One Red Hen

The garden I tend at the back of our home is long, shade-filled and barely manageable. Full days can be spent outback and one would never know that work had been done. A happy pleasure of mine while toiling is to have the next door neighbor chickens cluster 'round my shovel to see what delicacy I may gift them. These girls are a delight - ruinous - but, a delight!

Years ago the first hen to breach her confines and master an obstacle course path over the fence to a ladder on my side was a statuesque, snow white clucker. Hubby named her Clarabelle. We decided to name the hens, since no one on the other side of the fence had. I always felt Clarabelle to be a daring, independent adventuress!! My, she solo-ed the rough terrain and decided our garden was the place to forage and dust-bath in the sun - that is worthy of an Amelia Earhart flying-wings pin!

News traveled over-top of the neighbor fence last night, as I gardened. Clarabelle and another hen {we called her Maria-Tomasa-Conchita-Alonso-Vergara} tussled with a nighttime stalker, and LOST! Tears welled in my eyes while I spoke over the fence to sweet Italian neighbor-next-door. This stalker that we're sure is a raccoon, had been to the coop on another occasion - but I always felt that Clarabelle was a strong fighter girl and with her hearty spirit would find her way out of the clutches of the bandit. I was wrong. And it took another with her.

 

 

our Biloxi
 

Our very own hen, Biloxi, went missing more than a year ago. Funny that chickens in your yard become family in your heart.

 

Penny - the One Red Hen

Maria-Conchita-Tomasa

3 hens all in a row...

One red hen - Penny - alone in her sanctuary spot (our garden) watched me last night, waiting for the worms I would dig. She was skittish - and rightly so! The sweet-Italian-lady neighbor says Penny isn't eating, and won't go back inside the coop. She darn well knows what happens in there, me thinks ! Penny left via the ladder, back to her home and stayed there amidst fig leaves that shelter the rooftop while the sun began to set. If she won't go inside -  that rascal raccoon will take my last garden pal.

A melancholy morn at the ol' home today.

Treasure Trove of Memories

Say it isn't so! I went and mentioned that you'd seen the last of Anniversary posts.... oops! - I had left out a special day Hubby & I set aside to roam our local haunts of years past (and present too). This was a surprise that I did for him.


A journey up & down our beautiful peninsula, taking in sights and places that had special meaning to us.

First stop (no, it didn't surprise Hubby) was at the church in the woods where we married.

 Recreated the bride roll here in this photo... haaaaa    ->

 

 

 

Moved our way north to San Francisco. That one-of-a-kind city, not too far from our home, holds many memories. I spent a lot of time in SF and was happy to share it with Hubby.                            

 

 

Golden Gate Park is where we landed.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have paddled, walked and photographed most sections of Stow Lake. It is one of our fave places.

 

 

 

We attempted to lunch at Swan's Oyster Bar. The dang place was packed. A line outside it's door that people said they'd waited in for an hour and some change. Love the place - but, we had places to go!

 

 

 

China Beach. A Golden Gate Bridge view - so spectacular, so up-close and personal! Never tire of this sight! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A champagne toast at The Cliff House

 

 

 

 

 

Most of the itinerary packed day was all an attempt to surprise Hubby and make the final destination a dinner spot that we've loved for decades, and is one that he never tires of speaking about.              

 

 

 

Here's the welcoming door knocker ~

 

 

 

 

 

A tented ceiling and fabric-lined walls... welcome to the casbah....

 

sorry for the blurry photo... so dark inside..

 

 

 

 

 

El Mansour - a fine Moroccan dining event....

 

 

 

A six course meal, taken leisurely, as entertainment swirls around you

 

 

 

 

 

Hubby was surely pleased ~

 

 

 

 

 

A San Francisco treat!! 

Here's What You Need to Know.. (about the last post)

Cliffhanger?... is that what I went and did when I typed out JUST JOEY, two weeks ago and then didn't return to the scene of the crime until tonight? Really sorry ! Here's the story behind that May 13th poem story.  (click may13 to read story)

On May 14th Hubby & I reached a lifetime milestone and began a month long celebration of our 25th wedding anniversary. To appropriately mark our day.. well, there just wasn't a gift that felt right. Hubby isn't much for material things. His wedding ring has sat in my jewelry box for most of the 25 years, so jewelry is on the never-buy list! Both he & I had surprises and trips planned, reserved and ordered. The one gift I could give would be something from the heart - thus, I wrote that poetry-like Just Joey item.

Next question, please...   "Excuse me, what was the idea behind Just Joey?"... oh, yes - that...

To my mind, something that we've considered to be the cornerstone of our life and happiness is this cottage home we live in. The move here, to this family-built house, happened just at the start of our married life. I regard this as my sanctuary. I feel safe and protected under this roof. The garden I've planted, and attempt to maintain, is of utmost importance to me. Hubby is enamored of all the serenity and pleasure that comes from these four walls, also.  Upon the lucky find of a perfectly perfumed and luscious yellow-peach rose - named: JUST JOEY, I knew she suited the 25th anniversary gift to a tee.

