LIZZIES SNIPPETS - A weekly gardening blog, dedicated to the memory of my beautiful mom.

in The LIFESTYLE LOUNGE4 years ago

I have not posted anything since my moms passing... it has been a trying ten plus days, filled with so much pain and overwhelming emotion. In reality, all I have wanted to do is run away from the reality - crawl into a hole in the ground and disappear, but the fact is - life carries on and I need to move along with it because I too, am a mother... and there is a little boy in my life and to him - I am the world, his best friend... just as my mom was to me and all my brothers... so I am "digging deep" for the strength to keep moving!

I am not expecting any "miracles" from myself but, one foot in front of the other as they say... and in the spirit of such, as well as in honour and remembrance of my mom - I am starting this weekly blog series. My mom, @lizziesworld joined this blockchain community just over three years ago in June 2017. Her blog posts were never long, but almost every single day for that time, she shared her gardening knowledge, tips and adventures. I have now decided to compile a few of these "snippets" randomly every week (that is the intention) and re-share them with all of you on Thursdays... because that was "our day"... as most of you know.

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LIZZIE'S SNIPPETS

A weekly gardening blog, with content originally written by and now dedicated to the memory of my beautiful mom.

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The kiss of the sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth, One is nearer God’s Heart in a garden Than anywhere else on earth. - Dorothy Frances Gurney

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Alstroemeria the lovely perennial

Published September 21st 2017

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The beautiful Alstroemeria is a perennial that should be considered for that semi shade area in the garden. They look at their best when planted en mass in a good fertile soil and multiply quickly if not disturbed. The trumpet shaped flowers can be picked for the vase and last for quite some time - the colours available go from white to pink through to yellow and shades of red.

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The Fig Tree

Published September 27th 2017

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The fig tree is one of my favourite fruit trees because once established, it will produce loads of fruit. The red fig makes the most delicious jam - in fact it tastes just like strawberry jam. The most common fault in figs dropping off the tree before ripening is due to either irregular watering or over watering.
Feed the tree with a potassium rich fertiliser.

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Harvesting Bay Leaves

Published November 19th 2019

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Many years ago, while I was staying with my late sister in the Eastern Cape, I was introduced to using bay leaves in cooking. In many of her dishes, there was a flavour that I could not identify and which really made her food taste delicious. At that time in my life, I was not married and so it was years later that I embarked on my culinary journey and then discovered the joy of the bay leaf.

If you have never cooked with this wonderful herb, I would encourage you to try it. I do know that many people have no idea what to do with bay leaves and this is a great shame, so I thought that I would share with you all how I use these wonderful leaves. I have a bay tree and so often take some to my daughter @jaynie who also loves them.

Firstly, the most common way of cooking with bay leaves is to use them in all types of curries, but it does not stop there. Adding them to rice while cooking gives the rice a great flavour - and when storing dry rice, pop a few leaves in the container as well.

Roast potatoes sprinkled with rosemary and some bay leaves added is really good. When roasting a chicken, put a few leaves inside the cavity as well as under the wings and alongside the legs.

A leg of lamb is at its best with garlic gloves and bay leaves - I pierce the top with a sharp knife and pop in the garlic cloves, then place bay leaves underneath the roast and a few on top - do this after the roast has been rubbed with some olive oil and seasoned. The juices from the meat then can be used to make a wonderful gravy. This method can also be used for other roasts.

Bolognaise sauce is not complete without some bay leaves added and the flavour improves further if the sauce is frozen for another meal.

For those of you that enjoy the old fashioned rice pudding, add a couple of bay leaves to it for a lovely result. Pickles, chutneys and chilli preserves all benefit from bay leaves too.

My bay tree has now just pushed out new growth and so I have harvested some leaves - the leaves can be dried at room temperature and store in a container for months. The new leaves have a stronger flavour than the dried leaves when used in cooking.

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...Love you mom, always ❤

❤❤❤

Until next time...
Much Love from Cape Town, South Africa xxx
Jaynielea

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My experience has been that time eases the pain. Sometimes it returns almost as strong as it was in the beginning. Little things can trigger my emotions. But the underlying pain is never really gone. It turned into something I cherish as it does partly define me. And there's inspiration in that pain to become a better person. Love always.... ❤️

What beautiful words of encouragement... THANK YOU!!! I know you are right. Time... xoxoxo

!tip

🎁 Hi @inalittlewhile! You have received 0.1 HIVE tip from @jaynie!

@jaynie wrote lately about: Memories... Just Memories. Feel free to follow @jaynie if you like it :)

Sending tips with @tipU - how to guide.

Ohhhh, this is wonderful @jaynie! Your mom is indeed smiling right now :) I will certainly be looking forward to these weekly gems of wisdom. xx Blessings to you sweet girl.

