Happy Mother's Day, everyone !

our day started out with pancakes and blueberry syrup...

yum...

made by DH...

the best pancake chef around...

I went to bed last night with a sore throat and it's been sore all day...

and today started out overcast with no rain...

we went for a walk after breakfast...

and we got down to the highway...

and just kept going...

down a block, over the tracks and down another block...

the next highway...

turned right and came back down our street...

crossed the tracks again and back home...

I'ld bet it's been 12 years or better since I had seen these 2 city blocks from the side walks...

we used to walk all the time...

especially in the snow...

back home to find my tote of garden stuff...

this is where the fun begins...

the lids of the totes under the deck had held leaves and water...

yep...the stink was so bad...

clothes pins didn't help...

so DH crawls under there...

gagging...

dragging tote after tote out...

it's all cleaned out now and waiting for it to dry overnight...

all the totes are out in the yard...

do we look tacky today!

Craig will put them back tomorrow...

this reminds us of my mil...

these were hers...

and this reminds us of my mom...

this pattern is what my mother had for our good dishes...

wheat pattern in yellow, trimmed in gold...

I found these dishes at a rummage sale a few years ago...

the onions are really growing...

working on this area... 

we even found more pots under the deck...

made an orange cake last night and farmer's pie for supper...

just pulled it out of the oven...

so I guess it's time to holler at everyone and get to the food part of the day...

we had a wonderful day...

got a little bit done...

played outside...

it's 71...

how could it be any more perfect than that with the sun shining?

and a gentle breeze instead of one that rolls you across the fields...

moments spent with my guys here and now...

reflections of rocking babies and raising boys...

deeper reflections of mothers who still dwell within us...

and of days spent in their watch...

safe, happy and secure...

and thoughts of friends who are the most amazing mothers, too...

smiles for their children who have become new moms...

you have been in my thoughts today, too...

and I have found myself smiling so many times today...

thinking that for so many years of dreading this day of all days...

but keeping a front up so my boys could enjoy their tributes to me...

today was my day...

today I was the mother...

and I enjoyed being pampered and catered to...

and I was not sad that my mother is not here now...

I was overjoyed that she was here before...

Happy Mother's Day...

to every woman out there...

whether you have your own children or not...

you still count...

lounging in the shade...

yesterday afternoon, we spent time in the loungers...

just hanging out...

eating popsickles...

and watching the clouds go by...

and darken...

and the wind picked up...

and then early evening...

storms passed by us to the east...

a tornado was spotted 16 miles NNE of us...

storm front on the prairie...

that just missed us again...

and we watched it go by...

angels working overtime...

keeping us safe...

keeping our home safe...

keeping our property safe...

keeping our town safe...

praying for those still cleaning up and going through the spring storms...

extra prayers for all the mothers out there that have children in the armed forces fighting on foreign soil and maintaining freedom away from home...

prayers for those mothers who have empty arms and a child on the other side...

prayers and unending  hugs for all the mothers who are sleeping in a chair beside a hospital bed tonight, full of fear, hanging on with both hands for a child they may have to give back...

prayers for all the women who would give anything to be a mother, but go through life without the joy of holding their own in their arms...

God blessed me with the softest, toughest, bravest, most fearful woman who ever walked this earth...

who always told me that motherhood was not for wimps...

who led by example and lived what she preached...

whose shoes I attempt to fill daily, but who left clear and vivid footprints for me to follow...

who never gave up on me, even when I had a hard time finding my way...

who loved me enough to tell me no, so others would love me, too...

Happy Mother's Day, mom...

you were the best friend I ever had...

or ever will...

and I so miss walking in your shadow...

our talks...

your hugs...

for this is the one day of the year that I miss you most...

16 Mother's Days and counting...

loving you forever and a day...