Holiday Cheer

Get rid of holiday blues

Be simple

Be kind

Make 

wreaths

fir branches, collect 

pine cones, eucalyptus, 

no poison ivy Toyon holly thornless

cactus is gorgeous but succulents are easy

green / red plants, wire, hangers, gloves, fishing line

bunches work same as cooking raw spinach, shrinks down.

Spruce, juniper berry, marjoram, pine essential oils no diffuser?

few drops on a plate cheer your soul

Be simple

Be kind

Hot soup - 

roast pumpkin cut in half 

(seeds removed skin on, soft face up to moon) 

generous olive oil in the pan, sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg

bake until the flesh is caramel brown and the house smells yummy

No pumpkin? Use butternut squash, fine chop: onion and garlic

portions unmentioned, saute in olive oil in big pot until clear 

add stock, salt, pepper, curry, add roasted gourd in the pot 

and simmer. Check and smash as it steams

To put in bowls use a spoon

of Greek yogurt

or go ahead

add heavy 

whipping

 cream 

Share 

with 

great 

bread

Melting Hat Story

Woman waits for her ride,

brown bag covers white hair.

Sorrel melts in the rain.

Linda asks, "You need a lift?"

"No, my friend is in route."

Inside the Pack and Ship store

lights shine on bubble wrap.

Linda enters, buzzer rings.

She's on camera overhead.

"May I ask a favor?" 

Man looks up from his T. V.

"No." he answers.

"See the lady out front?"

"Yeah, she sent a package."

"May she wait inside from the storm?

He looks up queerly, "Sure, You know her?"

"No but thank you kindly, really thank you."

Linda returns to the barrage, shouting over noise

of traffic and hail.

"Come inside. I'll wait for out here your friend."

"She might miss me?"

Linda insists, the old woman explains 

the make and model of the driver's car.

Windshield wipers of Linda's car keep

time with music on the radio. 

The woman now inside the store, 

with the man,

he  leans forward over the counter.

They smile.

Tamale Share Story

Rose waits in line at the mercado for masa. 

Grandmother's gone, but she holds 

 traditions of preparing tamales for 

Christmas Eve. 

The opportunity gathers teenage children 

as a binding party before the holiday. 

Ten dozen tamales 

pork, chicken, and pineapple

The recipe takes 120 ojas (cornhusks) and 

fifteen pounds of prepared masa. 

Rather than mix cornmeal, shortening oil, 

baking powder, and salt by

hand she orders pre-made dough. 

Braised and pulled meats steam at home. 

Daughter stirs the fillings and juices.

The mercado cannot locate the woman in front of Rosa's order. 

"Sold out, perhaps tomorrow, after six, we'll have extra to sell."

The woman ahead of Rosa looks down as if to cry.

"The bus doesn't run tomorrow, I planned to make these

tonight for my Bisabuela in the rest home with extra for nurses."

"Sorry, tomorrow, next in line."

Rosa interjects,"how many pounds do you need?"

"Five, it's okay, I'll buy the dry ingredients and start right away, maybe

I'll have them ready for lunch tomorrow.

"Cut a third off my order." Rosa says.

Caroline Gerardo copyright 12/25/2016

Get Christmas Lights

Get Christmas Lights

Give hope now. 

Generator moans

Girlfriend harass

Good god where?

 Jesus wraps presents

Gentle storage boxes

Gift me Target crates

Gadflies of plastic fills

Greet strangers with joys

Gems of sapphire lights

Golly snap your negatives

Glue of one day remains

Get galactic Grinch gone 

Gadgets waste of dollars

Greet every cell with smile

Caroline Gerardo Copyright 12/23/2016 poem and images 

Gingerbread Man Guards

Eucalyptus, pine and succulent wreaths on gates,

fancy up the chain link stairs to my cabin.

Rains did their best to melt down grosgrain ribbons.

Bobcat tore under the side to try at one of the sultans;

but ginger bread men act as soldiers in the kitchen.

Grandfather's elaborate trains in the basement 

sold off boxes before we made it to the souq.

Did the Shiite militia keep the tracks?

A tunnel appeared to barrel bomb cars.

It's somewhere in rubble now.

Missing days of believers at home.

Mailing letters to Santa, 

tucked under comforter prayers.

This too is passage.

Entropy wears on cells.

.

Noble fir stands tall with

whole ornaments from

calamity of puppies of the past

knocking over trees.

Missing that dog's tail.

A cross guards 

over her in the meadow.

Mother always says, 

"I'm doing my best!"

With and exclamation point, yes.

This too is passage.

Holding heart with cheers.

 Days before Christmas.

Copyright Caroline Gerardo 12/19/2016

Christmas

Solar garden lights out.

Elaborate expense,

ladder extensions,

tree scaling, 

critics saying the

LED blue / gold  

mis-match, batteries die.

Crystal drop TERRO,

herd of ants wipe out.

Sinus infection visits 

on darkest soot night.

Pain behind eyes 

and gums swell,

SNS stimulation.

