Eleven Roses

Hello there,

Just catching up on posts that have been laying in wait.

My dad surprised me with roses as a sort of post Mothers Day gift. He always bought my mom roses, so he picked me up a dozen and gave them to me...minus one. That one was for mom's grave.

I have always loved the look of a rose pavé (an arrangement in which you trim the stems to the height of the top of the vessel they are resting in so that you have a nice, full arrangement of the flower heads and some greenery only).

I had this ironstone white pitcher that I decorated with a bit of burlap a few years ago that worked perfectly. Those roses are still sitting on the table right now. A bit faded of their brilliance, and growing older by the day, but still hanging in there...a little like me ;)

They have lasted a really long time. My cut flowers always do, no matter where I get them from. The key, I have learned, is to use half of the flower food that comes with them, don't put too much (or too little) water, and I always cut my stems at an angle, under running water. Always. 

Then, after about a week, I refreshen the water with the remaining flower food and re-cut the stems the exact same way. They always last so long. I've never tried any of the remedies you can find on Pinterest like a crushed up aspirin or a little bleach in the water or white soda. If you have, and it works for you...let me know what you are doing! I'd love to try a new trick.

Thanks for reading! 

Nanette

Another Mother's Day Gone...

Hi friends,

I know it's a little late, but how was your Mothers Day? I hope it was wonderful and full of surprises. I celebrated early on Saturday, first, with my sister. We went out for the day and exchanged gifts. On Sunday my husband had to work, but my son surprised me with candy, flowers and a lovely card. It was sweet, and heartfelt. And my husband is taking me shopping for the perfect bicycle--one with a basket, so I can take my Soph along for the ride (you all know Sophie, don't you? Well, that's a post for another day...)

Anyway, I wanted to share with you the gift my sister gave me. We must have been on the same wavelength, because I gave her a necklace, too. I didn't get any pictures, but it is a silver chain with little charms that I picked to represent her personality. Her initial "P", a little nurses cap because she is a great nurse of 20 years, a silver wing because we have had to learn to live on a wing and a prayer, especially over these last couple of years, and a mounted crystal because she's a "diamond in the rough". That's not an insult; not if you knew my sister... ;)

So, same wavelength, and we didn't even know it. The necklace she put together for me was in memory of our mother. A locket that holds little treasures of memory representing mom. The disk inside says "Mom" to show who it's for. A little heart "In Memory Of" her. A tiny little teapot because mom loved her daily morning cup of tea; I was raised on it and still love a creamy cup of English tea in the morning or on chilly evenings. There's a little purse that says "Shop", because that's what she absolutely LOVED to do (I think above anything else!), and of course, her birthstone.

It is a lovely and thoughtful gift. One that I will cherish forever. I consider myself lucky that, even through the devastation of losing my mother, I have a sister I can rely on to share in my joys, and be with me during my sorrows. That's the best gift.

Thank you so much for reading today. Have  wonderful week!

Nanette