Freshman Vocabulary

Do you remember the
21st night of September?
Love was changing the minds of pretenders
While chasing the clouds away

Our hearts were ringing
In the key that our souls were singing.
As we danced in the night,
Remember how the stars stole the night away
                                September-Earth Wind & Fire

It's September; he made it through the first week of his Freshman year in high school. Just a few of the 9th grade vocabulary words The Teenager will need to know...

Amenable...Although his alarm sounded off approximately five hours earlier than he had been waking during the lazy days of summer, his demeanor was amenable and cooperative.

Cessation...Comfortable summer routines of reading books on Kindle, playing with chickens, tossing around lacrosse balls with a constant barrage of friends, and making banana pancakes came to a complete cessation.



Early morning faces and lighting

 Erudite...Erudite discussions of Algebra, geography, and biology will soon be at the forefront of his thoughts.

Gregarious...There is something about being in high school that releases gregarious swagger in young teenage boys...all to impress the girls.

Ingratiate...He was determined to ingratiate himself with upperclassmen...to prevent getting pounded or stuffed in a locker.

Garrulous...Returning from the first day of school, a garrulous young man spouted quips of lunch, girls, classes, buddies...and more.

Volition...Of his own volition...he started straight into homework without being reminded.

Following dinner...The Teenager and I lay in the cool evening grass chasing the fluffy white clouds with our eyes. We chatted about his first day of high school...friends, hot girls, teachers, and everything else. For a split second I considered running to find the camera to capture the moment. Instantly, I realized I already had.

It is definitely looking to be a winsome year for this new Freshman.

"Ba de ya - say do you remember
Ba de ya - dancing in September
Ba de ya - never was a cloudy day"

Play Date with Our Playmates

Dear Olivia and Henry,


We had a blast last weekend when you came to stay and play at Nana and Papa's...where we eat brownies for breakfast and never nap!

 "Say, say, my playmate

 Won't you come play with me

And bring your dollies three

Climb up my apple tree

 Slide down my rain barrel

Excuse me Miss...you're pulling my tail feathers!

 Into my cellar door

 And we'll be jolly friends

 Forever more!"

We loved bouncing on the trampoline, splashing in the pool, playing with the chickens and taking you to the Farmer's market. Just look at these adorable Sock Monkey hats we found for next winter. I can see a future photo shoot soon.

 And Henry, your eyelashes...still astound me!

 Olivia had her first guitar lesson with Uncle Chet.

 and a four-wheeler ride with Papa.

 Chet, by the way...is getting really good at this Uncle thing.

We discovered that just like your Nana...horses are apparently not your friend either.

And happy day...because Olivia's first birthday is just around the corner...Mama said she could sample some of Papa's delicious honey for the very first time. 

I made homemade blueberry muffins just for the occasion. Olivia LOVES honey! Yummy!
Henry, sorry you only got to eat rice cereal this time!

My arms filled with two babies, I learned just how much work your Mama does every single day in caring for you. Olivia, I chased you up and down the stairs and tried to close drawers as fast as you opened them. Papa and I woke up early at 5:00 am one morning, when Henry decided he was finished sleeping.

Every day we checked the nests for eggs and you were very surprised when we saw what the hens left us.

 And you rang the bell announcing the discovery of a new egg!

Look at Henry popping his collar.

Oh, but by the time your Momma and Daddy came to pick you up we had filled our reservoir with loads and loads of memorable baby time, but boy were we exhausted! And don't tell anyone...but Papa actually changed a couple of diapers while you were staying with us.

I am already making plans for the next time you have a sleepover with us!

All our love, Nana and Papa

A Quilt for Sam

They spent their teenage years constantly hanging out...planning parties, learning to drive, chasing boys and generally just growing up. It was the occasion of Sam's wedding shower that gathered them all back together...except Chelsea (mostly known as Chochi) who lives out of state.


The girls considered holding up a "Chochi goes here" sign when they posed for this photo. They definitely missed you girl!

As soon as Sam's pending engagement was announced...excitedly, Cass and I went shopping. Optimistic that we would be able to meet up and sew the quilt together, we selected this sweet, fresh fabric.


I was pretty sure that it would be me doing the sewing as Cass has her hands full of babies right now. But I just love how this quilt turned out.

Between Cass, Crystal, and Missy...they have a total of five kids in just a few short years. Sam, along with her new hubby has been busy graduating from law school and sitting for the bar exam. I think all of the kids sort of freaked her out a little! Don't worry Sam, you can catch up quick...just ask Cass.

It's so enlightening to see teenage girls grow up and become amazing people...intelligent, confident, nurturing women. Congratulations Sam, The Garlick Press is thrilled that you and Brandon found each other!

Seasons...They Go Round and Round

I have never been one to dread or fear the passing seasons of my life. But rather embrace and celebrate in the joy and uniqueness of each one. When my oldest daughter donned her first backpack and skipped out the door for St Johns Lane Elementary, I was elated for the new world she would soon discover. And years later equally thrilled when she wore a golden cap and gown...graduating from LHS to an even bigger world. Even as The Teenager,my last born started Kindergarten...I rejoiced and celebrated his newly found independence.

However, just the thought of finally gathering my babies and my grand babies together under one roof for the first time in a long time made me absolutely giddy. In pure Garlick Press fashion, we celebrated! Such an occasion demands a photo to preserve the memory.


Except, Olivia doesn't want to play this game...

Put me down...put me down!

Oh look at this pitty flower Olivia...Henry what's up dude?


Click...that will do!

And guess who fell in love with the chickens while she was here? None other than the California Lawyer Girl herself? Remember of course, that Friggy was named by Dione and her law classmates.

Nearly every morning during her visit, you would find Dione out playing with the chickens. Gizzard loved all the extra attention and devotion.

We ate divinely! Lawyer girl made this beautiful and scrumptious salad.

Trips to the pool, Muddy Buddies, puzzles, and

round after round of playing Nertz. After that, a game or two of Hearts...where there is never a winner, just a big loser! We stayed up much too late giggling, teasing, drinking Diet Cokes and eating fabulous food of course!

At the end of the week, the chickens went back in their coop and Dione left for her second year of law school. With Bob home from his business trip, Momma Cass loaded babies, dogs and lots of other stuff in the car for the trip home. Dean left on his long overseas business trip which left...


The Teenager and I to our usual routine. I embrace these simple days with only Chet at home, just as I treasured those early days as a mother with a house full of little ones.


This season of my life is full and beautiful; I share it with the man of my dreams. Two amazing and fabulous little ones call me their Nana. And they have the best Mama who adores everything about them. In LA, Lawyer Girl is knocking her internship interviews out of the park! And The Teenager starts high school as a Freshman next week.

I think Joni Mitchell sings it best...
And the seasons, they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return, we can only look behind 
from where we came
And go round and round and round
in the circle game.

Golden Egg

Update from the Garlick Press Ranch

Cost of seven adorable baby chicks last April...$25

Number of hours to complete the bright red coop...Elevendy Billion

Opening the side door


to find the girls had laid their first egg...priceless!


From all the excitement around our house, you would think it was a golden egg.

 Just ask the chickens biggest fan Libby!

Oh it's priceless alright!

FYI...We are almost positive Red laid the first egg.
More FYI...You should have seen her strut her stuff and cackle after laying that egg.
Still More FYI...The egg weighed almost exactly the same amount as Red did when we brought her home just a few months ago.

LOVE...LOVE...our chickens!

Omelettes anyone?