I painted burlap fabric silver (silver anniversary) and swathed the rose bush in a silvery bundle. White tulle for a bow, and propped her in our vintage wheelbarrow. Set out in front of our house just in time for Hubby to drive-up from work.

The 25 year Rosa is now planted and placed in the backyard garden. With love, nurturing and a home that provides shelter... may JUST JOEY grow & thrive for the next twenty five years, and more!

******

If I get the chance to play catch-up on blog posting...  do I have Anniversary stories to tell!

Love Notes and Hearts

During the "winter of cleaning" that has been going on in the cottage 'oer here, I've come across some fun mementos. They've got lots to do with love and heartfelt feelings and the showing of emotions.

Valentine's Day. Hearts and notes of love suit this day well....



Stuck back in a closet and refound - this vintage silk covered heart pin cushion.  The kind of odd object that I adore finding at an estate sale...  ->

This pink vintage candy box ^ was filled with cards, good wishes and notes of love. My family - Hubby, parents, brothers and sisters stuffed this box with goodness of the non-chocolate type for my 50th Birthday. The sweetness inside oozed with emotion.... 100 times more potent than a confection indulgence.

special notes from Hubby & my brother

Two vintage hearts -

A thoughtful note from my niece sent to me upon the eve of her college graduation. So happy that I printed it and stashed it away. Only to be found, and now coveted... never to be misplaced again.

On another night I will sit and share the delight I feel for some recent love notes....
They are ridiculously silly, quirky and one-of-a-kind!! All from my Valentine.

** read more about love, love of home, and love of garden at My Romantic Home!

Loss

I call him Pops. Joseph Paul is on his birth certificate.  That certificate bears only statistical fact. Date and place that he was born, and to whom he belonged at that moment of birth. Were it simply that people came into this world - and then leave after a number of years - then I suppose I could bear the thought of the purely-factual-no-embellishment-style of obituary. But, this man was not ordinary - not in our eyes! I believe no human to be "plain ordinary"... we're much more than dates and places. Each of us has a story to tell. So Pops needed a written send-off filled with emotion and love, neigh - not grandeur - yet heartfelt and substantial - full of substance, just like he. An honor was bestowed me and I was asked to pen Joseph Paul's departing facts.

My Father-in-law passed away this week. It came as no surprise. Unfortunately we've had years of fear that time was not on his side. Hubby would say that Pops was living on borrowed time. My Joey definitely used that time wisely! He was going to get full use of that which he "borrowed". We can say with clear absoluteness that our days were often guided by our hearts.. did Pops want a game of dominoes; was he energized for a card game more than Solitaire?  Hey Pops? - wouldn't you say that your son made those quiet, puzzle-filled days a bit more sunny? I know the response would be YES! if you were able to speak with us again..


Pops? thinking of some of those last moments with you...  maybe you can enlighten us. You sure knew how then (and all of your years) to make people laugh... What the world did you want me to know about kapusta??  :-)  We've thought about you saying "kapusta, Shari.... it's not just pusta ...
it's kapusta"  Alrighty!!  somehow your mind was thinking back to Polish cabbage, and now? NOW that silly thing you said makes me cry, and at the same time starts me to smiling!

In the end kapusta, pickles and your request for water will remain with me all my days.
Your dry humor, devilish smirk, complete generosity, kindness and gentle ways are how your family will describe you and keep you ever alive in our hearts!



                     Nigdy będziemy zapominać was
                                    (in Polish - we will never forget you)

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How I described this dear man, that I have been lucky enough to call my Father-in-law for 24 years ~

Joseph Paul Niczewicz

A giving and gentle soul, Joe passed away

on December 1, 2012 at the age of 79. Born

and raised in Troy, NY where much of his

family still resides.

Joe enlisted in the US Navy, and served on

the USS Midway 1951-1955. Stationed at

Moffett Field. This is how he came to the

west coast, and but for a brief return to NY,

made his home here in Santa Clara.

Joe raised his two sons in this home filled

with laughter, card games, sports activities

and endless devotion and love.

Retired from City of Santa Clara after 31 years.

Meeting his much adored wife, Frances at the

City of SC. Married for 44 years.

Joe joins many loved ones in heaven - including

his parents, and some of his 10 siblings. He will

be reunited with his beloved son, Chuck. Joe is

survived by his wife Frances, son Joey , Daughters-

in-law Shari Nicsevic & Germaine Houston,

Grandchildren George (Juliet), Janelle Ginestra, and

Great Grandson Charlie. He will be grieved by his

large family from coast to coast. His warm lap will be

missed by his dog companion, Kala.

Joe was a giving man; his fulfillment to dote

on his family. In knowing the spirit of this kind man’s

world, we are left with a fine example of how a life

should be led.