchasing this little gem, the other people in line were commenting on its beauty. The two clerks behind the counter also mentioned that it is exquisite. You'll love it, and it will change the way you look at seaweed.

My second give-away is another of Josie's fabulous books, but this is offered only to members of my Grimy Hands Girls' Club. You know who you are. Leave a comment, and you're eligible.



This is a coffee table sized book published by Chronicle Books, noted for their fine work. I love this one and you will too.

Won't you join me as I wander? And look what I'm doing with the treasures I found...


This is a By-the-wind-sailor, a mini jellyfish that has a sail (see shiny spot above). The beaches were filled with thousands of these.

Sometimes I am out on the beach for hours, but I don't walk more than a few feet. Why? I plop down and sift through the incredible rocks and shells. I pick up sand dollars, study feathers...


I feel like a child.
After I read Josie's book, I decided to try my hand at pressing seaweed. So, I grabbed one of my canning jars out of my trunk and wandered along the shore. Soon, I had a jar full of beauty.

Seaweed specimens

Mother Nature's lacework.

I walked along the beach until I found a tide pool full of water, which I collected in some canning jars. (See top photo). I dipped into the pools so as not to collect sand or debris in the water.

When I returned home, I poured the seawater into a long container and gently transferred the seaweeds from the jar to the container.

I toted my wildflower press out of "Sprig," my garden shed and set it outside near my potting bench, and I cut cardboard and thick, absorbent paper to fit inside my press.

I used a spatula to lift the seaweed out of the seawater, drain it, and spread it out on absorbent paper.

Then I used chopstick to gently fan out the seaweed. Note: I labeled where I found the seaweed, but at this point I didn't know WHAT I had found.

It has been a zillion years since I've worn nylons. So what better use for them than for the process of drying the seaweed? I cut these into small squares to stretch onto the top of the seaweed. When I press the seaweed, this will keep it from sticking onto the paper above it.
Seaweed under otherwise useless nylons.

Don't worry, I did smooth this out before pressing.

See the cardboard and paper on the right side? I put it into the press in layers.

This is the seaweed after two days. I change the paper daily to keep moisture away from the specimen. When I am finished with this, I'll mount it on fine rag paper and put it under glass, or maybe under the glass of a coffee table or my tea table. Isn't it elegant?
Ok, so enough of this puttering around and doing EVERYTHING EXCEPT the final touches on our garden and packing. 
I am happy to announce that the winner of the Glady Taber's Stillmeadow Cookbook is:Donna O'Shaughnessy. Donna has a few active blogs. Check her out at http://midlifefarmwife.blogspot.com. 
Congratulations Donna! We will ship this out to you upon returning to California. Just in time for you to do some wonderful, old-fashioned autumn recipes.
Farewell to you all and love across the miles,
Sharon
P.S. For those of you who live along the Central Coast of California (or the valley), please know that you are invited to my book launch party on November the 9th (Sunday) from 2 to 4 P.M. in the heirloom gardens of the old Dallidet Adobe on Toro Street in San Luis Obispo, California. All book sales will benefit the gardens of the Dallidet. It is my hope that we will earn enough money to reconstruct the once magnificent arbor leading up the front pathway to the porch. We'll have food, music by Simple Pleasures (Mary Anne and Ames Anderson), drink, joy, and a short, short talk about publishing and its many pitfalls and adventures. Come join me in celebration of my debut middle grade novel Running Out of Night (Delacorte Press, the literary imprint of Penguin-Random House). Hurrah!

This pathway deserves a new arbor to lead the way to the old adobe.

Her Hands Darted and Dived Like Swallows

Mission and Brown Turkey Figs from the trees I planted 7 years ago. Some of the crop will be dried, some preserved, some cooked and soaked in brandy (Sicilian style). But most of those incomparable figs will be popped into our mouths (and the mouths of our grandkids who love the figs).

