This Sunday in the UK, families everywhere will be honouring Mum on what we call Mothering Sunday. When I lived in America, I lost track of when this special day occurred, since Mother’s Day, as it is called there, is observed in May.
For many years, my mother had two special days, receiving a card and flowers in March from my brother in England and the same again from me from California, in May.
Today, she has a blog post made especially for her.
She will smile at these photos because of the many, wonderful memories we share of our holidays spent together on the Norfolk Broads.
Family life is evident everywhere on the meres and rivers of the Norfolk Broads; Mum loves to watch mother ducks with their sweet babies paddle by…
Mother Duck & Ducklings, Norfolk Broads
(c) Sherri Matthews 2015
She remembers with great fondness happy family holidays sailing on the Broads as far back as the 1940s as a little girl with her parents and brother, and then, in the 60s and 70s, with her own children, me and my brother.
The sight of a windmill never fails to delight her.
Windmill & Yacht Nofolk Broads
(c) Sherri Matthews 2014
What I think of is all the fun we’ve had these many years and all we can now laugh about, including her frustration when trying to teach me, as a leftie, to tie shoe laces.
Me & Mum, Norfolk Broads, 1970s. Love those hats!
(c) Sherri Matthews
Mum reads my blog, even comments from time to time, but more often she will send me a text or an email saying how much she enjoyed a particular post and encouraging me to keep writing, all the time.
She has always been there for both her children no matter what, and she is dearly loved by both me and my brother and her six grandsons and one and only granddaughter.
For almost 20 years, we lived on different sides of the world, she in England, me in California. I cried every time we said goodbye after our visits, but we always had such wonderful times together when we did visit. And of course, I had my own precious children to love and cherish, heaven-sent gifts, one and all.
Thank you Mum, you’re the best!
*******
Today I am tagging Marty at mvschulze for the B&W 5 Day Photo Challenge. His blog is packed full of reminiscent American road trips and cruises, wonderful photos illustrating them all.
For the Tell 5 Secrets Blog Hop, I’m tagging Sarah of Sarah Potter Writes. Maybe she could write her secrets into one of her brilliant short flash fiction stories? I know she will entertain us in her wonderfully unique and creative fashion however she decides to take up this challenge!
Thank you so much for joining me for these challenges this week, I really appreciate all your wonderful comments. I won’t lie, it’s been a challenge for me to keep these posts up everyday, but it’s a lot of fun. The last post in this series will be next week.
Meanwhile, I wish you all a wonderful weekend and to all you mums,
I wish you a very happy Mothering Sunday!
A View From My Summerhouse 
There is no greater love than a mother’s love……
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None other 🙂
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Happy Mothering Sunday to you and your mother! Your mother must have enjoyed having 2 special days reserved for her. Those photos are wonderful. They don’t look old at all!
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Hi Robin, and thank you so much 😀
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Love the photos–all. Beautiful way to honor your mother. A Happy Mothering Sunday to you, too! ❤
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So glad and thank you so much Sarah 🙂 ❤
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Ah…I love the little ducklings. xo Happy Mothering Day to you and your beautiful mother, Sherri! I hope you have a wonderful day with your children. I love the photo of you and your mother. You both look so happy. xoxo
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Those ducklings are so sweet aren’t they? I love it whenever I see them paddling madly to keep up with their little families, could watch them all day 🙂 Ahh…thank you so much Jill, we had a wonderful weekend, and yes, I do like that picture, bobble hat and all 😉 xoxo Hope you had a super weekend too! xo
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Happy Mother’s Day, Sherri, and for your Mum, too. You’re so blessed that you still have her with you, my friend. Loved the photos and I’ll bet you enjoy being closer to her now that you’re back in England.
Ha — there’s something new I learned about you and that is you’re a lefty. That’s something else we have in common, my friend. I am, too, and can truly relate to how the whole world seems backwards at time. Still have trouble tying my shoelaces, especially when they say you can reverse how you tie them to keep them from coming untied.
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Thank you so much my friend 🙂 It is lovely to have Mum only 45 minutes away now after being so far from her all those years. And how interesting, I had no idea you were a leftie as well! Out of my three children, only my middle boy is a leftie and it was even more complicated me trying to teach him to tie shoelaces, ha! I gave up in the end and got him shoes secured with velcro straps 😀
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That’s nice, Sherri, to now have your Mum so close. I’ll bet you talk with her all the time. My daughter is 1-1/2 hours away and is getting ready to move out of state. I’m already having withdrawal pains and that’s not even out of the country.
