Love Is ... Finding Faith In A Flower ~ Peonies & Roses

 Sometimes times when faith is running low...

 And I cannot fathom why things are so ...

 I walk among the flowers that grow ...

 And learn the answers to all I would know ...

 For among my flowers I have come to see ...

 Life's miracle & its mystery ...

 And standing in silence & reverie ...

 My faith comes flooding back to me. (Helen Steiner Rice)c

 A mother's love is something that no one can explain ~

 It is made of deep devotion & of sacrifice & pain.

 It is endless & unselfish & enduring, come what may,

 For nothing can destroy it or take that love away.

 It is patient & forgiving when all others are forsaking.

 And it never fails or falters even though the heart is breaking.

 It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns,

 And it glows with all the bauty of the rarest, brightest gems.

 It is far beyond defining, it defies all explanation,

 And yet it still remains a secret like the mysteries of creation ~

 A many-splendored miracle man cannot understand

 And another wondrous evidence of God's tender, guiding hand.
(Helen Steiner Rice)

 Please join our Love Is... ladies 
Sherry
Tete

Anne

~ Treasures & Memories ~

 This gorgeous sterling silver necklace adorned with these beautiful blue stones was my Mother's. Mother (Mary C. Neu Middaugh) wore it a few times when I was younger. I always loved holding it. One day I will wear it, but not yet.

 I have shared with you how Mother was a beautiful seamstress, knitter, crocheter, etc.  This was a sweater that she made c. 1937. She even has shamrock buttons.  Now we are one Irish family.  Mother actually went to Ireland & met the love of her life, Johnny Lynch. Unable because of WWII coming on, never to return to him. I love her engagement picture. I gave this sweater to my daughter, who is her name sake ... sadly she returned it.

 When my daughter, Caroline/Cari was going to kindergarten, Mother made her several dresses.  With each dress she made a matching dress for her dolls. I still have these (2) darlings that I treasure.

 Alas, this year Mother's Irish linen doily is giving way to age. She monogrammed & stitched it.            

 This is a stitched piece for a pillow form of the Spirit of St. Louis. I gave it to my sister.  The detail is just fabulous & I love touching the things she made.

 This is my Mother's parents.  G'ma Maggie came to this country as a young girl in her late teens.  She was trained to be a store clerk when she was in school in Ireland.  Eventually she moved from Portland, where she stayed with her sil, Lizzie Carty ... to Napavine, WA & worked as a cook at the Somerville Mill.  Hence, she met G'pa Robert Neu there. 

 As I was going thru some linens recently during my 'spring clean' I found this piece.  I couldn't place it.  It sat at my desk table for several days.  One day I lifted the top of it & nearly fainted.  It had G'ma Maggie's sur-name hand written on it.  This is a bag for her 'personals', all hand done.  It is no doubt her's from when she came over on the ship from Ireland. 

G'ma Maggie I am sure made this ... it is now in my newly redone bedroom (presentation soon). The necklace at the top sits beautifully upon it.

Hold fast your dreams! 
Within your heart, 
Keep one still, secret spot
Where dreams may go
And, sheltered so,
May thrive & grow
Where doubt & fear are not.
O keep a place apart, 
Within in your heart,
For little dreams to go!
(Louise Dricoll)

~ Truth Be Told ~ Yummies ...

 Oh, how sweet the Girl Scout cookies ... now made into a deelish Samoa ice cream ... sweet swoon! ...

 smothered in fresh raspberries, drizzled with chocolate, with a few vanilla wafers on the side ...

 Look at this gorgeous box cover ...

 filled with pretty clothes pin holders ...

 & this fabulous journal/photo album hand created by sweet Sherry-sis ...

 for my Mother's Day gift ...

 the intricate details are just beautiful ...

 with her signature cherrie. I adore it. THANK YOU, sis.

I have been really tied down with the feedsacks, but hopefully next few days will settle down.  I keep trying to catch up with you, so know I am & I miss you.

**It is better to be told a hurtful truth than to be told a comforting lie. In the end, the truth will make its way out & will hurt much more than it ever had to.**

~ Mother's Day Gathering ~ Iris & Roses ~ GIVEAWAY WINNERS

 Our precious son & dilove Cat took us out to dinner for Mother's Day. We were joined by Cat's Mother & sister, also. r-l ~ Harold, Emery ... sitting Marydon, Tatiana & Ansel

 Ansel made it very clear that when they bought the roses for me, he selected the roses as he knew what color his Mimi loved ... Tatiana chose the card. They are just too adorable.

