Family Sadness in Arizona

I would like to believe in the happy magic ever after, but I don't think believing that story makes it any easier to lose the people (and furry things) you love.

Grief is a slow-motion pile of awful that rolls through, always leaving crumbly bits behind. It also makes you forget to make your oatmeal in the morning.

New Barrels

Last year when Chef L'Erique's folks came to vist, his dad was set on not doing anything touristy, but doing something "with a purpose." We mentioned we needed to replace our barrel planters in the front of the house and IMMEDIATELY we were whisked up to Sebastopol to purchase new (and cheap) wine barrels that were toted back to SF in the back of the spacious AZ mini-van. Mission accomplished! Of course, these barrels sat in our garage housing big spiders for over a year. However, a few weeks ago, in honor of Chef L'Erique's pops, we were determined to do something "with a purpose." We spent the weekend sealing, painting and planting (not to mention shoveling and hauling dirt.) We replaced the old rotting barrels with the shiny new ones and planted them with new pony tail ferns (aka Suess plants).

Thanks Mr. E - you are an inspiration to do things "with a purpose."