Happy Mother's Day!

 

Hope all the Mom's out there have a wonderful day! My Mom loved flowers and these were right outside her front door for many Summers.  She would drag those pots in and out until the weather got warm enough. 

Far Guy's sister Janice, Far Guy's Mom, me, Far Guy and Chance.  Chance loved Far Guy's Mom she saved cookies for him.  Photo taken in December 20, 2005 on Far Guy's Mom's last birthday when she was 91 years old.

July 1981.  Far Guy's Mom, Far Guy, me holding Bethany.  In front Jennifer and Trica. 

Summer of 1934.  My Mom is the child on the right, next to her Marion and Alfred.

My Grandmother is holding Vivian or as we called her Aunt Skip and My Grandpa.  My Mom would have been almost five years old in the photo.

Lots of Moms are not with us for Mother's Day...or sisters, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

I am thankful for those still with us!

Far Side

Old project

 My Mom left me two of her old projects.  I have been carting them around in my embroidery box for almost two years. 

Time to BE busy!

Mom made many of these embroidered dish towels...designs were apples, peaches and cherries.  These were stamped but not embroidered...so it was on my list of things to do this Winter. 

Minnesota weather: Sunny then partly cloudy and warm!  High was 39F or 4C  the low was 13F or -11C eh!  It was a nice snow melting day!  

Far Guy and I went out for lupper after his infusion...and we had bacon, eggs and hash browns:)

Far Side

Idle Hands

 There are no idle hands around here. 

The blanket is my tv watching project. 

I  sorted cards last night...my Mom kept cards from their 25th Wedding Anniversary that was 48 years ago.   I found a few interesting letters some that connect the dots with family history and a few family related things...one of my Aunt's funeral service on a cassette tape. I found a number of obituaries, that Mom said she had but couldn't recall where she put them. Guest books from Silver and Golden Wedding celebrations....I have no idea what to do with them. I have three file totes upstairs that are going to my siblings...mainly filled with photos...they might get a few surprises. 

My Mother was not only a fabric hoarder but a card hoarder.  She has new cards for every season and reason.  Ready to send out at a moments notice. I used to give her cards that I made thinking that she wouldn't have to go out to buy cards...boy was I wrong. 

The big sort continues. 

Oh yes the Idle Hands...my Mother used to say "Idle hands are the devil's workshop."

Far Side

Life goes on...

 One of my nieces was very pregnant when my Mom took a turn for the worse.  I thought perhaps we would have a birth and a death in the same day.  The baby waited to be born five days after her Great Grandmother died.  The baby is happy and healthy and beautiful according to her grandmother (my sister). 

Do you remember anything before you were born?  Me neither.  Somehow I believe there is a connection someplace between those who are to be born and those who have died.  Do their souls speak to each other?  I wonder. 

As we were sitting at my Mom's bedside, my other baby brother brought up the idea that souls speak to each other...and perhaps our Mom's soul had a lot to say to our souls and those people who would visit her. 

I found it very interesting that Baxter stood on the chair next to Mom's bed and whined/talked to her.  Lolli my sisters puppy spent a number of hours just laying next to Mom quietly. 

My Mom really liked dogs especially Boston Terriers like Lolli.  Lolli was a regular visitor on the night shift when we were taking turns at Mom's bedside.  Lolli got used to the nurses coming and going.  I would take over bedside watch after the Hospice nurses were by to check Mom's vitals, then my sister, her husband and Lolli would go home to sleep. My brothers came by off and on through out the day and evening sometimes into the night. We were a good team and made it work so Mom was never alone.  We had to advocate for our Mom as her pain increased more and more everyday.  Sometimes she would cry real tears in her sleep.  I am thankful that I was there to wipe them away.

Far Side

Celebration of Life

 Today is my Mother's celebration of life/funeral.

I hope everything goes as planned.  Mom wanted a good meal after the service.  We chose ham and turkey buns, pickles, cheesy potatoes, fresh fruit and an assortment of cakes and bars, there will be a special section for the gluten free foods.  The Ladies Aid is making and serving the food so it really makes it nice for the family...and we get to take home the left overs.  At my Dads funeral last year they served 180 people and ran out of some food...so I believe they are planning to feed 250 people. ( Those ladies keep great records)

I will let you all know how it went when I get back.  I have scheduled a few blogs to automatically post since I will be real busy. 

We had 160 plus people at the visitation last night. There were people in all areas of the church. One of mothers surviving brothers was able to attend, he has bone marrow cancer, so he didn’t stay real long, but enough time to give him closure.  Mom’s other brother lives in Nebraska and his wife is very ill with the flu. He called my siblings and I a few days ago to relay his condolences. 

Far Side

Sauerkraut

 One of my Mothers last food requests was for sauerkraut.  She always used them as a topping for mashed potatoes when we were growing up.  