I know what you mean about being a lefty and teaching things like tying shoes. One of my daughters is also left-handed but I can’t help but think how confusing that is to receive opposite directions. I know it feels like that for me (haha) like I’m confused most of the time. Seems like what is normal in the world is opposite for me. Goofy — guess that’s what makes us more lovable, right! 🙂
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Haha…yes, definitely! More loveable 🙂 Oh Pat, that is hard for you, I understand. Hopefully you’ll get lots of visits in with your daughter and explore her new area once they are settled in. My boys live about 4 hours away and I miss them terribly when they go back. We never stop missing our kids do we? I hope spring has arrived for you and I hope you have a lovely weekend my friend. Take care and keep smiling…God bless 🙂
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Yes, the ducklings for me too 🙂 Happy Mother’s Day with your boys, Sherri! I don’t have either of mine home this weekend but I have a card from one and a present from the other. It’s almost a present James not coming home because Sunday is always spent on his washing and ironing 🙂 Your mum looks lovely 🙂
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They are so cute aren’t they, I never get tired of watching those cute little balls of fluff paddling madly away 🙂 Thanks so much Jo, had a super weekend with my brood. I hope you had a lovely day without having to do any washing and ironing, which is always a plus 🙂
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How nice that you still have your Mum and I am sure she will love this post. I love the photo of you both on the boat, what beautiful smiles!
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Ahh…thanks so much Jude, she did, and yes, I am very grateful that we live much closer now. I hope you had a lovely Mothering Sunday too 🙂
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Ha it was the other way with me. Mum was the leftie. I’m very rightie but, despite that, I use scissors left handed. Thanks Mum! I love old photos as you know and you in your two ‘birds in a boat’ moment is tops!
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Haha, love it, thanks Geoff 😀 And see what us lefties can do?!! Even though I am fully left-handed, I ‘trained’ myself to do the ironing and peel potatoes with my right hand out of necessity, ha. My middle boy out of my three is the only leftie…and trying to teach him to tie shoelaces was darn near impossible 😉
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Happy Mothering Sunday. Sweet to celebrate mom. old pictures. You know, I’d recognize you anywhere. You haven’t changed a bit. Taller maybe. Look at YOU! ❤ ❤
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Haha…and I still wear a bobble hat to this day 😀 😛 Just kidding…but I do remember being rather fond of that silly hat 😉 Thanks so much Tess, had a super day with my brood. Hope you had a lovely weekend too 🙂 ❤ ❤ 🙂
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Yes. We don’t celebrate Mother’s Day till May but it was a busy weekend.
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🙂
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I loved reading this. You and your mom looked so happy. Her face exudes love of life. Love the duck and ducklings too. It’s that time of year again. It’s lovely that your mother supports you and is still there. Happy Mothering Day to both of you. My daughter is a lefty too just like her grandma was. I taught her to tie her shoes facing me like she was looking at a mirror and following along. It seemed to work well.
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Ahh…how kind of you Marlene, thank you so much 🙂 I think it must skip generations as my grandmother also was left-handed. I am the only one out of my immediate family who is, and out of my three children, only my middle boy is a leftie like his mum 🙂 It was even worse trying to teach him to tie shoelaces, so I gave up and got him those shoes with velcro straps in the end. Your way sounds great…sure I tried that, wonder why it didn’t work? Ha…such are the mysteries of life 🙂
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Lovely tribute to your Mom. We always remember Mothering Sunday for hubby’s mother, who has been a mother for almost 75 years, when her first daughter was born. We phone her every Sunday anyway, and send her flowers and chocolates on special occasions. 🙂
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Thank you so much Sylvia. How wonderful that both your hubby and his sister have had their mother for so long, that really is incredible and I’m sure she had a wonderful Mothering Sunday 🙂 xx
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Gorgeous photos, Sherri, and a precious and loving post. Your Mum sounds lovely. She must be amazing to have raised such an amazing daughter, who is in turn an amazing mother herself. So grateful for our friendship. Your posts always brighten my day.
Love,
E
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Thank you so much dear Elizabeth, you have blessed me greatly with your beautiful, kind words and friendship 🙂 ❤
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What a great picture of your and your beautiful mother, Sherri. You look so much like her!
This is one of those precious mother-daughter pictures that you’ll treasure forever.
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Ahh…thank you so much Marylin, and yes, I am so glad to have this photo 🙂
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You had a very special mum! She sounded like an adventurer…
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She was indeed Susan, and still is 🙂 Thank you so much 🙂
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This is a beautiful post, Sherri. Mother’s Day or Mothering Sunday – we honor our mothers. They are the least acknowledged, because they don’t “say” they are selfless. They become. Your mother is a beautiful lady, and I love the picture of the windmill.
