Saturday, May 7, 2011

Orchids, Starbucks, Determination and Roses… and Happy Mother’s Day Weekend!

Blessing mt flowers blk

We took a quick trip down to Mississippi (quick? 12 hours is quick?) to visit my 93… NINETY-THREE year old mother-in-law. Left on Tuesday and got back last night, Friday. She is in pretty good health, still lives in her house by herself and is bound and determined to do what she pleases! Her short term memory is fading, but overall, at that age… she’s doing well!

She taught Biology at the high school for 50 years and always had all sorts of plants growing inside and out…in the yard and greenhouse. Her specialty was orchids. Now that she’s older she doesn’t have the selection she once had, but I just had to get pics of these in the dining room!

orchid1

orchid2

orchid3

Aren’t they gorgeous!

Lloyd also did A LOT of yard work, downsizing her huge garden to a small plot for a container garden (we enjoyed sugar snap peas!), and trimming a giant bush that had gotten OUT OF CONTROL! As Lloyd cut branches and threw them over the fence, I drug them out to the street as the city truck was coming by that day for pick up. She was BOUND and DETERMINED to help!

JaneBranches

Remember….93… about 5 feet tall
and probably 90 pounds or less!!!
Can you see her there?
She made it with all that pile snagged together to the street!

Now, several weeks ago I had a comment on a blog post from a sweet lady. I decided to check out her blog and found out she was from Columbus, MS, not far from my MIL! We emailed back and forth and arranged a meeting while there. Shirley came by, picked me up and we headed for Starbucks! YUM, Caramel Macchiato!

ShirleySwoope Strbks1

Shirley is a regular at the Sassy Challenges, and trust me…she fits right in! What a hoot she is too. We laughed and laughed and talked for 2 hrs! Come to find out, a lot of her husband’s relatives Lloyd knows and her sister-in-law is also a retired teacher from the HS! Small world! Thanks for a great time, Shirley!

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I had this card done weeks ago but just hadn’t gotten around to posting it… so here it is!

Blessing mt

Our Daily Bread designs Mini Tags 1 and coordinating Spellbinders Ribbon Tag Trio 3. The DP is SEI Claire, the bling from Want2Scrap.

I made the ribbon roses from this great YouTube tutorial by one of my fellow Breadsticks, Connie. So easy!!

Blessing mt flowers clsup

Blessing mt clsup

I hope I’ve inspired you to do something new today….or maybe just to get outside and do some yard work! LOL! Or call a friend and go to coffee!!

Thanks for stopping!

Dawn

4 comments :

Shirley said...

I hope I'm as active and together as your MIL if I get to 93. Love the shot of her pulling the limbs to the street(and folks she really is a tiny lady). Thanks for meeting me. I had a blast and can't wait for you to comeback. You need to schedule a trip around about the 9th of July:).

This card is fabulous and I'm off to check out the YouTube tutorial. I love different flowers.

Mary Marsh said...

beautiful card dawn and I loved reading your story about your mil-thanks for the link to the rose tut

Turtle In The Sand said...

God Bless this 93 year old spitfire! My Mom is 84, crippled up with RA and battling glaucoma and stubborn as they come. She still lives alone and plans on keeping it that way! She does live 3 minutes from me and we take her meals everyday, but she is a real pistol! Good Lord that woman is independent!

So glad you and Shirley had some fun too. She is one sweet lady!

velta said...

Hi Dawn!!! I just thought I would stop by and wish you a Belated Happy Mother's Day...I see you had a busy weekend anyway, I am proud of your MIL...my goodness what a "sprite" she is! Your card is gorgeous and I thank you for sharing the tutorial on youtube...I am headed that way now...Thanks for sharing and have a great week ahead!