A New Leaf

When our children were young, I used to tell my husband that I could scrimp on about anything: clothes at garage sales, food at Aldi's, Walmart for about everything else, but I could not, could not scrimp on :

1.) Cologne 2) Haircuts.

 He knew that it was non negotiable and we didn't need to discuss it again.  When a favorite stylist left town or retired, finding a replacement was a painful process.  My pitifully thin hair with the tendency to take off in different directions, needed the guidance of a talented hand or I could (and had) end up in a brush breaking tragedy.


Many years ago, as I prepared to fly to Portland Oregon to visit my newborn niece, I knew that I needed some immediate hair attention that could get me through some major airports respectfully.

 For some bizarre reason, after a myriad of disappointing appointments I was in sore need for a new, talented stylist. So I did what any intelligent woman in need of a good haircut does: Select a stylist based on her last name and it's similarity to a classmate of one of my daughters. I thought the stylist might be the little girl's mother, but after seeing the reed thin, very young lady that was about to attempt to conquer my hair, I knew otherwise.  Yikes. The terror of an untested hair designer. Remember, I was headed to the west coast and I had a Midwestern reputation to dispel.  I could not stereotypically arrive like the hayseed that I was.  To top it off, it appeared that the young woman was angry at some young man.  Lots of statements regarding the irritation and uselessness of the male segment of society was being thrown about as she washed my hair.

 But yet, there was something, something that drew me to this beautiful young lady.  We spoke easily and even though the affliction of anxiety disorder/agoraphobia, that usually made those kinds of visits most uncomfortable, it seemed to be on hold for the hour that I was with her.

 A most wonderful haircut ensued from that most kismet of visits.

 This young woman melded into our family and she humored my inability to come to the salon on occasions, by coming to my house to do my do.  As years gathered, she would come for dinner and take barbering turns with each member of our family.  She even had me come to her house once when I was six weeks post partum with Baby Girl when my schedule was based on nursing and she adapted by seeing me at night at her house. She called us her CareBear Family and we would grin each time she called us that.   
Eldest/Admin worked as her first receptionist when she was able to open her own salon.  Kindred Spirit Friend designed and worked on the decor of the same salon.  E/A's first of many 90's perms came from her.  BG's first trim; same talented lady.  I do believe that my son's first crush on a grown up lady, was her.

 Life took her to different cities but we maintained contact while I measured every stylist that I have seen since,  to her capable hands.  She was and still is, the bar that E/A, BG and myself hold up to any stylist since those CareBear days.

 Then life happened.  We had finally lost touch.  Years passed and current addresses fell off.

 Then the wonder of Facebook stepped up to the plate and reacquainted us again.

 This time our worlds collided at just the right time.

 Her organic salon http://leaforganicsalon.com/ was in need of handmade market bags. This is  one of the things that I do.  I love to make market bags.

 Finally, I was able to return the huge favors that she did for me for nearly ten years.  Times that she took gentle care of me when I needed the boost of a new haircut but was unable to leave my home.  Times that she provided above and beyond the call of any stylist and I did not forget this.  It is pure joy to be able to create for her most lovely of salons.


Designing Donna has received the first of my shipment of market bags, some of those are pictured here.  The lovely leaf bag is for her.  DD has ordered a pesticide free, organic bag to carry her things in and I made sure that it was distinctively her, including her logo and homage to the New Leaf.


God weaves our lives in such intricate stitches.  Thank you Lord for using This Thread in my tapestry....

Fast Post: Fast Food

.

