Mom's Roses ~

 

The first bouquet to bloom on mom's (1933~2010) rose bush, that I dug up in January 2013,  from my mom's home and then transplanted to my home. It was touch and go for a while but they are doing very well. I do not know the "official" name of this rose . . . I am working on coming up with a special name for it . . . just as we did for the pretty pink roses in the photo below. These are a cross of a pink and coral color.


 

The "Elfie" Rose  

This rose bush (was still in the pot from the nursery, mom had just purchased it and hadn't planted in her yard as of yet), I transplanted in March of 2012, from mom's home to mine . . . it's doing very well. 

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Thank you, Gigi Hasso's (my step-sister) for picking the perfect name, "Elfie" ~

I haven't posted on my photo blog for quite a while.  My old used Rebel camera (2010~2012) would not recognize the SD card and it was just too costly to have it repaired, so, I ended up getting a sweet new, Canon Rebel 600 EOS Rebel T3i and I am in love with it . . . now, I am learning how to use it (have a long way to go) and hoping to get back to taking photos and posting now and then. For Mother's Day, my daughter gifted me with a 3 hour photography class (Groupon)  in Balboa Park Gardens . . . looking forward to doing that! 

Mrs. Winchester's Roses ~

 

Mrs. Winchesters, 100-year-old, Simplicity Rose from the Winchester Mystery House ~  these beautiful roses grace the mansions garden and grounds . . . I fell in love with them.

More Sweet Peas ~

 

Sweet peas from my garden in mom's vase on my desk . . . photos of yours truly when I was about six years old, sent to me by an old old friend I grew up with.

Mom's Red Geranium's ~

 

This Geranium is just one of several Geranium plants I brought back from mom's home recently. The deep red petals are so vibrant. Mom's plants sat in her back yard for several months without water . . . they are slowly coming back to life . . . I think she would be happy . . . mom always had a beautiful and well kept garden. 

Mom's Treasures ~ Kalanchoe in Pink

 

~ Mom's (1933 - 2010) plant, Kalanchoe in pink ~ 

Mom's Treasures ~ Kalanchoe plant

 

~ Kalanchoe in red ~
Mom had the Kalanchoe plant in a variety of colors.  

It's been a while since I have had the time or opportunity to take photos or to post to many of my blogs. For the last two months, I have been slowly packing up my mom's three bedroom, two and a half bath, two story home and bringing it to my small three bedroom, two bath home. My living room was full of boxes, plants, bags of linens . . . couldn't even walk in there and things were (are) everywhere. Mom had a beautiful home with many heirlooms from Germany . . . some of which I would like to share here from time to time. 

Mom lived about an hour and forty-five minutes away from me so each trip would be an all day project.  One load was plants and flowers alone! I couldn't even bring them all to my home so several of her neighbors were pleased to inherit some of her wonderful plants along with a bit of her personal belongings. 

Her neighbors are missing her very much, as we all are . . . it's been difficult to pack and move her things . . . I am blessed and very fortunate to now be surrounded by many of her treasures. Slowly, I am getting settled again . . . it's been overwhelming and quite an emotional journey . . . as I packed and unpacked her personal belongings, I would recall our life and times together . . . some would bring smiles and others would bring tears but, all are beautiful memories to hold and to forever remember.   

Letting Go ~

~ Letting Go ~ 

To let go does not mean to stop caring, it means I can't do it for someone else.

To let go is not to cut myself off; it's the realization I can't control another. 

To let go is to admit being powerless, which means the 

outcome is not in my hands.

To let go is not to try to change or blame another; it's to 

make the most of myself.

To let go is not to care for, but to care about.

To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive. 

To let go is not to judge, but allow another to be a human being.

To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own destinies. 

To let go is not to be protective; it's to permit another to face reality. 

To let go is not to deny, but to accept. 

To let go is not to nag, scold, or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires 

but to take each day as it comes, and cherish everything in it. 

To let go is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future. 

To let go is to fear less and love more. 

