Day 4

Ahhh, the sounds of "pinging" lids after canning is complete. The assurance you need that your jars are sealed as they should be...I love that sound! But then there's also the sound that is only made when that seal is broken and you open that jar to enjoy the fruits of your labor in the middle of Winter! The "taste of Summer", as my husband refers to every jar of canned goods on our basement shelf! He is so right! There's nothing more delicious!

I hope his Grandma is proud as she gazes down on those jars. Every year as we work together, prepping for canning, ever so attractive donning our "do-rags" (our version of a hair net),  he tells me stories of how he learned to garden with his Grandma and all that she taught him.  It's one of my favorite times we share together and I'm sure she is with us...:) ! 

 Day 3

This may not appear to be a story about my momma, but it is...It was a year ago last month, in December of 2010 that my mom went to live in a nursing home. It was the hardest week of her life as it was for our entire family, but especially her. My mom had been in the hospital due to increased physical weakness, spent time in rehab and finally it was determined that she really couldn't live on her own any longer. Tragically, the same week while my mom was still in rehab, my oldest brother took his own life. Within a three day period of time she lost a child and moved into a nursing facility all the while knowing and fully understanding that she truly could no longer live on her own and that she'd lost her first born baby. Through her grief she still remained the strongest person I know and continually worried and showed concern for the rest of us.

Surprisingly, through all of this sadness and change she adjusted very well to her new living conditions. It was truly a blessing from God Himself. She quickly grew attached to the staff, adjusted well to living at Evergreen and loved the fact that her room was painted purple (lavender.) This may seem so insignificant but believe me, during that time we held tightly onto any and everything that made her happy....then they approached us and wanted to move her to another room...

We, as a family, along with my mom agreed to this. It was a big deal by the facilities standards to not change a residents room as it is considered their home. The only thing she asked for was for her new room to be painted purple also. It was promised to be done. During the next several months, nine to be exact, we asked at different times about it and all the while Mom never complained. Usually I was the one asking her if they'd told her when they were going to paint...Finally, after some staff changes and a random conversation with one of her caregivers, suddenly her new room was now Lavender also and Mom loved it! She immediately mentioned to me that she needed a new comforter or bedspread that would look pretty with the wall color and wanted me to shop for one for her.

After the room was painted it was nearly time to be thinking about the holidays, etc and it occurred to me that I could make her a quilt! So now, holidays behind us, here I am, the fabric is finally cut and ready to sew. Lots of love is going into this quilt filled with floral fabrics, tea cups, china and shades of Lavender...all things that she loves...I will post a photo when it is complete and another of my mom with her quilt on the day I give it to her!!!

 Day 2

My favorite place to sit and relax when I need a break from gardening. It looks so much more inviting when the weather is warm and all the trees and flowers are in bloom...I chose to go out and take this shot as I was preparing dinner tonight, looking out my kitchen window and wishing I was cooking on the grill and having a drink under the Sycamore tree....(my first photo choice was my dinner ingredients, lolol)