A Medley of Memories of Mom

So Mother's Day is almost here and that means it will be June before too long.
And we all know that June is the sixth month and that means 2019 is almost half over!!
Whaaat??
~
This past April 30th marked the ninth year since my mom went to be with Jesus.
I have shared quite a lot about her since I began this blog and I'm re-sharing some of it today.
No matter how old we get, we never stop missing them after they leave us, do we?
~
So Terri, our friend from Florida, has all the low-down on the history of Mother's Day.
She shared the following on her blog about this special day.

MOTHER’S DAY – Second Sunday in May

MOTHER’S DAY

Everyone has one or has someone who is like a mother to them.  On the second Sunday of May, we honor those women who are our mothers. Whether we shower her with gifts, take her to a fancy dinner or make her a homemade card, what moms want most is to be surrounded by the love of their family.  Knowing the people they love are safe, sound and healthy is a mom’s number one priority.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Remember to put mom first on Mother’s Day and use #MothersDay to share on social media.

HISTORY

Mother’s Day has been celebrated around the world since, well, since motherhood. In the United States, Julia Ward Howe inspired the first movement toward a national Mother’s Day during the Civil War. Appealing to the public for a “Mother’s Day for Peace” after witnessing the devastation left by war, Howe went on an international crusade. While her efforts never gained formal recognition for an official observance, she was acknowledged posthumously in 1988 for her achievements and her efforts for women’s rights.

It was in 1905 when Mother’s Day was finally introduced successfully by Anna Jarvis, the daughter of Ann Marie Reeves Jarvis who had followed Howe’s campaign and had pursued her own volunteer efforts during the Civil War. Her mother died on May 9, 1905, and she missed her greatly. She started a dedicated letter-writing campaign to declare an official Mother’s Day. Through Andrews Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia, the first Mother’s Day was observed on May 10, 1908.

This day, to honor Anna Jarvis’s mother, grew into a National Observance until in 1911 when every state participated. Soon it was spreading internationally, and on May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother’s Day a national holiday to be held on the second Sunday of May.

So why not head on over to her blog, 
get the scoop and copy and paste her questions to your blog.

It's the

1. Where did your mom grow up?

Rural southwestern Ohio.

2. Tell us about her siblings, if she has/had any. Did you have a favorite aunt or uncle?

Mom (Mary Elma) and her twin, Edna Mae, were #5 and #6 out of 7 children. There was Ella, Raymond, Anna, Clara, Mom and Edna, and the baby, Amos. Here are the twins as infants, Mom is on the left. I think my baby pictures strongly resemble hers. 

And below,  I am guessing the twins might be about ten here and that is older sis, Clara in the middle who was two years older. Can you guess which one is Mom? There's that forehead that I inherited! 

And then finally, here are the twins at their 90th birthday celebration. Aren't they adorable? They probably look more like each other here than they ever did...and the Old German Baptist (Dunkard) church dresses and caps helped them out a bit. The twins were the only siblings who continued in the tradition of the church in which they were raised all their lives. 

Of course I loved all of my aunts and uncles but I'd have to say that Aunt Clara was my favorite sibling of Mom's...probably because our families lived the closest to each other and we cousins were closest in age than any of the others. Aunt Clara was two years older than Mom and her twin, Aunt Edna but she lived the longest...103 years! I wrote a post about her back in 2013 in honor of her 100th birthday.



Click on the link below (if you like) which will take you over to my other blog, Memories of my Childhood (and other blessings) and read all about my beloved Aunt Clara.

Fresh Country Air  

 3.  What is ONE of your favorite memories you can share with us of your mom?

Oh...there were so many wonderful memories. I have written quite a bit about my mom over the years and again, you can find them over on my other blog. I have chosen this as my favorite if you choose to click on the link and read it. I know some of you have read them before...no pressure.
 



 Apron Strings...the Ties That Bind 

  

 4. Please share a picture or two of your mom with us.

 

This is one of the last kisses that I gave her. It was Easter Sunday, 2010 and she was in the hospital. It would only be a few weeks later that Jesus would call her home. If you want, click on the link below and read about our last visit together.