The kitchen staff rounded some up for her and my baby brother went and bought some.  I am not sure who took the cans of kraut home, SOMEHOW an opened jar of kraut ended up in a bag at my house when we did the final clean out of Mom's room.   (She told me that it would take us kids a month just to clean out her room.)  In a few hours it was completed...clothing and some stuff went to Goodwill. My sister took one of Mom's flannel shirts and Mom's sewing machine, I took Mom's jewelry case and my sister and I will go through it someday.  My brothers took the puzzle table and a lamp.  Baby brother ended up with a porch full of fabric totes...good thing I do not sew.  My sister asked me if I wanted Mom's sewing machine...I said " Nope I do not want to dust it!"

Some strange smell was coming from upstairs back at home...drawn like a moth to a flame...I had to find the source.  I am certain my brothers had something to do with the kraut coming to my house. 

I ended up with three huge totes of photographs, greeting cards and scrapbooking supplies from Mom's garage.  I opened one of the totes after I hunted down the sauerkraut to find Mom's Confirmation  Certificate...an item that was requested by the Pastor.  How lucky was that!!

Far Side

Mom sometime before 1950.

Happy 4th!

 My Mother was very active in the American Legion and was President of the American Legion Auxiliary for two terms. She was a flag bearer in parades on Memorial Day and the 4th of July.  She was also very active in fund raising dinners....as in chairing as many as her schedule would allow. 

Mom is feeling a bit stronger from her time in the Nursing Home, next week she may try to go back to her apartment.  One day at a time. 

Far Side

92

 My Mom is 92 today. 

She keeps busy taking care of my Dad and sewing.  She makes all kinds of quilts and table runners.  She and Dad still live in their own home in town.  Dad still mows the lawn and Mom tends the numerous flowers she has planted all over.  She cans fruit...this year it was peaches and pears.

Isolation during the pandemic has been hard for her, because she is a very social person.   When you are 92 years old, most of your friends have died and those who are still alive are in a nursing home or assisted living.  She has two brothers who are still living and three sister in laws. Her brother that is younger than me lives in Nebraska and rarely comes up north anymore.  She and Dad get together with her brother and sister in law that live just 40 miles away...they play cards....pinochle  most likely...they tried to teach Far Guy and I one time...that didn't work at all.

Happy Birthday Mom! 

Mom is 91

 My Mom was 91 years old yesterday.  We stopped by and got Blizzards for lunch to celebrate.  Dad and I arranged chairs out in the garage just out of the wind but still in the sunshine. 

Mom said she had a busy morning on the phone with birthday messages...beginning with three year old Ray who is a Great Grandchild singing Happy Birthday! 

A few weeks ago Mom mentioned that she no longer had any flags to put up because her flags were all worn out. So I did some shopping.

This flag for Fall and another that she can put up for December ... it has snow and Cardinals.  Cardinal's visit their bird feeders. 

This is the photo I put on Mom's Birthday card...it is their backyard in the summertime.  The front garden is filled with Lupine and Hollyhocks.  The wagon in back is full of Wave Petunias...purple and rose colored.  Dad still does all the lawn mowing and Mom works in her flower beds.  The Ox Cart is just there for decoration. 

Far Side

Snow and Mother's Day

Yesterday it was cold enough to snow so it did.  At least it was some kind of moisture.

The flakes were large and wet.

A short time later the ground was white.  Good thing I got my snow boots out the day before because I had cold feet outside.

We made a trip over to the County Transfer Station (Garbage Dump).

The small grain fields showed green along with the snow.  By evening the snow had melted.

It was a good day for a movie and a nap.  We watched The Last Laugh...funny even if it was about the elderly.  I give it a 7 out of 10.  Some parts of it seemed disconnected like a writer was fired mid script. Far Guy woodcarved and I crocheted and we both made supper together...ham and cheese omelettes and fruit.

Yesterday was opening Fishing here in Minnesota.
Today is Mother's Day ...happy day to my Mom and all the Mothers out there.

1954 My Mom and me and my baby brother

1953 Far Guy and his Mom.

Far Side

90 years

My Mom was 90 years old yesterday.  The party was well attended with about 250 people showing up to help her celebrate.

Everything went smoothly, all the food was good and there were left overs and no one went away hungry.  We served ham and pulled pork on buns, cheese, fruit, pickles, mints and cakes...we also had gluten free options...cakes, ham and cheese and mints.

There was plenty of cake!

Relatives and friends came from far and wide.

It snowed for a bit in the morning but in the afternoon the sun came out.

Far Side

July 4th

Happy 4th of July!

This is a photo of my Mom when she was one of the Flag Bearers for the Ladies Auxiliary at the American Legion. They marched in the Memorial Day Parade and in the 4th of July Parade.   I think this photo was most likely taken in the late 1980's.

Far Side

Wistful Wednesday: Christmas 1977

This photo was taken at my parents home on the lake December 24, 1977.

My baby brother has his arms around all the girls.  My sister is in the back she was 11 years old.  Trica age 5 and Jennifer age 2 in the front.  My baby brother would have been 23 in 1977 and he was a student in Tulsa Oklahoma and not yet married, but would be the next summer.