Dear Friends,

Oops, where did our summer go? Week after week I have meant to post something, but life keeps jamming itself in between me and my work. This is the first big block of time I've had without any assignments. My first time off in eight years. It is the waiting game for me, waiting for my book release, waiting to see if Random House will exercise their option on my newly finished work, waiting for the apples to ripen, the figs to stop exploding everywhere, waiting for life to slow down a tad so I can get caught up. Although I am a patient person, waiting is the toughest thing for me to endure.

Lots of wonderful letters and cards (and gifts) have come my way. Thank you for writing and voicing your concerns that "everyone is stopping blogging and just posting on Facebook." I won't let you down Darla, Laurie, Julie Marie, Nell, Lori in Indiana, Anonymous (who ARE YOU?), so many of you who don't connect via Facebook. It just takes me a little longer these days.

Jeff and I had our first stay at Lake Tahoe. Wow, it is so incredibly, deliciously beautiful. I wish we'd had more time to explore, but we did take long walks during both the day and the starry nights. My favorite area was Sugar Pine Point, part of the California State Parks. It is lovely and pristine and perfect for hiking, swimming, and a good, old-fashioned picnic.


Sugar Pine Point at Lake Tahoe (California State Parks). Tahoe is so clear you can see to a depth of about 80 feet. Amazing.
After Lake Tahoe we drove to Boise, Idaho, for the wedding of my nephew and his beautiful bride.The wedding was held high atop a mountain above the thriving city. We danced, laughed, and enjoyed the joyful family time.
The next day we went to the Basque Festival in the Basque section of Boise and arrived at the huge pans of paella a few minutes late. Too late, but the aroma was heavenly.

