Freeform Friday: Mother's Day Free Printable Wall Art

Happy Mother's Day

Hello all you mothers out there and all you people out there with moms.......oh yeah, that makes all of us!

Here's a Happy Mother's Day wish to all and I'm doing it with some very wise words from my own mother, which I've used to design some free printable wall art for you. Print it off, frame it and give it your mom or any moms you know.

You can download this free printable mom inspired wall art here.

She's smart that mother of mine, yes?

I'm lucky to still have my mom (right Mom?) and as we celebrate Mother's Day this Sunday in the states I think of people who have lost theirs, like my friend who lost his mom on Mother's Day. I think of Mrs. Dumont each Mother's Day and hear her saying 'oh just have another halfie'. God love her. She was a character. So if you're lucky like me, and still have your mom around, tell her she is WOW and so much more.

Things about my mom.....................

 (us almost 10 years ago at her godson's wedding)

 ..............that are hard to beat:

* she's the most thoughtful person I know, always sending little notes in the mail, cards for every holiday and occasion, leftovers on a on a regular basis (keep 'em coming- the chicken and rice bake was awesome this week!), has a thank you note in the mail sooner than you can blink an eye (we joke she has them made out ahead of time). The list goes on.

* she's a ridiculously hard worker who still doesn't want to take a rest. Sit down already Mom!

* she knows the names of a gazillion nails and screws and fasteners and anything else you'd find in a hardware store thanks to my parents having their own when I was a kid. She knows more about what's in hardware store than most men these days.

* she traveled cross country in a station wagon with two babies in diapers; then two toddlers and one baby in diapers; then two kids, one toddler and one baby in diapers. Luckily when they had me, they only had to travel one state over with their brood of 5. Personally, that alone puts her in the running for mother of the year. Not convinced? Let me remind you that when my mother was doing this, there were no disposable diapers. By the way, while my mother was in a station wagon changing diapers, the dog flew. I kid you not.

* she's an awesome cheerleader. In fact she's still cheering us all on.

* she's an excellent secret keeper. Sorry Dad, but you not knowing I went into Boston to see Billy Idol and others in high school didn't hurt you. Now did it?

* she is nothing if not fair. Has a running tab on the Christmas list so she spends the exact same amount on everybody.

* is an awesome Grammy and Great Grammy.

* is the best Mother In Law my husband could ask for.

* let my sister and her friends draw all over her wall and painted an awesome sun on the ceiling of her bedroom. Which then became my bedroom to which she added very colorful animals that she painted - like a zebra and hippo to my wall, that's in addition to the bright orange shag rug on the wall that is still there to this day.

* is as genuine as genuine gets.

Of course, I could go on for days. I mean, I'm talking about my mom, right?

What's something about your mom that can't be beat?


Freeform Friday 

One more thing about my mom (and Dad), they have great taste in music and had the best collection of 45s. As kids, along with our friends,we'd dance on the patio for hours with their records playing. Here's one to get the weekend started.  I'm not convinced the 45 was The Andrew Sisters, but I've to check their record box to be sure. Click here if you're reading via email. (Where's my polka partner Celine when I need her?)






And one of my all time favorites. Mr. Bennett if you please and my favorite version of this song. It made him a star.  Click here if your reading via email.





What's happening in your world this weekend? Mine will be filled with some desk work, some raking, hoping to get some watercolor time in, laundry, cleaning.........you know, the usual. Oh, and some time with Mom of course.

Make it a good one and I'll see you on the flip side of the weekend.


Ciao for now,

It's a Wrap

Presents Open, Cake Eaten. Check.

We were off to sister Di's last night to celebrate my Mom's birthday.  It turned out to be a nice night so I was sure to take a walk around Di's gardens which are starting to pop.

The Rhodies are in full bloom.

Cayden, my great nephew, and Sophia, my great niece walked through the garden with me a little while. Then the slide called.

Then the fairies called.

And more flowers, like this iris. Amazingly beautiful.

Pretty green hosta.



Then back to the party. Sohpia giving Great Grammy her card that she made.



More merriment.

And of course, cake!

Don't forget the surpise guest...............Hampton's newly 'crowned' (a much deserved honor for our friend) Citizen of the Year Desi Lanio, proprietor of The 401 Tavern. 

All and all, a fun night celebrating life!

What hot for you today? I've got meeting prep, meeting, back to the desk to do work for several clients....you know, the usual juggling.  Hope you're got some more creative endeavors up your sleeve.

Ciao for now,

Many Happy Returns of the Day

Party Girl

It's my Mom's birthday today.  Happy Birthday Mom!! That's her with her extra-daughter Cin. (hey cin!).  In addition to being 'Ma' to our pal Cin, Marge is the mother of 5 children- 2 boys and 3 girls, grandmother to 8 grandchildren- 4 boys, 4 girls (wow didn't that just work out great) and a furball named Lucan, and great grandmother of 2 great grandchildren (jeesh, hope I got that all right). 

Before I was born my mother and father moved all around this country for Dad's work. Arkansas, Idaho, Washington, NY state, and Massachuestts just to name a few.  My mother did all of this with small children in the back of the station wagon. Personally, that sounds like medal worthy stuff. Seriously. (The dog (inky) flew across country a couple of times, but not may parents.) Changing diapers while driving cross country? And if that wasn't enough, she survived all of us. Trust me, and I won't go into details here, but there were certainly enough reasons for her to call it quits and hit the ground running.