Trica and Jenny had similar dresses, floor length, gingham and white dresses with flowers on the front.

My Dad ( age 51) in back, then me (age 26), my other baby brother ( age 17), my Mom ( age 48) with Jennifer, Trica and Julie in front.

I think someone in the family still has that couch…although it has been recovered.

My Mom’s Birthday

It was my Mom’s birthday yesterday.  She and Dad had plans for the day.  First was breakfast with friends and then lunch with Far Guy and I at 1 PM.

All that changed shortly after 1 AM on Mom’s birthday.  Dad woke her up because he had chest pain.  Off they went to the ER.  Dad’s heart rate was out of control he was in atrial fibrilation, after they shocked his heart back into rhythm and with some medications he was stabilized and sent to ICU.  Dad said “I thought for sure I was a goner.” Once there he continued to improve and felt good enough to go home but the Doctors wanted him to stay another day.

So Mom spent her birthday at the hospital near Dad’s side.  Hopefully he will get out this morning.  He did not have a heart attack, the Doctors can find no physical reason why his heart acted so badly.  All his blood work looks great.  He does have a bad tooth that is worrisome but only to me as the Doctor shrugged off that possibility.

I didn’t get a photo of Mom on her 88th birthday…so here is one taken a long time ago.  We will celebrate one day next week after they get back to “normal.” 

67 Years Together

My parents will celebrate their 67th Wedding Anniversary today. 

I made this card for them a number of years ago.  The photo of the church they were married in is the background photo.

They had a candlelight ceremony at 7:30 in the evening.  Dad was soon to be 24 years old, Mom was almost 21.  Their birthdays and anniversary all happen within a week.

Since I am the oldest and most responsible I have been there for all 67 of their anniversaries.  I was born just 17 days before their 1st anniversary and Mom and I celebrated all by ourselves since Dad was in Korea.

 

A card I made for them this year. I took a photo last year on their anniversary and I will take another photo today.

Happy 67th Anniversary! 

Old Fashioned Tiger Lilies

A few of my Tiger Lilies escaped the deer foraging through the wild gardens.  These were a long ago gift from my Uncle Otto.

The patch used to be larger, but I am thankful to have just a few.

My Mother had Tiger Lilies growing on the farm in the little flower garden that was planted over the old outhouse hole.  We got a flush toilet in about 1960 and after that the old outhouse area became a flower garden…the flowers grew quite nicely there.

I can also picture Tiger Lilies along side my Maternal Grandparents home.  They really popped against the white house….Grandma had chicken wire around her flower beds…mostly to keep the dogs from laying in her flower beds.

I know they come in all kind of fancy colors nowadays…but I like the old fashioned ones the best!

 

My Mom’s Flowers

My Mother has wonderful flower beds and flowers in containers.  I stopped by there one day this week when it was cloudy and got some great photos.  Love those cloudy days for flower photos!

Here are just a few of her flowers.

Coneflowers and Hollyhocks against Dad’s garage

Lilies

Pot of petunias and daisies

Assorted pots

The old wagon full of petunias

They have five gallon buckets that are situated to collect rain water so the flowers are all pampered.  No cold straight out of the hose water for these plants.

Wistful Wednesday: Generations

A long time ago…well 65 plus years ago I had a photograph taken.

I am the baby along with my Mom, my maternal Grandfather and my Great Grandmother photo taken in 1952.

Then in 1972 another photo was taken.  My maternal Grandmother, my Mother holding Trica and me.

In 1996 Savannah was born.  Me, Trica with Savannah and my Mother.  This is a unique photo because it is of all the oldest daughters.  My Grandmother died in October of 1995 and Savannah was born in July of 1996.  So my Grandma just missed seeing her first Great  Great Grandchild by nine months.

In 1998 we took another photo this time when Maddie was born. Me, Trica, Savannah, Maddie and my Mother.

Now it is 2017 and it was time for a five generations photo.

Maddie, Me, Trica and My Mother in front holding Mikey.

Flag Day

Today is the day we honor our flag.

My Mother was a flag bearer and marched in parades with the American Legion Auxillary.

Here a few more flags.

A flag on Bunker Hill

Flags at Hector International Airport in Fargo ND

Avenue of flags in Detroit Lakes Minnesota

When I was in sixth grade in a two room schoolhouse we had a flag pole and our teacher Mr Martin Cox taught us proper flag ettiquette.  I didn’t know at the time but he was a Veteran and after he served his time at various army bases and a year in Korea he was honorably discharged and took advantage of the GI Bill to further his eduation and become a teacher.

This was the old school house: fifth grade on the left and sixth grade on the right!  In later years it became a Community Center and nowadays it is a rental.

I am certain that the time Mr Cox spent teaching us how to honor and care for The American Flag touched more students than just me. Mr Cox died last winter he was 83 years old.  I wondered then how many students did he teach flag ettiquette to over the course of 32 years?