I went visiting this weekend, to see my beloved family in northern Florida. And then my sister and I went to visit our aunt, cousin and his wife in Jacksonville on Saturday, where we also got to see a new second cousin - just five months old. It was lovely to see his first time mom in action - so loving and happy. This is the view of the St. John's river from my aunt's balcony - I would be out there all the time, I said.
Neighbor Rhonda brought these peony bushes from her late mother's home in Mount Holly, North Carolina. This is the first time they have bloomed since then. A lovely legacy!
And this vase always makes me smile a little. About 20 years ago, I was helping my late mom get ready for a gathering at her home, and asked if I should pick some irises from her garden for the table. As it turned out, she didn't have a vase. This seemed odd to me, but she just didn't. So I gifted her this one for Mother's Day that year. She did not seem as excited as I was about it. And then the next time I visited, I found that she had put some Spanish moss in the bottom of it and filled it with silk flowers. Sigh. So it's mine now and I use it all the time - this time with purchased irises. This might not seem so much like a "Good Things" story, but it is, because I learned from it to choose gifts that I know the recipient really wants and to remember that flowers are often best enjoyed just where they grow.
I hope everyone had a lovely day today, whether you are a mom or not. You are special to me!