A Day With My Mom

When I was a mom of pre-schoolers, I loved it when my mom would come from Vancouver for the day to spend the day together. While most moms and daughters would probably go shopping, one of our favorite things to do was to bake and get some goodies into the freezer. While we don't do it much any more, lately we've taken a few opportunities to do this again.

The day she came over, she put on an apron made by her mom. Do you remember this kind of crossstitch done on gingham? I took a close look and was amazed that, although my Oma had very poor vision, she took on this kind of needlework. Truly a labor of love. My mom wears it with pride - for special occasions. Smile.

She went about the task of rolling out dough and cutting out cookies. Special cookies I still need to learn how to make. They get filled with jam and iced with a white sugar glaze that keeps them moist for months, just in a cooler.

Then she rolled out another dough. She is soo good at this! I told her this is university baking. She laughed, because she has only finished grade six. This dough gets filled with fruit and pinched just right. Once baked, they taste rather like mini hand held fruit pies.

While she was more busy with the rolling out and pinching than I was . . . I set about making a fruit bouquet . . . so much easier than what she was doing, yet she oohed and aahed about it.

It was a wonderful day spent talking and laughing in the kitchen. And at the end of the day, there was even something to show for it.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my H!

Thank you for being my best friend through every season!

I'll love you always.

A Time To Paper and a Time Not To

We have put up a lot of wallpaper over the years. Our first home, then our second and our third house got over 300 rolls, on three floors! We did this ourselves and mostly together.
Over the last number of years, however, we have been very happy to have the paper taken off and gone as far as painting right over it. I've been very content with my solid colored walls again, so it took us by surprise when we got asked to put up some wallpaper.

But when the Daddy of this little cutie asked us if we'd do a powder room, we agreed to go at it again.

And it was a good reminder of the fact that our marriage has lasted because we can put up wallpaper together. It was a time when once again I was reminded of how seasons come and go.

In fact, when I looked back at the paper we had up 25 years ago, I thought there was a similarity about it. Well, if not the paper, definitely the baby!

Quick Makeover

You may or may not remember this look from a winter/Christmas post.

A little visit to Homesense brought about a quick change for the summer. A new picture, a pack of facecloths, a vase and some potpourri. Simple things like this put a smile on my face . . . especially while we're waiting for special guests.

In the Shadow

It’s been twelve months of
Waking up and remembering
Although - even in sleep she feels the loss
And the thought of facing the day alone
Casts a lingering shadow in her home.

She revisits places where they went
Places where he walked beside her
Sometimes just to hold her hand
And times to spurn her on - to a higher peak
The memories of which, to her, still speak.

Like a shadow always with her
Reminding her of what he would say
Or teasing her of what he would do
Sometimes so real – she can only cry
Other times so far, she wants to die.

She sees him in the children born to them
Each one following their dreams
Just like, she remembers, they once did
But with a higher sense of life's fragility
And appreciation for each day.

Memories like a silver thread
Keep weaving in and out of every day
Sometimes bringing on a smile
And sometimes bringing tears
Unashamedly mingling with her fears.

But, just when she thinks the valley's too deep
You, Lord, remind her, you are with her
From Your perspective it's but a shadow
That cannot take away the joy to come
When they'll be joined in their eternal home.

Although mere words cannot begin to express . . . thinking of you, my sister-in-law, July 2010

He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

there will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain,

for the old order of things has passed away.

Revelation 21:4

Flower Planter Updates

If only these bright petunias could know how much joy they have brought me as they have turned their faces to my kitchen window . . .

A little closer look.

Even the daisies in the backyard are doing okay in spite of the rain we've had.

These impatiens are not complaining . . .

and the Martha Washingtons have also outdone themselves,

but my front door pots look like they are reaching for the sun. Maybe I'll take some more pictures on another day. But for today . . . I wish to bloom where I'm planted.