At least six pair of ears...

My mom was never a "you shoulda'...you oughta" kind of mom, never saying you oughta' do this or you shoulda' done that. It boggles my mind how a person, let alone a MOM, could be so accepting and nonjudgmental.

It wasn't that she was unattached or disinterested. The woman was totally engaged and had at least 6 pair of ears. She was a listener!

She remembered every word I ever said. I could mention a college roommate's name years after I'd graduated college and she'd bring up where their parents lived and the name of their dog!

When the Mr. and I learned we were going to have a baby girl, that beautiful little blue-eyed Mom of mine asked what we were going to name our girlie. We excitedly told her our short list, Madison...Lauren...Sarah...which were good names and had links to ancestors but mom was quiet for just a minute and then in a gentle, soft voice said "You should name her Emily."

The Mr. and I about fell right off our chairs. Mom just said..."you SHOULD"! We were speechless, wide-eyed and in shock when we nodded our heads and said "okay".

Mom's grandmother had been named Emily. My mom was born after her grandmother died and never knew her. I don't know why Mom felt so strongly about the name but I believe there are ties that bind families together, real ties, eternal ties, important ties that I don't understand but I feel their importance in the center of my being.

My mom named our one and only little girl and she named her Emily. Then just to put the icing on the cake, Emily was born on Mom's birthday.    :)

Today is their birthday! Happy birthday girls!! We love you and are blessed by your sweetness.    :) xoxo

Asparagus on the ditch banks...

When I was a girl, mom would drive the two of us out into the countryside to pick asparagus. We'd find a patch on the ditch banks, cut a few stalks, find another patch, cut a few stalks, and so on until we had enough for dinner.

I didn't like how it tasted as a girl but I loved being with mom and cutting the beautiful green slender stalks. Fortunately, I've passed those picky-eater days and I adore asparagus!

I'm always on the hunt for a new yummy recipe and got lucky this week. This Chicken Asparagus Salad was the bomb! Just had to share it with my siblings, nieces, nephews, and friends who love asparagus too. Hope you like it!   :)

Grilled Chicken-Asparagus Salad

This is their image from "myrecipes.com"

Laundry day...

It's laundry day. 
On a cold winter day I LOVE having my arms full of clean warm laundry, fresh from the dryer. I keep a picture of my beautiful little blue-eyed mother in my laundry room, just to remind me and keep me grateful on those days I'm not feeling grateful for laundry...

 

It's a tiny picture but it sure does the trick. There she is...outside with the honey making warehouse in the background and her dryer...a clothes line. Yup! Does the trick!

I'm SO grateful on laundry day to be able to take arms full of clean warm laundry, fresh from the dryer.
Happy laundry day, all.
xoxo