On a Happier Note- Pam's shoes and clotheslines for inspiration.....

I have been thinking all day about my Mother and all of the things that made her, her. I promised her I would do some story quilts about her and I am so emotional about her passing that it is hard to focus. Today I thought about her lovely hands and all they did. Then I thought of clotheslines because in the past, she always was hanging clothes out, like my Grandmother and the sheets that she ironed afterwards smelled so heavenly when you got into bed. Rarely do I go to the trouble of that with my own sheets but when I do, I am transported to that time when women worked harder and we had lovely smells, starched dresses and blouses to wear to school, good homemade bread (we did not buy bread), pie crust that was better than any one else's, lefsa that was heavenly and flower gardens that sang. Valentines were home made and May 1st was the day we took baskets to our neighbors houses and hung on their doors. All of those things I didn't thank my Mother for. :0) No regrets, it just would have been nice.

Here are a few photos I found today that made me smile and I thought might inspire you for a quilt, a painting or something that is creative.

I am planting hydrangias across the front of my house. My Mother loved them and it will be a nice thing to remember her by. I will plant a rose in my backyard and give my kids all a rose to plant to. My Mother loved a spot on the river called Camp White and I saved some ashes to take out there along with a lovely tree to plant for all of us to visit.

Isn't the photo above lovely? A beautiful quilt and no kids or dogs running around which was normal....note the lovely outfit too. And white no less and no apron. Haha.

My friend Pam sent me this photo last week of her new shoes. They are darling-love the cherries and note the price! Thought they would be a nice, happy thing to share with each of you.

If you still have your Mom and Dad, cherish every moment and keep making memories.