~THOUGHTS ON A SUNDAY MORNING...My Mother~

 My Mom is now the matriarch of our entire family.  Today she is far older than her own grandmother was in the picture above.  This photo was taken when I was a baby...a long, long time ago now.  My beautiful Grandmother and Great-Grandmother passed on many years ago.

Only my Mom remains.

I've watched my Mother grow truly elderly over the past several years, her body weakened from age, her voice crackled by time.  But, her mind is still sharp and I'm grateful we can talk, laugh and reminisce together because it wasn't always like that.

I can't help but wince a bit when I think back upon my teenage years and even those of my early 20's.  I did NOT like my Mom back then.  I didn't think she understood me or knew anything about life...or me.

How silly.

Life has been challenging for my Mom since my Father's slipped behind the heathered hill.  She quietly longs for the physical strength he gave her and the spiritual wisdom he always tried to impart.  Still, I sense a deep settled peace within her and seeing her yesterday brought me great joy. 

I continue to feel extremely grateful I'm able to spend physical time with the most talented woman I've ever known.

(Her prayers kept me going last year.)

Thankful today I can call her both Momma and friend.

Hope your day was a special.

Love to you...

Rebecca

~WHEN THE TIME COMES~

 ~MY FATHER~

1955/1956

“God will help you deal with whatever hard

things come up when the time comes.” 

Matthew 6:34

(The Message)

It’s been over eight years since my father was moved into a nursing home to live out the remainder of his days.  Since that early spring evening in 2003 I’ve watched him decline and change both mentally and physically into someone I barely recognize.  His once vibrant mind has faded while his strong, capable hands have grown fragile and weak.

~BEAUTIFUL and YOUNG~

1955/56

His cocky good looks, neatly trimmed mustache and Cheshire Cat grin can now only be seen in pictures.  It’s common place for me to keep them close at hand.   They remain a gentle reminder of the man I use to know.

 ~NOVEMBER 23, 1955~

WEDDING DAY

Truthfully, just hearing the word “Alzheimer’s” is overwhelming.  I hate it.  I want to curse it.  Yell, scream and stomp and kick my feet at it every single day.  I want to throw a tantrum and flail my arms and shake my fist at it.  I want to act like a bully and beat it up.

Tear it limb from limb.

I want to bloody up this faceless, callous ogre.

I want to kill and destroy the heinous thief that came in the cool of the night and robbed my family and I of what we hold so dear...

 ~A LOVELY BRIDE~

1955

 And then, just as my humanity is about to get the best of me and I fear I've left the presence of the Most High, I catch sight of my Mother as she shares a fleeting moment in time with my Father.  She is long past the point of questioning or displaying negative emotion.  I dally in the shadows to watch for a bit as she sits lovingly beside the man of her dreams, the very person who continues to be the keeper of her heart.

 ~MY PARENTS 1963~

With a clear view of her selfless abandon, I look from a distance as she tends to the needs of the husband of her youth.  I breathe in their most private of moments and watch quietly as she performs, with steely determination, the care she’s become best known for.  Decidedly she moves closer to her aging beau, content to be fully present in their journey of silence.  She has loved this man in sickness and in health for more than a half a century and I know from experience she won’t waste a moment of time uttering words in bitterness or anger over a disease she has somehow managed to accept. 

 

~MY MOTHER TODAY~

Through misty, watery eyes I choke back what are now familiar tears.  I watch as she lifts her right hand, gently stroking my father’s silvery white hair before carefully tucking the bed covers up under his chin.  Night has fallen and she must leave him once again. She gently kisses his check while whispering something I’m quite sure only his heart could hear…

~MOMMA and ME~

1959

From an adjoining room I listen as my Mother gathers her belongings and makes her way down the long corridor that will eventually lead her back home.
She will never know of my presence on this night...
Never know I was watching from a distance
the truest of loves play out...
Never know how I long to be more like her...

Beautiful Mother I have.

Beautiful, beautiful Mother.