I certainly hope she is ❤ and thank you!!!
Oh man, I have missed the amazing people in this space...
MWAH!

!tip

🎁 Hi @birdsinparadise! You have received 0.1 HIVE tip from @jaynie!

@jaynie wrote lately about: Dancing With The Angels - Rest In Peace My Beautiful Mother! Feel free to follow @jaynie if you like it :)

Sending tips with @tipU - how to guide.

Sorry for losing your superwoman (mother). Truly speaking all of us has lost a great personality. @Lizziesworld was a mother to everyone here and her impact on this platform was very inspiring to talk about. Though she is not here physically but she shall always be in our hearts. I extend my condolences too.

What a lovely thing to say! Thank you! !tip

Your Mom was a keen gardener with so much knowledge of what surrounded her along with good reason why she planted many different plants.

For one thing the bay leaf is something I use regularly, this post showed me many fresh ideas in how to use them effectively in other dishes since tried and would recommend. Never had a fresh tree but always a box of dried leaves available to use.

Your Mom will pop up in the garden with you, in your thoughts going off to sleep, one never really gets over the loss of loved ones, only how to cope going forward. Stay strong...

So very true Joan! The garden and the kitchen are where she will forever remain close to me 💛🧡❤ !tip

I just think these snippets are so sweet and I know she was the arty gardening blog-ster and nothing will be the same, never for your brothers , dad , family and you. We as the extended family will be here,
And remember : its the next page and not gone, and forever young 😘
Talk soon

Love you!!! and thank you... I know you are right! (as always xxx) !tip

🎁 Hi @brittandjosie! You have received 0.1 HIVE tip from @jaynie!

@jaynie wrote lately about: Memories... Just Memories. Feel free to follow @jaynie if you like it :)

Sending tips with @tipU - how to guide.

This is really nice. It's as if she is still here blogging. xo

Thank you hon. I just want to keep her close to me, and keep her passions alive not only within me, but to share with the world. xxx

!tip

🎁 Hi @owasco! You have received 0.1 HIVE tip from @jaynie!

@jaynie wrote lately about: Memories... Just Memories. Feel free to follow @jaynie if you like it :)

Sending tips with @tipU - how to guide.

It is a good way for the memory to stay fresh, it is so wonderful to have such a collection of blogs from your mother. You will see a lot of places and family things and you will have a part of your mother's life. I'm so sorry for this loss you have now. As you said, life goes on and these separations are part of life.

You are so right!!!! Scrolling through her blog feed today, I was so overwhelmed by her volume of posts.... she posted almost as much as me HAHA.... and that is a LOT! xxx

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She probably posted so much in the early years, I only met her last year and then posted less than you. I enjoyed reading blogs about gardening and even interior design, if I'm not mistaken. I also received advice from her a few times.
My opinion on immortality ... we are immortal as long as we remain in the memories of those who knew us.

but the fact is - life carries on and I need to move along with it because I too, am a mother...

Your words made me think of this quote that is so true:

It takes strength to make your way through grief, to take grab of live and let it pull you forward.

Thank you for sharing her snippets.

What a lovely quote! Thank you for sharing that 💛

Awwwww this is such a great idea!!

Thanks love 🤗

Welcome🤗

I am also one of those who think that losing someone so loved and close, with such an intimate connection, is something very difficult to overcome, my parents are still alive and I know that it will not be forever but, I do not like to think about their departure. I know that this tribute you are paying to her is a way to feel close to her and you must do what is necessary to feel better by looking for the best way to overcome it, thank you for sharing your teachings.😉

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Hi @jaynie

Sorry to hear about your mother, I noticed the nice comment you left on Galen's post.

These snippets are a lovely idea, I hope they bring back some good memories for you.

Thank you ❤ I will forever be closest to my mom in the garden... so yes, I hope so too Asher. Appreciate the kind sentiment. xxx

Oh Jaynie, I just heard.
I am so so sorry for your loss.
Hugssss

It's so lovely you have your mums words to look back on.

Shortly after my dad died I took up an allotment (not sure if you have them in SA but basically it is a collection of gardens usually owned by the council or an association, you can rent cheaply to grow veg).

My dad was a keen gardener (only vegetables, he thought flowers were a waste of space! In fact he used to joke that for his funeral he didn't want flowers, if he were to have a bunch of anything it should be carrots. So I bought him a bunch of carrots to sit on top of his coffin!).

He had an allotment all the time I knew him (he gave up his allotment about 6 months before he died). I spent a lot of time digging and thinking about him and wondering what advice he would give me.

It is a great way to connect with people, sharing their passions, even if they are no longer here.

Much love to you and your family, @jaynie.

I loved your mom's gardening post and I'm happy you are once again sharing them with us!
Lovely way of honoring your mother and her love of gardening!

This is such a beautiful and creative idea! Bravo! 💖