Her Crowning Glory
  



5. Let's not leave out the grandmothers. Share what you will.
 

My dad's mother died when he was only seven and when his dad remarried, well, just let me say that they had another bunch of kids together and unfortunately she favored her own children over the steps. It created hard feelings with my dad (of course) over the years and his and our relationship with her was not close after his father died. During my growing up years, I didn't see her very often and barely even considered her a grandmother figure in my life...no surprise there. My maternal grandmother had already passed by the time I was born so I have no real "grandmotherly" memories to speak of. I have always felt a little sad about that but since my mom was much older when I was born, I actually have those kind of memories of her. Dos that make sense?

6. Do you have any special plans for Mother's Day?

At this moment in time, I have no clue...probably will at least go out to eat after church. But then again, all of the restaurants will be ridiculously crazy...may need to have a plan "B".

Stretch Those Toes, Baby!

Nothing will ever be as dear to me as my sweet mother was and the lingering memories of her.

She has been with Jesus since 2010....I can't believe she's been gone that long.

Although I didn't inherit her meek and mild spirit or her quiet demeanor,

I did, however, get a few things from her...

...her chin, her hairline (and I passed that on to Adam and his Olivia) and I hate to say this...

...but something that I wish I hadn't gotten.

Her bunions.

Let me rephrase that...

Bunions that I don't ever want to become like hers.

Even my earliest memories of her include finding my little girl self gazing with a puzzled face 

as to why her feet (specifically her toes) looked like that.

Of course these are not actually her feet but they are remarkably close to what hers looked like, 

including the numerous bunion and corn pads.
I do declare that someone snapped a shot of her feet and sold it to the internet...seriously!

source

Mom, if you happen to be looking down on me now, please forgive me...
I only want to help others by sharing this.

I remember it nearly causing me physical pain just to look at them.

She had the hardest time fitting into shoes, to say the least.

But what I don't understand is she always wore sensible shoes...never high heels or pointed toes.

Maybe just ill-fitting ones but no doubt she was on her feet a lot raising those eight kiddos!

~

I guess I probably noticed the beginning of bunions forming in my late 30s to early 40s.

I have always had a thing for cute shoes and for quite a few years

I was guilty of cramming my feet into those high heeled, needle nose torture chambers.

But only for short amounts of time to church or special occasions...never on the job.

In fact, my favorite "shoes" were the ones I was born wearing.

Then of course, there were my flip-flops....still, my go to favorites.

When I first started noticing the bunions, I became determined to keep them at bay!
~
Just so you know, I have never done a review post on any certain product,
although I may have simply offered my humble opinion about this or that.
I am not getting paid and no one affiliated with the product has asked me for a review.
~
So let me tell you how this post all came about...

Probably more than ten years ago, I came across an ad in the back of a magazine.
It was for Yoga Toes and they immediately got my attention.
Yes, they have been around a good while.


Fast forward to...whenever...I cannot even locate my order on my Amazon account.

I thought for sure that's where I got them but I may have ordered from the Yoga Toes site.

Like I said, I have had them for at least 10 years and used them often...that is until...

I lost them somewhere in a messy drawer I misplaced them and couldn't find them anywhere!

That would be until just a couple of weeks ago and I nearly jumped for joy when I found them!

If you think I was going to order another pair for over thirty bucks...uh...probably not...
...but now that I think about it, maybe, just maybe I would have!

I knew they had to be here somewhere...and, of course, they were.
I do realize I'm telling on myself for not keeping things in order like I should. 😏

So yesterday I got those babies out of their cute little mesh bag with the drawstring top

and plopped them on my feet for a couple of hours while I watched my afternoon cooking shows.

Really though, you don't just "plop" them on...it takes a little bit of work to get 'er done...
...and it probably also depends on your specific toes.
If they are long and skinny, I'd say it's much easier than prying apart short, fat ones like mine. 😖

Immediately after I posted this photo on Facebook while I was busy "Yoga Toe-ing",
it evidently sparked an interest in my friend, Lea from Cici's Corner
and her interest in them encouraged me to write a post about them......so here it is!
~
In all honesty, I had forgotten just how wonderful my feet felt during and after the stretch.
These are not something you can wear to walk around in nor wearing them to bed for the night.
The instructions tell you to start out wearing them for short increments of time...
...maybe 10-15 minutes at first and gradually work up to an hour or longer.
I had mine on for probably at least 2 hours, maybe a bit longer.
It's also important that you get the right size so they aren't uncomfortable but give a good stretch.

