Saturday, December 17, 2022

Gather Ye Roses While Ye May


I have felt much better about life in general today for no apparent reason. I just have. I knew that Hank and Rachel were going to come out to drop off Christmas goodies and maybe that helped my attitude. I even did some clearing and cleaning up of the side jungle garden next to the kitchen, mostly pulling up pine cone ginger lilies and trimming roses. The lilies will return. I didn't even try to get all the roots out. I need to find out if their roots can be used for culinary purposes. If so, I need never buy another piece of ginger root in my life. They smell like ginger and supposedly the liquid from the "cones" can be ingested for various ailments as well as being used for a soap or shampoo. They really are a nice plant but like everything in this yard, they tend to get wildly out of control. 
As you can see above, Maurice once again showed up to assure quality control over my work. I really do not think she's ever satisfied with my efforts. 


It was a treat to see Hank and Rachel. They are going to go out of town for Christmas. They've booked a place on a beach and I think they are wise and wonderful. So today they were going about, being Christmas elves. Hank announced via text that they expected mulled wine and gingerbread treats at all of their stops. I had none of that but I did pick them some salad greens and baked them a loaf of sourdough and gave them their Virgin of Guadalupe calendar. We chatted for awhile and then they had to scoot along to go see Lily and Lauren and the kids. Rachel made everyone cookies and when they left I told them that I might eat all of ours before Dad gets home. "When's he coming back?" they asked. 
"I have no idea," I said. 

And then, just a little while ago, I got a call from the man himself and he is on his way home. He will be home for Keithmas! Actually, he'll be home before Keithmas, hopefully. I'll be in bed but possibly still awake. So I guess I won't get to eat all the cookies myself. I told him that he should have given me more of a head's up- that I was not emotionally prepared! Also, that I have not yet eaten my eggplant! He is not so fond of eggplant but he might get some anyway. Tonight I am making a lovely creamy, curried, cashew, coconut, butternut and sweet potato soup. Curry isn't one of his favorite spices either although he seems to enjoy this soup quite a bit when I make it. I make him sound like he's really picky but he's not. He'll eat anything I make him but he enjoys some things more than others as do we all. 
Anyway, it will be lovely to have him home. I'll have to put Emily and Dorothy Anne back in their own bed, I guess. 
Adjustments must be made and I will gladly make them. 
And for those of you who may be wondering- he did not catch a deer. 

So I got to wondering today how long it's actually been since I realized that Keith Richards is my spirit totem animal. By doing a small bit of detective work, I have determined that I first read his memoir almost exactly twelve years ago. If you are mystified about my deep and true affection for this particular man, you can go HERE to read how it sort of all began. Twelve years later I am still entranced. I love that he (and Mick, too, really) have not only survived but thrived for all these years and still tour regularly. If there is such a thing as a rock god, those two men define the term. And tomorrow, Keith will turn 79 years old which, if you know that in his twenties, he was at the top of the "next-to-die" list for good reason, really is impressive. 
Ay-yi. 
I think the most profound thing I've ever said about the Rolling Stones is that they never have looked like a rock and roll band was supposed to look. Hell, Keith had black and missing teeth during his junky years. He and Mick wore eyeliner and Keith wore his girlfriend's clothes while Mick bended and blended genders in a way that Paul McCartney would never have dared. 
Let us just say they were not the Beatles. 
Last night I was listening to an Armchair Expert podcast with Richard Branson as the guest. He told Dax and Monica that Keith Richards taught him how to roll a joint. I think this says a lot. Richard Branson, one of the most successful business men in the history of the world is still proud that Keith taught him to roll a joint. A sort of declaration of his coolness quotient.

Well. Before I leave, let me give you these pictures of flowers from my yard today. 


How is this perfection even possible? 


Camellias and roses. By this time next week, it will be so cold that there will be none of either. The camellias will come back and the roses will too, eventually. 

I am not religious but I believe in miracles. They happen every day and sometimes they happen once a year and sometimes they happen once a century or so. 

As I said twelve years ago, don't forget to kneel when you pray. 


Love...Ms. Moon

40 comments:

  1. The pink camellia is indeed a wonder of the world. It aches beauty. Keith Richards has now made 79 in England where it has just turned midnight. With his rock and roll lifestyle and the bad habits of his youth, it is a miracle that he has survived this far. Well done Keith!

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    1. Here is what has saved him: Good genes and music. I think his family has had something to do with it too.
      You are so right about the camellia.

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  2. Your camellia pictures never fail to just take my breath away. They are so perfect.

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    1. Truly the camellia is one of the most beautiful flowers on earth. That is my opinion, anyway.

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  3. FRESCA here.
    I like the cat and car reflected in the garden ball!

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    1. The magic of optics! That cat is Maurice who moved here many years ago. She is horrible in that she bites and scratches for no reason whatsoever and yet, we grudgingly love her so dearly.

