Three Books & A Strolling, Thinking Life

 

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Video 11.03 minutes. I've pulled out my copy of the book above, The Big Box to pass along to a dear friend. I was telling her about it while on the phone and ended up reading the whole thing to her! We were both so moved by the words and the still current message. In the front I'd written my name and the date I bought it, "April 8, 2000". I can't tell you the umpteenth times I've read this book, often to myself (even aloud at times). Every time, including yesterday's reading, I am deeply impacted and get the chills.

May all children everywhere be seen for who they are, be allowed to be who they are.

I was happy to find the above reading on You Tube, so I could share it with more folks that just my friend.

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Video 15.19 minutes. This book: "Tear Soup" became known to me when my friend's son Christopher became sick with cancer and then passed away. I have thought this book had an important place in a library ever since. I know that I have stirred many a pot of tear soup over my life span. I'm sure you have too.

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*Go to this link to watch the video of this book...listen & see the amazing illustrations (which can't possibly show the details and their full wonderfulness).

"Prayer for the Twenty-First Century"

*Next watch this video below to see this unique dance interpretation of this special poem.

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Friday's walk not only had beautiful flowers, but living beings for me to observe.

I stood for many moments watching the large bee (above) move from flower to flower. 

This one had a very loud Buzzzz!

This crow was Loud too! It stood on that tile roof calling and calling and calling.

But, you'll hear more of this story later. Let's walk on...

These are all of the fruits from the Loquat 'Japanese Plum' of the other day. How did I miss that? Below is a tree RIGHT NEXT TO THIS ONE, that I also missed some interesting growth! How? As I type this, I think maybe it is because on my walks, I always have in the back of my head the thought that I should 'keep walking', as exercise is one of the goals. So, perhaps I stop, look, snap a few photos and get on with it. But, aren't these teeny flowers sweet? I actually don't know what kind of tree this is.

This property has lots of fruit trees, it seems.

I tried to capture some informative photos of the tree below.

The other day, I wondered about this particular framing around the porch, today I noticed the vines growing. Grapes? I wonder what it would look/feel like with that framework covered?

Yesterday, I also noticed these, previously missed, beauties (below). 

Love the different shades here.

As I circled around the cul-de-sac, a homeowner asked me what I was doing. I said brightly that I was photographing flowers and aren't they "so beautiful"?! This, along with another comment from me, seemed to pacify his suspicious mind. I do not care to walk where people feel or pose threats, mild as they may be.  I walked on. At the next house, I made a point to talk with the woman bringing in the trash cans. I complimented her beautiful roses (the buttery ones in the last two pics, last post). She was very friendly and shared how she keeps the front, the roses watered and looking good...but the backyard is a 'mess' due to the long standing drought here. I let her know that I appreciated her efforts. I saw a fat lizard doing push-ups on her low garden wall, but he scooted over the edge and away before I could capture him in a photo.

The sky was thick with clouds that shifted this way and that. It made for a comfortable and coolish walk. Nice.

Rounding the last corner to head home, I paused to look at these purple flowers. In light of the book above ("The Big Box"), I had some ridiculously deep thoughts about them.

They are not my 'favorite' flowers, don't really catch my eye or my heart...so I don't photograph them. Thought: How do we choose what we will photograph? Why don't we photo/share certain things? I am putting these flowers in a Big Brown Box just because they don't deeply appeal to me? Yeah, I know, kinda silly. But, it really did set me to wondering. After all, I walk by them each day, why not take their photo? So, I did and here they are.

And when I finally did pause long enough, I noticed the the purple blooms hold teeny white blooms as well, reminding me of Bougainvilleas. Pretty cool after all.

Lastly, as I walked towards home, that same crow sat "Caw, caw, cawing" - flying here and there right in the same area. Two other crows came and went, but that one with the loudest, deepest toned "Caw!" stayed. I felt watched as it flew from spot to spot, seemingly right above me. I tried to get photos. As I walked, it flew landing on poles and wires, following behind me. I finally snuck a pic from under some trees and then looking back over my shoulder, I said in my best 'Crow Whisperer' voice, "It's okay, I won't hurt you". Crow stopped "Cawing", stayed right there and I walked home.

I hope you had a nice and interesting Friday too!

May you consider deeply

May you share what you know, question, learn

May you be within your world

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2023

Memories Revisited ~ What You Can or Can't See

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We both separately, spontaneously thought of these amazing videos within the last two days.  As my mama said, "Great minds think alike" 🙂 There are a whole bunch of them. Long ago we had the DVD, J. likes it that much. Thank goodness for the gift of online ease.

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Last Tuesday was a day for noticing how many bees are out, how many blooms are out.

I sat watching the trees in the breeze and saw so many bees flying in and out. It was like a disappearing act that Jude would love. I could only really see them as they were flying in or out. But, once landed somewhere, they became invisible.

It was good to see so many bees announcing Spring 🙂

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My sister sent me this link to a story about BOREKAS. They seem to be all of the new rage in The Valley.

You can also check them out on INSTAGRAM, if you go there.

I used to make them for my Daddy, as they were a favorite of his. My recipe was for potato-cheese (only) Borekas, so none of the eggs, pickles, dipping sauces...just pastries. And so delicious! However, they were so time intensive! I made all of it from scratch, even the dough (masa)! I think I talked about these here or somewhere in the past, but can't quite recall. I do know that I had misplaced the recipe for a really long time.

Then I found it and somehow made copies of??? I have more than one recipe now, which I don't recall at all! It's all a blur! The arrow tells me that I recall correctly though, in that this is the one I used to make.

