When I was younger, I used to love watching my mom getting ready to have company(notice I said watch, not help.) I used to marvel at the care she took to make things special... I wonder how often she felt like people noticed. She used to talk about watching her mama in the kitchen, and how she admired her skills. Perhaps that's how we all learn to appreciate things? By watching what our mother's care about...
I often feel similar feelings around the holidays, very nostalgic for my mom(who lives 1500 miles away by the way) and yet she feels near in all of the traditions I picked up from her. Like today, I miss her greatly and feel incredibly connected to her at the same time through the memories of holidays past.
My mom did brunch better than any restaurant I've been to- ten dollar mimosas or not! So today mom, you were not here in person - but you were with me in every flower planted, every candle lit, and every muffin baked...
I got a sweet card from Graham and Meatball - I get to choose any fire pit, or chimnea of my choice! I have wanted one for a while now, so I'm thrilled! Campfires in the city here we come! :)
I was very excited to use my place-card holders for the first time! I've had them for 3 years or so already... they were a hit!
I got them at a flea market in MN... I miss shopping there - such random cool things...
Meatball wore his tie in honor of Mothers everywhere!(Especially his grandma Hazel who made him home-cooked meals, drove him around in the golf-cart, gardened in the sunshine, and walked him every day... he misses her too!)
The table is set! My mom would have had those muffins in a basket with a cloth napkin... To Do: Buy Basket for muffins and breads. Don't worry mom, I'll find one at a garage sale too!
Another trick from my mom; serve a simple yogurt parfait in a wine glass... elegance!
Layered: Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Granola, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, and Honey Flavored Greek yogurt.
Gluten-Free Low-Fat blueberry muffins. I bought Glutina's muffin mix and I substituted applesauce for the butter and almond milk for the dairy. I used eggs, but you could use replacer and make them Vegan too! Graham loved my muffins. Tee-hee.
Graham's Dad loved the olives.
Finally - the egg bake, which I forgot to take a picture of until I was putting the leftovers away... oops. Despite this pic not really showcasing the results, it tasted fabulous!Gluten-Free egg bake:
2 lbs. hash browns(if frozen, thaw) - I browned mine a bit then placed them into a greased 9x13 inch pan.
Then I sauteed some onion and mushrooms, and layered that over the potatoes.
Next, I chopped up some maple bacon chicken sausage and layered that.
Lightly beat 10 eggs in a bowl and mix with 1 cup Amy's Cream of Mushroom Soup, then fold in 1 cup cheddar cheese and pour over potatoes and meat.
Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top, cover with foil - and bake at 375 degrees for 30 min. Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes.
I feel grateful for my mom every day - but today, I feel especially aware of how fortunate I am to be her daughter. She loves me in such selfless ways - ways that I don't know if I could ever love another person. She made sacrifices deeper than I could make, and she always put us ahead of herself. She still sends cards and thoughtful notes for every holiday, and she is always thinking of not just me - but countless others in her life.
Today I was moved to tears when I was in the kitchen cooking, the house was clean and full of flowers, Anne Murray was singing in the background, and I could feel her right beside me. Those are the moments I will cling to when she is gone. If you are fortunate enough to have your mom on this earth still, make every moment special. If miles, or something else separates you, bake something, plant flowers; do what your mom loved to do - or what you loved doing together, and feel her by your side again. There is nothing like a mother's love. Happy Mother's Day Mama!