ALMOST, but not quite.
~~~~~~~~

HOME
Homecoming is always good. Fruit trees laden, berries popping, basil and cilantro flourishing, figs exploding everywhere (with birds, raccoons and opossum fighting over them), and everything ready for eating or preserving.


A Tribute to Gladys Marie McKinstry (aka Gram)

Gram McKinstry's tiny, freckled hands darted and dived like swallows as she worked in her kitchen. She was the master pie maker, quickly rolling out chilled dough, draping it over her rolling pin, and laying it across her masterpieces. Without missing a word in her "how-to-make-perfect-pie-crust" sentence, she crimped the dough and with the edge of a fork quickly etched leaves, tendrils, and flowers into the top of each pie. Remarkable and beautiful, and I WISH more than you'll ever know that I had taken a photo of those works of art.

The Hottest Day in August

The Dog Days of summer were the times you'd find us sitting at the old oak table in Gram's tiny kitchen. Usually on the hottest of hot, miserably humid Indiana days that could melt a glacier, Gram would say, "Time for canning. I'm nearly out of 'chila sauce'." Yep, you read it right, "chila sauce." (And I STILL call it that in her honor).

Gram and I would tie on our aprons and pull a motley assortment of pots and bowls out of her pantry. We'd wipe down the oil cloth covered table, move the toaster out of the center and onto the counter, and get busy.

Gram and Gramp had a small, but VERY productive garden that was just steps from the kitchen. The great thing about it was that the "Redbird," the Cardinal, was always flashing in and out of the trellis of 'Heavenly Blue' morning glories that shaded her back porch. He kept his bright eye fixed on everything that we did out in their garden.

We'd pick bushels of fat, juicy tomatoes and tote them into the kitchen, wash them quickly, and slit a tiny X in the side of each one. Then we'd plop them, one-by-one, into a tall enamel pan of boiling water. They'd barely be in for a minute, then another quick dip of a big spoon and they were back out and sitting in a colander atop a cookie sheet.


Gram and I would grab a tomato, toss it from hand to hand and gripe about how hot it was, then slip off the peels and move onto another hot one. I could feel the sweat running down my scalp and soaking through my clothes. Gram said that ladies don't sweat, so I guess I'm not a lady because I sweated copiously.


We canned and preserved tomatoes, grapes, berries, dilly beans, and more. I lost myself in her little kitchen, lost myself in her stories about family, about the small town of Apollo, Pennsylvania, where her parents had a bookstore/general store. We laughed, cried about the death of her sister, bemoaned the state of world politics, and somehow, without keeping track, we'd work our way through buckets and baskets of produce.

On cold Indiana mornings, when the sun barely shone through the windows, Gram could pry off a lid, or lift off a thick plug of wax, and spread the taste of a bright summer day onto her toast. Or, she'd shake some "chila sauce" onto her eggs and onto Gramp's potatoes. She'd remember the hot days we worked and laughed together in her kitchen.

For the past three months, I've thought a lot about all my grandparents and the ones I was lucky to inherit through marriage (Gram McKinstry). I started to yearn for the feelings I'd once shared in Gram's kitchen, so I took to the hardware store, bought lids, rings, jars, pectin, lemon juice, and lugs of produce.  Now what? I asked myself. I'd forgotten so much, too much to do things correctly. So, I signed up for some preserving classes taught by Master Food Preserver (same idea as Master Gardener) Ingrid Hilton. Once a month for the past three months I've attended one of Ingrid's wonderful workshops at Avila Valley Barn in Avila Beach.

The Avila Barn is great just as a place to visit (especially with kids). They have organic produce, baked goods, gifts, animals, hay rides, and fabulous food in their deli. Now they're hosting food preserving classes and a special boxed lunch from the deli (where they smoke their own meat).

The boxed lunch.

Classroom under the arbor at Avila Valley Barn taught by the fabulous Ingrid Hilton.

Ingrid and her family cart all of her canning paraphernalia to the classes. Not an easy chore.



Ingrid and her "team," Krista and Nicole, her daughters who grew up canning and preserving.

Sauerkraut in the making

Wondering what to do with all your old rings? Ingrid ties them together and uses them as a rack for the bottom of her water baths.
Gram Would be Happy
So now I've refreshed my memory (somewhat) and had some triumphs and some resounding failures.  I walked away from my grape jelly (went outside to the garden and forgot myself), and it turned into clear concrete. I could not get the spoon out of the jelly pot and had to throw everything away. I was laughing so hard that Jeff thought I was having a nervous breakdown.
I did remember one of the most important short-cuts Gram taught me, and I'll share that secret with you. 
