Football 🏈 Life

Hello and Happy Super Bowl Sunday. This was a BIG deal for me growing up. My stepfather would be so excited and so guarded. Guarded because he didn’t want anyone else in the room or even in the house. Haha my mother and I would leave and usually go to my aunts house or shopping. The shopping times didn’t come until later as growing up in Virginia we had a Blue Law where on Sundays the stores were closed. When we would come home sometimes the game would still be going on. He would come out screaming to let you know don’t come in the room don’t mess with anything. As he was afraid we would blow a fuse or he would miss something. I laugh at it now. Some of the times me and my mom would watch something in another room. She would always say I am glad they had a movie on whatever channel it was. This time frame was in the late 70s when we got cable. Before cable I remember the Superbowl was like on every channel. I may be wrong about that but it seemed like that. I remember watching the twilight show and then the tv going off the air. That was before cable. Newport News was one of the four cities that received satellite coverage where we could get these channels. Good times. 

My son Cody once said I didn’t know anything about football, and challenged me to name teams. Well I was spitting the teams off. I even collected the helmets that were in the bubblegum machines. Growing up in Virginia and North Carolina it seemed everyone was a Washington Redskin Fan. They became the Washington Commanders in 2020.  When daughter met Garrett we all became Green Bay packers fans. Which is what everyone here seems to be. Sometimes I see a Detroit Lions fan. While I was growing up I was Pittsburgh Steelers fan. Then later I became a Minnesota Vikings fan. Once I married Bruce we pretty much were no longer football fans. I know it sounds crazy to not be fans of football anymore. When I met Bruce I was surprised he wasn’t a fan of football. I thought every guy was lol. Oh well I was wrong!! 

The family, Cooper had won King at the court that night. Which was an honor. He later was Prom King as well. Cooper is a very kind and generous person. Everyone likes him so much. He makes you laugh, smile and enjoy being around him. 

See always making one laugh. We miss you Boopie. He is a Marine now and working hard. 

Eagle football mom

The moms float 

Colby played football as well 

Family cheering them on 

Coop and his friend

Football camp 

Brothers 

Colten played football as well. This was back in NC. 

Cody played one season when he was really young. Colby is the baby here. 

 My dad had this football booklet. I have the copy today, my uncle had given me after my dad passed away in 2009. My grandfather and my dad all played football. Hope the teams do amazing as I know they will. I can only imagine the excitement and joy they must feel in preparation for the big game. I know when my girls played softball sometimes when my daughters were up to bat bases loaded, two strikes. The anxiety for me was intense I can only imagine what my daughters felt. If you have ever watched Ted Lasso you might know the feelings that come about before a big game. Wishing all the BEST for tomorrow. I’m excited. 

Tonight Cody and Amelia came over with the babies. Cody brought over some food and Papa Bruce cooked the whole meal. It took a bit longer than expected but we will let him slide. The boys ate well and had a special popsicle afterwards. More pics tomorrow….. Briar is growing so fast. She’s alert and really misses watching her brothers when she has to take a nap. It was such a joy for everyone to come over. I was feeling a bit sad actually this past week only because I want to be outside and can’t with the ice and thick snow on the ground. Bruce had to work on the snowplow which it was 9 degrees while he was trying to repair it. With the boys coming over tonight and the laughter we all shared the sadness went away. We all need laughter and sharing time together. Thank you Cody and Amelia for coming over. The boys are talking so much now. Much love and gratitude. 

Good vibes, 

Dawn Gallop 

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Finding Beauty in the Winter Garden

The Winter garden teaches us to listen, to rest, and a time to plan. The roots are getting ready for the upcoming season. The trees are starting to make an appearance when spring awakens and tells the trees to begin blooming. 

Hello and good day,  today I am showing you the beauty that can be found in the winter garden. When ever  I say the word winter garden I automatically think of the book I read in 2025. Winter Garden by Kristen Hannah Winter Garden . 

 

A beautiful story a must read. It will touch all the senses. All the feelings. Here is one of the gourds left in the garden. They will dry up and be ready to paint by the time it’s time for the spring cleanup. You would first scrub them in a little bit of bleach water using a rough sponge or a soft wire brush. Something with texture to remove the peeling skins of the gourds. 

