Thursday, April 07, 2016

just dandy

I have a little neighbor who brings me the loveliest
miniature bouquets, stuffed in her tiny hand.
"If it's starting to wilt," she says, "Don't worry, there's more."
Her mama is teaching her how to love others well.
I recently came across this crumbling ledger from my 
great-great grandfather, a farmer, and this particular page is from
this month, a mere 130 years ago.
He has interesting spelling and rough penmanship but he seemed
to keep good accounts. What caught my attention in several places was 
the mention of "dandelions." Twice on this page, though it might
be hard to see. It makes me wonder if dandelions used to be a desired flower.
Or maybe they were good in a salad.
They are bright and cheery and would be charming in a flower bed.
Is a weed just a flower someone deemed undesirable?

I've missed reading blogs. It's been a packed two weeks:
having the grandees here for a few days overnight including rides to school,
homework, piano, and potty training. This tired grandma experienced
exhaustion like never before! (but joyful exhaustion.)
Then we scooted out of town, met some deadlines, and life has just been busy.

17 comments:

  1. That is a sweet little posy of dandelions, Dotsie. Maybe your great-great grandfather ate the greens of the dandelion. I know many folks did that. I love seeing the old ledger! It is a good thing children are born to the young...I identify with your tiredness, even when it's a good tired! ♥

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  2. During the war years it was quite common to pick baby dandelion leaves to use in Salads. This is now very fashionable and is called 'foraging'!!

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  3. My aunt used to pick the first dandelion leaves in spring. She'd put them in salad, or steam them. Some people make tea with the dried leaves.
    Having the grands come for a visit is such a treat - exhausting, but such a treat!

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  4. Maybe he made dandelion wine like my husband's parents did.

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  5. All "weeds" are plants that have some use either medicinally or as a flower! I say that we only call them weeds because we didn't plant them! They also tend to me free growing and not cultivated plants.

    Sweet that you have that ledger of your grandfather. I know many like to put the flower heads into salads and the greens of course and some make wine. We've also dredged the flower heads in a flour mixture and lightly sauteed them. They were good and very nutritious if they have not been sprayed, of course!

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  6. Grandkids are a blessing we enjoy mostly in small, frequent doses. Your little neighbor is sweet. I've always loved dandelions because they're so cheery. The part I don't like is after they've gone to seed and have learned to duck when they see the lawn mower coming.

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  7. Ha! I do wish someone would declare Dandelions to be ever so desirable all about your yard...
    How fun to have that old ledger.

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  8. What a sweet bouquet! And it's fun to be busy with family time! Enjoy your evening! Hugs!

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  9. That is one precious little bouquet and the entries in your great-great-grandfather's ledger is just so fascinating! How wonderful to have that in your possession! I know my parents ate plenty of dandelion greens in their day... and when you look at the lovely blooms, they really are quite intricate! Surely you must already know how much I love my weeds :)

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  10. Dandelion leaves are a nutritious addition to a salad and can be found in our grocery store by early summer. The flowers sure do make nice bouquets.
    I remember well how tiring it is with young grandchildren and they learned that when grandma was having a cat nap on the couch not to disturb her for those few precious minutes.

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  11. Sweet little vase of flowers and very interesting ledger! Oh, how I know the weary but joyful times with grandchildren! I hardly have time or energy to blog any more :)

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  12. Those posies from little hands are the sweetest ones. What an interesting ledger - I think dandelions were often used for various things. Enjoy the quieter times and the memories of the busier ones.

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  13. Such a delightful post. I know how you feel...love being with our youngest grandsons last week! Nothing to compare with it and I really did rest at night! Have a grand weekend!

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  14. A field of dandelions is one of my favorite things. Your friendly little neighbor gave you a pungent, but lovely bouquet. I am intrigued by your great-great grandfather's journal. My great-grandfather very carefully noted the weather and the times his garden went in. He wrote a out nothing of great interest to me until describing his own father's death, then he never wrote another word.

    Being busy with important pursuits is the best kind of busy and a very good reason for not being in Blogdom much.

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  15. The time with the grands is always too short. Maybe the dandelions were for wine making?
    So sweet of your little neighbor for the happy bouquet.
    Have a relaxing weekend, Dotsie.

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  16. I love the little posy and yellow is such a happy colour!
    The old ledgers must make interesting reading, the dandelions were medicinal too back then.
    I must get better at keeping not of what I spend, I don't like my hard earned pennies slipping through my fingers. It doesn't go as far as it used to on the household bills!

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  17. What a sweet post. Your grands are so cute - and I bet grandma gets tuckered out watching them a long time! : - ) What a wonderful blessing.

    Your "posy" is sweet. Dandelions - oh my uncle made Dandelion Wine, it was swill bleck lol - those are stubborn weeds. Interesting wondering what your GGF meant by having them. Makes one wonder, indeed/

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I enjoy the conversations that come with comments!

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