Anxiety peaks alone

best at night.

OCD kicks covers off.

Steam nose, hunt 

for decongestant.

Sterilize surfaces

with bleached 

anti-microbial rags, 

get dust shards off.

In lack of light 

swollen eyes read.

Daughter texts, 

"What day we fly

to HAV?" Ignore the

question its too late

for an answer at 3 AM, 

look up the remaining

number Goodreads

goal of books to read.

Haven't booked trip to 

Cuba, flights

are six thousand 

dollars at Christmas. 

Clogged brain, 

a blinking sign says:

FAIL. 

Glass blown decorations

tenderly wait in storage,

arrange for CHRISTMAS.

Copyright 12/7/2016 Caroline Gerardo

Home Made Gifts

I gathered organic herbs from my garden

Orange, rose petals, ginger and tangerine peels- 

cut in thin strips and dry on an elevated screen

to allow air to dehydrate for 4 days (house smells

wonderful). 

Chop the peels and ginger into small pieces

Christmas Tea Recipe ~

Combine in large bowl:

Orange peel, ginger, rose petals, cinnamon, pinch of thyme,

allspice, rooibos and green tea.

Fruits and roses are 1/8 portion, spices 1/16 

Homemade and heavenly tea steeps 3 minutes in boiling

water and use the waste for compost

The label is above.

If you didn't get your package in brown paper...

whistle

Christmas letter

Dear
Must not have your correct address.
Last I wrote it returned to sender.

Taking the wallpaper down.
Endangered Lady Gouldians danced
on roses in kitchen and family room.
You hated on the toile.
Men saw it as grandmotherly.
Realtor says remove all toys.
Cried not when fingers bled,
at snow white walls superior
to silly frills that create happy.

It won't be my home anymore.
Owners mow heirloom climbers.
Petals look unruly, roll out sod.
Take photos when it's sold.

We have a tiny tree
fuller than a Charlie Brown's,
popcorn strung, cranberries
and cuties with cloves in patterns.
Quite opposite my giant jeweled
Christmas tree of gold.






In the garden hangs a popcorn ball
with peanut butter and thistle seeds.
Care for the song birds.
French braid never gets old.

Christmas wish to your happiness.
I miss you all.




My children grow stronger.
Teaching them to fly.
Academy of independence.
Keep your sense of direction.
Stay the course for joy.

With Love,
Caroline Gerardo 2015 Christmas Poem

Flood

Blue and white dishes that were in the secretary

Life's messy.

Tragedy with daughter lead into Christmas Season

The beginning of my holiday.

"No harm," I kept chanting-

After finishing I went to bed early.

Around two in the morning a hissing sound woke me.

Carson was gone skiing and Blair in Colorado.

Perhaps it was only the wind.

Honey (our elderly Golden Retriever)  started 

howling - this of course engaged the pack coyotes

in the canyon.

There was no moon.

I went downstairs with a baseball bat.

A slugger wasn't the proper tool.

First step down, icy wet-

The whole downstairs was filled with an inch of water.

I ran out front in a white gauzy nightgown 

to turn the main off.

Then my flood cleanup began...

I'm writing a book about drought and the irony

made me keep on track from crying.

Why waste the liquid?

Without running water I hosted family Christmas dinner.

I gave a toast about persevering.

Dinner was grand.

A flood is not going to get me down.

I'm a good swimmer.

How was your holiday?

Mistletoe For Christmas

It is Christmas season. I like to make something to share with those around me. The memory of mistletoe in a plastic baggy sold by Boy Scouts at a tree lot forever ago inspired this post.

I am a hiker of the canyons. Local mountains have oak and sycamore trees that are hosts for mistletoe. They appear low enough to pluck but- I know better.What appears within reach from a distance is going to be a project. In Wyoming we used to shoot them down with a 22 to stop the parasite from weighing down apple trees. Here in California, I don't think the rangers would let me go without some monetary fine for shooting in designated natural areas.

 

In my mind I am still sixteen. I decided to climb the sycamores and knock down mistletoe for my project. The first attempt failed. An owl watched me without laughing.

 

My second trip I was prepared. I brought my ten essentials and: climbing rappelling ropes, a scythe for cutting and a short pole. The trick was to appear as any normal hiker ( using the stick like a walking aid).

 

I got up the tree easily but dropped the cutting tool in the first attempt. Wish I brought extra paracord to tie to the moon shaped cutter and just toss it over a branch before I started my second ascent. The scythe would be hanging ready like a Christmas ornament if only I had more rope.

 

After successfully gathering the green boughs I quietly carried them to the back of my car. It began to rain. Rain in California is a blessing. I placed the branches and leaves on my front porch to enjoy the clean off from the mist that evening. To my surprise the next morning the mistletoe had begun to turn light brown. Within a day it turned charcoal.

 

There must be some secret emerald glycerin those Scouts used... I brought the branches into the garage and experimented with left over gold and silver metallic spray paint. I wasn't that pleased with the first results. 

