Reflecting on Mother's Day

Mother's Day is a celebration of love. Families gather together and reminisce about past festivities. Photos tucked away in time reshare fond memories of gatherings. 

springtime artistry

nature's muted reflection 

breathe, rejoice-just be

©CVarsalona, 2023

Facetime and phone calls bring out-of-town family members together. This year our family shares the news of hospice care for my 94-year-old uncle and the upcoming birth of a third baby girl.

Mother's Day, our celebration of joyful memories-

love

cradles

family

members

love

invites

new

memories

love-

our celebration of joyful Mother's Day memories

©CVarsalona, 2023

★

Listen to the beautiful song of praise for mothers on Mother's Day

by Il Divo. Click here. Indulge in quiet time and memories.

 ★

I missed sending this Happy Mother's Day greetings to the 

Two Writing Teachers / Slicer community of writers yesterday

but today is my opportunity to wish everyone well.

Flutterings of the Heart

Spring is the time when God's magic is at its grandest. ~ Toni Sorenson

A magical Spring day opens with softly wrapped gentle heat and a sun-blinking sky. It is time to "Be", breathe in Spring's sweet-scented perfume, and listen to nature. The mallard duck and his partner walk silently to green places of repose, birds swing by waiting for their turn at the feeder, and bunnies hide until they hop to nibble on bird seeds. Small simple observations lead to artistic visualizations. Poetic goodness flows near the fountain waiting to be awakened during May's plantings. The garden is at rest and so are those relaxing in verdant, manicured lawns. Spring provides a restful environment. 

The above prose and image poem haiku combine to create a haibun.

While designing the Springsations Gallery of Artistic Expressions, soft musings from poetic hearts led me to write the following haikus.

★

small observations

nature sits on dewed petals

spring's marvelment

★

be still moments

brushed by the Divine artist

earth's creative art

★

quiet birdsong

chirping sounds of springtime

nature speaks of bliss

©CVarsalona, 2023

(If you are reading or creating, you may want to listen to Music of Nature here. The sounds and photos are soothing.)

★★★

I am signing off now, wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day!

May Spring's seeds bring you blossoms to add color to your springtime days.

★★★

I am eager to join the Poetry Friday Roundup with today's host, the haiku wiz poet, Robyn Hood Black. My humble poems are inspired by her work.

You will find a sweet haiku about new mothers at the blog post.

Thank you, Linda Baie for creating this small moment photo.

★★★

You can see the new blend of art with poetry at my Springsations Gallery Padlet.

If inclined to add another spring-theme image poem to the gallery, please do so.

Mother's Day Joy

What joy Mother's Day brought this year! My family of eight enjoyed our moments together. Two generations of mothers graced our table laden with a delicious brunch featuring signature cocktails. Shirley Temple were prepared by my sister for the little grandgirls who were adorably dressed in matching outfits. We ate, played with the beautiful balloons. Grandpa bought, smelled the rose, and spring bouquets, We ate, played with the beautiful balloons Grandpa bought, smelled the roses and spring bouquets for the table, and enjoyed everyone's company. 

It was the first time I baked a lemon risotto. It reminded me of my Italian heritage and a long line of female bakers.

It was a sweet day of happiness, a Mother's Day I will never forget.

unforgettable 

family day wrapped in love

smiles tell a sweet tale

©CV, 2022

It's Slice of Life Tuesday and I end my day with the Two Writing Teachers and their reflective community of writers.

Remembering Yesterday

As Mother's Day approaches 

it is time to remember, pause,

and celebrate the yesterdays 

that brought us to today. 

Years ago, 

we came into the world.

It was because of you, 

dear mothers.

You sacrificed for us 

so we could become 

the adults we are today.

PAUSE

(Listen to Il Divo sing a song of praise)

It is time to

CELEBRATE

our long line of mothers

who

loved, wept, and nurtured us

so we could learn, be enriched,

practice kindness,

and reap

the rewards of life.

******

With hope in our hearts

we pass our love on

to those we love

so they grow to

transfer heartfelt love

to their children.

*******

It is time to remember

yesterdays

and 

hope for peaceful 

tomorrows

so

hearts of love

continue to grow.

Happy Mother's Day!

*******

This week, I celebrate the mothers in my family 

and extend well wishes to friends.

I celebrate with Ruth Ayres 

at her space, Celebrate This Week.

Peaceful Prospect

Everyone needs time away from the routine to recoup and refresh. Mother's Day Weekend was my time to savor family moments and discover a peaceful prospect. 

