Happy
Spring!! It is finally here (even if we
do still have snow on the ground…it is melting quickly).
I am
wearing my new shawl (really more of a scarf in my opinion) today and I do love
it. The colors are wonderful. A craptastic selfie, but the best I can do at
work:
And
today, in addition to being the first day of Spring, is my Mom’s birthday. If she were alive, she would be 98! She was a pretty amazing woman…very
independent and adventurous. When she
was 19, she rode her bike from Vermont to Canada, camping out along the
way. The following year she and her
girlfriend, Jennie, rode their bikes from Vermont to California! They camped in fields…or in bad weather spent
the night in barns. Keep in mind these
were bikes from back in the 30’s – balloon air tires, etc. What an adventure. I have a copy of the scrapbook she put
together after that trip (the original one was disintegrating).
She
was equally adventurous when she was raising me and my three brothers…always up
for a trip somewhere. She loved to hike,
play tennis, swim, etc. My Dad always
said that one of the things he loved about my Mom was that she wasn’t afraid to
try anything.
Here
are two pictures of my Mom taken way before I was born. We found these in a box of photos after my
Mom passed away. I love them. (Excuse the flash spots -- I took these pictures quickly with my phone at
5:30 this morning.) These are hanging in
our stairway along with other family shots.
Look how skinny my Mom was!
The
first one we kids have named “The Gunslinger” – lol. One of her brothers was an avid trapper and
hunter (though usually with a bow) and I’m pretty sure the gun was his. The second one is a shot of her all suited up
and ready to ski.
Sadly
my Mom’s health deteriorated when she was in her late 70’s, and she passed away
in 2004. I miss her laughter and
spontaneity and how she and I would be so silly together. Happy Birthday Mom!!
Nice finish on the shawl/scarf! Always good to put one right from the needles to wearing! I'm glad you have such great memories of your mom; that's quite a wonderful thing!
ReplyDeleteYour shawl is so pretty! Such pretty colors. Your mom sounds like an amazing woman. What great adventures she got to experience.
ReplyDeleteThat is not a craptastic selfie. I LOVE seeing you. Your knit is great coming along. Your mom sounds so so fun. I love seeing the images and hearing about her. She's talking to you today that's for sure
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely remembrance of your mother! Thanks for sharing your fun and loving memories of her.
ReplyDeleteYou Mom sounds like a fantastic woman! I would have loved to meet her. She had moxie!!!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a happy day of celebrating her life.
P.S. The shawl looks very nice!!!
She sounds like a fantastic woman who left you with a wealth of good memories! That's always something to cherish.
ReplyDeleteAdventurous is an understatement - your Mom was an explorer! I hope you will share some of her scrapbook thoughts and photos on your blog.
ReplyDeleteYou look fabulous in your shawlette.
Pretty photo of you wearing the beautiful shawl.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you as you remember your mom on her birthday. What an interesting life she led. The scrapbook from her travels is a treasure! I enjoyed seeing the photos of her very much.
Happy First Day of Spring.
Your shawl looks perfect - congratulations on finishing it!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your mom! Though different than yours in so many ways, my mom was full of adventures too. She died in 1988, and like you, I miss her every day. But it's wonderful to have so many nice pictures and fun memories. I'll bet the scrapbook is amazing.
What an amazing woman your mom was! The Mister's mom is still alive at that age and it is not a pretty sight. Things are getting very difficult for her, poor thing.
ReplyDeleteYour shawl is gorgeous and so are you! I think it is the first time I have seen you and I am surprised at how young you look. Happy Spring!
I agree. Your mom must have had you late in life because you don't look even close to having a 98 year old mom. What a courageous and spirited woman she was. Sounds like she had a wonderful and full life.
ReplyDeleteYour shawl turned out just beautifully. And thanks for sharing stories and photos of your Mom. What fun! You're very fortunate to have had her in your life for so long (although that is small consolation when you're missing her, I know). What a lovely tribute. XO
ReplyDeleteLovely shawl! Loved hearing about your mom and seeing her pictures. March 20 is a good day to be born. My son's birthday too!
ReplyDeleteI miss my mom too and her birthday is tomorrow. I loved reading about your mom and she sounds awesome!! You look lovely in your shawl and I wear all of my shawls like scarves :)
ReplyDeleteYour mom sounds like an amazing woman. I love the ski photo. I can see why you miss her.
ReplyDeleteThe shawl is just gorgeous!
Vera, you Mom sounds wonderful. Aren't you lucky to have had such a fun and adventurous Mom. Love the selfie.
ReplyDeleteYour mom was truly an Original. I am sure that you are more like her than even you know.
ReplyDeleteThe shawl is so becoming! You have to be happy with how it turned out.