Today we were driving along Warner Ave toward PCH and Melody asked me "what is that lake over there Mommy?" So I decided we would explore the beautiful coastal estuary of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands, or as Melody called it, the lake.

We walked the trail, hallooing to friendly people walking along with us. Melody made a point to say hello to a young girl and boy walking with their father. We listened to the ssshhh sound of the grasses blowing in the wind, the call of the sea gulls, the unfortunate traffic sounds from PCH replete with the unpleasant roar of motorcycles, the twitter of birds we could not name, and other sounds we could not identify.

At one point, we stopped to look at a lady bug on some grass. It crawled onto my finger, but then flew back to the grass plume it was enjoying. Melody wanted it to crawl onto her finger, but our attention bothered the lady bug and it flew away. We later looked at the many native shore birds out on the tidal mud flats, and later saw a beautiful bright red hummingbird. Finally we headed back to our car and on the way there we saw a great white heron or crane. It silently stood among the grasses, watching us watching it. We moved on.

Though our visit was short, it was a place we will be visiting again soon. With the warm spring weather, it was a perfect impromptu visit to a little bit of natures beauty right in our back yard.

PS all photos taken with my iPhone! Visit the gallery for more.

This past weekend, my mom gave me a tremendous gift, although at the time I didn't know it. I thought she was asking if I wanted a little box. It was white, showed years of use, and was clearly a recipe box. I didn't know what to think at first, then I looked inside. Where I assumed it would be empty, it was in fact full of recipe cards. They were my grandmother's recipe cards.

Since Grandma Pat - or Gram as we called her in later years - passed away in 1982, I have fallen out of practice at recalling her memory quickly. She used to do this funny little story called The Crooked Mouth Family and I would laugh every time she told it. She also would softly say "purr, purr" when something was particularly tasty or special, something I have said myself from time to time. How I could have forgotten these special memories is really a testament to time wearing away at our minds. I was a tender 14 years old when she passed and she had been very ill for quite some time. It wasn't an exact shock, but it's never easy. It was the first death I was really cognizant of, being as my grandfather had passed away a few years earlier and didn't make as much of an impression on me.

As I looked at those recipe cards in that old wooden box, so many of those wonderful memories came flooding back over me. I remembered the funny little rhymes and ditties she taught me, and I was especially good at remembering them. I remembered the red mittens she had made me which I treasured for years after they no longer fit, and hardly wore in the first place because it doesn't really get all that cold here in California. I could remember her smell and her smile, her funny sense of humor and her playing Blockhead with me at the kitchen counter. Grandmothers are truly one of the most wonderful things in the world.

So, later that night after my mom gave me the box, I was thinking about it and what to do with it. I didn't want to put it in a drawer or cabinet to be forgotten. It seemed like something I wanted to share somehow. Being the digital age - and having access to decent equipment and a husband who can help when pressed into service - I realized I could start a blog about the recipe cards. My first idea was simple: post a scan of the recipe cards with minimal commentary, as often as possible, daily preferred. As I sat in the chair at the hair salon waiting for my color to set and my friend to finish with her other customer, I set up a new blog via my iPhone. (My goodness I am getting pretty geeky, aren't i?) 

Almost the most difficult part of this process has been settling on a color scheme and design! I wanted something that reflected Gram's love of home, crafts, and family, while keeping it within the 21st century. Plus, Wordpress.com, the host I use, has very few themes available that are not techie. I finally settled on one, posted the first few recipe cards, told a few friends, and hoped for the best!

I hope you will make some time to visit Gram's Recipe Box. Since the site launched yesterday, I've gotten some great feedback from friends and family. Yes, I will be making as many of the recipes as possible and posting pictures and a blog post about my experience. My mother may be consulted often. My sister may be called into service. It's a family treasure, after all. Hopefully, you will share the treasure with me!

This is my preschool class picture. I think I must have disliked the boy in the front row middle because I have an unpleasant association when I look at his picture. Poor kid. We wore our nametags upside down so the teachers could read them when they looked over our shoulder. Two girls in the front row have an extra tag, shaped like a hand. I believe this was rotational and stood for "helping hand" and was given to the kids who were particularly helpful or something. It's been a long time ago, I can't quite remember!

Some time ago I read in the paper that the United States Navy was planning on commissioning a new guided missile destroyer here in Seal Beach, the first commissioning at Seal Beach ever. I clicked the link for more info and sent in my name. I thought it would be really neat to take my Dad to see this piece of history, then I sort of forgot about it. Well, some time in January or early February, I got the official invitation and up to 6 RSVPs. Well, you know me, I sent in for all 6 tickets, called my family, and we made plans to go!

Fast forward to the week before the commissioning. John has been working like a dog lately and really wanted a day off - totally understandable. My sister thought her friend Dianna might enjoy it, so I invited her in John's place. Our party would consist of Gramma and Papa, Auntie, Dianna, Mom and Melody. Gramma and Papa were staying with us that week and we made our plans in eager anticipation. Then the weather forecast predicted rain. Lots of rain. If it rained, not only would it be uncomfortable and unfortunate, my parents felt they could not go and sit in the rain. I can't say as I blamed them. We watched the weather almost hourly and on Friday night they said if it wasn't raining in the morning, they would go.

We all went and were prepared for a downpour with 5 umbrellas for the six of us and two of those umbrellas were large sized ones. There was a bit of rain, nothing heavier than a shower, which lasted on and off for about an hour. The Dewey was beautiful in her bunting and flags. The Navy band serenaded us when it wasn't raining, and the crowd was robust in spite of the weather. Melody was fascinated with everything, from the flags they handed out to the big ship in front of us! 

Right before the speeches started, at about 10:58, the sky cleared and there was no more rain for the rest of the day. We could not have asked for more! The various speakers were not long winded and in fact gave interesting and inspirational speeches. Most impressive was the moment the ship sponsor called the crew to "bring her to life" and take all operations on line. Seeming from out of no where, sharply dressed sailors in their black uniforms, white hats and gloves, ran past the audience and onto the ship. They lined the rails, outlined against the blue-gray sky, like sentinels guarding the castle. When they were called to attention, every man and woman snapped sharply to salute as one person. It was a display of military precision I had never before had the honor to witness, and I was proud to be present for it.

Of course, it occurred to me that any one of those sailors could one day be a recipient of one of my care packages. The most recent recipient was from DDG 93, and most people don't know that many of the early forces in Afghanistan and Iraq were Navy men and women. The moment of commissioning was for me, a validation of all we are fighting for and all I do to let our troops know we wish them a safe and speedy return home.

There are photos in the gallery, courtesy of Auntie Kat, and here's another little clip of Melody being cute.