Happy Mother's Day!

Song - Mother and Child Reunion by Paul Simon

Above is a photo of my mother Betty Jane Malacarne at about 4 years of age.  

And she is still going strong at 91 !

I love you mom....thank you for setting such a loving

example of how a life is to be lived.

To all of you mother's, grandmother's & great-grandmother's out there

Wishing you a relaxing day to celebrate you!

I hope you can spend time with your family whether it's in person, via phone call 

or FaceTime or just going through some family photos.

You are indeed a blessing!

"God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers"
 - Jewish proverb

Bear With Me

Song - The Camping Song by Smith & Smith


I have been home for two whole weeks now from our recent trip to France. But due to a bad cough, lack of sleep due to coughing, jet lag, laundry and a multitude of other things, I had to put my blogging on the back burner for awhile. Now I'm back and ready to rock & roll!

My garden has been in full bloom and I am enjoying the cut flowers as well as doing some much needed work in the yard.....like putting in my vegetable garden.

Several days after returning we had a double header birthday party for my daughter-in-law Ashley and son Tyler. He always wanted to have a Bob Ross paint-along party so we dug up some of my previously used but not-ready-for-prime-time canvas's to be painted over.

Grandma Betty & Tyler

Above are just some of the birthday painters.  

Pretty great beginners here with their Bob Ross wigs on!

We painted along with his show - "Valley View".

 The very next day Mr. B flew to Washington DC for the week for work. 

I can't imagine what that did to his jetlag????

And with this last weekend being Mother's Day, my kiddo's invited me up to Boonville where they lease a little spot of beautiful land for camping and hunting.  This weekend they took me on a shooting spree........a "cameras only" shooting spree!

They have installed a humongous tent with a pot bellied stove and a queen bed. 

Their plans are to build a raised deck to put the tent on.

There is running water, electricity & a real flush toilet on site!

However, Mr. B and I stayed in the nearby Boonville Hotel which was delightful!

They have beautiful grounds with lots going on, like a Saturday morning farmers market, music,  oyster shucking Sundays and in the summer it's paella Sundays!

There is wine tasting nearby, hikes in the redwoods, a little shopping but mostly peace & quiet.

Andy helping Jon & Jacque set up camp

All of my loveys were there to celebrate & relax (except one - Tyler's SO was in Texas.....we missed you Monica!)

Andy showing Mr. B where things are

Chewy, Jon & Jacque hiking

 Even my grand-dog Chewy was there!

and dear Ashley who is always fun to be with!

Everyone worked so happily making delicious meals.  We even had a picnic lunch by the river while several of the guys went swimming.

We spotted some wildlife.....

 Lot's of  wildflowers......

And even some wild horses! (Unfortunately my camera is having focus problems and probably needs a good cleaning. It's nothing to do with the operator!!!)

On Sunday we had breakfast and a leisurely drive home and then cooked dinner for my sweet mama!

Thank you all for making it a memorable Mother's Day!  

I couldn't have dreamed up anything this special.

"Cherish your children...for they are the footprints 

that you will leave behind." 

--Taylor Evan Fulks

Mom's Glue

Song - Your Mother and Mine from Peter Pan

Mom circa 1957

See that cake pan on top of the refrigerator? Mom always had a freshly baked cake in there!  And the drawer behind her had Red Vine licorice and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for the family and our friends. And she usually had a pot of spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove top. 

Mom could be found in the kitchen or in the garden....both favorites of hers.....they still are.

Mom is still cooking in the same kitchen (minus the plaid wallpaper) in 2016

My mom has some extra strength glue - one that can hold a whole family together.  This will be our year of "firsts"....first time in 66 years that dad wasn't with us to celebrate Mother's Day. But we held it together with mom's love.

As for my Mother's Day, it was an extra special day.  My middle son, Jon surprised me with a visit from LA - way too short Jon but a delight!  The three of us had breakfast with my mom, then while she was off playing golf with my brother & his family, I got to paint.  My three (4 with Mr. B) boys and my soon to be daughter (insert ear to ear grin here) celebrated with a lovely meal outside by the fireplace.

"Home is where your mom is."

A Mom's Hug

 Song - Everybody Loves Somebody Sometimes by Dean Martin (Mom's favorite - after dad!)

When I think

of all 

that my mom has done 

for me, 

my brothers, 

our spouses, 

all of our children 

and now for her great-grandchildren....

Why am I not surprised 

that rarely does she not have 

a child in her lap......

or two or three....

and sometimes a dog 

or two 

thrown in? 

Much to my dad's chagrin, rarely does the word "no" come to her lips.  She has a huge heart and shares it with all.

No matter how big or small!

She was born into an Italian family and she is almost always in the garden or in the kitchen cooking.  She is never happy unless she can feed you or load up a bag with goodies to take home. 

Trust me, she can still cook AND direct a house full of people -  all while doling out love to the little ones.

I wonder if she realized when she first met my dad, that her world would be so full of love?

Thanks for being you MOM!!  Happy Mother's Day.....

Mom & Me

PS - I think this tag was made for mom.

"Mother, the ribbons of your love are woven around my heart."  ~Author Unknown

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." -Tenneva Jordan

 "A mom's hug lasts long after she lets go."  ~Author Unknown