~ Author Unknown 

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My dear (ex) sweet sister-in-law and friend (we met when I was 15 years old and are like sisters!) sent this wonderful poem and card to me today, she tries to read it everyday . . . she knew I needed a hug and smile . . . mission accomplished. Things have been very stressful and difficult  . . . I can't share now but will be able to down the road . . . I just had to share this wonderful poem of "Letting Go" . . . Thank you, Honor, I love you too ~ 

Daffodils in Winter ~

Each year these Daffodils bloom . . . I am always happy and surprised. They bring a bit of Spring time in the middle of Winter . . . even for Southern California. Sending a bit of sunshine out to those surrounded by the cold and snow.

Light and Love ~

Several weeks ago, I was getting ready to take down Mom's (1933~2010) Christmas tree (yes, I am a bit late) and pack up her Christmas ornaments and decorations. I made myself a cup of tea and sat in a chair just to take one last look around before putting it all way for another year. I looked over at mom's Manger and the sun was shining perfectly on Baby Jesus . . . it was just beautiful. Glad I had my camera fairly close and was able to capture the moment. I know Christmas has come and gone but had to share with ya.

Mom's Christmas Jewels ~ Memory Count Down ~ Day 31

This is Mom's (1933~2010) Mr. and Mrs. Santa,  singing mice and Santa's reindeer. If I recall correctly, the mice are from Germany, which are very cute. Mom always had this set up just like this (I copied from past photos) in the entry way of her home. Mrs. Santa's candle lights up and she moves side to side and Santa waves. The lantern Santa is holding lights up also. I took quite a few shots when all was plugged in but for some reason, I am not locating them on my computer. The grandchildren really get a kick out of this little display . . . it's fun to see the smiles on their faces.

This is one of two Nutcrackers that mom always had standing by her front door. I put them up on my entry way antique dresser . . . I felt they were safe there. The other Nutcracker has his nose missing, not sure if that happened before or when they were removed from mom's home and transported here. It's nice to see them as you walk in my front door.

I very much enjoyed sharing mom's Christmas treasures here . . . when I started, I didn't realize that I would learn so much about Christmas ornaments . . . mom has beautiful Christmas Jewels and I feel so very fortunate to have some of them now . . . there is still so much more that is still in her home . . . I am hoping to bring the remainder to my home, someday soon. Mom loved Christmas and when she bought her home here in Southern California, one of the first additions she made was to have cabinets built along one entire side of the garage . . . those cabinets are full of just Christmas decorations and Christmas treasures. Hopefully next Christmas, I will be sharing those treasures here again. Thank you for visiting and sharing in mom's treasures with me. 

~ Happy New Year! ~

Mom's Christmas Jewels ~ Memory Count Down ~ Day 30

Mom (1933~2010) owned two Mangers, both given to her by her younger twin brothers, my uncles,  Helmut (1940~1994) and Adi (1940~2004),  from Germany.  Since mom purchased her home (1986) here in Southern California, she would always have two Christmas trees, one in the living room and one in the family room, each Manger would be next to each Christmas tree. I don't have the room for two trees in my home, so I put one Manger in my living room where our Christmas tree is and the other smaller Manger (bottom photo in collage) in my family room.

Emma put the snowman puzzle together and then glued it to a piece of cardboard and created an artful border around the puzzle. These Mangers are very special to me now for so many reasons and that they are from Germany and from my uncles to my mom . . . who all are no longer with us.

~ Happy Holidays! ~

Mom's Christmas Jewels ~ Memory Count Down ~ Day 29

~ Click on collage to enlarge ~

These are just a very few of Mom's (1933~2010) beautiful German Christmas tablecloths. Over the years she brought them home with her on her yearly trips while visiting our family in Augsburg . . . she always made sure she added to my collection too. So between us, we have quite a collection of these very pretty and special Christmas linens. The ones in the collage are just some that I used this year throughout the house.

Just after mom passed, I was able to get a small part of her linens . . . I am still in awe of the wonderful shape they are in. She had had them for so many years, yet, they are perfectly ironed, folded and 99% stain free . . . I have always wondered how she did it . . . I have always been afraid to use them because in this family, we are pretty rough on our stuff but I know she would want us to enjoy them  . . . that's what her intention was all along . . . and . . . I don't mind the washing and ironing to take care of them . . .  I feel very blessed to have such special treasures.