ALWAYS keep a good supply of cream of tartar on hand. All the scorched pots were half filled with water, and I added a few tablespoons of cream of tartar to each one and gently boiled them. What looked like irreversible damage soon worked itself loose and with a bit of scraping the pots are now fine.
Here is another hint. Don't taste jelly. IT IS HOT. How did I forget that? Also, wear shoes that cover your feet (I learned this the hard way). And, always have a healthy and flourishing aloe vera plant close by.
Make it Fun!
Yesterday my friend Linda and I spent most of the day in her once immaculate and well-outfitted kitchen. We strapped on our aprons and set to work.



Gram and I never used an ice bath for our boiling hot tomatoes. Dropping them into the ice bath cooled them by 50% and made it easier to remove the skins. Look closely at the bottom of the photo above–I use these Chinese wire and bamboo tools to lift fruit and veggies out of the boiling water.

Gloves for working with hot peppers. Don't try doing it with bare hands.

We roasted trays and trays of peppers, onions, garlic, and tomatoes. The roasting caramelizes the veggies and tugs out their deep flavors. I think roasting the veggies is the key to this salsa being so tasty.


Salsa, or what Gram called "chila sauce," bubbling in the pot. 

The final step is to toss in some fresh cilantro-which we forgot to do. So we added it to each individual jar of salsa and shoved it into the liquid.

All's well that cans well.
Everything tasted fantastic. Now we'll let them mellow and intensify for a month or so. I did a happy dance every time one of the lids popped, which signifies that it sealed properly. It is so satisfying to see your work shining/glowing from a line of jars. 
Another Hint: Don't buy the green or blue "vintage" canning jars. Your canned goods will look brown (mine sure did; these above are Linda's clear jars, much better).
Here is the simple salsa aka "Chila sauce" recipe Ingrid Hilton shared with us (with some modifications).
4   cups of onion6   cups fresh mixed mild peppers (we chose red/orange/yellow bells, but NO GREEN ONES)1   cup fresh mixed hot peppers (you can adjust)12  cups fresh tomatoes (about five pounds)1/4 cup chopped garlic1/3 cup pepper flakes3 tsp. salt (we halved this and figured people could salt to their taste)1 tsp. pepper1 cup vinegar1 cup cilantro (we used more)
Wash tomatoes and use an apple corer or melon scooper on stem end.
Cut tomatoes in half and roast them face down in the oven. Pull off skins, chop tomatoes and pour into a large pot.
Chop onions, garlic, and peppers, and roast in oven. We added our garlic during the last few minutes of roasting the onions and peppers. You don't want your garlic to burn because it gets bitter. Add all to pot of tomatoes. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, but DON'T BOIL. At the end of cooking time toss in the cilantro and stir. Don't forget it like we did!
Ladle mixture into your hot, sterilized jars, wipe inside tops of jars (so it doesn't spoil on the shelf), screw on bands JUST till finger tight, don't crank them because you want air to escape from bottle. 
Put jars in boiling water bath (cover at least 2 inches above lids) and process for 15 minutes. 
Lift out jars and set on a towel to cool. REMOVE THE BANDS after the jar lid pops and seals.

I don't mean to insult you, but when Jeff asked, "What are the bands?" I figured that there might be one or two of you out there who do not know what they are.
You don't want to store your jars with bands on because you won't be able to detect a badly sealed jar or spoilage. Store in a cool, dark place for about a month.

AND THE LUCKY WINNERS of the One-Hour Cheese book drawing are-(Thank you, Workman Publishing)

CONGRATULATIONS TO:
Bonnie-From a Writer's Kitchen blog  (please send me your mailing address and I will forward to Workman Publishing)
and
Khadijah-Wide Earth(please send me your mailing address)
Stay tuned. My next posting will have a fabulous give-away of a great book An Ocean Garden-the Secret Life of Seaweed by Josie Iselin.

This exquisite book will change the way you look at the seaweed strewn on the beach, but then, that is Josie's calling, to open our eyes to the beauty around us. You may know her for some of her other books:






So stay tuned and be sure to leave comments on the posting to be eligible for the new drawing.





Heartfelt thanks

I'll finish this too long posting with a HUGE and heartfelt thank you to all of you who have sent Trowel and Error into its 12th printing. Thank you, thank you!
Signing off from this too long missive and wishing you all well.
Love across the miles and faretheewell,
Sharon (Look below to see what I just found!)

Yippee! A special give-away to all of you who leave a comment on this blog posting. I found that I have two copies of this special, old-fashioned cookbook. Leave me a note and be entered into the drawing. Good luck!

Summer in the Midnight Kitchen

Getting ready to preserve the Concord grapes. I separate them from the stem, rinse them in cold water, and let them dry. Next thing I am tackling is preserving grape leaves for dolmas and other things.
Dear Friends,
