Sunday........whew

I showed you the inside of one of these Iris a few posts back, but wanted to show you a large group of them in bloom. They're done now, and actually I just finished trimming them today. These line all 3 fence rows in the back, plus the 2 sides of the house. All are from starts from Mom and Dads yard years ago that I've continued to separate and plant and plant and plant. So...it seems those of you who voted on which badge to use for my blog....hit it right on the head.

We've had a very busy couple of days. Many of you will remember my niece Janet, who had cancer and spent such a long time in the hospital etc. She and her mother came for a visit a few days ago. She looks great, feels great. Was wonderful to see her again. She's now on her way traveling to Switzerland! A summer study abroad type program. How awesome is that. One day a group of us went to The Arts Fest here in town...it was hot but we had a great time anyway. Walked alot and then collected up with the rest of the family that evening for a cook out after SIL picked up the ladies from the Spa. More fun. Then while the men went fishing, some of us spent the day at the zoo with my oldest nephews's son. Great fun...another hot day for sure; but hadn't been to the zoo in a long time so really enjoyed it.

Today..........spent time trying to finish up some stuff in the yard, while hubby played golf, and well thats about it. I'm tired.

Hope you all had a fabulous wkend and have a good week planned.

I've made several updates over on the Bridge, so please stop in to see the wonderful projects. Finally I was able to finish a project...really the first yarn since Mom's passing. I'm still having a hard time getting motivated to knit and crochet again. Though I did spend time the other day organizing my office and got yarn also organized. Perhaps that will help.

Take a virtual trip with me on my travel blog, I've updated there as well.

Memory Monday, I love you Mommie

Working my way through the alphabet, I'm now at E.........egads.........e?

Energy and Etiquette come to mind.

Energy, well...my Mom was scrappy and full of energy. I remember her stories of cooking on a one burner hot plate when she and Daddy first got married. I remember her washing dishes in the bathtub or doing laundry kitchen sink when things weren't working right, I remember her wringing out clothes by hand when the old wringer washer was on the frists and money was too tight to call the repair man. I remember her cooking, cleaning, washing, shopping, sewing, mending all the time. She was non stop. We had one used car which Daddy took to work, so........ when any of us kids were sick she walked to school to get us and bring us home. I remember Spring Cleaning when it truly was a job and you washed the inside and outside of the cupboards, the windows, beat the rugs outside and always ----------ALWAYS cooked a home cooked meal for your loved ones. I remember when she got her first job outside the house, she was an Avon Lady. She walked her entire route and that was in all kinds of weather. I remember home made bread, hand made clothes, and so much more. Energy.........and then some. She didn't have a computer or time saving devices like we all have; she didn't have older family members to babysit because she needed or wanted a night of peace, or time with the girls. No, that's not what women in her time did. They were a mother and a wife full time.......... 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

Etiquette
Mom taught me Etiquette.......from table manners (don't put your elbows on the table, don't chew with your mouth full, don't interrupt adults, put your napkin in your lap, break your bread into 3 pieces and only butter the piece you're currently eating after putting butter on your plate, ask to be excused from the table, don't eat until every one has been served, on a date don't order the most expensive item on the menu, always thank your hostess, dance with everyone who asks you to dance, go out with the first person who asks you (thinking of school dances, you can't say no to one and then accept from another.........very bad form), someone should always thank and dance with the adult chaperons, don't say you don't like something to the hostess when being serve dinner---eat lightly and take small portions, and I'm sure there were other things..

Oh my yes....another one I remember is, don't flop in your chair or sofa, sit...there really is a difference. Don't put your feet on the furniture with or without shoes on..........and always give up your chair or place in line to someone who is your elder.

One year she got me a book about proper etiquette which I found accidentally before she had a chance to wrap it for Christmas. I know there were other things in the book that don't come rolling off my tongue at the moment.

I've passed along many of these traditional rules to my daughter in her growing up years. In her college years she told me how handy they had come in when she was in very adult situations which made her comfortable with her behavior.

Thanks Mom! You know I think this came out when our daughter taught a table manner class for her 5th graders--- Right down to how to set the table. The final, was in fact when she prepared a special breakfast for them and they served each other.

Mother's are indeed very special; cherish them.

**if you're reading my blog for the first time, you may not know I lost my mother a few short weeks ago. You can scroll back a bit and read more.

Thank You! My 3rd Award (Kreativ)

Jan, over at Ignite to Write gave me this award some time ago. Way back on April 26th to be exact. It was in the middle of things at the hospital not being good, and I intended to get back to it later........hadn't thought it would be this much later; but in truth I forgot about it. Was cleaning out some things on my computer and came across the photo. Yikes!

The rules with this award are to:
list 7 things you love
Link back to the person who gave you the award
Pass it along to 7 other bloggers.

Long over due, here I am

1. My wonderful husband
2. My Darling Daughter
3. The rest of my family
4. Memories from Family and Friends
5. Special Friends
6. Good Wine
7. Time Outside

I link to Jan above, both on her name for her page, and using the title of her blog and award to the actual post where she bestowed this lovely honor on me. HUGS and Thanks!!!

7 blogs........wow, thats the hard part:

• Sandie over at the Corral, she's very creative/kreativ with her blogging as she blogs about her craft, how to do things, and through her blog helps many people
• Jan over at Animal Talk, cause she's creative/kreativ with her animal stories and entertains us
• Beth Crochet Princess, because her blog is very attractive/creative/kreativ, she blogs about lots of different things, she's a very kind and giving person on many different fronts. She needs a BIG HUG from all of us right now, she's lost a grandchild, and the mother of a Dear Friend. (((((HUG)))))
• Priscilla over at Hooks or Needles, because she makes awesome stuff, really awesome stuff hop over and take a look. One day I want to knit as well as she does.
• Elsie, over at Yarn Tales, because her blog truly is creative/kreativ...just plain adorable
• Tammy over on her blog, take a look at her blog and you'll see what I mean about creative/kreativ
• Andrea over at Octopi's place---did someone say creative/kreativ?

I hope you'll all take the time to visit each of these special people, look over their blogs and give them your congratulations. You'll notice when you visit, I like a wide variety of blogs...

Hugs to all, Congrats to all, and many thanks to Ignite to Write for giving me this award. It's very much appreciated.