Today would have been my mom’s 87th birthday. Every so often her birthday fell on Mother’s Day, and this is one of them. She lived to be the ripe old age of 80, and we had 55 wonderful years together. Well most of them were wonderful. I’m sure she had a few that were troublesome, but not many. We were best friends.
One of our favorite times together
One of the things I loved about my mother was her smile. Even after she lost all her teeth she would beam when I walked into the room, so I knew that I was the most important person in her life. I didn’t always appreciate that. For example, if I would stub my toe and gasp, my mom would be all over it, “Are you ok? Let me see!” AT 3 or 4 years of age, that’s great. At 55 I was sometimes short with her about that, but it is a blessing to have ANYONE care that the least little thing happens to you. I have to admit that she spoiled me with love beyond anyone else’s ability to live with me!!!
Mom taught preschool and her kids made this sweatshirt. She treasured it.
My mom was a happily-spoiled only child. So she knew how to spoil my brother and me.
Always smiling – even when the camera wasn’t clicking! 🙂
This is Mom Pre-Marsha and Randy. 🙂
Mom took motherhood seriously, yet she was still a lot of fun. Hope you are enjoying a happy day with your favorite mother or children. Lots of love to you.
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
Everyone should have a mom like that!
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I agree! 🙂
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That is a beautiful tribute to you mother Marsha, mums are very special.
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Hi Leanne, yes they are, and so are blogging friends like you. I loved your mum’s quilt, and I love that you mentioned it to me in your blog. That was special. 🙂
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P.S. those photos are so beautiful, and I just love the image of you with your mum. I am so glad you had so many gorgeous years together, so many fabulous memories shared, to live on. Much love.
-toad
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Mothers are wonderful, and I never became one. I’ve been seeking wonderfulness most of my adult life. I spent a few years just experimenting with being adult, then the rest wanting to be a mom. So now I adopt, so, my dear Toad, Babs, AJ, consider yourself officially adopted. Papers will be drawn up right here on this blog making it official, if you would agree to be one of my adopted daughters. You see, all my “kids” are grown up now. I do have a step-son now. I also have adopted blogging sisters. I guess I should make those official, too! 🙂 M 🙂
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It is an absolute honour!!! Of course I accept! I am MOST chuffed dear Mum of the Smiling Toads (ahem, what ARE you getting yourself into poooor lassie!)!!
Brilliant, brilliant!
Hugs and love,
olde salt
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🙂 I am wise enough not to get into TOO much that …ok scrap that! I do get myself into some scrapes, but I might as well adopt someone just like me who gets in and out of scrapes, too! Right??? Then at least we have fun laughing as we fall ungracefully into and out of trouble! 🙂
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Absolutely exquisite!!! A most gruntling, joyous good mother’s day to you, belated, dear lass. The tribute to your mum here is absolutely stunning. I just loved it, thank you for this. TOO exquisite!
P.S. SO LOVE your blog’s new look! That header is marvelous, LOVE the lichen. I am in love with moss and lichen, one of nature’s most beautiful accents. Ahhhhh. Fabulous.
Such a peaceful entry.
-Autumn Jade
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My dearest Autty, you are back! It’s been months! Where have you been? You are going to have to post like crazy to catch up, and I’m going to be right there reading every one! Thanks for the compliment. I finally upgraded when I got almost to the end of my free storage capacity. I was reading Twitter, and Benjamin recommended that WP customers do that, it is well worth the expense. I think it is. I have a live chat person who comes on and answers questions once in a while. AND I have unlimited storage, AND I can do video. I almost put a video of my mom in that post, but I wanted to edit it first, and couldn’t get that to work, so I left it for another day. The only video I have is a poor one that I took with my camera on her 80th birthday party. Maybe next year. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by. Oh, yes, the lichen, aren’t they lovely. First thing I took during my wildflower class trip. I could hardly wait to set up the TRIPOD (my first experience with one) and get down on the ground. That turned out to be a disaster, which you will have to read about in another post. 🙂 Lots of love, Marsha 🙂
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Lassie it is grand to be back! Aye aye, I shall be posting rabidly away.
Aye, I have been looking into upgrading as well. I have been finding the boons with it look quite worth it, brilliant, brilliant!