 The roses are soooo aromatic & beautiful.  Thank you my sweet kid-lings.  I love them.

 And, now let's stroll thru my iris.  Enjoy ...
Diane ~ Lavender Dreamer

Andrea ~ Arise 2 Write

Susan ~ Art of Mine

 Joy ~ Granny Mountain

Sandra ~ Thistle Cove Farm

Angela ~ West Virginia Treasures

Susie ~ She Junks

Ladies ~ send me your addresses to ~
blushing_rose_boutique@yahoo.com

The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration but its donation.
(Corrie Ten Boom)

Love Is... ~ My Precious Mother ~

She gave her all .....

Mary Caroline Neu Middaugh was a woman of many awesome talents. She could sew like no one else creating beautiful dresses/fashions for we girls & many others. Her hands were never idle. Those hot summery days where she packed a picnic lunch & we headed for the briars & brambles in search of that blackberry that only grows in WA ST. She baked the most delicious pies ... oh! how I wish my crust were like hers, so flaky & tender. The hours we picked fruits & berries for her to make those fabulous jams; no jelly tho. Her knitting us sweaters & crocheting beautiful doilies, cross-stitching many a Christmas gift, too. The rides out to Alexander Park to enjoy the teeter-totter & jungle gyms or swim in the river. The long hot summer eves that she made fresh lemonade & we sat on the porch or played in the street. Those tender moments of playing hide the thimble or a board game on those cold winter nights. How she would let us play 'beautician' & sit forever while we combed her hair. Her strength to hold our family together at all cost ... she scrubbed floors, baked, ironed, sewed & babysat for others. That aromatic fudge she made for Christmas filtering thru the house ... & the year I found her hiding place & we all ate it. Sore behinds, for sure!

Never once did her faith waiver thru thick or thin ... Mass was vital to her, her belief & trust in God was perfect.

Mother raised we 5 kids ~

rear l to r ~ Buck, Mary Donelda (Marydon), Carolyn
front ~ Colleen & Donna

Since she was not allowed to raise us as Catholics, as soon as she got divorced she took us to church & got us baptized.  I remember her telling me that she was so bothered by this.  I know her feeling strongly ... the bible says ...

When I tell you we 5 kids gave her fits, we did.  Mother stood firm, yet lovingly kept us in our place. She had 5 children that behaved without question. She could go shopping & people would always compliment her on how well behaved we all were.  We loved, obeyed & respected Mother. 

In life as we 5 moved along, we have all stumbled & have caused Mother many tears & pain. Some times Mother & I would talk about these moments. I still to this day do not understand lots of it, I was so far removed by distance. I think the saddest part of this is that Mother, the year before she went to join Jesus, said to me 'I think you'd all get along now if you tried'.

Hence, I reached out.

Despite what each of us has done, I know the tears that Mother shed then were in disappointment & hurt. That always bothered me.

My message is this ... you may have taken a stand on issues with what another has said or done & having witnessed the pain it caused Mother.  Before Mother passed, she allowed those issues to rest. I am glad that we had these conversations to know she was content.  So should you ... take the step to let issues rest.

I am not saying you must forget, but forgive/let go & reach out. Mother did.

Thank you for being the wonderful Mother you are to me. I miss you terribly & pray for you ... one day we will sit & chat again.

Your loving daughter ~

Visit our Love Is... ladies ~
Anne
Sherry
Tete

~ Gifts of Love & Treasures ~ GIVEAWAY

 Sharing with you, can you smell the heavenly aroma! This beautiful bouquet came from my sister & bil. Aren't they beautiful? TYSM, I love them.

                                Don't forget our GIVEAWAY ending 5/13

 Inside this beautiful parcel ...

 Donna from brynwoodneedleworks I found this beauty. This sweet delicate lace pillow cover I had for years & needed a wee form to fit inside it.  Donna immediately came to my rescue.

 And gently wrapped around this treasured pillow was the sweetest little sterling bird nest with eggs ... I couldn't believe it! I adore it. What a big heart Donna has. You are a wonderful friend-sister, Donna. THANK YOU!!

 Here is the pillow with the other (2) in our newly redone bedroom (showing at a later date). 

When redoing this bedroom, I had sought a couple of gals that create beautiful pillows, to do one for me.  Busy schedules made that impossible. Sherry-sis knew I was in search for another special pillow & to my surprise this pretty elegant beauty arrived.  It sits regally on my bed.  THANK YOU SIS, I love it.

Happy Mother's Day to each of you ... may you be showered with blessings & deep sincere love.