 

 I had some plaster of Paris in the craft bins, some glitter, iridescent modge podge and old grocery bags for the next part of my "project." I believe mistletoe is poisonous or so the Nordic legend with the arrow goes, but that's another story... I covered my kitchen counters and saved a few trimmings to keep the mistletoe from sticking to the paper.

 

See how dark and brittle it became in two days--

Old paint brush, recycled plastic container and recycled plastic spoon and fork. Keep the spoon dry and use the fork for stirring in the plastic cup. I ended up using my hands. Using my fingers was better because I could judge the plaster to be more liquid than toothpaste and firmer than cream. I did not measure. This is fun not work.

Above is a photo (all pics from my iphone) of my snowy white and green mistletoe. When they dried they were less fragile. I saved even the brown paper- I will use it as wrapping paper. The stencils of the mistletoe on the brown paper were graceful. The shadows of the mistletoe on my printed papers (saved from when I printed two parts of the Bible for my son Carson's school project) might also make some pretty cards.

 

 

If you receive one of my funky crafts this Christmas you will know they are made with love and a process like no other. My Pinterest friends would be proud. When I get them into glass ornaments I will post some more images. 

I read this formula that if you sell something on Etsy that costs X 2 plus labor X 2 = wholesale value. I spent a little on gas driving there but all my materials are from recycled things or left overs. But my time well that's priceless times two

For more mistletoe stories, Nordic lore, Christmas meaning of mistletoe - The Farmer's Almanac is very helpful
see here
http://www.farmersalmanac.com/home-garden/2010/12/13/mistletoe-facts-and-lore/

In case you need a home mortgage : http://eaglehomemortgage.com/carolinegerardo/ baby needs new shoes for Christmas

Christmas Vireo Song

"Your fingerprints touched my life," He said. 

 

"My fingers burn from scratching

the diamonds underneath the ice.
You abandoned us under the lake," I answered.

A boiling pot of water whispers
cinnamon sticks to remind.

Christmas candy childhood

playing with the wisemen.

Gently touch baby Jesus

in the manger,

 taste the horehound

 in dill & thyme amber.

 I believe in Santa.

Maple syrup trees never grow tired.

They remain faithful to their charge.

Love's desire is one last opportunity.

Bell's vireo pair on the glass wall

birds diving for insects,

avoiding pinecones soaked in honey millet.

Warblers don't need crystaline sugar meth.

Male white eye ring summer grass breast

remains faithfully calling to his bride.

"Cheedle cheedle chew," he offers her.

It is a Christmas grandiflora song,

spreading hope to the woodland.
Winging sounds of sleigh bells.

Merry Christmas copyright Caroline Gerardo

Family Christmas Tree

 

This year my children voted not to purchase a Christmas tree. I have mixed emotions about the decision. Instead of my elaborate tree, we are donating a medium sized tree and presents that they made and purchased for a family who lives in their car. I sprung for a hotel room for Christmas Eve for the family. I am not going to post their pictures or names as they asked to keep this quiet. I suspect they worry that their two children who do not attend school might be removed from their hard life.

I live in an affluent neighborhood. I notice an increase of not just single homeless men, but now families. The last piece of normal they have is to sleep in their automobile and solicit donations in the shopping center in front of WalMart. I cannot tell you exactly what lead this particular family to lose their home, but I know the struggle to find employment becomes more difficult by not having a stable place to live.

I admit to a selfish wistfulness. I will miss not having a big tree with my gold and silver ornaments that I have collected over the past nine years. I lost all the prior ones in a fire. My ornaments each have some special handmade memory. I have not figured out how I will hang them, thinking fishing wire from every window, but this seems like more work than I have time to budget. Silly and frivolous concerns when I compare myself to a family without a decent place to sleep.

Things have not been easy street for my family this year. I look back on holidays in my past and am thankful of the support I have from the large and meddlesome network I have covering my back. I will have fifty some family and friends for dinner on Christmas Day. I invited my adopted car family but they seem embarrassed to show up. A few of my siblings expressed distress that I might include persons that they worry might make the celebration awkward or uncomfortable. I am not passing judgment on anyone, just doing something I think might help their eleven year old son and fifteen year old daughter to hang on to a memory that offers a more hopeful future.

I wish I could give more.

Christmas Book Prizes Coming Soon

 CHRISTMAS IS COMING
the goose is getting fat

In the spirit of the upcoming season I just want to tell you I am giving away free stuff.

Why are these silly monks on here? Because they are in Chapter One of The Lucky Boy.

I am giving away six of these fat guys with book coupons.

All you have to do is ask.

More prizes to come in the next days.

Coffee prizes ( because we can't give away drugs like in the book).

Perfume prizes, yes girls.

Fight tickets, yes men.

Maybe even some boots ( Seth steals boots in the book).

They won't be Santa Boots.

Rules coming soon.

Maybe no rules at all just participate.

I just hope Santa gets my book printed on time.

Snoopie happy dance.