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Thank you so much my friend for your lovely words 🙂
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What a lovely tribute to your lovely Mum!! And the photo of you two is priceless. ❤ I shall smile every time I think of it as I go about my day. 🙂 Have a wonderful Mother's Day! with my love, dee
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Can you just imagine me in my little bobble hat? Haha 😀 I do love that photo, brings back so many happy memories of those boating holidays, even when cold, wet and windy at times 😛 Can’t wait to catch up dear friend…all my love back to you ❤ xoxoxo
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I can tell from your writing just how proud you are of your mum, and she of you, Sherrie. I love the duck photo, it sums up Mothers so very well I think.
Thank you for the flashback photo as well. You do so much look like your mum and I was wondering whether you follow her in your ways as well? My sister even follows my mum in the way she walks and moves her hands when talking and the more I see her, the more she looks like my mum and my Grandmother.
Happy Mother’s day.
xx
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Ahh…thank you so much Hugh, you are very kind, I had a wonderful day with my brood back in the nest for the weeekend 🙂 xx People say my mum and I are alike in a lot of ways and I also see a lot of my grandmother in my mum too as the years go by. I was very close to my dear granny also and miss her even now. She lived in Chichester for 35 years until she passed away at the age of 94, so I was blessed to have her in my life as long as I did. And of course, my mum is a mere spring chicken, full of verve and vigour just like my granny was 🙂 Glad you liked the photo too of mummy duck and her llittle fluff ball children. They are so cute aren’t they? Be over to you shortly 🙂
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Happy Mothering Sunday to you and to your Mum. You have a beautiful mother–must be where you got your beauty! Beautiful ducks and being a sort of Dutch girl, I love the windmill.
Sherri, have I ever told you that my daughter calls me Mum? She has as long as I can remember. Maybe that’s how she ended up with a British boyfriend, her love of English expressions ;).
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Ahh….you are such a sweetheart, thank you so much Luanne, and I love that you are ‘sort of a Dutch girl’…windmills are amazing things aren’t they? And, no I didn’t know that about your daughter calling you ‘Mum’, love it, and amazing too she has a British boyfriend! My kids called me ‘Mom’ growing up, but now they spell it ‘Mum’ when they write it down. So I’m a bit of both, ha 😉
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A great end to your five day challenge, Sherri. Have a good Mother’s Day!
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Thanks so much Jenny, and for sticking with me through these, phew! One more this week to wrap up and then I will be curtailing things…*she says* … 😉 Had a lovely time with my brood, I hope you were suitably spoiled yesterday 🙂 xxx
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That’s a lovely tribute to your Mum, Sherri. The first photo of the mother duck and her young is very fitting for your post. I wondered if perhaps Mothering Sunday was timed to coincide with spring and the birth of young in many species. We have our Mothers’ Day here in May, as you said they do in the US as well. It’s interesting that we have adopted the American, rather than British way in this. I wonder why.
I love the photo of you and your Mum together. I see a lot of similarities between the two of you. Her smile is as big and warm as yours. How lovely for you that she reads and comments on your posts. I am lucky to have a daughter do that for me.
I hope you are enjoying your own Mothering Sunday with your own special children. How lucky they are to have chosen you for their Mum. Enjoy. Best wishes. Hugs all round. 🙂
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Thank you so much Norah, you are very kind, and one thing you say really jumps out at me and made me stop in my tracks… ‘How lucky they are to have chosen you for their Mum.’ What a most beautiful thing to say, I am deeply moved by your words and will always remember this. So beautiful…
How lovely that your daughter does the same as my mum, writing and blogging is a funny thing isn’t it when it comes to those who do, or do not, read our work!
That is an interesting thought about Mothering Sunday coinciding with the beginning of spring and also that the American Mother’s Day is observed in Australia. I assumed it would be the same as here, but we live and learn, which is just as well, so thank you for educating me…as you so often do 😀
I hope you had a lovely weekend in your Autumn and that it is cooling down a little for you now. It was lovely to have my chicks back in the nest, and now I will be catching up! See you soon Norah and hugs right back to you 🙂
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Thank you so much for your lovely warm response Sherri. No wonder your children chose you! I would’ve too – if I could have waited long enough! 🙂 I’m very pleased that my children chose me. They have taught me wonderful lessons in life that I would have been sorely lacking without.
Our autumn is still very warm. I’m sitting in my chair sweating (sorry, perspiring) as I write. It will cool down soon enough I guess, but really, Brisbane weather is pretty amazing all year round. I’m just not too keen on the really hot (mid to high 30s) of summer.