That’s a good view of the deep snow. 

The vines of the tomatoes 

Garebear had bought me this one Mother’s Day. I really enjoy it. It’s garden art. 

Welcome, Dusty put this together for me last year and I paid him a little bit of money. It is great for the vines to grow on. It’s also a great garden entrance. 

This was one of best years of the gourds since NC. One year we had so many that I made numerous fall scenes and gave so many away. It was when Dusty was small. 

This is Abigail our oldest granddaughter with Dusty. I had seen this in the Timehop one day and saved it. That was the year we had so many gourds of all shapes and sizes. Even the caveman club gourd. The kids used to run through them. It was magical. 

It says exactly what I needed to share. 

The flag I got reminds me of Sophia, Rosie and Kevin. Just makes me happy to see it. 

The strawflower with snow. 

The strawflower these are so beautiful in the summer. They will be casting all their seeds about for springtime. 

You know I can’t stop sharing these pictures of the beautiful birds. I always say when I see a cardinal it’s my dad Richard. Last week I had seven cardinals at the feeders at once. Six males and one female. It was the most I had ever seen at once. I watch them and off in a distance you can see them. They will wait for the bluejays to leave. Sometimes! 

Yes it does! The seed catalogs the dreaming of new ideas and plans for the future. They always say to plant a garden is to believe in the future. I am thinking of all the possibilities. 

The other night we made nachos they were so delicious. Easy meal and everyone always likes it. 

It was the usual day. Tomorrow will make Day 17 of the 100 Days. I feel like I am questioning this adventure I want to make it happen as I have goals involved. I have already learned so much about how I can paint intuitively and not even think about what I am going to make. Today while painting the watercolors I was a purest where usually I add all the mixed media in. Today I stayed with just watercolors. Which watercoloring has always been my favorite painting.  I hope today as you read this you see the beauty in the winter garden or perhaps read the book. 
Much love and happiness.
Good vibes for a great weekend, 
Dawn Gallop 

 

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Onions 🧅 Growing Onions

Onions and onions did I say onions???? Uhm? Every year I have grown onions. 🧅 even when I was much younger. What I love most about growing onions is eating them. When I was a child we didn’t have much food. My mom was a single mom in the very early 70s we always had cream cheese and onions. Sometimes bread. I would make us cream cheese and onions did sandwiches or mayonnaise and onion sandwiches. DELICIOUS!! Even today I will make these sandwiches. If I have fresh lettuce I will add that on toasted bread. I’m telling you, ya gotta try it. Another way too is to add a cucumber. Or just make a good ole cucumber sandwich. 

This year I am unable to buy my onion starts. Which every year I have bought from Dixondale FarmDixonDale Farms  I always buy the Highlander. Which makes me think of the show The Highlander we used to watch in the 90s. A very good series. I want to share some of my pictures of the onions we have grown. 

A favorite mushroom and onions  to top any dish with 

Fresh onions on top of our homemade chili 

We hang the onions up braiding them first 

You can see how large they grow 

These are a staple in our house 

We make a lot of our foods with these onions which feeds us all year 

We freeze dry them and add to soups, taco meat etc very convenient on those nights when you don’t want to cut an onion. 

More food we make for ourselves this we use on a lot of foods 

This was last year as we didn’t braid them as we switched from the Highlander to the Patterson and I wasn’t as happy with the results of the Pattersons. I will stay with the Highlander onions. I have always been very happy with them. 

This was spring of 2023 

Sometimes I do like to grow walla walla just to eat fresh but these don’t store like the Highlander ones 

I have bought from them longer than that now. I used to just buy them at the hardware store in paper bags. Keep growing and also if you are new to growing onions order the fertilizers that Dixiondales sales as they are very helpful and will help give your onions more bite. 🌱

I am hoping this year I will be able to get some onions. I can’t imagine a growing season without them. 

Thank you to Dixondale Farms for always providing us a way to buy sets to feed our families and friends with. 

Happy growing season 

Good vibes and sending you lots of positive energy. 

Much love and appreciation, 

Dawn Gallop 🌀

 

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