Ah ha! I have always wanted to use a tripod for macro stills. I have one I’ve used for other projects, but it is a very old one from 2000, doesn’t do a whole grand and is not easy to attach a camera too. HAHA you should see me spinning around and around to get it to screw on, har har haw!
I’ve wanted to start lugging a ladder with me so I can get much higher shots in the woods without climbing and possibly damaging trees. Not my thing to damage trees. I can just see how fellow hikers would react, lass lugging a ladder through the woods. A tripod is one thing, but a bally ladder?? And not just any ladder, but my old precious one, splotched and flecked with paint, dings, scars, chips, scrapes- it is just darling. I’ll test it out at a local little hike spot here, I cannot wait, Turkey Creek.
I look forward to seeing that video!! Next year, eh? I can wait, ooooo that is going to be so brilliant, I’ll probably sob, er, I mean….look on sternly and think it a fine video.
Aye, aye, a brilliant shot that, of the lichen. TOO fabulous. They are just as exciting as wildflowers. I’m always shooting lichen. Oh lichen is especially magnificant after a recent rain, a bit of sun streaming through the trees, the boles all dark and wet, everything darkened with the dank, except the lichen, which stands out boldly, as if it is aglow. Stunning, just thrills me every time!!
I recently downloaded a science podcast where a scientist that is absolutely obsessed with lichen and moss is interviewed. I have a feeling she is going to be JUST my type of lassie 😉
Right-ho, I”m babbling and driveling on, this is terrible. Most of this is total bosh! This would be so much more cognizant and organised if I had to scrawl it by hand. Right, right, just so happy to be back flitting about our lovely blog-land again. Many cheers,
Autumn Jade
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You do always usher in a gust of cheer and laughter when you gush into my blog. Then when you leave, the breath of hilarity sighs out of me, and subsides into mere smiles. So glad you’re back! 🙂
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I am so lucky to still have both my parents and they are very special. They think the world of all of us and especially their grandchildren.
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You are lucky. My poor mom loved kids more than anything, and neither of us had any. She borrowed them just like I do !!!
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A lovely Mother. Happy to share with you such a gifted mom. God bless.
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Same to you. I haven’t read your website for a while as I have been really busy, so I will get by really soon. I hope your Mother’s Day was not painful, though I’m sure it is a hard time for you. Blessings on you for all the work that you do for others. I’m sure you bring a lot of comfort to many people. 🙂
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Happy memories are worth so much. I had my mum for 43 years. She never wanted a big fuss on Mother’s Day but we did our best nonetheless. A lovely post, Marsha.
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Thank you Andrew. I sorry for your loss as well,
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Lovely tribute and lovely pictures, Marsha. I hope you had a wonderful day.
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It’s been great! Every see The Great Gatsby? We went to see that in 3 D this afternoon, and took a walking tour of screen sets of Alfred Hitchcock this morning.
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Oh, so cool! The movie looks great, and I love all things Hitchcock! 🙂 I haven’t been here for a while, so I’m staying for a while to read some of your other posts.
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Wow, I see that in my notifications! Thanks! It’s always good to hear from you. I haven’t been doing as much blogging as I like because I’ve been on the road with little or no connectivity. I feel like the shopper that screams, “Open, open, open!” 🙂
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How nice. Looks like you have some good memories!
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Yes, Cathy, How about you? Do you have a favorite memory?
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Hope you are having a fun trip! Great tribute to your mom.
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I will have lots to tell you when I get back. Lots for everyone else, too, with lots of pictures. We’ve only done two walking tours, but lots of walking. Forgot the restaurants you told us to check out! 🙂
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A lovely tribute to your Mom.
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Thanks Bumba! Hope your day is happy as well 🙂
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What lovely memories for you MVBF Marsha. Happy Mother’s Day !! 😀 xox
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Thanks, MFR, we did have some wonderful times. 🙂
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So sorry for your loss and hoping today will not be too bittersweet~ You mom looks like she was so much fun to just “hang” with. And I so see you in her younger face! Happy Mother’s day Marsha!
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Thank you Darla! I have some of her characteristics. I’m more like her mother, and she is more like her father in looks and personality. 🙂
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