I’m pleased you had all your chicks back with you to celelbrate Mothers’ Day. It doesn’t get better than that! 🙂
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You warm my heart dear Norah in so many ways with your beautiful sentiments. Thank you so much 🙂 We are blessed indeed with our amazing children and all they have taught us, absolutely! And I would love some of your warm weather too right about now too! Sounds lovely now that the heat of summer has eased despite the occasional perspiration lol 😉 And yes, spending time together really is the best of all, the best gift ever!
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Thank you, Sherri. I think it will still be pool weather this weekend. It’s in the thirties still. 🙂
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That is summer holiday weather for sure over here! Yesterday was lovely and warm and of course I coudln’t get out in it…and today, hope to get out for a walk, I really need the exercise, but wouldn’t you know it, it’s grey and cloudy again 😦 Oh well…you know us Brits, always complaining about the weather! Have a great day Norah and if I don’t get over to you before the weekend, I hope you have a lot of fun in the pool 🙂
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I assume you’re off enjoying Mothering Day yourself today – hope so! So glad that you get to enjoy your mother on this one! Happy Mothering Day to you both – from a fellow lefty!
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I was indeed Shel, having a lovely time with my brood and then with my Mum, thank you so much 🙂 And how lovely to know you are also a leftie 🙂
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I love that picture of you and your mum. And thank you so much for inviting me to come up with 5 secrets, Sherri. Can my post wait for a few days? xxxx
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Thanks so much Sarah, and you are very welcome 🙂 And yes, no problem at all, absolutely no hurry, no pressure. I’m thrilled you will take part though! I have my last one to wrap up with this week. Hope you had a lovely Mothering Sunday, catch up with you asap… xxxxx
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Sherri, you will be proud of me. I have written my Blog Hop post today (much sooner than promised). Will either publish it tomorrow or Thursday. It’s in the form of 5 Tanka poems. I’m quite excited about it. Inspiration struck early today 🙂
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That’s wonderful Sarah, what a great idea! Can’t wait to read it…and I am very proud of you, very proud indeed 🙂 xxxxx
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What a gorgeous post, my dear friend.
Happy Mothering Day, beautiful Sherri!
May you know many, many warm blessings! XOXO
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Thank you so much dear Allison, you bless me greatly my beautiful friend. Sending abundant blessings back to you 🙂 xoxo
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Loved that Sherri! I hope you have enjoyed a wonderful “Mothering Sunday” You just answered my questions as I’ve read several posts honoring mothers but none of them explained why. From one moma bear to another much love to you 🙂
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Oh I’m so glad I was able to explain why! Thank you so much Lilka, I had a wonderful weekend and Mothering Sunday with my chicks, always love it when they are back together in the nest 😀 Or perhaps I should be calling them ‘cubs’, ha! This moma bear sends much love right back to you… 🙂
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Have a great week Sherri!
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Thank you Lilka, and you too… 🙂
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Sherri, that’s a Beautiful post. Kudos. My Love to Your Mother and to You and Yours. 🙂
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Thank you so much dear Swami for your beautiful, kind wishes and love, which I send back to you my friend 🙂
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Thank You, Sherri.
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🙂
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A lovely tribute to your Mum! The two of you look dashing in the photo.
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Well, I don’t think I’ve ever been called ‘dashing’ before…but I like it, thanks so much BT 😀
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A lovely tribute to your mum. Congrats. I am so glad she tells you to keep writing. Mum’s know best – Well some of the time. Ha!
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Thanks so much Sandra! Haha…yes, well, it’s nice to think that at least 😀
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I lost my Daisy last Sunday, to a respiratory infection. It was was sad.
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Oh Sandra, I am so very sorry to hear that about your sweet Daisy, I hope you are okay. I’ll be over to you… hugs… ❤
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Oh Sherri, I feel exactly the same about my mother especially when we have to say goodbye between visits. Beautiful tribute. I love the pictures, especially the one of you and her. I hope she had a beautiful Mum day.
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Oh you and your wonderful mother are beautiful Maria 🙂 I am so glad you got to spend time together so recently and I hope it won’t be too long before you do so again. The tears at the end of the visits are hard but then it’s lovely to have the next visit to look forward to 🙂 A beautiful day had by all, thanks so much Maria 🙂 xo
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I love these photos! You made me smile when you said that at one point your mother had two Mother’s days. At one point, I lived in England, my brother lived in America and my mother lived in France so she had three mother’s days!