Oh those sleepless nights... what good can come of them? Plenty! It is my time to sit in the kitchen rocker, find a great recipe, sip some tea, then get up and cook. During those dark and quiet hours I create a maelstrom of foods, syrups, liqueurs, dashed across the walls, counters, and of course, in small, sticky pools on the old wooden floors. What a mess, but also, what a joy to create and have something wonderful waiting for me when I wake in the morning. Jeff loves to smell all the good things I've cooked up and he doesn't bemoan the fact that his feet often stick to the floor.





During summer's bounty there are so many projects to accomplish. I'll show you just a few of my favorites. I am bad about following recipes, though I LOVE to read cookbooks, so these are experiments and done for food, fun, and for future projects, maybe even my own book of treasured recipes and projects.


These are a few of the zillions of seedless Concords dangling from our arbor. It is hard to believe that I planted the six of them from cuttings smaller than a pencil. Now they are 10 feet tall and trail and climb 30 feet of arbors and posts.

The birds harvest plenty of our grapes and let us claim the remainders. During cold winter days I will drink in the sunshine and scent of grapes whenever I open a jar of concentrate, syrup, or jelly. Oh, and that fabulous fruit leather–it is wonderful and is simply made of the leftover pulp, spread in a thin sheet and left to dry in our old, gas oven. I dried this for two days and two nights, cut this into 12 pieces, and rolled it. I store my leathers in tall glass apothecary jars to keep them from rehydrating.

The Midnight Kitchen smells divine!

This is one of my midnight experiments–whole grapes and sugar canned for a juice concentrate. We'll see how this turns out. It must age for a month before I open and test one.

I also freeze bags of the fresh grapes. My old pal Carolyn Germain is the one who taught me what great and healthy treats they are. I love the crunch and pop of a frozen grape. You can add whole grapes to summer lemonades, sangria, etc. 

Summer's bounty is rich in edible flowers...

...and herbs, lemons, and limes (the last of the crop). I use these for my edible flower cheeses...

This is a soft yogurt cheese that drips through a sieve for two days (in the refrigerator). 

For inspiration I often turn to this old preserving book by Nora Carey. The recipes are great and the photographs will make you rush out to your garden to do a major redesign.

Home Sweet Home
I just returned from the American Library Association Conference in Las Vegas. I felt like a goat in roller skates there...out of place, out of my element. The good thing was that I got a chance to meet many of my old friends and new friends who are authors and illustrators. I am a huge fan of artist Melissa Sweet, who was there signing a few of her books. Also got to actually see my new book Running Out of Night (Random House, November 2014) on a bookshelf! Woot hoot. I couldn't believe it.
I did a mini-book signing of my Workman Publishing books, visited with librarians from everywhere, and had a ball. 
On Friday night Random House hosted a birthday party for Batman, who just turned 75. About 400 of us crowded into the Venetian Hotel and celebrated Batman with lots of food, fun, wine, and huge Batman-birthday cakes. 
The flight home from Las Vegas to the Central Coast took only 51 minutes. What a difference and culture shock. I was so happy to return to my sweet husband, my gardens, and my family. Heaven-on-earth here.
The Great Cheese Book Give-Away
Ok, so now that I've written about some of my summer projects I want to encourage YOU to do some of your own. My publicist at Workman Publishing has pledged two copies of this fabulous little book to two lucky winners. Simply "follow" me at the bottom of this page, leave a comment on this posting (not on Facebook), and in ten days we will do a random drawing for winners. The books will be mailed out by Workman to your snail mail address, so please, if you comment anonymously, leave a real name and e-mail address or other contact information.

This book is concisely written, with great directions, photographs, and recipes. You'll love it and so will your friends and family when you start spoiling them with your creations.
Please stop by for a visit, leave a comment (they're always appreciated), and visit me on Facebook and at SharonLovejoy.com.
Sharon

The Book Giver

Dear friends,
I wrote this posting two and a half weeks ago, but life has been so hectic that it has sat and simmered on my computer till tonight. So sorry, but I know you understand. I did receive some notes from friends who worry that I will stop blog postings since I am active with Facebook. Yes, I do post one photo and a few words each day on Facebook, but many of my readers/friends don't want or know how to use Facebook, and they don't want me to stop regular postings. So, I promise to continue, though somewhat erratically. I love keeping in touch with you. So if you keep writing to me, I promise to keep writing to you too.
A note from a friend
Aline and her grandson Timmy made me feel rich when they sent me the photo above and the words, "He loves this book." Hurrah! Writers (most of them) seldom know if their book is pleasing someone, so words like this can be the biggest spirit lifter of all. Then add on the photo, and wowie, home run. So there are my riches in the flesh! Thank you, Aline, you are so sweet to share this.