Over time, my big toes have become more and more numb, due to bones pressing on the nerves.
I always wear silicone toe spacers with closed-in shoes and socks and also while sleeping.
They do keep the big toes more in line and they have also helped me greatly over the years.

 I purchase these at Walmart and they are soft, comfortable and do a great job.
But the thing about the Yoga Toes is the actual stretch they provide for your feet and toes.
It is highly beneficial to exercise and stretch other joints and muscles in our body, right?
So why not our feet and toes as well since they carry all of our burdens all day long!
You can read about the therapeutic benefits by clicking here.

  And when it's chilly outside and I want to keep my feet warm and toasty while I stretch,
I have these cozy socks as well, which also provides a comfy "posture" for your toesies.
(The socks are manufactured by Hithop, not Yoga Toes.)

Amazon

So...there you have it...everything you always wanted to know about...

...but was afraid to ask.

Have you ever tried them??
Have a wonderful week, my friends!

A Mother's Day....Memory?

Most of us have many wonderful and precious memories of Mother's Day...

...I know I have and I hope you have as well.

But have you ever come across a so-called memory that you don't even remember?

This is something I experienced this very week and it still has me puzzled.

~

A while back, as I was going through an old photograph album from my school days,

something fell out that had been tucked between the pages.

It was some folded up papers that were tattered and yellowed, sealed in a zip-lock sandwich bag.

So I opened it up and saw that it was a Mother's Day picture that I had made for Mom,

and stapled to it was a two-page handwritten note.

At the time I discovered it, I was up to my eyeballs with stuff. 

I promptly set it aside to read later and then possibly blog about it for Mother's Day.

Y'all know how much I like to reflect on the good old days!

Long story short, I set it aside so well that I actually forgot all about it...

...until this week and then the hunt was on to find where I had put it.

I tore my craft room apart trying to locate it and finally, there it was, hiding in plain sight.

Oh I was so excited when I carefully opened that plastic bag and slipped it out,

taking great care to not tear those brittle folded papers.

~

I don't know how old I was when I when I wrote this.

Heck, I don't even remember writing it at all...

...all I know was that I still spelled my name with an "ie"...(Debby with a "y" came later).

When I had set my little discovery aside, I had then imagined it being a sweet and heartfelt letter...

...one that said all those things that we say to our moms on their special day.

You know, just oozing with all those loving expressions and declarations of our love for them.

And so I began reading what looked to be 3rd or 4th grade cursive handwriting.

It was just too much to get into the photos and very hard to read so here's what it said:

What Is A Family?

     Take one husband, one wife, four walls, one small dog or stray cat; mix well; add a generous portion of time; and you are almost certain to have a family. The dog or cat isn't absolutely necessary for the recipe, but somehow or other it seems to give Mother Nature the right idea. (What??)

     The family from Dad's point of view, could be the collection of people in the whole world--a pretty and efficient wife, a highly intelligent son, an angel of a daughter, a well behaved dog, and of course, himself -- very nearly handsome and has a real head for business....if only the rest of the family could have a little of Dad's intelligence. (Haha!)

     Mother comes to view her family with fatalistic resignation. (fatalistic resignation...oh my) No matter how she slaves at cleaning, cooking, washing, polishing, sewing, mending or ironing, Dad will never notice it. Then there's Sonny...spends his Sunday School money for jelly beans...Sister getting phone calls from strange boys. If only the family would appreciate all that Mother does for them. Sonny thinks he has a keen family (keen...haven't heard that word since Leave it to Beaver)...it would be nice if Dad was a little smarter...able to make a kite that would fly. Mom is an angel (of course)--but a strict angel. Do this, run here, stop that, pick it up-- gosh! Sister? Well she's better than most girls. Sister is tenderly tolerant of her old-fashioned family. Dad is a lovable old man--easy to persuade with a smile and a kiss. Mother is just dear but so far behind the times....Sonny? Ugh! (poor Sonny)

     When God made the family, He must have meditated a long time. The family must have food, shelter and clothing, and guidance, so there must be a mother. The family must not be dull, so there must be boy to shout and jump, run and get in the way. The family must not be forgotten, so there must be a girl, an angel who will make them so very, very proud.

