A Pleasant Day in May
Towards the end of May the families in this part of the country begin to think about their graveyards. You will come upon cars parked by the side of country roads while a whole household uproots bushes, scythes the weeds, and cuts the grass in farm burial plots. Then a tilted headstone is righted, the boulder walls straightened, and the jars brought from the pantry ready for flowers.
~Elizabeth Coatsworth
Maine Memories
Some have confessed to me that they didn't know how far into May we are. I know! I had the same problem. It takes a blogger to set a gal straight. Two of them, Carol and BJ, did Memorial Day themes for their note cards. Thank goodness or I'd still be lost. I think it's because the weather does not match the time. It couldn't be that I'm losing it, could it? Don't answer that!
~Sis~
At least, I wasn't totally lost by the time my sister called saying that she had flowers for our mother's grave. I smiled when seeing her arrangement knowing that she was thinking of Mother's favorite color and that she had added the new spike of burgundy~brown to the center. Mother always liked the "new" things.
So we spent a pleasant afternoon beginning with lunch, then planting and cleaning up, then picking up the grands, then finding an ice cream stand open. Does life get any better?
It sounds like a wonderful life to me!
ReplyDeleteWe had the same conversation, Vee. Time to get up to the graves and clean up. We went over there about 3 weeks ago and it wasn't too bad. We have taken on the responsibilty of taking care of my husbands family gravesite as others don't want too..how sad is that? ANYWAYS..kudos to you and your sister. Blessings
ReplyDeleteVee, you or your sister? Nice pot of geraniums etc., always like to see fresh flowers at a gravesite - tending is just so difficult though when loved ones are buried far, far away.
ReplyDeleteYes, a perfect afternoon and who doesn't love stopping for ice cream….Summer is not far off and those roadside stands will be getting busy!
I know what you mean about not realizing how far along into May we are! Our long weekend was last week (Victoria Day) and I still haven't ventured to the garden centre for flowers. It just feels too early! My Mom's grave has a lovely pot of pansies that are loving the cooler temps. We did the work for a "proper" garden on Mother'sDay (stone edging, etc.) and hope to plant a few annuals next week. Just waiting for those darn nighttime temperatures to rise a bit!
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to believe how far along in May we are - it seems like it should still be March! Although I am quite thankful it's May :)
ReplyDeleteYour afternoon sounded delightful. I hope your weekend is blessed! Hugs to you, Vee
Sounds like a lovely day. Memorial Day weekend and we don't even have our patio covers up or our patio furniture out yet. I'm hoping to do some clean up around my own yard here at this old house. We saw a couple graveyards that needed a lot of tender loving care on our trip...
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a beautiful day, indeed....It's lovely here too after all the storm damage last week. May is my favorite month, I think......June is a very close second, though. The road that the cemetery where Paul is is still closed for the section that has access to Moore's Chapel Cemetery.
ReplyDeleteWhat a special day of remembrance, reliving memories and making new ones.Days like this are treasured.
ReplyDeleteThe flowers are beautiful. It reminded me of the flowers in wooden baskets, that my Mother & Grandmothers would buy for family graves. They would retrieve them a few days after Memorial Day & plant them in their flower gardens.
ReplyDeleteHappy Memorial Day, Vee!
Smiles,
Carol
Such lovely flowers..in a few days, .we will most likely make the 45 mile trip to my parents and Mr. Sweet's parents graves for Red, White and Blue flowers.....then we will hunt for an ice cream stand..:))
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a delightful afternoon....especially the part about the ice cream :)
ReplyDeleteThis month seems to be flying past even more than usual. The flowers are beautiful. How satisfying to spend time with your sister while caring for your mother's gravesite. I thought Memorial Day was targeted towards remembering the war dead. Is caring for family graves on this day specific to certain areas in the USA or is it a common practice all over?
ReplyDeleteI do not know about "all over," I know that in my area it leans as much toward remembering "all" the departed as in remembering the war dead; although, we do have the parade, and the firing of the guns, and the wreath thrown from the bridge to commemorate the sailors. I even think I have a passage by Coatsworth discussing that aspect to use for my Memorial Day post.
DeleteNo, it doesn't get much better!
ReplyDeleteCherished time with your sister is always special.
It sounds like a very special day.
ReplyDeleteLife is Good. : )
ReplyDeleteIce cream sounds like the perfect ending to a nice afternoon. We'll make the trek to the cemeteries soon. Do you suppose the younger ones will keep these traditions going?
ReplyDeleteA pleasant day with your sister, remembering your mom.
ReplyDeleteLovely.
ReplyDeleteMy kids went with my Dad to place American Flags on the graves of Veterans. I'd like to do something for my grandmother's grave. I'll have to do it tomorrow.
