My dad went home to heaven on Monday, January 14, 2013. He was a faithful Christian and knew what awaited him. Some of his final words were that he could see my mom and she had a cup of coffee ready for him. It had been 23 years since she had fixed him a cup of coffee and he was excited! She was known for her coffee. You can read about my mom and her “coffee culture” here. As much as I miss them, I love it that they are together again. They were soul mates.
Today I hung my dad’s jacket in my Potting Shed. I love seeing it while I’m working.
And, the forsythia cuttings I took from his yard are blooming and getting leaves!!
This jacket, the forsythia and these pictures will give me much pleasure in the years to come.
Aren’t they adorable!All dressed up for a night on the town!
My mom has been gone from us for more than 20 years but I think of her everyday. It’s funny the things you remember … here are some of the things I remember most…
The power of red LIPSTICK…
My mom was not the glam type. She never wore makeup (unlike me who is rarely with out it!) and was usually dressed to clean house or work in the garden. But, when she got ready to “go to town” (probably to pay bills and get groceries) she put on red lipstick. It is not so much what she said, but it is what I observed … that red lipstick transformed her! Not only did her face brighten, but she got a little playfully sassy–which was not her usual personality. Needless to say, I have several (maybe a few more than several) tubes of lipstick in varying shades of red!
That COFFEE makes everything better…
I don’t think I ever remember a day when there was not coffee perking in our home. It was the first thing that happened in the morning and the pot was on all day. Every guest to our home received a fresh cup! That is probably one of the reasons I am such a coffee fan … Starbucks is a fav place for me and much coffee is brewed in our house. Just holding a warm cup of coffee in my hand makes me happy. And, if I can share it with a friend, well that is even better!
The value of a GREEN THUMB…
My mom could grow anything. I have literally watched her break off a branch of a tree or bush, plant it and watch it grow. With very few resources available to her, she grew almost everything we ate. She froze, canned, dried or in some way “put up” the food we grew in the garden plus the fruit from the cherry, pear and apple trees we had. One of the things she did that I have thought about so much lately is “pickle” stuff…. Our back porch was filled with large white crocks covered with white towels. In those crocks were things like kraut, pickles, pickled green beans, pickled corn, beets, okra, eggs and on and on! Sounds kind of odd for today, but I can tell you everything was delish! She didn’t waste anything and one of her greatest pleasures was sharing what she grew! I too love to share what I grow, but it is mostly flowers and tomatoes!
Here she is with her “Romeo” when they were dating. Look closely … I bet she is rocking some ruby red lipstick! That smile says, “I am SASSY.”
Aren’t they just the cutest!
I love you momma Gene!
I would like nothing better that to have coffee with her in my garden.
If you like family stories, you might like to read about my dad here.
And, the forsythia cuttings I took from his yard are blooming and getting leaves!!