     The family is a storehouse in which the world's finest treasures are kept. The small pleasures, the great sorrows, the dreams of the world are contained within these four walls called HOME. 

WHAT IN THE WORLD??!!

I have racked and racked my brain to try to remember myself writing these words,

let alone presenting it to my mom...needless to say it didn't come from my heart...or my own mind.

I can only guess that it must have been some sort of writing assignment.

How is it that I cannot even remember this at all?...

...me, who remembers so many trivial and minute details from my childhood?

Where has this memory-that's-not-a-memory been hiding all these years?

I may never know...or, it may come to me tomorrow!

All I know is that my mom undoubtedly got a big kick out of it!

~

As hokey as most of this little piece of prose sounds, especially in today's world,

the last paragraph tugged at my heartstrings, bigtime.

If the family is a storehouse then Mama must be the shopkeeper.

Happy Mother's Day!

Hodgepodging Motherhood

 If it's Wednesday, it must be Hodgepodge!

I hope your week is going well.
The beautiful weather continues but we need some rain to wash away the yellow dust.
I did hear that 90s are predicted for this weekend...am not ready for that
but unfortunately, spring is pretty short-lived here in the south.

So as the spring quickly is turning into summer,
we are in the midst of setting up some travel plans starting in June.
It's a trip that has been our bucket list for over 25 years.
It's not the Grand Canyon (although I'd love to go there), it's not Hawaii (especially not now!),
and it's not anywhere in Europe (although Ireland is on my bucket list).
Give up?
It's the Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia!

source

We heard about this place years and years ago when we lived in KY and always wanted to go.
Through the years we've talked about it a lot but just never made it there.

The trains are original Shay steam locomotives from back in the logging days of the 1920s.
The railroad, along with the logging town of Cass itself, which is where you board the train,
was acquired by the parks system after all logging operations were shut down in 1960.

Here's a short video of the view from the top of Bald Knob, the final destination,
and the third highest point in West Virginia and the Allegany Mountains.

It takes about 4.5 hours for the round trip to go up 11 miles to the top and back down.
That is one slow train, y'all!
All the better to take in and capture some breathtaking scenery from the open-air cars.
It may not be a tropical paradise but it doesn't take much to thrill us simple folk!

We have a couple of other trips in the planning stages for later on this summer.
But now it's time for the Hodgepodge...

...where Joyce asks the questions and we answer them on our blogs.

1. What are your ingredients for a perfect Saturday?

My ingredient list would be different depending where I am, but for a perfect Saturday at home it would look something like this...
~housework caught up
~blue skies with big puffy clouds
~temps in the mid 70s
~lots of yard sales (with great finds)
~a nap on the porch
~grilled something-or-other with corn on the cob...followed by strawberry shortcake

2. What skill do you wish more people took the time to learn?

Kindness. Plain and simple.

3. What's something you ate as a child you can't stand now as an adult?

I can't think of anything that I liked as a kid that I don't like now but surely, there must be something. For me, it's more about what I couldn't stand as a child that I love eating now, like vegetables for instance. We always had a big garden every summer just loaded with all kinds of wonderful produce. I wanted no part of those veggies...MAN, what was I thinking? Now that I have gotten smarter, I crave them!

4. Something parenting has taught you? If you're not a parent tell us one important lesson you learned from your own parents.

Wow, this is hard to actually put into words. Becoming a parent is such a life-changing experience and as a parent I feel I am always learning...still today. When I became a parent, life was just not about ME anymore. The days of making it all about me...my wants and desires...were replaced by the knowledge that I was actually responsible for sustaining the life of that little one that I had been given. Even though the fathers are involved (hopefully) as they should be, the mother's role is unique and none can take her place.

Forty years ago I never dreamed being a parent would be so challenging. My firstborn will be thirty-nine this month and goodness, what a ride it's been! Never have I feared more, never have loved more...and God has always been right there, making me stronger with each new trial and ever so grateful for each new triumph.


5. Share a favorite quote or saying about mothers or motherhood.

I couldn't just pick one...

They will always be our babies.

Lord knows I have failed in many ways over the years but thank goodness He was always there to show me a better way...many times even learning lessons from my boys, themselves.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I'd give just about anything to see her again.

