I took a walk in the neighborhood this weekend and noticed a house that has been empty for years with white lilacs growing over the fence. I went home for my basket and filled it with flowers. I have two purple lilacs, but the white ones I have never been interested in. I’m kind of a purple girl really, and the purple ones really caught my eye. I realized I missed the elegant beauty of white lilacs.
Early Sunday morning, I got up and lit the candles and turned Pandora radio on to soft instrumental music. The entire house seemed to be filled with peace from the lovely white bouquets scattered around the dining room. I instantly fell head over heels in love with these white beauties.
I have decided I simply must have one of these elegant trees in my yard. Before I got home, I decided on another must have. This is a photo of my neighbors house and her wisteria that is growing over her porch.
The wisteria blooms are kind of on the end of their cycle, but is this not the sweetest thing you have ever seen? It is a darling old house, and this just makes it even more sweet. We have two old homes on Cottage Avenue with wisteria growing over the porch.
But the first house on cottage, my little green house, the climbing old fashioned roses are starting to bloom over the arbor. Stop back by next Monday and I bet I will have some photos for you, in the meantime, I will leave you with one more mosaic of of the flowers around my neighborhood.
Have you been swooning over your neighbors flowers and getting ideas for your own dream garden or what you would like to add to yours?
I thought I was done with the intense mothering. My children are grown, and we even have three little grandchildren that I love and enjoy – and then send home with my daughter at the end of the day. And then, oh so gradually, I begin to have to take care of my mom. One day this spring, in the confusion of her mind, she told someone I was her mother. It was a moment of clarity for me. I realized it is true…I am now responsible for a another life, to make sure she is taken care of. She is looking at the world through eyes that don’t understand, and looking to me to keep her safe. I am now her mother. It is a choice I have to make everyday, and truthfully, one I wouldn’t have chosen. Some days are easier than others. I must forgive myself over and over again, and my mother as well. If you think it takes patience to cope with little children, it takes even more to cope with someone struggling with Alzheimer’s Disease. I really am trying to do the right thing by her, and to keep my sanity as well. She doesn’t live with me, but lives in a memory care center a mile from my house. Care for her is now 24/7 and intense. It is much more than one person can do. I am thankful for the wonderful caregivers who help with her care, I honestly don’t know how I could do this all on my own. My role is to mother her the best I can, every day that I can. One day at a time…
You made me grin from head to heart… and could already smell those beautiful ones. [NOW, I'll take a shower and use some lilac soapy stuff.... that's my Mother's Day gift to ME. 
We sailed back home the way we came, moving slowly across the water with the wind carrying us back. My son and his girlfriend will stay on the little boat in the marina. Rachel takes the ferry to and from Seattle everyday to work, and Tyler stays on the boat working a few days a week in a the community. It is a different life, but it does a mother good to see her children happy and pursuing their dreams. They are docked next to a large ship in the harbor and an eagle sits on top of the ship watching the comings and goings of life and hunting for food.
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