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Thanks so much Letizia, and I can see why you had to smile at this post…three Mother’s Days for your mother! Wow 😀
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Lucky her, right? She deserved it though 🙂
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Absolutely 😀
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How touching to see your love for your mother, and hers for you, shining through in this post. I hope you had a lovely Mothering Sunday.
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Thank you so much Marlene, and we did, a lovely Mothering Sunday it was 🙂
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wonderful tribute to your momma – (and my mom reads my posts too – she gets them on her phone via email delivery -but doe snot get to them everyday – lol)
and the pics are good for b & w – that windmill one I was soaking up all the lines and different elements – but the two of you with hats and smiles – way cool.
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Thanks so much mon amie 😀 And I’m so happy to know that your own dear mom reads your posts too! Thrilled you enjoyed the pics too. Haha…yes, what about those crazy hats 😉 😛 I am trying to think of my last post for this challenge…so far it’s another week so full of other ‘stuff’ that I can barely get to blogging or writing 😦 So apologies for being slow to get over to you, but I am heading your way, you can count on it… ❤
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well as always – take your time mon amie – and I hear ya on getting to the posts for B & W – I am just getting ready to do Day 5 – and that took two weeks to get thru –
and how cool that for a while your mom had two mother’s day while you were a california chick.
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Got there…phew! Thanks mon amie 🙂 And yes, it was cool for my mum and I guess I was a California chick. I like that 😀 ❤
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Pingback: Tell 5 Secrets Blog Hop — Snapshots from Early Childhood | Sarah Potter Writes
I’ve posted my 5 secrets, but hope they’re secret enough. I know that from a young child’s perspective they were BIG SECRETS, as they were thoughts or things I kept from my parents (or, at least, I thought so, anyway!).
http://sarahpotterwrites.com/2015/03/17/tell-5-secrets-blog-hop-snapshots-from-early-childhood/
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Hi Sarah! At last getting on my laptop, first time today, been chocka with appointments. How I’m supposed to any wrting done around here is beyond me…but yay for you! Heading over right now … 😀
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Windmills are awesome, your mum has good taste! I do love your trips through time that bring us closer to knowing you and your family. I also think you can’t beat a post that has ducks in it, wonderful creatures, love stale bread!
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I love windmills too, they fascinate me. Haha…thanks Ste, and now I know you like ducks I’ll have to do a duck post just for you, have a few photos from the Norfolk Broads 😉 I’m so glad you enjoy these little trips down memory lane…and I hope you still will when you read my grand finale secret’s reveal in the last of my B/W photo challenge posts, up today. Just bear one thing in mind – I was only 8 years old
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Sherri I love that b/W photo, your mums looks like the coolest mum, sounds like you were blessed.
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Thanks so much Kath, my mum is very cool 🙂
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Again fantastic photos. Your Mum is beautiful – both then and now from the love that you write about her. You are lucky to have such a lovely relationship. Those holidays looked fantastic.
Belated Happy Mothering Sunday. Like America we celebrate mothers day in May. I guess we didn’t have Mother churches so we had to convert it to something else. 🙂
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Ahh…thanks so much Irene 🙂 I don’t write much about Mum here so thought it would be nice to catch her out with a little surprise for Mothering Sunday. We did have some wonderful times on our boating holidays – but not without our fair share of mishaps 😉 Yes, Norah mentioned to me about your Mother’s Day, I just always assumed you had it the same day as us. So interesting the things we learn through blogging 🙂
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So many similarities and many subtle differences.
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🙂
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Congratulations on all those wonderful taps on the shoulder. That’s quite fun to “kill three birds with one stone”. (Which wouldn’t really be fun but you know what I mean!)
What a wonderful birthday present for hubby. And how great that you could keep it secret from him. And use it as stimulus for your response to Charli’s challenge. I’m not sure how I missed this over at the ranch, but I’m pleased I have found it now. The turquoise glow! That must have been beautiful. I’m pleased he came home safe!
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Haha…yes, I know just what you mean Norah! Ahh…yes, I felt that the turquoise glow was comforting and supernatural but of course, nobody knew what it was…oh I love flash fiction and the great ideas Charli’s wonderful prompts give us! Thanks so much for coming back to read this post Norah, really appreciate it…and yes, I was so glad hubby landed safely. Very relieved indeed…but not a turquiose glow in sight, more’s the pity 😀
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Your mum looks so adventurous in that picture, and as for you, you have the exact same knowing smile that you have today!!
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Well I’m really glad to hear that, thanks Denise 🙂
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Your mom should really love this post. She’s so beautiful just like you!
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Aww Hollis…I’m blushing. I keep thinking about that little bobble hat…I loved it, knitted it myself, haha 😀
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