Just one bath?! - The Early Years

After the War, Mr. and Mrs George Fox, like manycouples of the era moved into their first home. There it stood, brand new on the eastern outskirts of Sacramento. This house was the "model" home for the then-novel “tract" development, and was the starter size, 3B/1B, for war-returning young couples. One bath for a family of four! It also boasted "easy to care for" slick brown specked linoleum floors throughout. The Fox’s and their then young daughter moved in. Although a bit of a trek into town, the farm did boast an acre yard, covered by only an 1100 sq. ft. house. Plenty of room for growing enough food to feed the family and indulging in some sweet ecstasies too – august hot peaches and blackberry pies.

Mrs. Fox planted wonderful juicy sweet pears, 7 varieties of plum, blackberry, mulberry, pomegranate, fig and persimmon, each fruit with its unique season of exquisiteness, and each one that asks to be enjoyed in the moment, right off the plant.

These also were the sorts of trees that my grandmother had in her garden when I was young. My grandma told me that she planted them in her own yard because they were many of the fruits that didn’t preserve as well, and so you had to grasp them right in the moment in your own backyard. A Safeway persimmon can’t touch a homegrown one – like them or not. I always liked that idea -- that you wanted the best within your reach. Why not, when it comes to fruit at least!

I have added my favorite, peaches. My mom says that she picked and ate -- with the wild abandon of pregnancy -- a whole bushel of peaches in two days and then went into labor with me. She’s pretty sure that’s why I must have peaches! Cherries – another favorite, Fuji apple, nectarine, lemon and blood orange have been added since 2004 when we took over from Mrs. Fox.

Mrs. Fox let her garden go in her waning years, and although the mowed lawns turned into weeds, the orchard persevered -- a legacy to Mrs. Fox and a gift to the future.

Mrs. Fox left these things for me when she sold the house -- the fresh fruits, the one bathroom and this land.