This week has been busy, just as the first week of the month always is. At least on the first Monday, I only had one thing to attend instead of two, which was a big help. Tuesday was our regular Auxiliary meeting, followed by getting some things finished in workshop and then it was time to go work in the gift shop. Actually, my friend worked part of my morning shift for me so that I could stay at the worktables with the other ladies. Our tray favors for the patients had a Mother’s Day theme and we were working on a yarn wreath that is red/white/blue with silver stars that will go in the gift shop and be for either Memorial Day or if not, then it will be for Independence Day in July. As they hadn’t made one before we worked together until they caught on and then I left! They did a really great job, and I glued on the stars and made a hanger for it on Friday. I have a really great group of ladies who seem to enjoy doing things that could be called “crafty”. Friday, we also worked on some cup towels to hang on the oven or the drawer pulls, and have adult bibs and walker totes cut out and ready to sew on another day! (We try to get things made ahead of time for the craft show that is in November so we don’t have to do so much work in September and October.)
We haven’t even made it to the first day of summer, and the days are already in the 90s a lot of the time. Of course, the nights are truly nice and cool as it was only 48º when I got up one day last week, and Saturday morning it was barely 50º. The thunder storm, with its wind that we had either Monday or Tuesday night left me with a large limb out of one of my trees. After hearing a strange noise during the night and getting up to check and not finding anything in the house out of place, it wasn’t until I got into the kitchen and looked outside that I discovered it. In fact, the limb next to it is not in good shape and I will get someone out one day this week to see what they can do for me.
Mother’s Day had its beginnings in Grafton, West Virginia, and in the churches in Philadelphia on May 10, 1908.
The day set aside for our Mothers, was started in response to a suggestion by Miss Anna Jarvis. By 1911, there was not a state in the nation that did not observe Mother’s Day. Leaflets were printed in ten different languages for use in various countries.
In 1913, by a unanimous vote, The House of Representatives passed a resolution commending the observance of Mother’s Day and calling upon the President, his Cabinet, the Senators and Representatives and all officials of the Federal Government to wear a white carnation on the second Sunday of the month to observe Mother’s Day. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson, issued a proclamation officially designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day, and also directed that the U. S. Flag should be displayed on all public buildings on that day.
Since that time, it has become a custom to wear white flowers (usually carnations) if your mother is deceased and red flowers if she is still living.
The following letter was printed in The Devine News some time ago. I have no idea of the date, but there is an article with a picture of “Kazen in Washington” on the reverse side. It was in one of my recipe files and is self explanatory.
“Dearest Mother,
This Sunday is a very special day set aside for all mothers; a day for us to express appreciation, love and many thanks to a person so very dear to all of us.
Most of the time it’s expressed with a gift, but, Mother, we have no material gift to give you this year, just the gift of our love for you, and to tell you once more how much we all love you. It’s impossible to say “THANK YOU” enough for just being the mother you are. In our eyes, Mother, no gift we could ever buy would be enough to replace the happiness and love you’ve created in our lives.
In all reality, God has been so good to us, for he blessed us with a Mother who has filled our lives with love and happiness.
If we were ever asked to give a description of our mother, I think it would be something like this: “Our mother is the heart of our home. To us, she’s all that’s good and pure, and certainly the center of our family life. She can brighten the day with a simple smile like the sun brightens a new morning as it shines down on the morning dew. Her appearance is radiant and always neat. She’s full of life and vitality, and is never too tired to share time with her family. She works very hard, and is proud of what she has accomplished. She shares our troubles, as if they were her own, and always has an encouraging word to make things look a little brighter. She mends our hurt and discouragement with love and understanding. Her beauty is like that of the stars up above, and the gentle glow about her face is the glow of the love she has for her family. She’s loved not only by her family, but also, many, many friends, whom, I’m sure, will always treasure her friendship. No matter what the situation may be, she’s always there when you need her. She has an ever-lasting and never-ending faith, plus incredible strength and courage. Should the “Mother of the Year” award be presented this year, the vote would be unanimous as to who would win. No other mother would come close. To us, the word MOTHER means, “Angel of God”, and I think there could be no better description of our Mother than those three little words.”
Along with this small card and note, Mother, we send all our love to you. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, and thank you for just being you.”
Note at end of letter: This letter was written to a Mother in Devine, but the particular Mother thought it should be shared with all Mothers.
This year, I’m not giving you a bunch of recipes and thoughts of how to make a complete meal or for ‘breakfast in bed’, but here are a few recipes you might enjoy making for your own very special Mother.
This dip is delicious and is excellent with any type of fresh fruit.
Sweet Dip
1 package cream cheese at room temperature
1 jar of marshmallow cream
1/3 to ½ cup powdered sugar
1/3 whipped topping, thawed
Place cream cheese in bowl and beat with electric mixer until fluffy, stir in the marshmallow cream and sugar and mix well. Add whipped topping and stir to combine ingredients. Serve as a dip with fresh fruit.
Sharon’s Cream Cheese Pound Cake
(Read all directions before beginning)
Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan or a Bundt pan
You do not need to preheat oven.
3 cups cake flow
3 cups granulated sugar
6 eggs
1 carton cream cheese (8-oz)
2 sticks butter or margarine
2 teaspoons vanilla
Blend cream cheese and butter, then add sugar; fold in flour a little at a time, then beat in eggs, one at a time; beating well after each addition; add vanilla, stir well, pour into pan and bake.
Start in COLD oven and then set temperature of oven to 300º to 325º and bake for 1 hour and 15 to 20 minutes. Cool in pan about 5 or 10 minutes and then remove to serving plate.
Apple Custard Pie
1 pie shell, baked to directions on box or package, or make your own recipe of pie crust and bake. (I know of no reason you can’t buy a ready to use pie shell and bake it, the recipe is old and when I got it, pie shells in aluminum pie pans weren’t available, but pie crust mixes were).
Cool at least 20 minutes before filling.
1 box (small size) cook with milk vanilla pudding mix
1 ½ cups milk to make pudding
1 large can apple pie filling
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
3 egg whites
¼ to1/3 cup sugar
Preheat oven to 375 to 400º
Cook pudding as directed on package, using directions for “pie filling”; and when finished cooking, chill for about 30 minutes, or to room temperature. Empty apple pie filling into bowl add spices and stir to mix well. Pour into pie shell and level off, top with pudding and smooth over apples. Make meringue using the egg whites and sugar and spoon over pudding. Bake in preheated oven until golden brown. Chill before serving.