On a dismal-looking Friday before Mother's Day, my husband, son, and I traveled to Virginia to visit my daughter and son-in-law in their new home. The rains did not cease to teem the entire ride down but that did not put a damper on the day for me. Celebrating with the family is my gratitude time no matter what the weather holds in store. 

While the rains continued to pelt and the cool temperature remained, we arrived in Reston and rode through the neighborhood until we found the new home owners' residence. With only a quick peek through the rain soaked windows we were off to my daughter's google-like office space. To say that I was in awe of the new home and work environment is an understatement. 

You can access photos of the weekend here. 

The second day greeted us with sunshine and pleasantries of life. The entire area was full of nature's nooks and crannies. There was greenery in abundance and long stretches of nature paths. The sounds of spring filled the air. A chipmunk hid; the birds swooped in to nibble on their findings; streams rippled on. 

Mother's Day 2016 was a memory never to be forgotten. It was my time to slow down and savor peaceful moments. 

This notice poem evolved from observation and reflection.

At Slice of Life today, Two Writing Teachers posted a mantra: Write, Share, Give. That sounds like another peaceful prospect to me. What will bring peace to your day?

You can access the link here. 

Recollections

When I was a child I loved visiting my grandmother who would spin magic during springtime. Everything she touched came alive. Even chores took on new meaning. Little did I know back then that each loving act Nonnie engaged in was a poetic expression of love for family. 

Life was full during springtime that rolled into summer. I spent curious childhood days watching Nonnie move from chore to chore with ease and enjoyment. Each task was lovingly carried out and I delighted in being the little helper.

Churn the clothes

round and round.

Hang them up

Clip clasp sound.

Tend the garden

roses first

snip snap smells 

readily burst.

I followed my Nonnie with curiosity and respect, as though she was the Pied Piper. Everything we did seemed like fun. When I wasn't engaged in chores, we would take long walks to the library or the drug store to buy the latest fashion comic. Although Nonnie could not read or write in English, she valued education and fostered a love of reading for her granddaughter. Her passion for life spilled over, influenced my quest to learn more, and increased my desire for playful adventures. I explored the nooks in the big white house, romped through the lawn, and ran between each garden bed to smell the fragrant flowers. I imagined myself as a traveler roaming new lands and grew up longing to see the country Nonnie left to come to America in 1920. 

There was so much that life offered with Nonnie. Harvesting vegetables and grapes was another fascinating adventure that awaited me as the little helper. In the back of the large white house that stood next to a beautiful park lush with trees was a vegetable garden. A huge vine of grapes stood tall at the entrance. Next to that was an extensive plot with varieties of vegetables and giant tomatoes to cultivate. Life was full with sights, sounds, and tastes of springtime that rolled into summer.  

Each morning, I would go to the kitchen, the hub of the house, to watch Nonnie prepare the food. The kitchen was such a happy place filled with the robust scents of fresh basil, parsley, vanilla, anise, and lemon icing. During the week, Nonnie kneaded dough into sweet Italian confections, created perfectly-formed handmade noodles, and washed clothes with a wringer that flattened each item with the twist of a handle. I loved to watch her pin clothes with large wooden clothespins and hang them to dry in the sun. I can still visualize the wet items flip flopping in the breeze.  I learned to be a very good assistant who passed the clothespins to my grandmother, learned to shuck peas, make Italian sauce from bushels of fresh tomatoes, prune roses, and enjoy life all due to a woman who may have been tiny in stature but large in heart. 

Years went by and childhood matured into motherhood. Balancing work and home life was time-consuming. Chores did not sing the same tune as in Nonnie's world. Life changed through the decades. Housework was no longer the sole work of the mother. There were other responsibilities to be met. What did remain constant was that spring rolled into summer just the same and life was full with feelings of family and love. 

Mother's Day is a day to recollect the love that fills our lives while remembering those who shaped our existence. Families bond, friends chat, celebrations are plentiful. Each year, I recollect memories of a loving grandmother and a wonderful mother who were shiny examples of motherhood. 

With the voices of angels,

eyes as sweeping as the sky,

and hearts as deep as the ocean,

my two mothers filled the air with love,

exemplifying that moment to moment-

giving is a gift of the heart. 

Storytelling is a gift of the heart that mothers seem to deliver to the children.

My love for storytelling comes from the women who offered it to me during springtime that rolled into summer each year.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Each Tuesday, Two Writing Teachers offer writers from across the nation the opportunity to share their Slice of Life. Please visit the site where you will find interesting texts to read.