Wednesday, December 2, 2020

A Whole Lot Of Sweetness


There's Little Ms. Magnolia June, drinking hot chocolate and eating chocolate chip cookies in my backyard today. How can someone with chocolate smeared about her face still look so amazingly sophisticated? 

I have been a cookie making fool lately! Besides the ones I made today for the kids, I made some yesterday for a friend and of course the huge batch I made for Glen on Sunday. But that's all. I have no more chocolate chips in the house. And for whatever reason, I've had no desire to eat them myself and have happily sent them all off with others. I'd much rather eat roasted cauliflower with its delicious sauce made of oil, lemon juice, garlic, and chopped olives. 
I can't get enough of that stuff. 

I've had another day of getting nothing done that "needed" to be done. I intended to clean the hen house but forgot until late afternoon and I'd just put my gloves on when Lily and the kids came over. I knew they were coming but thought maybe I'd have enough time to sneak that chore in but no, I didn't. Oh well. It was a lot more fun to visit with my babies. 


We had some rousing discussions ranging from what neutrons are to why humans shouldn't practice incest although it doesn't bother chickens (can you guess that chicken sex was going on around us?) which led to discussing hemophilia and periods and genetics in general and then on to animals with craws, evolution, and other things. I love that Lily can talk so frankly and easily with her children about such things. Owen was more of a participant than Gibson was. He was more interested in the magnet toys that he plays with although he did have a few things to say, one of which was to tell us how eggs are formed. It turns out that the yolk is formed first, then the white part, and THEN the shell. 
This may be true. 
Magnolia was off playing with dinosaurs and other animals most of the time, occupied happily by what was going on in her own imaginary worlds. Far more entertaining, I am sure. 
She also collected eggs and wanted to find Maurice but Maurice was hiding. Jack made an appearance though.

Earlier in the day I did more flannel shopping and also went to the post office where the lady said, "I've got a big old package for you. You're going to have to come around the back to get it."
"Am I going to need my car?" I asked her. I had walked there.
"I think you are," she said.
So I walked home, got the car, drove back to the PO and she met me at the back door with a rather large box with a trolling motor in it. Vergil has convinced Mr. Moon to buy an inflatable kayak which has been ordered but won't get here for a while. But the little motor he bought to go with it (motor? for a kayak?) obviously has. I managed to stow the thing in my back seat and drove it home. 
We'll be having a fine time in that kayak on the local rivers, perhaps on the bay behind the Dog Island house, and who knows? Perhaps we'll even take it down to Roseland and paddle about the Sebastian River. I think Vergil had a good idea there. 

And here you go. The first pink perfection camellias for the year. 


Obviously, 2020 has taken a turn for the better. 

Peace, love, and hope for a vaccine to soon come...Ms. Moon

31 comments:

  1. Magnolia is just a natural on camera. She falls into such poses.
    Imagine camellias in bloom. Here bitter wind, temps feeling like 30s.

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    1. Well, we have been having temps in the thirties but not for very long and no bitter winds. I am so grateful for camellias and am glad we can grow them here.

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  2. Tell me how you add olives to the marinade for the cauliflower...do you just chop them up and mix it all together? And what kind of olives? This sounds like a wonderful recipe!

    I just love little Maggie June. She's such a darling little thing, and I think she's beginning to look a lot like Gibson.

    We had what I think was a Pink Perfection camellia at our old house. The flowers were exactly like that...exquisite. I keep meaning to plant some camellias here, and PP might have to be added to the list. :)

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    1. See if you can copy and paste this link:
      https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021536-roasted-cauliflower-with-pancetta-olives-and-crisp-parmesan?action=click&module=RecipeBox&pgType=recipebox-page&region=sides&rank=1
      There may be a firewall. If that doesn't work, I can figure out something else. Screen shots to your FB?
      Maggie looks like her mama to me but then again, Owen is absolutely Lily's mini-me right now. They're all beautiful to me.
      DO plant some camellias and ASAP! They are slow growers but so rewarding.

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  3. The camellias at my house are also just glorious this year. Such a bright spot.

