It's lovely the way the earliest morning sunlight dances across the mantel of the family room fireplace. It's gonna be a beautiful day.
Make it a great day!
Monday, May 14, 2012
Good Morning, Sunshine. National Photo Month, Day 14
It's lovely the way the earliest morning sunlight dances across the mantel of the family room fireplace. It's gonna be a beautiful day.
Make it a great day!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Forever Mother. National Photo Month, Day 13
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| Mom and me in 1954. Mom made both of our dresses in this photo. She was an accomplished seamstress. |
When I became pregnant with my daughter--my first--I was 29. I had a career. I had hobbies and interests--I was occupied with hiking, biking, fishing, gardening, photography, sewing, crafting and frequenting auctions, estate sales and garage sales.
I recall telling my mom that I hoped things wouldn't change too much after children. To this day, I remember her words: "Once a mother, always a mother. You can never go back."
So true. Our three children are grown--scattered around the country. They're all doing their own thing, as I did at their age. None is married. All are in relationships.
I love my children. I'm proud of them. I will stand by them always. Mom was right. No matter that they're adults now. I can never go back. I will always be their mother.
I lost my mom in 2006. Sometime after I started blogging, I began to connect the dots. It became clear to me that who I am at my core and who I have developed into was no accident. Sure, the genetics could be considered a happy accident. But the nurture part was BIG.
On this Mother's Day, I am sharing something I wrote about my mother after she passed on. If you follow my blog, you, too, might recognize some of her influences on me.
Our Mom
She
was an only child, a farmer’s daughter
She
was born in Minden, Neb., home of Harold Warp’s Pioneer Village
On the
farm, she milked cows, dressed chickens and slopped hogs
And,
she churned butter, baked bread and washed laundry by hand
When
we were girls, Mom was our Girl Scout and 4-H leader
She
always loved nature, respected the environment and taught us to do the
same
She
liked to tent camp when we were kids
She
loved the mountains of Colorado, but was afraid of heights
By
choice, she became a working mom long before it was fashionable
Still,
she made time to sew stunning Barbie clothes and prom dresses (and many
other great things)
She
taught us to cook and bake (that didn't stick for me)
She
always enjoyed traveling, especially with her children and grandchildren
As an
empty nester, she took up tole painting and became quite an artist
She
lost her dad early in her adulthood and took loving care of her mom until her mom died
She
let her creativity shine through in her daily life
She
passionately watched birds and had a special fondness for cardinals and
hummingbirds
She
didn’t like snakes!
She
taught us to believe in ourselves and to make our own decisions
She
tackled every challenge head on
Throughout
her life, she remained a voice of reason
For as
long as she could, she gave back to the community as a volunteer
She
deeply loved our dad, her two girls, our husbands and all of her
grandchildren
But,
she never meddled in our lives
She
was unique and special and she was ours
Footnote: My one sibling, my dear sister, is as much a reflection of our mother as I am. We are a couple of lucky women, indeed, to have such a wonderful role model and mother.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Everything's Coming Up Roses. National Photo Month, Day 12
They aren't called knockout roses for nothing. This season is the first in a few years mine actually do their name proud. The mild winter seems to be just what the doctor ordered for these prolific bushes after a couple of severe winters in which bloom production was pretty anemic.
These vintage dishes aren't just for serving dinner.
Friday, May 11, 2012
You Are Now Leaving . . . National Photo Month, Day 11
Here's my photo of the kids taking photos of their shadows taking photos. Confused?
We're all on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge that spans the Missouri River, with Omaha on one side and Council Bluffs, Iowa, on the other.
The footbridge is about 3,000 feet long. On a very windy day--of which there are many in this region--one can actually feel the suspended bridge sway slightly.
Make it a great day!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Anyone Seen My Keys? National Photo Month, Day 10
Bitten by the PicMonkey. Bland photo turned interesting. In my opinion, anyway.
Don't you just love antique keys?
Make it a great day!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
On the Wild Side. National Photo Month, Day 9
Columbine might be my favorite flower. Maybe because the Colorado state flower was my mother's favorite.
Most of the columbine in my garden is heirloom--they've descended from my mom's collection. Each year, she let some of her favorites go to seed, which she then collected and shared with me.
Over the years, I randomly scattered Mom's columbine seeds over my own garden beds. Today, these mystical-looking members of the buttercup family add a wild sense to my gardens.
Just as my mom did, I let many of my columbine go to seed each year and shake their pointy dried heads over my gardens to sow next year's crop. It's such a treat to see what comes up--and where--in the new season.
When my parents retired and moved from the Midwest to Arizona 15 years ago, I was so grateful that Mom had provided me a legacy from her columbine collection. Now that she's passed on, that legacy is even more precious.
Make it a great day!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Smell the Texture. National Photo Month, Day 8
Bales of broom corn in the Broom Factory at the Wyoming Territorial Prison in Laramie.
I took this photo last fall and it remains one of my favorites for the simplicity of the pattern, texture and colors. Simple, yet full of depth. Take a deep breath. Can't you almost smell the musky sweet broom corn?
You can see my original post, "Swept Away--The Artful Broom," here.
Make it a great day!
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