For Mom

Have you gotten your Mom a card?

Don't forget.

Are you going to take her out for lunch on Sunday?

Do it.

I won't get to see my Mom. It's a little too far to travel for Sunday dinner. So, since I can't get home and since she can't get here I thought I'd post some pictures of life around here just to catch her up.

Ready Mom?

Kelli came home for Easter. The kids took charge of the egg coloring. I remember how chaotic it was coloring eggs with them when they were small. Now I don't help at all. I do other things.

I make pie for Easter dinner. Just like you taught me. I wish I could make it like you do.

Never Fail Pie Crust
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup shortening (I do half shortening, half lard)
1/2 tblsp. vinegar
1 tsp. sugar
1 egg
3 1/2 tblsp. water
1/4 tsp. salt

Mix flour and shortening until crumbly. Set aside. Mix egg, water, salt, sugar and vinegar and add to flour mixture. Press into pie plate.

This really never fails. I always double it. I think of my friend Jayne when I mix it as she gave me the recipe years ago. When I roll it out I think of you and how I used to sit at the cupboard and watch you roll out pie crust and then take your knife and trim the edges. I miss that.

Wait. I got distracted.

Pie is distracting.

I wish I had some right now.

Anyway....... You know it's Spring around here because the barn starts filling up.

Right now we have,

Marley, the goat. Will will take her to the County Fair which takes place at the end of July. Last year he took Morpheus.

Morpheus, or Morphie, as he was affectionately called, was good and kind and gentle but too little for the judges to care for. He'd run to Will when Will called. He'd baa "Come back Will. Come back," when Will walked away.

Marley is not like Morphie. Marley is bigger and will most likely be well liked by the judges. Marley is a she. Marley runs from Will. We have all summer to work with her but Marley is a she. I don't think she's going to want to do what Will asks. I don't know that for sure but did I mention Marley is a she. Just saying.

 We have new baby chicks.

We have pigs. Lots of pigs. The ones above are show pigs. Liz is taking three to the fair. Will is taking two. Fair pigs are specially bred to have big hams. I pray no one will ever use those words to describe me in any way.

This little guy is not a show pig. This little piggy will go to market. The show pigs will go to market as well, but not until they strut their big hams around in the fair ring. Have I told you that on the last night of County Fair all the pigs from the pig barn are loaded up by the 4H kids into a truck to be taken to market? Many of those kids, who have spent their summer working with and caring for their pigs have a difficult time saying goodbye. It's an emotional event.
Pigs have that effect on you.

We also have a demon mommy cat up in the hay loft. We haven't seen cats around for a long time but now we have a mommy and some very cute kitties. We hope to be able to tame them but mommy is wild and pretty vigilant.

Wild and vigilant. Apt words to describe a mother don't you think? Better than big hams.

Once again I diverge.

That's all I've got. The barn tour is complete.

If you can, go see your mom this weekend. Hand her a card. Take her out to lunch. Give her a hug. I know it's impossible but if you can, try to express to her how you feel about all she has given you and what it means to you that she has always been there. Maybe you can add something about how thankful you are that she loves you even when you're not very lovable.

Thanks Mom. My words are few but my gratitude is deep. I hope I'll be like you when I grow up.  I love you.

My mom with her girls.

Happy Mother's Day!