Sunday Bits #35

This week's post is pretty short and has a lot less gardening information than usual as my sweet momma passed away just a couple of days ago. We were at her bedside during the week so not many links to share with you all.

My beautiful, sweet mom was an avid gardener as far back as I can remember. She grew only a few food crops, some potatoes, carrots, strawberries, some berry bushes (you know how I always say to grow what you eat!) but she sure loved her flowers. Begonias in big bold colours were here favourites. There were begonias and petunias, colour of all sorts on the deck from spring through till frost, and we could always count on finding mom puttering out in her garden, planting, pinching, or weeding.

Mom had dementia for the past 5 years, did not always know who I was when I visited or chatted with her on the phone (she loved chatting on the phone for hours at a time), but that was okay, I knew who she was, and was grateful for the visits and time we had together.

Magpies and Signs

Do you all believe in signs, superstitions, omens, and such? If not, just skip this part to the links part... but if you do, you might like this story. My dad was very fond of magpies. I know most people do not care for them much but dad had a pet magpie when he was young, and that love carried on his whole life. Mom and dad fed the magpies, talked to them, watched them from the window or the deck. The birds came to get my parents if there was no food in the tray, squawking loudly at them. I hope the new owners of their house have been feeding the birds.. but most likely not, haha.

Just a few hours before my mom passed, a magpie suddenly flew into the small courtyard outside her window. It stayed there for quite a while, a half hour or more, just hopping about and hanging out in the small courtyard. There has not been one around the home at any time prior, in the 1.5 years that mom lived there. We would have noticed as we always said "Hi dad' when we saw one ; ) During the time that the bird was outside the window, my mom kept reaching her arms out towards the side of the bed. My brother and I, we both firmly believe that was a sign, that magpie was dad, coming to wait for mom.

Okay, on to gardening things and other Bits....

Really good grape growing information on how to grow, prune, take care of your vines. The grapes in this picture are from the acreage but I also have a lovely well-established blue grape at this new house. Such a bonus! Growing grapes is pretty easy, they are lovely to look at, vigorous growers, the vines are so useful, and the grapes themselves, well, they are delish!

This article about garden journaling is really good. Lots of things to think about. I am working on trying to get better about keeping track of weather! I love keeping track of ideas in my journal and then going over it in winter to jog my memory. You think you will remember all the great ideas you had earlier, but I often look back at my notes and think... oh yeah, that is what I wanted to do there ; ) I', currently planning for my fall bulb buying and planting already ; )

Decor Bits

Decorating with mason jars. I would love to find some of those blue mason jars! and those lids!

This cottage is so pretty inside and out. Even has a sweet little greenhouse! Is simple, elegant, charming. PHOTOGRAPHY HOUSE HIRE | My Site 1 (info9071121.wixsite.com)

Recipes

These strawberry shortcake ice cream sandwiches are on my make it list for our Canada Day party!

This strawberry loaf looks delish! I made this last week, just before mom became ill, so had it on the counter for the dog walker and my daughter as they helped with the pooches while I was away day and night. Personally, I thought it was a wee bit dry but very tasty so will make it again but I think I would add some plain yoghurt to add a bit of moisture.

Old Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Cookies - On Sutton Place Oatmeal raisin cookies are my most favourite of all time. I have my tried and true recipe, of course, but am always willing to try new recipes... just in case it is better.

Thank you all for following and reading my story. Wishing you all a lovely Sunday and week ahead. Go hug your mom! ~ Tanja : )

My sweet momma with 4 of her grandkids and my brother, getting a new gate for the backyard on Mother's Day. She gardened that whole bank that you see on the side. Those stairs brought her up to the magpie bird feeder : )