Caroline Gerardo

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Black Poppy Poem

Jack Rabbit at sunset

BlackLivesMatter Poem

Trouble comes in threes I say

Covid fears rolls into protests

all the washing, spraying and

cleaning is not going away.

At my home, in the garden,

rests the spider veil of safety

booms from Camp Pendleton

have built resolve to harden.

You, don't live remote on a ranch

overlook the ocean and a marine

base as if protected by a Sea King.

Stressed ancient oak drops branch.

Nights I awaken at four and check

the sky for stars and succulents but

fog of June gloom and nightmares

quarantine bends time into wreck.

Wind carries a song and demands

to end police unions, racism and

national list naming the bad cops

seeds soaked ready in our hands.

Black Poppy

white amaryllis

Epi reflections

Squash blossom

garden gate

blue wild flower

Succulent planter

succulent planters from rain gutters

colors of succulents

color combo succulents purple

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Sweet Pea Salve

You're a prickly pod then a seed

I am here in this time of need

A bouquet for courage my dears

Let perfume rest your fears.

How to make the salve:

Gather a bucket full of wild sweet peas

Discard the leaves and stems

In a Kerr sealing jar push the flowers down to fill half

cover in olive oil

The olive oil should not be EVOO but make sure it is fresh and not old

The ratio is about a cup of flowers to 3/4 cup oil, depends on your jar

Seal the lid and put in sun for 3 weeks.

Strain with cheesecloth discarding the now dark flowers

On a double boiler (water on bottom dry metal on top)

heat 1 tablespoon beeswax with 2 tablespoons shea butter

Don't let it burn just melt.

Add the oil.

Does it still smell like sweet peas?

You can add one vitamin E tablet (use a pin to prick the end and squeeze in)

If you want to enhance the smell - a couple drops of real lavender essential

oil or a flower fragrance you love

Store in a tin with a lid.

Now when you go pick the sweet pea seed pods you have hand salve to

ease that prickly burning feeling in your fingers

Monday, May 11, 2020

Zucchini Boats From Garden To Table

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Life After A. D. Poem

A. D. Anno Domini was The Year of Our Lord.

D. P. During Pandemic This moment sans time.

B. C. because those words have women floored.

B. P. Old life's dandelion wishes often ignored.

A. P. What to build in the new going forward?

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Lavender Ghazal

Ghazal

Easter 2020

Sleep escapes leaving only stars to count,

night sky fogged over on Good Friday.

Focus on rosary repetition

while moon clouded over on Good Friday.

I asked, I begged, and remained on my knees

lavender scent misunderstood Friday.

Create wreaths, boil eggs, clean the cabin twice

children fly the way home on Good Friday.

Gave us a beautiful savior and son

in grave pain was murdered on Good Friday.

A quiet request to Mary his mother

bring back my babies please on good Friday.

Ghazal and instructions how to make lavender wreath and

lavender Easter Egg nest.

Bees are attracted to the lavender when fresh, my nephew wasn't

so happy with the buzzing of visitors at their door.

The nest can be dried. I tend to put them in my chicken coop for the

girls to enjoy the smell and pick at the flowers at night.

I haven't been sleeping and really hope my daughter makes it out of

quarantine soon.

Son is up north in college rented house, doing his classes online to

graduate in June.

gtag.js