Life as I know It

My photo
San Luis Obispo, California, and South Bristol, Maine, United States
Author ~ Illustrator ~ Lecturer

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thanksgiving Tornado


The floors are swept, shallots, herbs, and salad greens gathered–let the tornado begin.


Gathering greens, herbs, and edible flowers from my container gardens.


And taking time out to puddle around with my plants, and to...


...sweep, and prepare for...


...the arrival...


...of...


...stylist Sunday Hendrickson. You've seen her work on the pages of many magazines, including Country Living, Country Living GARDENER, Romantic Homes, Cottage Style, This Old House, and many more. Sunday is producing a photo shoot of our gardens and shed, which will be featured in one of my favorite magazines early spring 2013. Can't wait to see it.


Sunday and photographer Mark Lohman peer at the computer screen to make sure that a photo is perfectly composed, and that the light is right.


Mark focuses on my little garden shed "Sprig."


Sunday and Mark decide whether to turn one of my containers a bit for a better shot.


The better shot.


Mark is bent over his camera (upper left) focusing on a close-up. Sunday is moving plants and arranging my containers.


Is "Sprig's" door better open or closed?


Inside "Sprig."





Sunday shields Mark's camera from the sun's glare.


What began at about 7 A.M. is over by mid-afternoon. I'll let you know which magazine will be featuring "Sprig" and my container gardens this spring, but right now I am sworn to secrecy.

So now it is on to one of my favorite holidays...


Cookbooks out and at hand.


Apples simmering, cooking down to applesauce...


Herbs steeping in vinegars...


Wild rice and crimini mushrooms begin to bubble...


Sweet potato, apple, and cranberry slaw is dressed and set in the fridge to deepen flavors...


Jeff is making sweet potato chips with the Joyce Chen spiralizer, the same tool I used to make the slaw.

By now, it is late, late, and it has been a long day. We've made a few of the dishes ahead of time to lighten the burden of work on Thanksgiving (when our little kitchen will be jammed with people). 

I want to wish you a joy filled Thanksgiving with family and friends. As I gather ours close, I will be mindful of all the simple blessings in our lives. A roof over our heads, food, a bountiful garden, family, friends, and laughter. I wish the same for you.

Sending love across the miles,

Sharon 

P.S. Luke is not able to come home yet, but I was finally allowed to sit in a rocker and hold him. He is beautiful and now weighs over 7 pounds, but he is still fighting his way through some problems. 

Darla and Lori, I am always grateful for your kind words and prayers. Thank you!

26 comments:

rebecca said...

If I never see the magazine, I will hold these scenes as SO special & inspiring. (Of course, I can't wait to hear which magazine - and when....).

And I'm going to see if I can google a recipe for sweet potato/apple/cranberry slaw. It sounds positively delicious to me!

Happy Thanksgiving to you, Sharon.

Julie Marie said...

Hello dear Sharon... I so enjoyed seeing your gardens and "Sprig" being photographed... and I am excited for them to be in a lovely magazine... can't wait!... happy you are home safe and sound... everything for your Thanksgiving meal sounds and looks delish!... I am sorry little Luke cannot go home yet, but so happy he has gained another pound and you held him and rocked him... my prayers continue for your sweet little one to come home very soon!... this year has been a blessed one for me as well, I have always adored you, and to find out we are "distant" cousins was so exciting!... I certainly count you as a special blessing of mine!... I hope you and Jeff and all of your family and friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving... much love to you, xoxo Cousin Julie Marie

Donna OShaughnessy said...

"Sprig" must be left open. When I look thru a mag I love to see into doors as if I am actually able to snoop the way I would if really there . Thanks for the preview. Can't wait to see the final results.

Prayers for your Luke are being said NOW

Lemon Verbena Lady said...

Happy, happy Thanksgiving to all of the clan at your house, Sharon. Hope the favorite magazine is Country Gardens! xxoo Nancy

Teri said...

This, as always, is the most wonderful postiing Sharon. I love your little part of the world and what you do to make it look and feel so cozy. And apparently, so do many others because people want to buy the magazine and see for themselves how it is that you do what you do. You always seem to make it feel so easy. Why do I allow myself to get so stressed? I need "Sharon Lovejoy" lessons. But, I am thankful for the small things. And as this holiday comes, I am also thankful for the big things: like doctors that can make people whole again (my Bill...your Luke). Those are BIG!!! Happy Thanksgiving to you and Jeff.

Anonymous said...

how exciting, beautiful beautiful photos, your slaw looks amazing, best wishes on the little one and Happy Happy Thanksgiving!

Sharon Lovejoy said...