Wednesday's Hodgepodge and Happy Mother's Day

 It's Wednesday and time for Hodgepodge...
...where Joyce asks the questions and we answer them on our blogs.
Come on over and join in the fun, won't you?

1. Share a favorite memory of your mother or share a favorite something from your own life as a mother. If you're a mother (or stepmom) tell us how your experience as a mom differs from your own mother's experience.

I have so many memories of my mom, just as I'm sure most of us do and I could write a book about my own journey... most of the chapters would be happy, some might be funny and others, sad. My mom was born in 1912 and that would make her 105 if she was still living. She was 42 years old when she gave birth to me. I don't have any memories of my grandparents since they had already passed on and some of the memories I have of my mom probably resemble those that some of you have of your grandmother. 

Just a little over a week ago on April 30th was the 7th year since her passing and I shared a post from my other blog on facebook that day. It's titled Her Crowning Glory... some of you have read it.



 

 It is probably my most precious memory since it connects my childhood memory of combing her long hair to the last day I saw her before she died...I combed her hair that day as well.

Me and my first little bundle, Aaron

I'd say there was huge difference since she had eight children between her early twenties and early forties...I. Can't. Even!... and I was finished giving birth while I was still in my twenties. She was old-fashioned in every way and in those days, I really wasn't at all. But all in all, we were very much the same when it came to loving and our children and doing everything in our power to raise them right...

  

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

 

2. In May we celebrate teachers (May 9) and nurses (May 6) both. Most every family has at least one in their midst, so tell us something (or a few things) you appreciate about the teacher or nurse on your family tree.

I have one niece that is a teacher and several of other nieces and great nieces that are nurses or soon will be. I think this is a wonderful thing because some of their parent's didn't have the opportunity to go to college, yet these girls made the decision to find a way to make it happen. Hooray for them!

3. Chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad...which would you go for if all three were on the menu? On bread or a bed of lettuce? If you answered bread, what kind of bread would make it the perfect sandwich?

Yes, please! Actually I do like all three of these but chicken salad (especially the rotisserie kind) is my favorite. Although I love a slice of sturdy, grainy and seedy bread, I prefer my chicken salad on a bed of lettuce....OR...right out the bowl!

4. Do you have a desk? Is it organized? If so, share your secret to keeping it that way. If you don't have a desk, where in your home do you take care of family paperwork and business? Where do you normally sit to blog?

 

I do have a desk and currently it is organized for one simple reason...I haven't really used it yet. My office/project/craft/sewing room is still kinda a work in progress since we had the new floors installed in February. As you may have gathered by now, I use this excuse frequently when I'm not getting things done promptly. Oh yes...I have a plan, I have the fabric and I have gotten as far as arranging things where I want them which included multiple work areas. My old desktop PC is in there which I don't use much unless I need to print something so there's not a lot office work that I do in there. But since we are talking about it, I will give you a little sneak peek of my finished window treatment in that office/project/craft/sewing room.

 

 

But the desk that I use most often when I am home is the one that I carry everywhere with me...my very own lap :)  I pay bills online and do most other business plus blogging on my laptop...in the living room...on my "portable" desk. Sometimes if the sun isn't too bright you might find me on the glider on the front porch :)

 

5. When I was nine years old....

Hmmm...when I was 9 years old was in the 4th grade and the year was 1963. I was taking a spelling test when the announcement came over the loud speaker...President Kennedy has just been assassinated. I will never forget it. The other thing that I remember was that it was probably the only time in my life I had really long hair. I remember one of my sisters measuring my pony tail and it was nearly 14 inches long. Soon afterwards, I had my hair cut short and it has been short-ish ever since.....except that time I let it grow out just a little, to my shoulders...back in my Farrah Faucette days. 😉

6. Insert your own random thought here.

 

May you all have a blessed Mother's Day weekend!

Everything...Including the Kitchen Sink

We usually use the word 'but' when we are referring to the kitchen sink.

I can tell you that this idiom has rolled off my tongue many times over the years.

It is Sunday afternoon and I have just finished washing a few dirty dishes by hand.

It is a dreary, rainy day but even the view of the soggy backyard delighted me as I ponder about...

