Special ladies in my life

My Aunt Frances, My grandmother, My godmother, Aunt Vera and my mom.

Special ladies in my life.
I expect they were in their 40's in this picture. My grandmother would have been 70 something. 4 women who raised families, worked hard all their lives and laughed even harder. They loved a good joke, family gatherings and a hot cup of tea. All four were great cooks, loved to bake and had the most beautiful gardens and vegetable crops you have ever seen.

 It was always a treat to sit at a table with these three sisters and listen to all the old stories that were still fresh in their minds and meant something very personal to them.

We would gather at Vera's, put on the tea, grab the cookie jar filled with home-made peanut butter cookies (her best) and sit for an hour of pure entertainment.

Even a little card table would do fine for these ladies as long as there was a good, hot pot of tea close by.

            My grandmother, Aunt Vera, cousin Leslie, cousin Cheryl, my mom & Aunt Francis.

Stories of them growing up on the farm, finally getting to the big city, falling in love and raising their kids.

 I was about 20 when I last had the opportunity to join them on a Sunday afternoon. All four sitting at the table was a special treat for me. I moved to Toronto with work and weekends home were rare.
I still remember the last time we all gathered.  My grandmother was in her 90's and still joined us at the table.

The next time I came home it was for my grandmother's funeral. It was a very sad day but it was so wonderful to see how these three women were there for each other. They had so many memories to share of their mom. They were strong women and they were proud of their roots and their heritage.

All but one has now passed away. I wish my Aunt Frances, 92 years old and a mother of 8 a very Happy Mother's Day.


My favorite photo of my mom as a young woman.

Yes, she loved her cats, too.

hugs, Deb