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  4. I feel that Keith's 79 years do not equate to normal mortal years. Not sure if he should be 21 or as old as methuselah.
    How lovely to have Mr Moon home safe where he belongs. You have a couple of days to eat eggplant and prepare your emotions.
    Since we started daylight saving here (and yours ended maybe?) I am out of sync with when you publish your blog and sometimes miss a day. Oh well ... I get two lots of glorious Moon wisdom in one day.

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    1. You are right about Keith's years. He is ageless even as he ages. Mr. Moon will be home tonight! So I do not have a great deal of time to prepare my emotions. Luckily, I don't need too much time for that. He did suggest that I eat the eggplant as a snack before he gets home. Ha! I plan to make a meal out of that eggplant.
      Isn't the time change weird? What do we think we are doing with that?

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  5. Those men up there are a maz ing. Serious professionals who intend too please the audience! Your camellia's take after them.

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    1. Yes! I love you, Joanne for loving those old boys too.

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  6. Tender sweet pink /pale green sea glass just about undid me - Kieth's photo all the way undid me. Think i will have sausage and mash tomorrow for Kieth's BD, and a portion of jazz cabbage.

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    1. Ooh- you just reminded me of shepherd's pie- DON'T BUST THE CRUST! That too would be a fitting meal for Keithmas, right?
      It is time for me to put the sea glass and its vessel in the dishwasher. Thank you for reminding me of that, too.
      Love...Your sister in Keith.

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  7. The camellia looks like a piece of porcelain made to look like a camellia. It's so lovely. And good to have Mr Moon back home soon.

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  8. That camellia..perfection indeed!😍xo, Ricki

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  9. That camellia is so stunning ... it looks like porcelain!

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    1. Artists have tried to capture it in porcelain. Some have gotten very close but none have gotten it perfectly, I think.

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  10. A sweet homecoming, cookies and the Stones...what more could one want??

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  11. I didn't realize that Keith lost a child to SIDS. That's something that you carry with you for the rest of your life.

    It was bloody cold today, -19C with a good brisk wind. I got out my parka for going out today. I had some shopping I tried to get done this morning with no luck.

    Enjoy having your hubby home:)

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    1. I think it wreaked him in a way. He is still close to all of his children and his grandchildren and stayed good friends until the end with the mother of his first children. He is far more of a family man than I would have believed.
      How can you live in such cold weather? Stay warm!

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  12. I make a sweet potato butternut pumpkin soup but it doesn't have the curry, cashew or coconut. I think I'd like to try that. How much of each do you put in and when? Is it a recipe that can be written down or do you just wing it each time? My recipe has ginger and celery, onion and garlic.
    That camellia is perfection on a stalk.

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    1. It's a New York Times recipe. There's probably a firewall to get to it. I pay for the app and use it frequently. Perhaps I can post a picture of the recipe.

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  13. I just followed that link and now I'm wondering if Keith's book is still available. I shall check immediately.

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    1. Oh, I'm sure it's still available. It sold many, many copies. One of my favorite books ever. It may click with you or it may not. I had no idea of the complexity and depth of the man.

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  14. Saw the album cover...LOLOL...I'm with 'ya sista!
    Love the flower's perfection! Gorgeous,,,
    hughugs
    Donna

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    1. I remember getting that album for my seventeenth birthday. I hid it from my mother.

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  15. Happy Keithmas to you, Mary!

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  16. I bought some ginger for the curry coconut chicken I made a while back and noticed it had sprouted a little green tip so I planted it in a pot. It's in the house right now. I made potato leek soup Friday night and yesterday my neighbor brought us two generous servings of calso, Mexican soup she had just made so we had that for dinner last night. Gorgeous camellia.

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    1. I sprouted some from the store too and when it got larger I planted it outside but I let it die. Probably not enough water.
      Sounds like you are having a week of delicious soups!

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  17. I've never heard of eating the roots of a pine cone lily. Let me know if that works out! (Not that I am likely to have any to eat myself, but we used to have them in our yard in Tampa so I'm curious!) Merry Keithmas and I'm glad Mr. Moon will soon be back in the fold. Probably is by now, in fact.

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  18. Happy Keithmas to you, darling Mary! I remember that post that started it all. You made me buy and read the book, too, and I have loved Keith ever since, though not with quite the same incandescence as you. He is a mighty fine spirit guide for sure.

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  19. That comment above was from me, 37paddington. Not sure why Blogger won't always recognize me these days.

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    1. He's a character, isn't it? I would not mind having him on my side if the going got tough. Love you, dear.

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  20. happy Keithmas to you, and glad Mr Moon will be home to *enjoy* an eggplant dinner LOL! That pink perfection Camellia of yours just takes my breath away every time you post a pic. There cannot be a flower more beautiful than that.
    Susan M

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    1. I don't know how much he's going to enjoy it...

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  21. That. Camilla. Everything I love in a flower is in that picture.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.