...the kitchen sink.

Does that ever happen to you?

Something sparks a memory or an idea and you know just have to go write it down or you'll forget.
As I filled the sink with the warm, soapy water and began washing the few dishes,
I realized for maybe the first time how enjoyable it actually was.

Am I losing my mind or what??

Oh no...don't even think about asking me to give up my dishwasher.
I waited almost half my life to be blessed with one and I'm not turning loose of it now!
Seriously, I can't even tell you why this feeling came over me all of a sudden.

Here of late, the window over the kitchen sink and the kitchen sink, itself, has been in my thoughts.
I am referring to this in general terms, not necessarily just about mine here at home.

It may have been triggered by this post by Roxy a couple of weeks ago.
She talked about washing dishes and how her kitchen sink and the window above
was her secret place where she prays, thinks and plans her day.
If you haven't read it or aren't familiar with Roxy, you may want to go read it.

Her post got me to reminiscing about when I was a little girl (and also as a big girl)...
and the feeling of comfort I would get when I'd see even the shape of Mom's head,
let alone her face, through the kitchen window as I'd be walking up the sidewalk
coming home from school every day.
There she'd be every afternoon, standing at the kitchen sink as she was preparing dinner.
(actually, it was called supper at my house)
I could count on it.
~
When I think of the kitchen sink, it represents so many things.
It was my first bathtub, even though I don't remember it...

...but pictures don't lie :)

 The kitchen sink would later become a place where three sisters (at times all five of us)
would stand and harmonize to "The Tennessee Waltz" or a favorite Lennon Sisters ballad...
while one washed, one dried and the other(s) put the dishes away.

It represents a broken ring finger where a couple of teenage girls got a little too rambunctious
as they were cleaning up after supper one summer evening.
Flinging one drop of water led to another and another, then to a half a glass...
...and the fight was on!
A trip to the emergency room and a few hours later, the verdict was in...broken.
Dear sister Barbara had to do my dishes for the next six weeks!
I had lost the battle but won the war :)

Years later after I had moved far away from home,
I can close my eyes and I still see the scene playing in my mind...
we'd be coming home for a visit and almost without fail,
there was that same familiar shadow behind the glass as we pulled into the driveway.

The memories are priceless to me.
Thank you again, Roxy for this lovely post of yours.
~
I think these sudden thoughts about the kitchen sink have been reinforced by some recent ponderings.
We have actually been making progress towards planning the farmhouse in Tennessee.
I am currently working on a document for our builder, detailing what we want in our home.
Can you believe it?
Here are a few ideas that we're looking at...

We'll see...they can be very expensive.
To say I'm getting excited would be an understatement.
All things in God's perfect timing.
~
So as I stood there this afternoon with my hands in that warm, soapy water,
I realized that the kitchen sink represented a lot of different things to me.
It isn't just a receptacle that holds water or a place to peel potatoes.

All of a sudden my kitchen sink is overflowing with many things...
sometimes it's dirty dishes, other times it's sweet memories from days gone by.

What does your kitchen sink hold?

Snapdragons

Happy last week of June!

Didn't we just celebrate Memorial Day...I mean, really...where did this month go??

~

So today, I'm linking to Judith's final Mosaic Monday.

Hasn't she done a fabulous job since she took over this fun party?

Her creativity and beautiful photography, along with her expertise in gardening

has certainly made this something to look forward to every week.

I know Judith isn't leaving us,
but I do hope Mosaic Monday finds a new home!

I have loved snapdragons ever since I was a little girl.



Mom always grew them and I can't look at one without it bringing about an image of her...

on her sweet knees, weeding her precious garden.



She has been gone now for over six years but having a few of these in my own garden
somehow makes me feel like a part of her is still right here with me.



They really are such unique little flowers, don't you think?



I remember as a child making them "talk" to each other.

Or maybe this is more like it...."open wide and say ahhhhhhh!"

Did you ever do that?

Surely, you must have.

Each individual bloom looks as if it might just open it's mouth and start talking all by itself.

Wouldn't that be a hoot?!

I've heard of people talking to their flowers...

...but the flowers talking back?

Only in the imagination of a young girl...

...many, many years ago :)

~

Do you have a favorite flower that sparks a childhood memory in you?