Six months ago our family lost so much in the LA fires, including this little playhouse my grandparents and I built in their garden (I brought my best tool belt). It’s still devastating that somewhere so lush and special could be completely decimated in a matter of hours.
But as three generations of gardeners, we kept showing up, kept watering, kept hoping. And now we’re seeing signs of life again. The plants are coming back, and at the risk of being incredibly cheesy, so are we. We are absolutely blown away by the incredible outpouring of love from friends, and family, and friends who are family, and friends of friends, and new friends. A massive thank you from our family to everyone who supported us this year. So much growth can happen in six months 🌱
Against all odds and despite initial reports, my grandparents’ home was one of the very few to survive the fire in the Mesa. Driving up to it on Friday after two long weeks felt like seeing a family member come back from the dead. We walked through a house filled with items we never thought we’d see again. It’s still surreal.
When we believed both our family homes were gone, one of the losses I mourned most was the huge collection of movies that my Opa Rudi shot, developed, and edited himself. The past few years I would show up on weekends to practice setting up the Eumig projector while they narrated each tape with contagious enthusiasm. I never digitized any of these, but occasionally would set up my iPhone to record the projections “just in case”. These recordings-of-recordings are from a 1965 movie that shows them building their little piece of paradise with help from all their family and friends. They filled this home with so much love, so much laughter, and so, so many parties. This was their dream home. Now, it still can be.
We still don’t know the full extent of the damage done or the remediation needed, but this house is a survivor just like them. Long live Rudi & Eve & their fire resistant landscaping & our Mesa miracle. 🤍
There are no words to describe the loss we have experienced and the grief we are going through.
At the same time, there are so many words.
Grateful for the incredible outpouring of love during this time #palisadesfire #palisadesstrong
Today is my birthday and I’m thinking about the many things I crafted this past year & the crafty humans who make my life very, very good. Here’s one of those things. 🧑🎨
#papermache #papermachehotdogs
Our best friends wedding
We’ve all loved Alex for the 25+ years we’ve known her, and we loved Jake from the moment we met him. Here’s to all the years ahead 💕
🍅 july 2024 🍅 season has arrived! 🍅
We’re growing about a dozen different varieties in the backyard this year. Used to hate tomatoes, now I can’t get enough
June 2024 Garden Recap
“Tomato season has barely started, there will be many more tomatoes to come.”
- wise words from /vegetablegardening
Garden is already exploding and so is my heart 🌱