Glad you had that time together with your sister, remembering your dear Mother.
Deanna
Can I come with? I love doing things like that. It's too hot and biting bugs too nasy in SE Georgia to do anything outside already. Is it Fall yet? I'm glad y'all take care of your ancestors headmarkers. I think that's important and the young don't seem to be picking up the slack. ~:)
ReplyDeleteA beautiful day. xo
ReplyDeleteThat is such a lovely tradition! We usually go visit our parents graves several times a year and bring a bucket a sturdy brush and go to town on the moss and dirt that has accumulated. I stopped bringing flowers since no one cleans up after them or waters them. I do think of my Mom so often when her favourite flowers are blooming.
ReplyDeleteNo, Vee, that's about great as it gets.
ReplyDeleteHave a safe fun happy holiday weekend coming up.
And no, you are NOT alone - where has May gone??????????????????????
Hugs.
Oh, it's so nice to hear of such a lovely day!! Days like that (ones that are full of simple pleasures) are ones to keep in the heart's memory.
ReplyDeleteThe flower arrangement is simply beautiful! Time spent with loved ones, lunch, and ice cream in May...grand!!
For us, it's brilliant red geraniums, cobalt blue lobelia, and a silvery licorice plant in the planters ... and trim back the white creeping phlox that we put in around Gram and Grampa's stones several years ago ... remembering all the good times as we fulfilll the yearly pilgrimage ... bet you found good memories too, dearie!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right! It really doesn't get much better than this! We are such fortunate people..for many reasons..even when things get sad or go bad. The flowers for your mother are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, Vee, about time rolling on by. It seems like the months fly faster, the older I get. Before I know it, Christmas will be here.
ReplyDeleteHow sweet of you and your sis to visit your Mom's grave and then an ice cream treat at the end makes everyone happy. xo
No, it doesn't get much better. Although realizing and appreciating how good it is at the time counts for a lot too.
ReplyDeleteI feel you mother was a very happy lady today. Seeing her two daughters continue to provide such loving care and then enjoying time with the grands...enough to warm any mother's heart, I think.
Sounds like a wonderful day and way to remember your mother. Yes, the weather sure is throwing me off too. Too cool and wet and not enough sun and heat so we still think it's April. Won't we be in for a shock on June 1st!! A month from today and we'll be on the downside of starting to get shorter day light hours!! Did I just say that??
ReplyDeleteLunch with your sis and honoring your mom sounds like a good day. Oh yes,and the grands + icecream!
ReplyDeleteAwwww - May has finally arrived here too!!! Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend my friend!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a delightful day all around! And sunshine as well? Does it get any better?
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful life......I have let time slip up on me. I hope to pack away 'Spring' and bring out all my patriotic decorations over the weekend. Time is flying by.....
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lovely day, Vee. I couldn't believe it was almost Memorial Day either! Today is the first day that it's really felt like a May day. All the farmers are crazy busy right now.
ReplyDeleteHi Vee!
ReplyDeleteI love Memorial Day, what a privilege it is to honor our loved ones, and all those who served in the armed forces! I like nothing more than to go to the cemetery and clean off the headstones. I always put mums on the graves, then I try to go back a week later and gather them up. I keep them in my yard for the summer. It's a good reminder for me to think kind and loving thoughts of those who have passed on, all summer long.
Your sisters arrangement is just beautiful!
Hugs,
Barb
I could NOT believe that this was Memorial Day weekend. I double checked the calendar thinking- THAT can't be right!!! Those are great flowers for your Mom's grave. I hope my brother's wife will take some flowers to the graves now-even though she has remarried since my brother died. That is one thing about moving so far from home. There is no one left there to tend the graves. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteI forgot how far into May we were too, I agree, the weather has been so cold and is Memorial weekend a little early this year? It sure seems like it! It is sweet that you and your sister take time out to remember your mom that way. I hope you have a really wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteAs you said the climate is little chill here. I am so glad to read about you and your sister remembering about your mom and her sweet memories!
ReplyDeleteWe were just talking about Memorial Day and sneaking up on us - it's because it usually falls later in the month around the 28-30th. At least that was our conclusion.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend!
I am glad I'm not the only one who feels that we're a little mixed up about how far we actually are into May. Our trees are finally greening out. It's wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely time with your sister remembering your mom together.
I can hardly believe that June is right around the corner. It's so hot here already it feels like mid-summer!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful holiday weekend!
That sounds like an absolutely perfect day!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful day ! Lovely photo ! Thanks for sharing , Have a good weekend !
ReplyDeleteI think it sounds like a well spent day.
ReplyDeleteI love your sister's hair color! If only my grey looked like that! My parents are buried in a National Cemetery so I know they had an American flag on their grave today.
ReplyDelete