Dear Rebecca,

I didn't have a return address for you, but wanted to say that my "slaw" is simply spiralized sweet potatoes, apple chunks, and dried cranberries that are drizzled with seasoned rice vinegar and some sea salt. On Thanksgiving I'll add a touch more vinegar, some squeezed orange, and a little mild olive oil.

I learned to make this in a vegan cooking class. It is wonderful.

Happy holidays!

Sharon

The French Hutch said...

Hi Sharon, you are full of news here today. First, let me say it's wonderful you were able to hold little Luke for the first time. What a joyful Thanksgiving Blessing! Wow, congratulations are in order on your magazine shoot. I think it's awesome and I see why. Your gardens are amazing and the shed adorable. I'll look forward to seeing it published. Wishing you and yours a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving.

~Emily
The French Hutch

Anonymous said...

Hello Sharon, Your gardens are beautiful, and how wonderful that you are featuring in a magazine.
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog, and for leaving such a lovely comment.
I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving.

La Table De Nana said...

Everything looks picture perfect..I hesitated about that Joyce Chen spiralizer:-)
Looks like it works perfectly for you:-)
Now..I am rethinking:-)
Happy Thanksgiving.

Blondie's Journal said...

Welcome home, Sharon! I should not be blogging right now but I'm glad I am since I found your post! First off I want to say how pleased I am that Luke has made some progress. I pray he continues to get better and will soon be home.

Congratulations on your upcoming feature! Be sure to let us know which magazine you are in. They couldn't have picked a better garden! I've never seen your shed...what a joy it must be to work in. It brought a smile to my face!

I was wondering how you shredded the sweet potatoes and now I see you have a little contraption that is just awesome! All of your recipes are new to me and sound delish! I'm making a sweet potato souffle for the first time and I have decided to let Emily brine the turkey. We're throwing caution to the wind this year and maybe starting some new traditions!

Wishing you and Jeff and your family & friends a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am so grateful to have gotten to know you over the last year, my friend!

XO,
Jane

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

Many blessing to your family.
Everything looks so nice. Can't wait to get more info on that garden shoot.

Happy Thanksgiving.

As the Crowe Flies and Reads said...

Now that I've met y'all, it lends a whole new depth to the way I appreciate your blog. Happy Thanksgiving!

kj said...

seeing your place and spade is nothing short of orgasmic :^) :^) :^)

i wish you and jeff a most wonderful day, my friend.
everything looks just grand.

love
kj

Pat said...

Will be so anxious to hear which magazine - it will be a must have!!

Gorgeous sunfilled photos - so much greenery in contrast to our northwoods bare trees and fields of brown.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving.

jean said...

Sharon, I wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving! I enjoyed this post very much.

Vee said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Sharon! Congrats on being featured as you certainly should be. Love the name "Sprig" for a gardening shed. Everything looks so beautiful there!

LindyLouMac said...

How exciting that you are going to be featured. I have added your blog to my authors blogroll so I do not miss any posts.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Sonia said...

Oh your Sprig shed is so adorable! I can't wait to see it in a magazine. Such a beautiful patio area too. Everything looks amazing!
Miss Bloomers

Linda Hoye said...

Oh what lovely photos--I can't wait for the magazine surprise to be revealed! I always enjoy reading your posts and looking at the photos you share with us. Those from the garden and those from inside your charming kitchen are like eye candy for me! Hope you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving, Sharon.

Pam G said...

can't wait for the article-I missed the Country Gardener issue your last one was in-it made me mad!
I will say a special prayer for your sweet grandson
Pam

Unknown said...

Well Sharon if the article turns out as well as these lovely images it will be wonderful! I'm sure it will be fabulous! What a fun time I've had imagining your kitchen packed with food and love for a cherished Thanksgiving...! We ARE blessed!
Thinking of you and your sweet baby Luke...
Love,
Boz and Deb

Sharon Lovejoy said...

I will post the name of the magazine as soon as I get the okay from the editor.

Thanks for all your e-mails and interest.

joys,

Sharon

C-ingspots said...

Congratulations on the birth of your grandson - what a blessing! Sounds like a lovely Thanksgiving Day with family and friends...and I ADORE your kitchen!! So cute!! And beautiful gardens too, I could envision myself spending sunny mornings out there amongst those plants. How exciting to have your little garden shed and gardens in a magazine...what fun!

Lili said...

This was such an exciting post to read, your place is just AMAZING! Congrats! And you have given me yet another new idea to pursue...herbs in vinegar...they are gorgeous and I am assuming alot more shelf stable than using oil. I'm going to have to explore this more. Your gardens and home just make me drool. xo

Carol said...

Dear Sharon, It would be any stylist's dream to have your garden to sort and frame. Enchanting!!