Saturday, November 19, 2011

Thanksgiving and Pomegranates


Every Thanksgiving (in the U.S., fourth Thursday in November) my parents took us to another town an hour away to feast with family friends. And every Thanksgiving my mom would rave about the hostess’s salad, a concoction of lettuce, nuts and….. (drumroll) pomegranates. My mom gushed over those pomegranates every (yeah, red, bold, underlined, and italicized) year. My mother's enthusiasm remained a mystery--I didn’t get it. Sitting in front of me was a salad containing maybe five little grains with barely a hint of red. MY description would have been “crunchy and bitter.” However, the meal was always exceptional despite the pomegranates and the company was good. 
         But I must have been scarred by those pomegranates (or my mom's raving) for I have compensated. My garden now contains a small orchard of REAL pomegranates. Allow me to show you my fruit:
And the grains. Note the lovely color, the deep, ruby red--ahhhhhhh.
Need I add that they are sweet? 
Pomegranates have temporarily taken over my artwork as well.
This is a work-in-progress, part of a much larger piece that began as a sketching-on-fabric project, which quickly got out of hand and multiplied.  

My holiday wishes for all: May you enjoy the company of loved ones, may your turkey be plump and tender, and may you taste pomegranates that are red, juicy, and sweet.

37 comments:

Sujata Shah said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
Growing up in India, pomegranates were one of my favorite fruits. For my kids, sitting at the table over the holidays and chit-chat while peeling and eating the fruit has become a tradition.
A tree full of red fruits in the yard, oh, how lucky you are!
Your new artwork in process looks fun. Looking forward to seeing more of it.

American Homestead said...

When I was little in New Jersey, my Dad used to bring home a pomegranate for me every once in a while. I thought they were so exotic. I think my Mom used to cringe because I would make such a mess trying to get the "jewels" out. I now buy pomegranates to use as decor in the Fall & Winter.
Tell me, what do you do to get the seeds out? I have heard you cut it in half and tap it on the edge of a bowl.
What fun to be able to grow them in your garden? Not possible here in cold Indiana!
Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Will you have turkey?
Ellen from American Homestead

Cate Rose said...

I love pomegranates but rarely buy them anymore because they're pricey. How wonderful that you actually grow them! Apparently they have health benefits we didn't know about when we were kids ~ you can also buy pomegranate juice here.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Nadia!

ACreativeDreamer said...

They both look absolutely scrumptious! But I must admit, I am particularly envious of a garden with fresh pomegranates! Thank you for your kind comment on my blog, I must admit I am pretty excited and just had to take a moment to gush!

Anonymous said...

Your latest pomegranate inspired chef-d'oeuvre is amazing! I mean, the colors are from heaven! It's nice reading your childhood stories, which I only find out about in your blog. I lived with you for 18 years and never heard this story about your family thanksgiving adventures. How cool!

Anonymous said...

Hi Nadia, thanks for your comment on my blog - I just love pomegranates, to look at that is, I've never tasted one. Just love their shape and colour, particularly in quilts. Your sketching and fabric work is amazing! Sounds like you're leading a very interesting life. Must find out more about Tunisia!!

Deanna said...

What a lovely blog! I am glad to visit and see your art--garden, paper and fabric. Remarkable.

I, too, have what is lovingly referred to as a "big pile of junk." A lot of it is fabric, but not all. How else would I create, repair and make-due?

Manya Maratou said...

my wish for everyone who hasn't tasted a pomegranate: may you soon be filled with this joyful taste! thanks nadia for this lovely blog!

Unknown said...

Pomegranates were a traditional christmas treat found at the bottom of our stockings. I loved them!!!! thanks for bringing back happy holiday memories, and have a memorable thanksgiving day, Nadia. xxoo, sus

sweetypie said...

hello, reading your blog, a gal after my own heart, I saw the pomegranites ripening in turkey, yum yum keep on collecting all your stuff, and getting younger....tina

Emma said...

I love this piece, my boys love pomegranites - Happy Thanksgiving!

Just been catching up with you - love all your repurposing & hope your lovely bright garden recovers.

I've said it before, keep being drawn to the snippets to the side of your page!

jan said...

