As a young girl, I spent summers with my grandparents. They lived in a rural community in North West Florida. Both were avid gardeners. The fruit and vegetables eaten on those summer days are still tasted today as the mind wonders back in time. My grandfather's pride and joy crop were his prize winning seedless watermelons. They were so sweet and delicious, it makes my mouth water thinking about them.
One day I remember asking him why he always had to go to the center of the field to get a melon, when some of the largest were next to the road. He replied, "Well they are for all the kids who want to steal them." I must have looked perplexed so he followed by telling me that the teens loved stealing the melons, and if the good melons were on the roadside, we would not have them to eat. Even though I was young, I seemed to understand. The center of the field was just for us. That made them even taste better. To go back and revisit that wonderful safe time is truly one of the dreams of now.
The early morning hours were spent in the field gathering the crops of the day. By noon the kitchen was filled with the most awesome smells. Fresh snap peas, corn, tomatoes, okra ...... too many to name. We always had dinner. Who could not wait for supper and have the left overs. They were even better then. If I had a mess of peas and okra right now I would be in "pig" heaven.
My grandmother's specialty were the flowers. Hydrangeas, camellias, gardenias and DAISIES!!!!! The hydrangeas where as tall as the house and as big has dinner plates. The blues and purples of the blooms were so deep and vibrant no wonder I fell in love with color. The camellias were so perfect they looked like wax. Their dark pink heads against the deep green of the leaves still live in my mind. But the favorite was her row of Shasta daisies.
In early spring she would start removing the pine needles that protected the tender plants from the frost of winter. By summer their little heads were in full bloom. The sparkling white and yellow centers were awesome. Many of the blossoms measured 5 to 6 inches across. Seeing this little lady in her long dress, apron, and over sized sun bonnet tenderly minding to her prized plants is such a fond memory. To better give a picture of what I was seeing, imagine granny on the show "Beverly Hillbilly" walking amongst the daisies and their little faces smiling back at her. By the way she had the same spunk and that granny too.
Recently I was shopping for jewelry supplies and came across the Swarovski crystal daisies. I knew that I had to have them. The next dilemma was what was I going to do with them. One day I was experimenting with sterling silver wire and beads then a light went on......USE the Daisies.
My mind works in a very strange way. I really do not plan ahead while creating. I design one thing and be fore I know it, it has developed into something else. At the end of the process my daisy, sterling silver necklace and earring set hung in front of me.
Keep in touch for the next loving memory of my family. Families are in many shapes and sizes........