~~*~~

Love to you as you honor the women in your life who've helped mold and make you into the person you are today…

~WHEN PINK MAKES ME BLUE~

~LOVING ALICE BLUE~

Today I will be working in my studio all day long creating things like the two Sachet Pillows you see above.  I finished both of these late in the day Sunday and I'm soooo loving getting back to this intricate style of handwork.  I'm a bit BLIND at the moment from all the detail work and I'm thinking I need new glasses...or at least some stronger contacts!  (One of the things I don't like about growing older is losing MY YOUNG, STRONG EYES!)

~RARE BRUNDAGE IMAGE~

You might remember a post I did from last year where I took an aging photograph of my grandfather and great-grandmother and incorporated it into a sachet pillow as a gift for my mother.  The more I thought about it the more I wanted to expand upon this sweet concept.  So...I've opted to take some of my very favorite vintage images and work them into some special Mother's Day offerings for my website. 

~SACHET FOR MY MOTHER LAST YEAR~

~VINTAGE LACES-BUTTONS-MILLINERY~

Both Sachets sold early, early this morning, but I promise there will be more for those of you who are interested.  I hope you'll check them out when you have time!  Lots of sweet things coming up!

~MISS MAUD, TOO!~

Hope you had an awesome weekend.  I spent a great deal of mine painting out a bicycle planter my Mr. AGPMan bought me a couple of years ago.  I plan on showing you her transformation tomorrow...  I actually didn't really plan on giving her a makeover (she was Verdigris and lovely!), but since I was a fool and left her outside all winter she was looking a little worse for wear and so a repaint job was in order!!  More soon about this!

HAPPY MONDAY!


Love to you...

~HAND PAINTED PINK ROSE GIFT CARD CASES~ Cottage Chic Makeover

 ~DAINTY PINK CASES FOR GIFT GIVING~

I dined with my sweet Momma a couple of days ago and we had the most wonderful time just chatting away.  She is an amazing woman and I'm in awe of her strength and grace.  With Mother's Day on the horizon I'm more thankful than I can say that I still have her in my life.  She's deserves more than she's ever been afforded and this year I really want to do something special for her.  This is especially important to me since my daddy can no longer celebrate or appreciate her contribution to the lives of his four children...

~SWEET and PETITE~

But what to do or buy???  From sewing to painting she's taught me most all I know about creating.  She's the most talented, gifted woman in my life and I hope to honor her presence in a beautiful way...

 ~GIFT CARD READY~

After much thought I've just about decided to treat her to a Day Spa!!!  As soon as I can I'm going to purchase a Gift Card from one of our local Salons and tuck it inside one of the hand painted Cases you see above!  I truly dislike the ones you can buy at the store (see below...perfect for a 5 year old but NOT my Mother!).  Besides...the Tin is a gift in and of itself!  I can just see it nestled into a sweet little vignette in her home.

 ~ORIGINAL CASE~

Truthfully, I wasn't even sure I could paint the metal case you see above.  It took some experimenting and patience for sure!  Too much paint and it all chipped off.  Too little and the original design bled through.  :(  So frustrating!  In the end I'm happy with the final results!  Romantic, feminine and sooo much sweeter for someone who deserves the Moon!

I'm planing on offering a few Cases on my A Gathering Place Website under the Mother's Day Category later this week.  I hope you'll check them out when you have time!  I'll only be painting a handful in case you're interested!

Blessings to you today.  I'm late with this post!  I've been busy working in my studio and enjoying time in my garden.

Love to you~

~AN ANGEL OF A DAY~

~SWEET MEMORIES~

Just a quick post today, peeps!  After a WONDERFUL Mother's Day yesterday I'm back in my studio working on new, fresh product for my website.  Lots of things are in the works and I hope you'll visit again soon!

Did you all have a wonderful day celebrating the special women in your life?  My day started out with a beautiful visit from my daughter (early for breakfast) followed by a wonderful worship service.  Then there was lunch out with my son and his family, my girl and her hubbs, my mother, and of course my Mr. AGPMan.  It's always extra special when both my children and their loves can be with me on Mother's Day at the same time.  Now that they are married I have to share them with extended family and it doesn't always work out for us to enjoy the same few hours.  When everything works out like it did this year I feel doubly blessed.

My mother loved her keepsake pillow! The memory of her opening up her package is a day I will carry with me always!

All my loves pooled their money this year and purchased me a gift certificate at my FAVORITE SPA.  I love getting facials that include head to toe pampering...but, I rarely splurge on such things.  I'm looking forward to a day of relaxation and giving those tired and overworked muscles some TLC.

