Birthday's remembered ~

This is the last birthday card I had received from my mom before she passed. I love the message and for my last two birthday's, I make sure I re-read the message that mom wanted me to get . . . .

How to make

A Beautiful Life 

Reflections For a Daughter On Her Birthday

Dear Gini

Love yourself.

MAKE PEACE with who you are

and where you are

at this moment in time. 

Listen to your heart. 

If you can't hear what it's saying

in this noisy world, 

MAKE TIME for yourself. 

Enjoy  your own company. 

Let your mind wander among the stars. 

Try.

Take chances.

MAKE MISTAKES. 

Life can be messy 

and confusing at times,

but it's also full of surprises. 

The next rock in your path

might be a stepping-stone. 

Be happy.

When you don't have what you want, 

want what you have. 

MAKE DO.

That's a well-kept secret of contentment. 

There aren't any shortcuts to tomorrow.

You have to MAKE YOUR OWN WAY. 

To know where you're going

is only part of it. 

You need to know where you've been, too.

And if you ever get lost, don't worry. 

The people who love you will find you. 

Count on it. 

Life isn't days and years.

It's what you do with time

and with all the goodness and grace

that's inside you. 

MAKE A BEAUTIFUL LIFE . . . 

The kind of life you deserve. 

What more can I wish you, but peace and happiness, I love you, Mom

2009

Mom always gave me beautiful cards, this one just really stands out for me. It's a tri-fold card and you are only seeing the very front of the card.  I missed mom sharing my birthday with me, but I know she would have wanted me to enjoy it . . . I am enjoying it and honoring her too, after all, if it were not for her, I would not be here . . . I love you, Mom, and thank you for a beautiful life. 

Garden Fairy ~

Red Gladiolus Flower

Silken web ~

Graceful chimes ~

Yogurt and Mustaches ~

My usual favorite yogurt at my usual favorite yogurt place . . . chocolate with snow caps and chocolate chips sprinkled on top . . . never too much chocolate for me.  We have the best yogurt shop around. Great flavors with tons of different toppings . . . all very good. 

This photo was actually going to be my photo of day, yesterday, but I could not pass up the beautiful sunset we had last night so I am using it today.  I know this particular photo is a bit fuzzy, not the best out of the bunch but the reason I wanted to use it, was because of the giant mustache on the tailgate of this persons truck in the background and to the left of  my yogurt. I hadn't noticed it as I was taking my photos but my granddaughter pointed it out to me. I was going to crop out the background but I decided to leave it . . . a two in one photo.

Sunset over home ~

As I drove down our street and pulled up to my home, this was my view.

Fresh Basil ~

Fresh picked tomatoes ~

My grandchildren have their own tomato plant in our yard . . . only three little ones were ready and my grandson couldn't wait to pick them . . . he likes to eat them like an apple (with a little bit of sea salt).

Comforting words ~

Lovely cards, comforting words and a pretty rose from friends and family that I received yesterday (and today in my mailbox), on the one year anniversary of mom's passing . . . thank you all.

