2020 Not So Bad

As we put a close to this year of amazing changes in our own lives as well as the lives that surround us let's try to put a positive spin on 2020. But first let's take a look at what has happened. At the beginning of the year we were all running around zippin here dashin there. Then as February flew by March brought us a new delima. We were facing a virus that we had yet to understand the impact it would have on our world as we knew it. 

Businesses will never be the same and some will never recover. Families have lost loved ones and we all know someone that lost the fight with Coronavirus. I personally lost the first 6 months of 2020 to my battle with Lung Cancer it left me physical and mentally lost. A Blur I would say. I never once denied the virus or its impact on society. We lost Lu my Mother-in-love this year and it was tragic. 

Then comes the tragic death of George Floyds. Yet again here in America we are faced with our own ignorance when it came to racism and prejudice. The fight continues. 

We have become a spoiled and ignorant country who seem to think we are the greatest. We have so much to learn. I know it will not be learned in my lifetime. Hopefully my children and their children will. The same children who are unable to get an education due to that nasty virus and our ability to not go to any length to make sure every child gets what he or she needed. It will be labeled as the generation that can not spell or read. No fault of theirs or their teachers' Let give a tremendous thank you to those front line people who teach our children from their own home everyday. A thankless job due to the 70 % of parents who just do not give a s****. 

Let us be grateful for so many things like Zoom that has kept so many people able to communicate with family. Workers to continue being gainfully employed because they can do their work from home. 

What I have seen this year in my own world is families coming together at the table to enjoy a meal. Taking your children for a walk, camping, board games and connecting in ways you never imagined you did without. Have you noticed all the things your children have taught you in the last year? 

So lets be grateful for ......

• We have all become incredibly aware of all the front line workers that have worked tirelessly to help those in need. 
• The Food Bank, Church's and Community Centers that have made sure we all have food to eat. 
• The Farmers who have given their food to us so it does not go to waste. 
• To the Market's and stores and the workers who have kept the shelves stocked and clean for us. 
• To the teachers who work to keep our children educated.
• The firemen who put their lives on the line to keep us safe. 
• To the neighbor who came to see that you were ok.
• To everyone who said a prayer for you even if you did not believe in the power of a prayer. 
• To the person who made you smile today even behind a mask. 
• To everyone who has shown up to help in any way they can. 
• To all the YouTube Videos you watched to learn something new. 

The list goes on it is endless the things we an be grateful for. 

Thank you 2020 you were a year for the books ! 

Let us get back to normal-ish

Well people I have had quite a year this 2020. We started off with the cancer then low and behold last week after not feeling so great went to the ER and now have been diagnosed with Coronary Heart Failure. Oh yeah! But this being what it is we are just going with it. 

With the Corona going on it has made it so hard for everyone to adjust. Many of you like me are waiting for things to go back to the way they were.

No it will never be the same. But we can make it better. How you ask ? Well being home sure does give you a lot of time to do stuff examples you ask

• Gardening
• Cooking
• Quilting
• Calling a friend on the phone
• Sitting don and writing a card to a friend or loved one
• Reading a good book
• Spending time outdoors
• Journaling
• Organizing
• Purging the house and garage

The list is endless !

This is just a few. When the pandemic broke out I was going into Chemo so I had no desire to go out any way but now well now I want to do all my stuff just like before. Luck me I have an acre of land to play on and have been out there gardening. 

Another thing I started with everyone in mind was Simi Valley Seed Savers. I am sharing seeds to be planted around Simi Valley. Also, I am going to do monthly Seed Saver Open Houses here at my home once the virus is under control. This is so that everyone with extra seeds or needing seeds can exchange and get together. 

I think Free is the key word here!

I have returned to my quilting this is a hobby that I get so much satisfaction from. I have had to struggle to do it in the past few years because everytime I started to sew or meet my quilting cronies something always stopped me. Now I have made a commitment to get back to quilting. I missed it so much. I even invested in a new sewing machine The old one was from Montgomery Wards oh lets say 1980. It was a workhorse and did a lot of work. Great thing is they took it for a trade in. There is a sewing shop called Kingdom Sewing here in SImi been here a long time and is still the lace to go locally. 

Hubby (Pa) retired that is such a blessing. He worked hard all his life and deserves a little 

He Time!

That will be an addition to the Blog. He got himself a new boat to go sport fishing fun. Note the only picture I took while looking at it was of a kitty in watching us. More to come. 

Well this seems like a good amount of information to get you up to date with Laniville. Have a blessed day ! 

Two years to long

Yes ,yes ,yes it has been two years since I have graced you with my adventure. So you may ask yourself what the Hell has Lani been up to. Too much people let me condense the last few years. I started this Blog in 2008 the year I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. 11 + years ago. It went on and I trudged through so many things. You shared my hardships and my triumphs.

2016 and on


Most of you know through Instagram that in 2010  I started to Preserve my food. A talent and chore taught by my Grandmother Lois Irene. Well in 208 I went official and made it my business. Rightly named Canarella. (Get it Cinderella = Canarella)  For the last few years I have been selling my Jams at Farmers Markets and local small stores and venues. It has been a great adventure that has actually turned put to be quite a delicious adventure and many customers later we are still here and getting stronger everyday by just Spreading the Love. 







Our next milestone was the birth of what has turned out to be one of my ( Heather Ann's) major accomplishments. Harper Lily Albeck my first granddaughter. I was honored to babysit her for her first 16 months and now she is 3.5 and a wonderful little princess. With a tutu for every occasion.





I have planted many a seed in the yard as big as it is. Gone thu many an Aussie, 3 Canaries, the kids have grown and married perfect partners. And Pa and I have a wonderful blessed life to enjoy. I have a few blogs one I am so proud of it Heavy Metal Spatula where I have taken everything from Nanny Lilly to my own Mama recipe and compiled them in to one Blog that has NO Advertising and all the Old School Recipes you can imagine and I am still adding to that weekly if not more. Now we get to the latest adventure you will be able to go thu with me right here as we move along. I will have to give you the story of how it all came about. Rather then click to a new page let's just put all the information right here. 

To go along with this I got a new Kitchen. I am going to try to load the before and after video. Not the best job but what can I say.

I have been diagnosed with Lung Cancer. Dammit right when life gets easier. But  I am going to take you along for the ride. The reason you ask this way everyone can stay up to date on my progress and prognosis and have a lot of fun an maybe gain some knowledge. I have this positive attitude and a strange sense of humor. So no need to worry about wa wa times we will walk through it all together.