I'm hoping your day was as lovely as mine!

Blessings for a fun, productive week...

~WITH LOVE...To The Most Talented Woman I Know~

~MY MOTHER & I~

Mother's Day 2009

Last Mother's Day I treated my mother to a lunch out at our favorite Mimi's Restaurant.  After Church today we will be dining together as an entire family and I'll be sure to tell you all about her reaction to the Sachet Pillow I'm gifting her in honor of her special day.

When I was a young girl I remember my Mother to be outgoing and fun.  She was heavily involved in my Father's Ministry (I'm a PK/Preacher's Kid), sang in our church choir and taught Sunday School for many years.  She was a perfectionist when it came to throwing a party and to this day gave the most elegant bridal and baby showers I've ever seen (and on a shoe-string budget).  She loved being involved in PTA, enjoyed being a Room Mother and remains one of the best graphic artists I've known.

Extremely talented and full of faith and love for the Most High, she taught all of her children (I'm the 2nd of 4) the same two things.  Simply put...there was nothing we could ever do that would cause her not to love us and that we could never fall so far from God that His never ending love could not reach us...

For this I'm most thankful.

Life threw my Mother a curve ball when she began experiencing Nerve Deafness when still a young wife and mother.  This has greatly affected her social life as it became extremely difficult for her communicate with a hearing world.  I've watched her handle her affliction with dignity and grace...  I know at times it must be devastating for her and yet she never complains.

She is strong beyond words.

At present my Mother spends most of her days visiting with the love of her life, my aging Father (who is now in a Nursing Home) or working or various projects for pin money.  She loves having a computer as it helps her "hear" through the typed word and that keeps in her touch with what is going on in her family's life.

She is the proud Mother of 4 children, 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren (one being my Miss K!).

"Thank you, Mom, for your constant encouragement during my life.  You will always be my hero."

Blessings to you as you celebrate the lives of those you love...and those who love you!

Happy Mother's Day

PS:  To BKN and My AdrieGirl...my two beautiful children~ I'm proud to be your mother and to call each of you FRIEND.  You've grown up to bless me and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank God for you.  XO, Momma

~~~~VINTAGE SEPIA KEEPSAKE PILLOW~~~~ Remembering Mom With Love~

 ~FOR MY MOTHER~

If you've followed my little bloggie for any length of time now then you are sure to know how much I love creating pretty things from vintage finds...  Nearly every morning you'll find me working in my studio on something for someone. I'm ALWAYS excited impatient to see the outcome of what's being made!  To tell you the truth, sometimes I have no idea what the final results of my latest creation will be.  :)  No idea at all...

It's why I need peeps like you...I need to be inspired!

~AGING LACES & A SWEET OLD LOCKET~

Yesterday I showed you a sweet picture of my Grandfather and Great-Grandmother taken around 1909.  Can you imagine?  That was 101 years ago!  Somehow the tiny photo has survived for a century and still remains in tact.  The original picture is very, very small and even a tad bit shadowy and dark.  Still, I couldn't resist using it to fashion a special Mother's Day Gift for my Mother.  I'm hoping she will love it.

 ~VINTAGE BUTTONS & BLOOMS~

(Now...a couple of days ago I told her NOT to visit my blog for a few days and she better not!  If she does, trust me, I will know..."YOU AREN'T PEEKING, ARE YOU MOM????")

Now...I used my home printer and reproduced the photo onto a high thread-count cotton.  After positioning the picture in place I began to layer old laces and trim on top of one another in a random, no-frills order.  After adding a flirty ruffle and simple back, the Pillow was filled with poly fluff, a hint of pure French Lavender and hand stitched closed.  Old buttons were stitched in place before adding a cluster of vintage millinery flowers and crinkly rayon ribbon near the top.  The final touch was the aging brass locket dangling from the bouquet...

I'd love to hear how you are remembering the special women in your life...Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Daughter, Aunt, Cousin or Friend...

Blessings for beautiful weekend filled with fond memories of the women you deeply love...

PS: Tomorrow I'm joining Beverly at HOW SWEET THE SOUND for PINK SATURDAY! My first one...should be fun!