A few things about Marge:

She grew up in Yonkers, NY where she met my father who also grew up there.  After my father took her on a date, he informed her that he was 'going to marry her'.

She makes photo albums for each of her children every Christmas, complete with a listing of who is in the picture, where was it taken, and when, recorded on the back. Most pictures in the ablums are accompanied by comments she has clipped out of magazines all year. It's a ton of work. I look foward to going over mine again Christmas morning just to see what I missed.

She's an avid crocheter and is always working on another baby blanket.

She's a Red Sox fan. Well, first she was a NY Giants fan and Bobby Thompson was one of her guys. Then the Giants left NY and she landed in New England.

She has a wicked elbow, so don't mess with her.

Her and my father were quite the dancers.....give 'em a lindy and they were up on the floor. They can still cut a rug, but perhaps something a little slower than a lindy.

She cruised to a lot of places including Bermuda, the Carribean and through the Panama Canal.

She is the original recycler. She's been reusing plastic bags, cans, ribbon, and more as long as I can remember.

She is so thoughtful, we joke that she has thank you notes made out before an occasion because you get them so quickly.

She alway has a bag for you to take from her house, that is full of magazines she's passing along (more recycling), newspaper clippings, and coupons.

She knows the difference between a 2 penny nail, a finishing nail, and a roofing nail. She also knows how to operate a paint mixing machines thanks to a stint as a hardware store owner. (I still love a good hardware store to this day).

She voluteered a LOT in our town whether it was the Catholic Women's Club, the Lioness Club or the Chamber of Commerce.

She was a Fashion Wagon hostess.  I'll just say, I don't remember FashionWagon being risque at all, so I'm not sure what this ad is about. What I do remember is how happy it made me when she rolled a new rack of clothes into the living room.

She once went to pick up my brother from scuba diving, complete with the rope he requested for the 'tuna' he had caught. Yeah, that's not going to happen people. Tunas are bigger than people. I'm sure my brother got the Dignam elbow for that one, after he stopped laughing.

She makes a wicked Bracciole and I love her chicken and rice bake. Oh how I loved her chocolate pudding parfaits as a kid!

She enjoys port wine and will surely be enjoying one tonight.

She, along with my parents friends, would do anything for a laugh.

She's extremely supportive.

When you're my Mom's friend, you're friends for life.

So, here's to you Mom! We're both glad you're our Mom and our friend for life.

Here's wishing you many happy returns of the day.

Love ya and as you would say, ciao!

Marge Goes Yardsale-in'

That's Marge. She's my mom. Hi Mom.........I know you're reading this.

Marge went to the annual Lion's yard sale two weeks ago. I missed it because we had visitors. But I didn't really miss it, because Marge gave me a box and a market bag filled with stuff she picked up for me. I don't think she paid more than $3 for everything she got. Now that's a yard sale I'm not missing next year!

I had fun unwrapping everything (yes, Marge had wrapped everything in paper and bags so nothing would break). One surprise after the next.

I've already used this pretty Pyrex platter for our first tomato slices from the garden. Love the slate trim with white leaves and flowers.

How sweet is this vintage platter?

Just love the poppies.

Marge scored an even bigger, white china platter too.

She wasn't leaving it there after she saw that it was Noritake.

And how about these sweet Asian bowls?

Pretty, right?

They also happen to be bone china. See how they are translucent when you hold them up to the light? Dead giveaway.

A brand new white cherub, holding a bird.........perfect for my garden.

Three nice scarves.

I've been wearing the light blue one with hearts all week, to hold my hair back 'a la' I Love Lucy. Too cute.

I give Marge permission to go yardsale-in' anytime.  Have you had any great yard sale finds lately? Share. I'd love to know.

Tomorrow, you'll get to see the bowl that was in the box. It's holding the cheese I made the other night. Yup, you read it right. I made cheese and will share the recipe tomorrow (thanks to Marie at LeVoyageCreatif).

Make it a great Thursday in your little corner of the world.

And as Marge and I say, 'ciao for now'.

Blueberry Heaven

This Morning

My neighbor Joanie is a special education teacher most of the year, but in the summer she works at the Salt Box Farm tending to and selling the blueberries. We like this because.........well because we reap the benefits too. 

This morning, thanks to Joanie, I made one of my favorites. Blueberry muffins.

Hot out of the oven!

Looking good enough to eat and oh so pretty on my Aunt Doris' platter. Took a a tip from Pioneer Woman and displayed the muffins on a white platter.

And a white plate.

Seriously, the butter just melted in!

Can't wait any longer! The jury is in. Delicious.

The best thing is...............

There's more in the oven and I still have enough blueberries to make another batch. Thanks Joanie and thanks to Colleen (whoever you are) for posting on allrecipes. I didn't do the cinnamon topping. Just sprinkled a little sugar on top before baking. Pefecto.

Next time I'll take another tip from Pioneer Woman......don't shoot the food so close!

Last Night

Mom emailed last night to let me know if looked like a nice sunset. Glad she did, as I might have missed it (had popped in for a break from weeding out back and found her message). Just lovely.

Sunset Meadows.

Thursday again. Weekend is almost here. Can you hear it calling?