My little girl, the one that had collected Martha Stewart's wedding editions since high school and had always talked about the "BIG AFFAIR", surprised us all by eloping; she did have a change of heart at the last minute and invited us to witness.

Life has so many surprises! I barely know this young man, my new son in law. But the way he looks into my daughter's eyes, tells me all that I need to know.

They were married yesterday. He is a soldier. I pray that the madness of the war stops soon. I was against this insane war from day one, long before it lost popularity from the crowd overflowing with "national pride".

Now, I have so much more at stake. I need for him to return home safely and continue to love my daughter....

My little darling looks at me as to say "are you really happy with all this pink? My mommy believes that you are trying to throw her over the edge with all of this sissy stuff......"

One year she has spent amongst us.

This precious, loving child! A Divine gift from above that came to comfort all of us.

May you always retain your sweetness, my darling little G.

Just a few days ago, this past week, it was so cold that despite the furnace's constant running, I actually built a fire.

A couple of days later, temperatures in the high eighties. Today, we are predicted to hit 90. Such extremes have us along with mother nature confused.

This burst of heat has finally forced Spring into action. Overnight plants and flowers erupted like volcanoes.

Color is beginning to reign again.

John is a new friend to the family. Like so many others before him, he stopped by my mother's house to tell her how much he has admired her house and gardens. My father's generosity lives in hundreds of gardens in this city from cuttings of plants/flowers that he was always happy to share. Many would promise to come and help with the garden as a form of repayment for the truckloads of "gifts" they hauled away. There was no expectation on our part. People usually feel the need to say nice things due to the lack of comfort with such generosity.

John is one that did come back. Actually he came to help long before he reaped any compensation. The property is showing the absence of my father's touch. It is too huge for me to handle. We would seriously need a full time caretaker, which we cannot afford. Since last fall, John has shown up several times a week to help with whatever is necessary. As a result, he has gotten to know the family.

John knows that during my grand daughter's few weeks of life in the NICU she was known as the peach. In typical John style he showed up bearing gifts. Four lovely packages casually handed over in a plastic bag. One for each adult woman in G.'s life. Upon opening them, we realized that each contained a tiny silver peach.

We have been officially ordained as the sisterhood of the peach.

So refreshing to come across a wingless angel.

 

Had not seen these "treasures" since I left Portugal back in the 60's. My neighbor's mother who recently visited from San Diego brought me a box chuck full.

I cannot describe the sensation upon my first bite!

If there is a heaven, I believe I have an idea of what it feels like.