Why Magnolia Buds Turn To Flowers

Granny, Granny quite uncanny

How does your Magnolia grow??

When a little boy pees,

The next day he sees,

The flowers have all bloomed in a row.

Yep.  That’s exactly what happened at Grandma Cindy’s house.  Please don’t think we are bad grandparents, besides his parents were here too, but isn’t this just another great reason to have children?

Here’s how the story goes.  Youngest grandson #5, came to visit.  Being 4 years old and not wanting to take time out from playing to go in and use the facilities, we simply said, “Go behind that big bush.”  That big bush happened to be a Magnolia, which for those of you not from the Midwest or familiar with this botanical beauty, it blooms in the springtime with gorgeous pink and/or white flowers.  Now, #5 is no stranger to gardening.  Back home in Colorado they have “lived off the land” sowing seeds, growing vegetables, and harvesting their fruits of labor.  So, while doing his thing, he noticed “little fuzzy things” on the “tree”.  Unknowing, at this time, what was going to transpire we proceeded to educate him on what exactly the “fuzzy things” were… being buds that would turn to flowers.  At this point we were very good grandparents (I was not alone in this).  It’s what came next that was questionable. 

 

“Did you know if you water them they would blossom?”  Well he did his best and low and behold…. The next day they were Flowers!!!  We told him how wonderful he was that he made our Magnolia’s bloom!!  He can turn buds into flowers!  Oh the excitement.  Who was going to be the one to steal this little boy's thunder?  Not us.  Now we just wonder what’s going to happen if he “water’s” his vegetables….. Good luck with that Mom!!  

That's Just Cold

Here in the midwest we just have to face it.  It is called winter.  There are different ways people deal with it.  The "Complain About It" people which is self explanatory and you know who you are.  This just doesn't do anyone any good.

Then we have the "Deal With It" people.   They begrudgingly wear the necessary winter coat and shovel only because they can't drive through the drifts blocking the front of your garage or concealing the end of your driveway.  This group also includes the non-shoveller because....  Their  all-wheel-drive vehicles plow through the drifts and the annoying ruts they create melt in time with everything else.  They spend alot of time indoors during this season.

Another group is the "Make The Best Of It" crowd.  This is the group I fall into.  We like our driveways and sidewalks nice and clear because our homes look "lived in" and it appears as if we are home.  We build the occasional snowperson (thus being politically correct) and toss a mischievous snowball now and again just because the snow is there and we can.  Oh, and we buy a $5.00 "snow tube" which have now replaced the toboggan and sleds of my day and the saucers my kids used.  These are blow up inner tubes with handles much like the ones pulled behind boats in the summer (for those of you who have not participated in wintry athletics lately).  Yes, they are fast and fun.... and no I did NOT hurt myself.  Even the driveway ditch or sloping terrain of the average backyard provides a toboggan run to satisfy the sledding adventures.  This group might even sport skates and take a spin around the ice rink a time or two.  

The final group are the people who "Embrace It".  They have every snow toy available.  Skis, snowmobiles, skates, snowshoes, ski pants that match their jackets, stylish hats, scarves and gloves all color coordinated.  They look good.  I applaud them.  However, also in this group I include "Ice Fisherpeople"  (again being politically correct).  Now that's just cold.  I cannot fathom trudging out onto a frozen lake dragging what looks like enough equipment needed to stay for a week, which includes something to drill a hole in the ice, and then sitting (on an upside down bucket because there was no room for a stool much less a couch)  for long periods of time.  Then there is still cleaning and cooking your catch, which I'm sure you know, doesn't come with coleslaw and waffle fries.  

Personally, if we didn't get snow for Christmas in December, I really don't care if we have it at all.   Visiting a warmer climate January through April gets more and more appealing.  Quite frankly, when temperatures dip below the freezing 32 degrees.... well that's just cold.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Thanksgiving was a success, although the turkey soup has not been made yet, the carcass is frozen and waiting for that perfect, cold, snowy, day.  Christmas is upon us and I am ready.  The tree is up and decorated, the shopping is done, the presents are wrapped, and the groceries are put away.  Keep in mind this is only December 22nd and my niece is in disbelief.  I have no cookies yet.  I leave that task to Mom, Daughter, and Sister-in-Law.  Our Christmas Eve consists of pasta, bread, salad, and hors devour es, which are our responsibilities ("our" meaning myself and husband, who most graciously helps.... really!) and cookies, cookies, cookies... respectively.  Oh, and least we forget my husband's specialty, a family tradition that the Yeiser's call "catalani" (not sure of the spelling).  One would think this fits right in with pasta, however, it is completely a Norwegian dessert consisting of lady fingers, whipped cream, and lingonberries.  We, the Italians, might look at it as Norwegian Tiramisu.  Cookies will include Mom's Italian specialties, traditional frosted sugar cookies and the all time favorite chocolate chip and peanut butter kisses.  So we have covered many ethnic backgrounds with one spectacular meal.  That's right, no ham or turkey.  This year the pasta of choice is Spaghetti, complete with spaghetti bibs!  What a family pic this will be.  Stay tuned.  My New Year's Resolution will be to post more regularly.  You might see the pics around Valentine's Day.  That's when I plan to post about not keeping resolutions and procrastinating.    Fa la la la la, ha ha ha ha.

Here's wishing you and yours a Very Merry Christmas (yes in my house it is CHRISTmas) and a Prosperous, Healthy, Happy New Year!!