Great Celebration on Mother's Day

Hope everyone had as nice a Mother's Day yesterday as I had.  Lisa and the boys sent me a delish tin of cookies and Jenny and her gang showed up at the beach condo for afternoon of fun, fun, fun.  Those little rascals really wear me out.  After they left about 7pm I was showered and in bed by 9pm.  LOL!  They are a lot of fun, but are non-stop.  We went to the pool and wore them out a little bit, at least the 6 and 7 year old girls could sit still and watch a Disney movie in the late afternoon.  The boys, 1 and 2, are a different story.  Boy did I ever get on the list with the 1 year old, David.  When he reached for a glass plate and Gramma yelled "No, No!" he sure did not like it.  I was told by my granddaughter, 6 year old Clara, "Gramma, he doesn't like the N word".  Heh!  The N WORD.  Can you believe it? It now has its own initials.... 

I can see why.  Everyone in the family spoils the little tyke.  You really can't help it.  He is so darn cute.  Sophie and Clara (his sisters) think he can do no wrong.  Here's an example of his handy work:

No, it's not what it looks like.  He found one of the girls red markers and just went to town marking himself.  What can you do but hide your face from him and laugh your face off!

So, heavens to Betsy don't say the N WORD.  He might just throw a little fitsky!  All in all it was a fun Mother's Day and I enjoyed every minute of it.  Hubby bought me flowers, the grandkids brought me flowers and we had a great take out bar-b-q dinner from Bono's.  What more could a Grandma want??      I can't think of a thing.

A Tribute to Mama

Are you wearing a red or a white carnation today?  This is an old custom that goes back over 100 years.  On the first official Mother's Day red or white carnations were passed out at churches across the nation signifying whether your Mother had passed or was still alive.  Red for the living and white for the dead.  Just a small remembrance to honor all mothers.

I will be wearing a white carnation for the 8th year and miss my Mama more than these words could every say.  She was my friend, my confidante, my mother.  I, not having any sisters, was closer to her than any other woman.  We shared our thoughts, our laughs, our long talks, and most of all our love for each other.  It was amazing how she could be a best friend, but when it came time to be a parent she was always there for me.

Mama, Herminia Maria Josefa Sofia Fernandez, was born and raised in Miami, Florida.  Her parents came from Spain in the early 1900's and her Father died at the early age of 35.  Her Mother, Mama Jo raised 5 children on her own.  It is amazing to me that she was able to care for these children on her own, taught herself to speak, read and write English but then again times were different back then and many immigrants did the same.  Mama was born at home at the hands of her Father in 1916, the 4th child of 5.  It was said that she was so small that Mama Jo had to carry her on a pillow for several months.  I think Mama must have been born quite a fighter.  She remained a tiny person for the rest of her life, just under 5 feet.  Her older sister, Ophelia was considered the beauty in the family and being the oldest girl received the new clothes.  My Mama, Mary received the cast downs.

Mama met my Dad at Miami High and they were married when they were 18.  They then raised my 2 brothers and myself.  I, being in the middle of my 2 brothers.  Mama stayed at home and catered to her family.  Her favorite past time was sewing and I reaped the rewards of having the best wardrobe that any little girl could have wanted.

One of my pleasant and cherished memories from when I was a child was the books she read to us.  When "To Kill a Mockingbird" first came out in the 60's and although I was well into my teens, she read it to my younger brother and I.  She put great emphasis on learning and as we learned, she shared in the knowledge.

"With tears and with my loving thoughts of you - I miss you, Mama!"    

  

"She gave me love as well as life;

so whatever goodness I may bring to Earth

 began with the gift of my Mother's heart."

 

 

May Day

So today is May 1st and the celebration of Spring.  I remember in elementary school celebrating with a dance around the May Pole.  I guess they just don't do that anymore.  I used to really look forward to the pastel ribbons and weaving in and out with the other children to make the ribbons wrap around the pole.  Quaint fun that probably would not excite this generation.

I received an article from a friend today which highly enlightened me and after a little research found her info to be very true.  Way to spoil some sweet memories of my childhood.  It seems that some believe the May Pole originated way back with the Romans as a phallic symbol to greet the new Spring crops and make them plentiful.  Oh boy!  I would like to just think of it as a fun way for children to greet the coming of Spring.

The month of May is always a favorite time for me.  I love the weather and the flowering of so many of my back yard plants.  My gardenia bush that I brought from our first home in Jacksonville (Francis Drake Drive) is now over 6 feet tall and in high bloom.  I remember my younger brother helping me plant it again almost 20 years ago.  The most wonderful thing about it is it does not involve any care and every year it blooms like crazy.  I like to think it has something to do with Edgar helping me plant it.

I remember when we made gardenia corsages for Mother's Day.  The fragrance was spectacular. 

Here are a few other flowers from the back yard taken with my iPhone.

Uh oh!  A Senior moment.  The flowers on the left are Plumbagos and on the right is an Agapanthus (Lily of the Nile) per my friend Cindy.  Thanks Cindy, I just had another senior moment on that one.