Peonies for Pearl

What is you favorite flower? I have many.
Lilly of the Valley I think is my all time favorite.
They are so tiny and cute.

I found this little jug in an antique shop.

I bought it with Lilly of the Valley in mind

I have always wanted to see a bridal bouquet of Lilly of the valley.
I had never seen one until Ms. Kate Middleton used them in her bouquet.

Loved that bouquet!

She placed it on the grave of the Unknown Warrior
inside of Westminster Abbey.
What a nice touch.

Lilacs - is there anything more fragrant than Lilacs?

And they bring back memories of my Grammie.

I also love peonies. Growing up the neighbors had a row of dark
Fuchsia peonies lining their curved driveway.
Pearl (the neighbor) passed away this winter,
leaving my mother with no one to call.
She and Pearl called each other almost daily.
I don't know of two ladies who exchanged recipes back and forth
more than Pearl and my Mom.
Here is one of their conversations.
Mom: Pearl could I have the recipe for your refrigerator sweet pickles.
Pearl: Just a minute I will get it….Here it is….Millie's Refrigerator Sweet Pickles….
My mother's name is Millie.
Yep Pearl's sweet pickle recipe was Mom's sweet pickle recipe.

Now when I pick a bouquet of peonies I will think of my mom's
good friend Pearl and her beautiful row of peonies.
May she rest in peace... among peonies.

Pick a bouquet of your favorite flowers and deliver them to a friend.

From my heart,
Sandy

Lilacs in a Fruit Jar and Day 3 of Table Talk Book Tour

Hello again.
I will announce my winners tomorrow.
Today is day 3 of Gudrun's tour. Stop over to her blog to she what she has to share with us today.
Also blogging today will be Monique Dillard of Open Gate Quilts. Hop on over to her blog.

Tomorrow my friend and fellow Moda designer Kate Spain of Kate Spain Designs will be blogging along with Gudrun.

And now for Lilacs in a Fruit Jar.
My Grammie Fisher's house did not have one toy.
Yet as a child I loved going to Grammie Fisher's house for she had better things than toys.
Straight ahead as you entered the kitchen was the candy drawer - second drawer down - kid level.
Farther over was the bake-goods drawer full of homemade bread and pastries such as Kolaches and cinnamon twist.
Next was the big bin that held Grammie's baking flour.
I loved opening it and letting it go shut to see the little puff of flour rise.
Watching Grammie bake was real confusing to me. She did not use measuring spoons or cups as my mother did.
I can still see her shiny long fingers kneading the bread.
Every Sunday Grammie would cut the picture off the cover of the Picture Magazine that came with the Sunday paper and tack it to the wall above her buffet with stick pins. It was as pretty as any picture in a frame.
The buffet where she kept all of her Workbasket Magazines, with folded over corners on the pages containing projects she wanted to make.
Next was the corner hutch with a box of buttons - I spent a lot of time playing with the buttons.
Also in the corner hutch, setting in front of the family picture, was Grammies pretty watch.
It was covered in "diamonds" or something as pretty as diamonds. It had a little cover over the face of the watch - also covered in "diamonds". We never, never actually put the watch on but I never went to my Grammies house without pushing the little button on the watch that popped open the cover to revel the watch face.

My Grammie also did not own a vase.
But every Spring she picked a large bouquet of Lilacs and placed them in a fruit jar.
And they were as pretty as any bouquet in a vase.
Every spring I pick a large bouquet of lilacs…



place them in a fruit jar and think of my Grammie Fisher.

Here is hoping you are having a lilacs in a fruit jar kind of day.
See you tomorrow.

From my heart,
Sandy