Inspiration beyond the ken
I was so fortunate to spend this morning with retired librarian Liz Krieger (see contact info at post script below). She may be retired from the regular 9 to 5 at the library, but she is a librarian at heart and continues to educate and inspire hundreds of children a year.
Liz and her husband Dan attend book sales, tag sales, library sales, and anywhere books are sold, and purchase the best children's books by the car load. She doesn't purchase them to sell; she buys them to GIVE them to the children of Hawthorne School.
Kids arrive at Liz's house with empty shopping bags, and before Liz serves lunch, the kids are allowed to "shop" from tabletops, bookcases, carts, and entire rooms filled with books. 
You won't find any duds here. Liz considers the needs and aspirations of each child and hand picks everything.


Liz's dining room is given over to the books she selects for the children. I found about ten that I wanted, but heck, this day is for the kids.

I'll take the blue easy chair for further reading and lounging. Soon this room filled with excited and eager fifth and sixth graders and their tired, looking-forward-to-end-of-school teachers.


Well, we haven't had any rain here for ages, but wouldn't you just love to be let loose in this house? I would. And then I want to curl up in one of the overstuffed chairs (or, like the three bears, choose a bed) and read, read, read till my eyes cross and I have to come up for air and food.

She told them which bookcases held the books they especially liked.

Watch and learn. I watched Liz weave her love-of-books-spell with the children. I learned from the master. I could not believe how Liz could pick up a book, virtually ANY book, and tell the children the stories and her favorite parts. I wonder if she ever sleeps?
 Oops, did I forget to comb my hair? I think so. Well, it is ok, I got it cut a couple of hours later.

But look at these stacks...she has the names of different children on each book. She researches what their interests are and matches the book to the child. Amazing, no? Then, before she hands them to the child, she tells the entire group what the books are about and why she chose that particular book for that special child. 

I know that Liz sometimes works through the night before her group arrives, and you can see the results. She spins tales about the lives of authors; she gets the kids excited about every aspect of the book. It is amazing to see the wonder and joy in the faces of the children, especially when Liz says, "Take your bag and choose the books you love, but try to choose one or two from your favorite category." (I just finished reading Richard Peck's A Year Down Yonder and his Long Way From Chicago, pictured above). Richard Peck's books resonate even with children my age! Hilarious.

Liz with John (an enthusiastic volunteer) in the background. John read some snippets of a book he loves.

Liz reads from The Wind in the Willows.

I am sharing some of the process of creating My First Bird Book
My part in all of this magic was to talk to the children about following (and working for) their dreams and goals. I explained that when I was young I didn't do well in school, but I kept drawing, writing, and dreaming. 
One young boy told me that he really loves to do illustrations, but that he doesn't think he is good enough. I told him to just keep working and to develop his own style. I asked who was judging him. He admitted that he judged himself and compared what he created with art work of others. "Quit comparing yourself. There will always be someone better and someone worse than you," I said.
I think the kids were interested in My First Bird Book and Bird Feeder because (by a long stretch) it helped them feel connected to R.J. Palaccio who wrote the great, middle grade novel, WONDER. Raquel was the art director at Workman Publishing who did the layouts and devised the packaging etc. for my bird book. She is not only a writer, but also a visual artist. I was so happy to have her creative input with the book, and she informed me that her boys love it! Hurrah.


I explained about the different kinds of books I've written and how exciting each one is. More like exploring and discovering treasures that you never knew existed. The above book is The Little Green Island with a Little Red House (DownEast Publishing), which is just going back to print again. I am showing them the tide pool page, which is a reflective mirror so that children see themselves in it. 

My first book, Sunflower Houses, originally published in 1991. Still in print! I'm so grateful.

And, finally, Liz asked me to read a few paragraphs of my new book Running Out of Night, Random House, November, 2014. I did and afterward got some great comments from the kids. Thank you everyone! We'll make sure that you get to read the entire book come November.
Interactions with the children is fun. Here are some typical questions from the students
"Are you rich, teacher?" one of the kids asked me. "No," I said. "Not the way you may be thinking of rich."
"What way?" he asked.