1.  Jogging Jean delivers CSA http://sonowiknow.blogspot.com/2011/05/community-supported-agriculture-joys.html around 12:15pm.
2.  Hubby announces at 12:17pm that he has to leave for work two hours early. (I do believe he told me this yesterday but that was so yesterday.) Previous luncheon plans scrapped.
3.  I hastily read the lovely letter that is included with each CSA delivery from the Head Farmer Teresa http://www.localharvest.org/heartland-family-farm-M9428 where she includes Handy Hints/Recipes for the produce that is delivered that day, at 12:20pm.
4.  I begin doing exactly as she says with a bit of embellishment. At 12:35pm, water is boiling for pasta and the early squash is chopped as is the Swiss chard and radishes.  All are sauteed in butter, (yes, olive oil is better for you, but butter.....), kosher salt and ground pepper.  I quickly minced some garlic just because I love it so.  While the noodles are cooking al dente, I run outside to my herb garden and clip some basil and parsley.  The noodles are drained, tossed with butter not olive oil, garlic, grated fresh Parmesan.
5.  Hubby and I sit down at 12:50pm to eat the freshest, must scrumptious Fast, Fast food ever.
6.  Hubby leaves at 1:00pm with a full and happy tummy.
7.  Take that Fast Food establishments!

Mimi Nirvana

If lemonade is indeed made from lemons, then my lemonade is the finest ever made.

How God works is always a delightful, overwhelming, mystic experience to me. Watching, waiting, waiting can be unnerving but always worth it.....

When Eldest/Admin's house received crazy damage when late May storms roared through, it was most inconvenient.  The damage was so specific and important to the function of the house, that we could almost hear God giggling. However, EA now has the dream bathroom she has wanted for years all due to a precise hit of a very large tree falling dead on to a very tiny (relatively speaking) vent pipe on her massive roof.  Funny, huh? And because E/A is just the busy, get it done type of lovely Type A personality, she went into gear to get much done and properly broke her foot.  With no complete, functional potty room to her name and many steps in her bi-level, she did what every mother of a two year old does in this wonky situation: 

She Goes To Mimi's House!

And just think how ticked off this Mimi was when she heard that it could be a spell that the two little scallywags would perch in her home!  Yippeeeee!!

Hubby and I went into hyper parent/grandparent mode, both to enjoy Miss Viv but to care for her mama so that she could be her best when she returned to her hubby and new bathroom(s).

Mothering at fifty seven is not the same as mothering in your twenties/thirties.  Never mind the physical expenditure, but, my goodness, how I wish I had the enormous amounts of patience and chilled attitude that I now have as a Mimi than I did when I was a young mama.  Perhaps we should ask God about that one; how's about packaging the elderly wisdom/patience into the very energetic body of a youthful mama?  But then, we would have little need for Him, right?

My nights of story times with the blissful sighs of a freshly scrubbed toddler leaning on my shoulder was euphoric.  My first thing in the morning greetings of  'Hi Mimi!  Did you have good sleeps?' warmed my heart like nothing else. The spontaneous hugs with proclamations of love to this long distance Mimi, was golden.

And since E/A was in town for a spell, Baby Girl thought that she needed in on the party and hitched a ride to town to spend a fun filled six days at Mimi and Papas.

Watching Baby Girl's Baby Girl interact with Miss Viv was joy.

Listening to motherly conversations between E/A and BG; heavenly.

We enjoyed porch time, abundance of good meals provided by BG's learned hands.

I gardened with a little one in tow.

I prepared little meals for my strawberry blond dolly, whose appetite appeared to soar...

I helped with a baby shower for Granddaughter Number Three

I sewed on bag orders with the sweetest Sewing Room Assistant who would casually tell me how beautiful my fabrics were.

I fetched and did and found myself humming away as I did what I was created to do.

On Farmer's Market Day, Mimi Nirvana reached it's apex when my two grands, two daughters, Youngest Son, Lovely Lily and Pretend Daughter and her 2G's and Baby Lamb, all converged into the same air space.

A peace, a joy, an indescribable warmth in my heart permeated through my being.

I am a Child of the 70's and believe me when I say that their is no greater high than experiencing this kind of love.

Today, as I wonder through my still rooms and find little snippets of Miss Viv's visit, a huge lump comes into my throat.  I know that she will not be two years and three months old again but the next visit will bring a new skill to be thrilled about.  I know she shall remember me based on on our most memorable of visits.