Thank you for stopping by my blog, and thank you for the lovely comment. I love your pomegranate piece, I'm off to have a closer look around your blog!

Teodo said...

I love this project and thanks for the holiday wishes.
ciao and Happy Thanksgiving .
ciao ciao Linda

sweetypie said...

thankyou for your kind comments its nice to be noticed ,happy thanksgiving...

blandina said...

I do love pomegranates, the colour is just fantastic, and your specimens seem juicy and very tempeting. Maybe Eve was tempted by a pomegranate, who knows?

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you too! And thank you for leaving a comment on my blog. Yours is absolutely beautiful, as is your artwork. I love the colours of your pomegranate inspired work - and I also happen to love pomegranates!
Janice.

Salsy said...

Hi Nadia.
Love your art work...quite delightful. Pomegranates are overrated as eating contenders, but their color and juice are great.

CREATIVE KHADIJA said...

Happy new Islamic year to you & your family! I wish you meet with tons of success & cheers!
All the best my dear Nadia!

Linda’s Textiles said...

Your pomegranates look wonderful as does your work featuring them.

Thanks for your comment on my blog - I've enjoyed visiting your blog - love what you're doing with the recycling and re-using of objects.

Karen said...

Beautiful pomegranates!

Roxanne said...

Between my wallhanging and your artwork I'm really getting a bug (inspiration) about pomegranates in more of my work.

quirky granola girl said...

pomegranates are not local to me at all and i've never understood the texture of eating them with those seeds tucked inside. but, they are so pretty. and you work is gorgeous!

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

Love the pomegranates - when I was little my mam used to eat them with a pin! The new art work is fabulous!

liz said...

What is there not to like about pomegranates? They are a lovely fruit, make an excellent and exotic addition to many salads, and are such a beautiful form that they are frequently used as motifs in quilting and artwork. Love yours, by the way.

Susan said...

Your drawing on fabric is wonderful. Love the way you incorporated the colored fabrics.

Linda A. Miller said...

Nadia, I love pomegranates, too! Your images are lovely!

Mayleen said...

I've never tasted a pomegranate but I think they're beautiful to look at! Your fabric is beautiful too.

Nifty Quilts said...

I'm loving your sketches on fabric--and your pomegranates.

Dale Anne Potter said...

Oh Nadia, I LOVE the beginnings of your art piece...the sketching and the fabric pieces behind. AWESOME. Look forward to seeing the finished piece.
THANK YOU for stopping by my blog & commenting, so I could come here. Adding your blog to my list on Google Reader.

Anonymous said...

Hello Nadia,

Just a quick note to say Happy Holidays!!! I can't seem to get your story about the pomegranates out of my mind. So wonderful. I too like sour, red fruits during this time of year. I was raised on cranberries and then later lingon berries. All three seem to be similar to me. Tart, refreshing, gorgeous color, and wonderful reminders of better weather.

Bonnie Hull said...

Nadia...the drawings are GORGEOUS gorgeous gorgeous. Our future daughter in law (YAY) brought a green salad with pomegranates for Thanksgiving and it was fabulous. I'm hoping she'll do it Christmas too...and if she does I'll love thinking of your Mom howling about the fruits. I can hear her voice...xo

Anonymous said...

In my garden in south-France, our pomegranates keep being orange... but already tasty ! I first learned to know pomegranates thru appliqué patterns, then I asked my DH to grow this tree in our garden!

I love your drawings, once more you are gifted !

Mary Keasler said...

I love your sketches on fabric. This is intriguing to me. I look forward to seeing the progress. As for the pomegranates, I have never tasted them and now I must buy one the next time I go to the market.

Erika Mulvenna said...

Just beautiful! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and I'm glad to meet you!

Linda Vincent said...

A lovely blog post...I really like the artwork. I remember eating pomegranates as a child around fair-time in Nottingham. We used to pick out the seeds with a pin and put them in our mouth!!
How lucky you are to be able to grow them...I hear the juice is very good for the health!

Sara said...

thank you for the comment in my blog. I also like very much the things you do!

Gaia said...

Hi Nadia,
Your blog is wonderful and the pieces you have done are very interesting. I love the sketching, the colours and technique that you have used here.
Thank you for stopping by and leaving me a comment...Gaia