"I have lots of wonderful people in my life, and my books make them happy. They're like family to me, and they make me feel rich in something besides money." 
Another question? How old are you? When I answer them, they are shocked that I am still able to stand and talk (let alone write and draw). 
Is Lovejoy REALLY your last name, or did you make it up? That is a question I am always asked, and they are reluctant to believe that I was actually born with that name. I explain that not only was it tough to be a redhead, but to have the name Lovejoy really sealed my fate. I was teased constantly.
Pizza Time
The scent of freshly baked pizzas wafted through the book rooms. Stomachs growled; kids sniffed at the aromas and begin to get antsy.
Liz gave some final words of encouragement and guidance to the children. She said, "Don't just read these books and toss them aside or give them to a thrift store. Read them over and over. Begin to build your own library." Think of that..."Begin to build your own library." That is a great way to encourage children to re-read books, to care for them for the long haul, to cherish them as they should be cherished.


My granddaughter Sara May made me a bookmark. I think her words say it all, "I love books." (And did you notice her choices of books? That was before she read the entire series of Harry Potter; now they would be listed too. Probably right at the top of her list.
Thanks to my Grandmother Lovejoy, thanks to my favorite librarians, thanks to some of my beloved teachers and professors, and thanks to people like Liz Krieger, I love books too!
Normally I would do a book give-away this month, but instead I ask YOU to give a book or two to Liz. She and her husband are retired and spend much of their time and their money on books for children. Do you have any good books for children that need a new home? Write to me and I'll introduce you to Liz. She needs any help that can be offered. Thanks!

Workman Publishing just sent me a reprint notice today. This is the 11th printing of Roots, which is amazing to me. I am so grateful to all of you who keep this book alive and thriving.
I send love to you across the miles,

Sharon

p.s. Liz gave me permission to publish her contact information for anyone who would like to send her books.

Liz and Dan Krieger662 Islay St.San Luis Obispo, CA. 93401
805-543-9611 home. 805-440-1113 Liz's cell

Lizkrieger@charter.net

House of Boughs, Walls of Leaves, A Carpet of Wildflowers

Who won the big drawing for the Serenity Health and Home Decor outdoor fire pit?Stay tuned and read to the end of the posting!


Dear Friends,

Maybe it is belated spring fever, but right now all I can think of is that I want to simplify my life. I want to live in a house of boughs with leafy walls and a soft carpet of wildflowers and herbs. At night, glowworms and fireflies will light my home. By day, the shifting shadows of sunshine will warm it and birdsong will be my music. And cleaning it? A heather broom, a watering can, and some helpful worms. What could be better?

I am thinking of you out there...all of you who are dealing with wildfires, "firenadoes" (a new word to describe a tornado-like whirling fire in California), flooding, intense heat, and tornadoes. This is a tough time throughout our land, and we need to draw together and help each other.

SIMPLIFY

Today I am taking a load of good things to our local Hospice Store. Sure, they're good enough to sell, but I want to gift them to someone deserving, someone who may not have the income to treat himself/herself to something besides groceries and gasoline.


These sweet cups, saucers, and creamer are headed for Hospice today.
Cleaning out cupboards and chests feels GOOD. I urge you to paw through your goodies and share them with others.

INTO THE GARDEN

All the artichokes on my healthy plants burned up in the heat. This was the last harvest.
Last week Jeff and I hosted a wonderful garden walk/talk with a group of California Native Plant Society Members. Thank heavens it was last week because this week has been a disaster. Heat of up to 105 and plants reduced to what look like piles of ashes. EVEN THE NATIVE PLANTS. Nothing survives such an extended drought and high, high heat. Jeff and I take short showers and cart buckets of water out to my potted herbs. That's all we can do to maintain.


The gate and arbor Jeff built for me. Peephole is an antique found in a vintage shop.

Before the crowds and the heat.

The last of the chokes. Note that all the beds have been heavily mulched with an under-layer of compost and worms.

Under the grape arbor for some drinks, conversation, and questions.


I love real dig-in-the-soil-and-wreck-your-fingernails gardeners.
Here is a short video I made of my little garden the day before the garden walk. I hope you enjoy it.



And now...DRUM ROLL. The random number generator chose as the winner of the drawing for the fabulous fire pit, donated by Serenity Health and Home Decor, is Sharon Calvert from Alabama's Gulf coast. (Sharon, e-mail us your shipping address.)


You'll love having this in your garden. My family likes to sit around ours, toast marshmallows, and tell creepy stories. The creepier the better.

All joys to you!

Sharon