 I shall rejoice in fallen trees, ruined plumbing and broken foots, knowing that recipe brought much  entertainment and joy into this very blessed Mimi's life.

Thank you Lord.......

Garden Glimpse

It's early in the season.

Lots of unpredictable weather.  LOTS of rain.  And the bugs that come with that.  Oh, and there was that 38 degree night right before the tomatoes went in.....

In short, gardening this year has been pretty much of a gamble.

 But then there are those, rare, low humidity, sparkly days.  A gentle breeze cools you off as you weed and plant, that just makes it worth it.

 I like to sneak up on my garden from different angles to get a strangers point of view.  (I do this in my house with a mirror or hanging upside down.  I know.)  It's amazing how perspective aids you in the flowery decisions that need to be made in a garden.

 I like to have lots of little things to look at in my garden for my little visitors.  I have collected little jars and bottles for the future horticulturists to make Fairy Bouquets.  They get to pick out the flowers and I get to share the names of the blooms with the awe struck little friends.

 I'll hide little critters around for the unsuspecting visitors to smile at while concentrating on a bud....

 This year, veggies have moved in amongst the blossoms.  Rotating my 'crops' to urge better production should give me more tomatoes.  And peppers.  And herbs.

 Garden Gail provided these lovely Cherry Bells Campanula last year.  Beautiful. And prolific.  Good.

 The entrance to the Secret Garden and all the toil and joy that the growing season brings...


I love spring.

Auf Wiedersehen!

 Sometimes when you are all set to visit your first granddaughter, and fate deals your daughter a blow in the form of storm damaged plumbing, you have to pacify yourselves with different behavior to distract your heart from disappointment.  Yesterday, Hubby and I hit the backyard and garden area with a vengeance, hacking away at the lush weedery, provided by the stormy month we are now preparing to file in the history books..
Today, we were able to visit the Farmer's Market, http://www.orangecountyhomegrown.org/markets.html.  We were able to score a pink gooseberry bush and two tiny pots of Eyelash Begonias.  I have had about every kind of begonia, angel wing, perennial, dark leaf, but never, ever have seen Eyelash Begonias.  Adorabley beautiful.
 A trip to our local Walmart in Paoli for basic gardening supplies, brought us to lunchtime and decisions to make.  Of course, I'm always ready for a trip to Lost River Coop and Deli, http://lostrivercoop.com/ ; Hubby, not so much.  I was up for something different and Hubby suggested the new German Restaurant down a bit from Walmart's exit.  How very convenient for something different to be so near by!

  The German Cafe is remarkably different for this area.  In counties known for home cooking involving lots of Sysco Supplies, good eatin is generally thirty to forty five minutes away.

 Well.  At least it used to be that way...
.Finding fresh ingredients and personal service from the non chain eaterys, is akin to hen's teeth.  The vibe for this restaurant is a kitschy collection of personal memorabilia mixed in with German artifacts.  Each table is decorated differently and I got quite caught up in the eclectic style that the owner used for this wee little restaurant.

Our spontaneous luncheon in quest for something different, took us to the most amazing food that we have ever experienced....
Our sweet little server, fresh from Georgia, and the owners, authenticly German and highly talented, provided Hubby and I with a most enjoyable meal.  The Schnitzel was by far, the best we ever experienced, anywhere.  The tenderloin was tender (we could hear it being pounded in the kitchen from where we sat), the light breading, the pan fried skill that few can do well, was fighting over worthy.  I ordered a platter of salads of all kinds (and served in a wonderfully vintage sectioned tray!) and the plan was to share the HUGE tenderloin with my numerable salad sides.  Both Hubby and I were so involved in our own offerings, that we had to remind each other to share.  Even their tea was grand.  Hubby, eager to try a dark lager German beer, nearly forgot that gout frowns upon most alcohol. Well, one; and recovering from NoVivien-Disorder we thought he might as well indulge.

When Sweet Server offered their very famous Dream Cake or German Chocolate Cake or the Lemon Tart, we simply groaned and made a very prominent mental note for future visits....