Remembering Mom ~

Elfriede Haf-Serafin

21 March 1933 ~ 21 July 2010

~~~~~~

To see the world in a grain of sand

and heaven in a wild flower.

Hold infinity in the palms of your hand

And eternity in an hour.    

                              ~ Auguries of Innocence 

One year ago today, my mom passed away . . . these flowers are for you mom . . . we miss you and love you very much . . . .

Maidenhair fern ~

Spent white roses ~

Pink miniature roses ~

Lavender roses ~

Our Hands ~

Photos of our hands taken in April 2008

This photo displays four generations of our hands . . . in the first photo within the frame from left to right (clockwise) is . . . my daughter, myself, my granddaughter and my beautiful mom. In the second photo within the frame and clockwise is . . . my granddaughter, my beautiful mom, myself and my 82 year old, aunt Ginnie in Kentucky.  I got the idea from an email I received several years ago about Grandma's Hands, as I explained and posted  ~ here ~  . . . now that my mom has passed, I am so grateful for having this photo and to have it hanging in my home where I see it each day. Each time I look at it, I look at her hands and it reminds me that at one time those hands . . . comforted me . . .  held me . . . touched my cheek and helped me thru so much . . . I just recalled a time when I had on a dress with a petticoat underneath (my First Communion), mom loved candles and somehow I got too close to the candle and my petticoat caught on fire . . . mom used her hands to put that fire out and were burned very badly, I remember that day very clearly and felt so bad that she was in so much pain . . . how blessed I was to have such a wonderful loving and strong mom.  If you can, take the opportunity to photograph the hands in your family . . . it's a priceless treasure.

Up-close Hyacinth Bean Vine

Dried roses for mom ~

Dried miniature roses for mom as they are today . . . and below the same

roses when I first received them a year ago July 30, 2010

Fresh beautiful miniature roses for mom 

July 30, 2010

Lone Morning Glory ~

In-line skateboard ~

My six year old grand son came over with this new and trending In-line Skateboard. Oma is NOT liking it at all . . . he is learning to ride it and I don't want to see him get hurt. I guess Oma has to let go but I would rather he learn while he is with his mom and dad! He, of course, is very excited about it!

Summer Strawberry Spinach Salad ~

My Summer Strawberry Spinach salad is a regular around my house during the summer. It 's easy, good and quick and you don't have to cook! The most you have to do is slice the strawberries and throw it all together in a bowl. Just after I took this photo . . .  the kids and I had it for lunch and there wasn't anything left.  Each time I make this salad, the bowl is always empty.  Recipe below if you would like to make it . . .

Summer Strawberry Spinach Salad

~~~~~~~~~ 

1 Bag of Baby Spinach (or fresh spinach)

Fresh strawberries ~ washed and sliced (as many as you like)

1 can of Mandarin oranges (or more if you like)  ~ juice drained well 

Craisins (dried cranberries) ~ as many as you like

Sliced almonds ~ scattered on top as desired 

Toss all the ingredients together in a bowl (I use a shallow bowl, the strawberries, craisins, mandarin oranges sink to the bottom of the bowl). I use a balsamic vinaigrette (Paul Newman's) on each serving. 

I have used chopped chicken and edamame's which are very good. You can add any ingredient that suits you. It's just a great summer salad and it's very easy to make.

Enjoy! 

Fairy garden ~

Here is an archive photo of the fairy garden I made to enter into the Fairy Festival at Summers Past Farms. We didn't win but it was alot of fun making it. Summers Past is an amazing place to visit and hang out at. The family lives right on the farm and they even have their own Soap Shoppe. We try and visit every summer. Summers Past hold weddings, Mother's Day gatherings and many more events.

Lovely roses ~

In Sweet Remembrance ~

In Sweet Remembrance of 

Lucille Louise (Bebensee) Evers

1922 ~ 2011

Agapanthus ~

Agapanthus and Barley Foxtails (I believe these to be Barley Foxtails)

Morning dew ~

Morning dew covers this spider web that sits on the surface of this plant. It looked neat with the sun glistening off the drops of water . . . which I was unable to capture the way I wanted to.

Double rainbow ~

A fantastic double rainbow . . . took this photo just outside of my front door this evening. It's very warm and muggy out (7.30 PM) and looks as if we may be getting some rain . . . we sure could use it.

Happy Independence Day ~

Chilled fresh strawberries ~

Ready . . . Set . . . Go ~

The photo above was going to be yesterday's photo-of-the-day until the stolen Jeep photo took it's place. My grandson's daddy races his car at Autocross and my grandson brought over his checkered flag to show me how he has become quite the flagman waving it at the start/finish line . . . he's pretty good!

Ready . . . set . . . Mexi-go ~

My husband's 2004, Black Rubicon Jeep was once parked in the driveway of our home next to my 2007 Nissan Armada SUV in the empty spot you see in the photo above . . . but . . . as discovered today . . . it has been stolen!!

Just a bit ago, we received a call from the Police Dept., and that said Jeep, crossed the Mexican border at 2 AM this morning . . . it is the strangest feeling to walk out to your driveway and suddenly realize something is wrong with this picture! I am not a happy camper to say the least . . . but I know that these very messed up individuals will one day be punished properly.