Monday 11 May 2015

There is something wonderful about family!

There are many who are uncomfortable with Mother's Day, as well as the other invented celebrations. There were many Mother's Days when I was far from my children. I know I am not alone. The kids 
have always been good about it. Phoning, at least, if we were apart. I remember one year I had three kids in three different universities, in three separate cities! There are times when this happens. My son in Vancouver phoned me. He is happily awaiting the birth of a daughter! (Due May 5th.)
Many have a loss
I feel badly for some. Those who do not have children have this day front and foremost, shoved in their faces. It is a personal choice for many, a life fact for some. None of my beeswax. What irks me are all the charities we support who choose to send e-mail challenging me to give more, for my mother. (She died on Mother's Day weekend, 2006. Hubby's mother died the same weekend, as have several friends of mine. Very bizarre.) BTW I met my birth mother. It didn't go well. We do not have any further communication! Family are the people around you - who love you!

My children keep this highly-marketed day in perspective. My kids have always been frugal, and they recycle kids' clothes. They buy 2nd-hand clothes, when the occasion warrants. They, like me, eschew Cheap-Mart, who takes 20% of the profits on a $9 t-shirt, keeping workers overseas in poverty, and Canadians out of work. They are all conscientious about Reduce, Re-use, Recycle!
Kitty Litter cake!
How creative!!!
Happily, some of us were together this year! May 7th was Isabelle's birthday, as well. Then, J-L's birthday is coming up in June. We had a party! 
 Firstly, they always bring a cake, auctioned off at their school community event. This year's was a perfect one! (Last year, it was one with chocolate bugs!) It was a chocolate cake, with white icing and crushed crackers on top. With 4 cats in the house, it was hilarious.

Next, Caitlin, though she is terribly busy, made two salads. I had some peppers, and other veggies to grill, as well as homemade chicken/turkey burgers. It was a lovely meal.



Our meal over, it was time for presents. I could not believe mine from Caitlin! She had gone to an evening of painting. They hold it in a pub, they have liquid libation, and an artist teaches them how to paint a picture! I haven't had hand-made gifts since my third child was in grade 6 (1995)! My grandchildren are wonderful, and make me art all the time!
 Outdoors we went. Josee and I compared our new shoes.

There was some outdoor play, despite the mosquitoes being out. And Isabelle helped my plant some peas within the newly-painted veggie garden fence! I hope you appreciate our outfits! She might look like a princess, but she is a tough little cookie!

I really need to rent a rototiller, but with my sore foot that isn't going to happen! My asparagus, planted when we moved here in 2010, have already gone beyond picking stage, and they are about 2' tall. Oops. I really have to weed it, too. The rhubarb looks pretty good. I need to pick some and build something!
 We played soccer, and made slow-motion videos on Papa's camera. What a fun time! Caitlin got cold and I have her my sweatshirt! What a change in the weather – from 25C. in the morning, to <20 C. in the afternoon. This morning, Monday, it's only 10 C. (50 F.) and quite cool!
The green grass is wonderful and I am always amazed by how large our backyard is, when they get running around on it! We are grateful for our little sanctuary. The fountain is running well, with the heat we've had, hubby tops it up every morning.

8 comments:

William Kendall said...

Sore foot aside, it sounds like you had a good day. Having had lost my mother two years ago to cancer now, it's a day that's become tinged with sadness.

Nancy J said...

Mother's Day, like Easter, Christmas and others is so commercialised, we tend to forget the real meaning.How big a gift, how much, TV advertising galore.. that day originally started as " Mothering Sunday" I think, a cup of tea in bed, maybe breakfast made, and all off to church. Your story is so lovely Jennifer, family togetherness. Love in heaps,XXX

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

A fun day indeed! My DIL and I went to a painting thing like that and we both absolutely loved it. Our painting was to copy 'Starry Night'. How we laughed! but we both still have our paintings.

Gill - That British Woman said...

looks and sounds like a nearly perfect day. I have heard of those "classes" your daughter went too for the painting. Did she go to the one in Pickering or Toronto?

Anonymous said...

That is a fabulous painting. Mother's Day in Sweden is on another day to yours, but when the kids were younger, school made them bring back little cards. Very sweet - but I always think of the children's birth mothers on Mother's Day because such a day must be hard on her.

eileeninmd said...

Happy belated Mother's Day! Sounds like you had a wonderful day with your family.. Great photos, enjoy your day!

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
The concept of 'mothers day' and the surge of all other such days has been so driven by the "Hallmark" ethos... here, we were brought up with Mothering Sunday; it was a spiritual day of acknowledging the work of our mothers and tied in with Spring and birth (in UK it is in March)...

You had a worthwhile celebration of your motherhood and that is as it ought to be! YAM xx

Kay said...

What gorgeous photos! I'm so glad you had such a lovely day despite your sore foot.