At the time I would have to go to a local Armenian Market to get the cheeses needed.  I think it is long gone now, but of course, this was decades ago. I sprinkled mine with sesame seeds. My dad was not adventuresome eater, neither am I, so I only made the kind he liked (although I probably would have liked Spinach too, and maybe eggplant. Anyway, why would I take a chance with the amount of work involved? I went with success!

When my daughter was young, I taught her how to make them and years later, she made them all on her own!

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©1994~ Bags of Borekas for Daddy!

This is the COOKBOOK, that my recipe came from. I've now misplaced this book. Oy. Or perhaps, I gave it away to someone. I do that a lot.

Here are some of the other recipes I have copies of, in case someone here would like them or in case I misplace them all again! Ha

Different fillings, cheeses and dough recipes.

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I don't really remember this cheese filling or know what Hoop Cheese is! But, live and learn! I used the one above. with my mama's marking on it 🙂

And here are others: Cheese & Egg filling and a Basic Pastry Recipe.

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Last but not least for this trek down recipe memory lane, this bread recipe from my mother's best friend.  I'm grateful to finally put them all together here for future storytelling and easy locating.

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This bread is so amazing!! It is not light on the butter, I'll say that...but on the flavor, it rocks!! I made this one far more often than the Borekas, but not as often as I wanted to eat it! You just can't compare to the smell of fresh bread baking. Then to eat this one, warm, butter dripping, each 'slice' breaking off with ease. 

I might be drooling here!

It came from a copy of this little booklet. Remember when you could get company recipe books? I had a small vintage collection of them at one point. There's something about these times gone by that really tugs at the heart strings. 

May you enjoy the virtual gifts

May you find, embrace and enjoy the memories

May you embrace all of the seen and unseen too

xo

Photos by NAE ©pomegranatetrail ©2023

8~ July Trip

Well in the last post...I quickly hit publish without telling you of the most excellent bookstore in Morro Bay (where some of the garden pictures were taken).  It is called Coalesce and is one of those independent bookstores with a coastal, hippie, liberal feel to it.  One you could stay in for hours!  The garden/chapel area was just wonderful!  Another reason to live in this town in my book!!  Haha no pun intended!! Really.

The other garden pictures were behind a fantastic bead store.  I kinda mixed them up, but no matter.  This was the music store: Central Coast Music.  I wouldn't feel right not linking them...giving them all their moment in the sun!  Such cool stores and folks up that way!
I just think it would be wonderful to live somewhere that has gardens behind their stores!


So, on our way home, we made some stops in Avila Beach, a beautiful Central Coast town.
We walked on the pier...

Lots of fish happenings and a cold breeze on this pier.

First pier I've been on that I've seen a fish cleaning station and men hard at work on that task.

The view to the right of the pier (above) and to the left of the pier (below).  I marveled at how different the water looked.  It really was green VS blue as shown in these photos!

The seals were loud and hysterical.  With this whole platform for them to sunbathe on...they all crowded on the corner together.  In fact, they not only crowded, but they fought over space there!  I had to chuckle as I felt the connection to my classroom!

Then we stopped at a farm...AND MORE stand.  There was tons of fruits and vegetables of every kind.  Super delicious white nectarines!! Plus, there was breads and specialty candies and honey...and more!

What a scene!

Right along side the edibles, there were all sorts of animals!
Horses, goats, chickens, rabbits...and more!  I of course thought of Grace when I saw the goats.  Their floppy ears looked so soft, I wanted to feel them!

Crazy Beatles haircut!!

This one was super tall

This place was jam packed with families with young children.  It was really nice to see so many out enjoying the beautiful day together.  It reminded me of something I would have done when my children were young.

Enjoying a tractor ride

For how many posts I made out of this short trip and for how long it has taken me to post them...one may get the idea that I really like looking back on this trip.  Well, they'd be right!  It was a wonderful trip that I'd do again in a heartbeat.  Like I said, I'd love to live on the Central Coast!
Next post: some animals and cloth...

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2014

Animal Life

Runaway Bunny

I have lately thought of, talked of missing having a pet.

The guy says it weekly.

He really wants a dog, but the landlords do not allow.

So we both get by with the wild birds, bugs and visiting creatures.

The rabbit featured above belongs to my neighbor.

The story (thus far) goes that he got her female rabbit pregnant 

and then dug his way out of the yard.

(insert your own snide humor about the genders here)

He's been living outside our front door in the rock rose or in the back forty 

in the dead sunflower circle and elsewhere.

His coat is so beautiful.

I will try to get a better photo soon.  

He almost lets the guy pet him now.

bug

The guy called me to come see and bring my camera...

There was this tiny bug.

It looked like a beetle moved like an inchworm!

As always, click on photo to enlarge

Anyone know what this is?

We've never seen 'em before.

Turkey Crossing

Leaving for work one morning, as I pull out of the driveway...

what do I see but a wild turkey crossing going on!

Early morning walkers/riders were stopped in amazment!

Fortunately, my camera is always on the front seat.

Gobble Gobble

Gathered

My guess has been that they have come down from the canyon due to the drought.

I've lived here for almost 15 years and not til this year have they been down here near all the houses.  I usually see them when I go walk up the canyon, where there are fewer houses and it is much more rural.

I am fascinated by them.

I have a collection of gathered feathers.

Searching for food

Well, that's all for today.

Enjoy noticing the animals in your world...

and thank you for visiting mine!

~Nancy

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2014