walnut trees growing
in Germantown, PA
as I walked beneath
their leafy boughs
another time & space
I knew how it felt
to touch their
rough tree bark &
believed I could climb
upon a branch &
share with singing lark
for she brought them
into her kitchen
to share in baking song
& made them part & parcel
to bring us all along
her memory of growing up
as she walked
beneath their shade
baking smells embracing
in Germantown, PA
© November 2013
Renee Espriu
My grandmother was raised in Germantown, PA and came to live on the West Coast as a teenager. Walnut trees grow in abundance there and so using them in baking became part of her tradition. There was rarely anything that did not have them in it and her coffee table always had a variety of nuts in the shell to wait for someone to crack them open.
Image is My Art/Colored Pencil, Pastel, Digital Enhancement
reneejustturtleflight.com 
Hi Renee…what a beautiful memory to share of your grandmother. I remember other writings you have done of her as well. I think those memories of cooking or baking smells end up somehow in our DNA don’t you think? They bring me fond memories of my favorite foods…especially around holiday time. Hope all is well and good in your world. I think I’m getting closer to starting to post something again. Been visiting some of my favorites and even my own blog…reading old posts. So nice to be here with you again. Hugs…Gayle
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How wonderful to see you here! I have missed you. If you post again that would be wonderful, of course. Perhaps we all need to step back at times. The Summer has been stressful and exhausting. I might have mentioned some things in an email and will email again soon. This is the first post since last month. I’m trying something new by scanning a piece of art and pulling it into my site. This is the first so hopefully it will get better. Trial and error. LOL. Hope you are well and granddaughter too. 🙂
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I will post again I’m sure of it. I can feel “stirrings” inside of me…haha! Yes, you did email me of some stresses going on during the summer. It’s so interesting how stress can sometimes “snowball” and grow bigger somehow. Or I guess it just affects so many aspects of our lives. Well anyway I’m glad I stopped by just when you decided to post something again. I think that scanning your art worked out well…I like that idea. And love your artwork…I can’t draw worth a darn! Granddaughter is growing and changing in leaps and bounds…love her so. We are well. Look forward to an email of news from you, Renee…when you’re so inspired. xoxo
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P.S. Forgot…love your walnut drawing. What a talent you have!
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hmmmm… i love walnuts and we used to have a huge tree in the garden… i can imagine that for your gramma it was a taste of her childhood as well.. i put some in my müsli every morning…smiles… nice artwork as well renee…
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When you grow up with something it simply becomes part of who you are. I have never actually seen a walnut tree because they really are not prolific here on the West coast as on the East but it was like they were here just the same. Thank You!
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smiles…i remember climbing trees…i think that was a thing of that generation as well…because my gamma always had a bowl of nuts on the table…and a little silver cracker…i love PA…
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Some things are universal, I think, and cracking nuts in our grandma’s house is one. Smiles
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some memories… I have some fond memories of my childhood that always fill up my heart with warmth and happiness.
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I write quite alot about growing up. I think we tend to write most what we know about.
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This is beautiful. And I love the picture too.
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Thank You Libby
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Loved your shared memories of Walnuts, how wonderful to have such magnificent trees growing near you… I love Walnuts and they are so good for your health wise 🙂
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