If you are reading this in Southern Indiana and points nearby, do yourself a favor and contribute to small business and local owners and enjoy the best German food ever.

 (I do believe my Grandmother's Gutzweiller and VonKoenig would have felt right at home; I thought of them the whole time we were there....).

Okay.  We are still sad about missing Miss Viv, but it sure did help......

Happy Memorial Day!

Community Supported Agriculture Joys!

 Hello.  My name is Deb and I am a CSA Newbie.
My Eldest Daughter has preached organic for years and my Baby Girl and Her Hubby has shown me just how accessible good, fresh, pesticide free produce is.
Then, Running Mom posted a facebook status about her favorite CSA taking reservations.http://www.localharvest.org/heartland-family-farm-M9428
Running Mom can just about say anything and because she is so amazing, I would sign on.
She is years younger than me, but I want to be her when I grow up.
So I did what all Running Mom Wannabes do; I signed up with her CSA for the growing season.

 And today came(delivered by her friend because RM is so responsible and she couldn't pick up so she arranged for mine to be picked up along with hers.  See? Amazing.)
Anyway.
Hear me when I say that I have never been so overwhelmed with the beauty, freshness and tastefulness of simple produce.  I had company when the delivery arrived and I wanted to stop the conversation just so I could photograph the loveliness.  But I didn't; I was polite and did so immediately after my visitor left.  Immediately.

 I had to go to school for my last day of tutoring otherwise I do believe I would have skipped school just so I could make a salad.
Two minutes upon returning home, I was able to put together a salad containing, are you ready for this:,

Tiny baby salad mix, spinach, green onions, radishes, Oska Purple mustard, Blue Scotch kale, peas shoots and 

 TA DA!  Fresh, fresh, beautiful strawberries!!  I have recently been using a most tasty salad dressing that I found in my Christies's cook book.http://www.christiesonsalemsquare.com/.  Light, fresh ingredients completely complimented the perfect first spring salad mixture. You need very little dressing; the salad truly stands alone.  Three helpings of this ambrosia.  Yep.

But I could not leave the strawbabies alone.
Recipe for instant strawberry shortcake?  Clean strawberries and several (ahem) shortbread cookies.  I did share with Hubby.  Some.

So, thank you RF for introducing me to the joy of CSA's and to my girlies for being such  good examples. And  to Heart Land Family Farms for bringing good, fresh things to this ol' lady.......!~

An Owly Occasion

If you were eleven years old and a huge fan of  The Owls of Ga'hoole, wouldn't you want an owl themed birthday?  Math Friend has let it be known to me on several(many) occasions, that she loves every aspect of these nocturnal birds of prey.  She has already earned quite a few owl figurines on the way to memorizing her times tables so I knew that I needed to get creative in my celebratory search for just the right birthday gift from me.

It appears I didn't have to look too far.  Trolling throughout fabric websites provides me with the endless possibilities of fabrics for nearly every occasion.  And since Math Friend loves spending time in my sewing room and, dare I say, directing some of my sewing attempts for her, what better gift for an owl lovin, fabric interested eleven year old, than an uniquely designed tote bag for all her Owl Book hauling, towel carrying to the pool, self?

 Big pocket inside with the reminder 'Jesus loves Math Friend' sewn inside...Just want her to always know that....

.Since last week when we made Math Cake, I informed her that she most certainly needed an owl cake for her Big Day.  She heartily agreed.  And thus it was so.

 After school, she came knocking at my front door; a quick 'hi' and a quicker, 'Did you make my Owl Cake?'
I think she was pleased with the results.  She is smile stingy so to get this happy little grin, did my heart good....

And here is my Math Friend, ready to move on to fifth grade, with the help of a very humorous God that thought it would be a good idea to bring on board Ms. Math Deficient to aid her.  

Only God would want her (and me) to know, that it is all about Him and how much He cares for this little owl crazed eleven year old..

Happy Birthday, Math Friend....Jesus loves you so much....