Weekend at Grandma’s…

Weekend at Grandma's... always a pleasure. =)

This weekend I had invited my mom to go hiking with me, “V” and the SOC group in Gilroy and then head to my Grandma’s in Salinas for a visit.  When my mom didn’t call to confirm on Friday evening I figured she wanted to let the whole thing slide…then I got a call at 7:15am on Saturday morning.  😉

Instead of doing the hike with “V” we decided to head straight down to my grandma’s.  I liked this idea a lot more because I could bring Sierra and spend more time with my grandma.   I haven’t seen my grandma since Easter so it’s been too long.

Since my grandma wasn’t expecting us until later she almost had a heart attack when I yelled “Surprise!!”  She was still busy cleaning and preparing freshly made spaghetti sauce from home grown tomatoes so my mom helped her in the kitchen and I headed out to the backyard to take some pictures and talk with my Uncle Tim.

My grandma has the greenest thumb. Not literally green, although I haven't actually checked... hmm...

That whole sprawling plant is a tomato plant that started as a volunteer and just took over from there. Seriously, there must be something in the water. 😉

My Uncle Tim also has a green thumb and uses it to grow wicked hot peppers.  In addition to growing hot peppers my uncle has also written some amazing QBasic programs, has PI memorized to 1000 places (he’s recited off two full pages of numbers to me, no joke), and can probably out hike me even with me doing bodypump and backpacking trips.   But back to the peppers.  =)

They look pretty harmless right? WRONG!! Merely touching ones finger to the cracked skin of these peppers and then touching your tongue results in several minutes of extreme burn.

My brother had grown these peppers from seed and gave the plants to my uncle. Looks like they're doing quite well. =)

My uncle takes great pride in the heat of his peppers so after having fun seeing my reaction to following his instructions to put my finger on the cracked skin of his hottest pepper and then touch my tongue he egged me to eat a good-sized piece of the pepper.  Was he insane?  Would I die if I actually ate a piece?  The answer to both questions is “No” so despite the fact that my mom was fearing for my well being and telling me not to do it I followed suite after watching my uncle pop a piece into his mouth.  For the next 5 minutes we kept pointing and laughing at each other as we coughed, eyes welling up with tears from the intensity of the burn.  Ah, good times, good times…  =)

After playing with fire in the form of hot peppers I decided on a less dangerous game.  I know I take after my mom in a lot of respects and also share many of my dad’s traits (not to mention his physical features…we both have piggy noses and grandma hands).  As I looked around my grandma’s sunroom however I realized that I also have a lot in common with my grandma and uncles as well.  First there was the dead things box and yeah, it’s just what it sounds like.  =)

Check it out, my grandma has a collection of bones and other dead things collected over 40 years ago when my uncles would bring them home from the creek as kids. Sweet!

The box on top contains dried out snake skins, birds nest with abandoned eggs and this guy, a perfectly preserved horned lizard. I love it! =)

The box on the bottom contains the skulls and jawbones of several different animals. I think it's very neat to be able to see the skeletal features of animals up close. It's all in the name of science. SCIENCE! =)

Then there was this awesome hand sculpted dinosaur (there are actually several) that my grandma has stomping around a prehistoric environment of succulents.  I’m not sure if my grandma made this or possibly one of her students when she taught elementary school for 30+ years.  Either way, it’s SO cool!  =)

Raar!!! I'm a dinosaur with short little T-Rex arms. Fear me!! =)

I just thought it was cool to be able to see some of what I consider to be my weird little quirks and preferences kind of showcased in the form of these displays created by my grandma and uncles so many years ago.  =)

After an afternoon of chatting and hot pepper eating it was time for a delicious home cooked meal of spaghetti, salad with fresh home grown cherry tomatoes and bread.  I had been good and only ate an apple at lunch and didn’t snack on junk food before dinner so the meal was absolutely amazing.  Seriously, best dinner ever.  =)

After dinner my mom, grandma and I watched “The Glass Bottom Boat” with Doris Day (very funny) and then it was time to head to bed.  Sunday came and went all too quickly.  My grandma had to leave for church around 9 so my mom and I packed up the car and left around 8:30.  It was a wonderful trip and just like my grandma’s home-cooked meals, they always leave me looking forward to the next one.  Until then, the pictures below will have to hold me over.  =)

Uncle Tim harvests more of his peppers for pickling. He also makes a sweet pepper jam that my parents love on pancakes and toast.

Until we meet again hottest of the hot pepper plants. You were a worthy adversary but ultimately you were bested by my stomach acid. 😉

My grandma's back yard is like a secret garden to me because it backs up to trees that line the creek and contains some of the most beautiful flowers and landscaping I've ever seen. It always makes me feel at home.

Thanks for having us over Grandma.  I had a wonderful time and can’t wait until Thanksgiving.  Mmm, turkey, cole slaw, mashed potatoes and gravy…yeah, I can’t wait!  =)