~ Happy Holidays! ~

Mom's Christmas Tree Jewels ~ Memory Count Down ~ Day 28

These three ornaments are a set and made of plastic. I am taking a wild guess but I think Mom (1933~2010) purchased them in the early 2000's. She did get a set for me but with a different design. They are pretty but I have to say I'm not especially fond of ornaments that are plastic but at least they won't break and will last for generations to come!

~ Happy Holidays! ~

Mom's Christmas Tree Jewels ~ Memory Count Down ~ Day 27

This ornament is so pretty . . . I have no idea when mom (1933~2010) purchased it. It's been around for a while but I can't begin to guess how long. As I have posted mom's ornaments, at times, it's as if I am seeing them for the first time . . . paying close attention and learning all about them. You can tell mom must have dropped this one . . . it's glued together at the top . . . it's still so very pretty. Mom gave me a set of the glass ice-cycles that are on each side of the ornament, back in 2005. They really finish our tree off and the lights behind them make them glisten. I believe we are winding down on mom's ornaments with this one and I will be posting other Christmas treasures that belonged to my mom that may take us to the end of December.

~ Happy Holidays! ~

Mom's Christmas Tree Jewels ~ Memory Count Down ~ Day 26

ca ~1960's

This teardrop ornament belongs to the same set as the one ~ here ~ as I said in my previous post, I believe mom (1933 ~ 2010) purchased these in Germany. This is the only one in this teardrop shape. 

Mom's Christmas Tree Jewels ~ Memory Count Down ~ Day 25

ca ~ 1950's 

This ornament is quite old and still in excellent condition . . . you can see a bit of the faux spray snow mom (1933~2010) used back when it was popular. This is a Shiny Brite dented teardrop ornament from the late 1950's to possible early 1960's from Germany. This collection  ~here~  and ~ here ~  is in my top favorites and bring back so many past Christmas memories.

I have several more of mom's ornaments that I haven't shared yet, along with several of her Christmas tablecloths and linens from Germany she collected over the years . . . I plan to share those here for the remainder of the Holidays and hope you enjoy mom treasures too. 

~ Merry Christmas to you and yours ~ 

Mom's Christmas Tree Jewels ~ Memory Count Down ~ Day 24

ca ~ 1950's

I love this pink glass ornament . . . Mom (1933~2010) has four of them in her collection. All four glass balls, show the evidence of many years of use by having a crackled finish and the pink color has turned to silver in certain areas. I did a bit of research on this ornament and what I found was that is was made in the 1950's by Shiny Brite and that they are Mercury glass (love Mercury glass Christmas ornaments). I remember these always being on our tree . . . I never really appreciated them until this year and it's amazing how mom kept all these ornaments for so long and in such wonderful condition . . . I'm so glad she did.

~ Happy Holidays! ~

Mom's Christmas Tree Jewels ~ Memory Count Down ~ Day 23

Mom (1933~2010) gave me a set of these lovely star ornaments several years before she passed. I recall her telling me that my cousin in Germany made them . . . I will be emailing my cousin to verify if I have this correct. Whether they were hand made or purchased, they are so pretty and sparkle under the lights . . . one of my favorites.

~ Happy Holidays! ~

Mom's Christmas Tree Jewels ~ Memory Count Down ~ Day 22

These are the two remaining orbs from the set I posted ~ here ~ and ~ here ~ .  They are just beautiful and have Mom (1933~2010) written all over them.

~ Happy Holidays! ~

Mom's Christmas Tree Jewels ~ Memory Count Down ~ Day 21

This teardrop shaped ornament is part of the set that I posted ~ here ~ yesterday. I thought there was only two different designs but there is actually four different designs. Unfortunately I do not know when Mom (1933~2010) purchased them and from where they came. My guess is more in the 1990's but I could be very off on my calculations. This set is so very pretty . . . mom's style all the way.

~ Happy Holidays ~