Changing of the guard.

RIP

Lois Shook

1923-2018

from left to right, My dad, My grandma, My mom, My daughter and me.

My dear grandmother passed away yesterday. I started to think back on some memories and the fondest are of  her and grandpa in the amazing gardens they kept. As a kid, visiting that grand garden down Green Valley Road was so much fun. Running through the immaculate orchard, always perfectly pruned, jumping over the watermelons they could grow so well in the fine, Sebastopol dirt, Picking chilean guava's off the sprawling bushes and racing around the manicured boxwood hedge that surrounded the house chasing alligator lizards caught basking in the summer sun. The roses and impatiens seemed to be two of her favorites and they always put on a show, next to the enormous sycamore tree that dwarfed that little swingset we played on as kids.

I learned early from her what a garden was to look like, and I learned to appreciate the homesteading way of life, and self sufficiency that could have only come from years of toiling through the great depression and war years. She taught my mom how to can your preserves and my mom taught me and now it's my responsibility to teach the kiddo. I love how she passed on knowledge and I think that is such an important thing, This picture is three generations of strong women. Love you grandma and thank you so much for imparting a love of gardens and plants, and working the earth, raising your own food and caring for all. I never heard her utter a harsh or unkind word to or about anyone, I think she may have been as close to the definition of kind and caring as you can get in this lifetime.

I will miss you grandma,
love
Mark