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  4. Magnolia June has what I would refer to as a natural grace about her. Panache, if you want to call it that! Glad you visited...... lots of love there...... and those pink perfections.....every time you post a pic of those it makes me think of Mom......who grew them back at my childhood home. Perfection doesn't even cover it.....they are just sublime
    Susan M

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    1. Panache! Yes! The girl has a spirited style about her for sure.
      What a good memory that Pink Perfections trigger for you! I'm so glad.

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  5. my one little camellia has already finished blooming I think. I also accomplished almost nothing today and didn't even have a visit from anyone for an excuse. I took some pictures for the Square store I'm working on and that's it. walked the dog and went to yoga. now that's really it. tomorrow. maybe I'll get something done tomorrow.

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    1. Well, I think yours is a camellia sasangua and they do finish blooming before the camellia japonicas really get going.
      You and I worry way too much about getting things done. Why are we like this?

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  6. That little charmer and those flowers are beautiful, Those boys are lucky their mother and grandmother encourage discussion which in turn helps develop critical thinking. I did not one chore today either. Have a good night.

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    1. Maybe the moon was in No Chores mode yesterday!
      Yep. I love talking to the kids about stuff. And I love the fact that we can always google things. I am horrified at how much I've forgotten from my science education in nursing school. Seriously horrified.

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  7. Those chickens didn't miss you; too busy showing off for the audience.

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  8. The camellias look like confections, perfect! What a refreshing bunch of kids- conversations inspired by intellect. What a good Mama! I would most certainly the the cookies over cauliflower any day.

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    1. I don't know, honey. If you tried this cauliflower, you might change your mind. It can't really be good for me- that's how good it is.

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  9. Vaccinations start here next week apparently. For the very elderly, care homes and NHS staff. I shall be in the third group it seems, so maybe not too long to wait. I am having my weekly treat this morning....a trip to " Waitrose", which is my favourite food supermarket. It is quite a small branch and as I have shopped there since it opened about 30 years ago, it feels like a home from home!
    Pouring with rain so not looking forward to going out with the dog....it will be a short walk!

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    1. Isn't it funny how we have "our" grocery stores? I know I do. Hurray for being in line for the vaccination!
      I hate to say this but having to take a dog out in the rain is yet another reason I am glad I don't have one.

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  10. That cauliflower idea makes me want to go out and buy a cauliflower right away! I've added it onto my shopping list anyway. The camellias look like one of those old fashioned oil paintings. Amazing!

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    1. Aren't they gorgeous? I bought another head of cauliflower today!

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  11. That picture of the camellias looks like an old-fashioned tinted photograph. Did you use a filter? That kayak DOES sound like a good idea. And yes, that was certainly a wide-ranging and intriguing conversation! But that's how kids learn, right?

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    1. No filter. I turned on the under-the-counter light in my kitchen and that's my black kitchen counter. Turned out nicely, didn't it?
      I hope Glen and I really use the kayak. I think it'll be cool.
      Yep. That's how kids learn. Sometimes I stop and point a finger at Owen and say, "You need to remember this!" and then I go off onto something I consider highly important. I hope he remembers some of it.

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  12. Those flowers are beautiful! Almost makes up for all the bugs y'all have down there:)

    I would rather eat cookies all day long rather than veg but of course that's not good for me. Right now I'm eating crème brulee for breakfast because I still can't chew.

    Glad you had a nice visit.

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    1. How are you, sweetie? Are in a lot of pain? I suppose that creme brulee is almost worth the pain of not being able to eat- just about like the camellias make up for the bugs!
      Kinda sorta. Not really.
      I do love creme brulee.

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  13. You're right, Maggie does manage to look "quietly sophisticated" even with chocolate all over her face! And I just love those camellias, they're beautiful!

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    1. I know! She doesn't even look silly. She makes chocolate look good!

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  14. A day with the Grands always takes a turn for the better... and don'tcha just Love the discussions they initiate?

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  15. A very good day! It's so much better to talk freely with our children. I once read that if a child asks a question he or she is ready for the true answer. And yes, Magnolia June does her name proud.

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    1. Exactly. And of course, one doesn't need to go into all of the details but as much as the kid wants. And they'll tell us!
      Magnolia- I swear. She's something. Something amazing.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.