This week Writer’s Quotes Wednesdays takes a look back at beauty and Mother’s Day. Remember you can take this beautiful topic anywhere you want to take it.

I’m also participating with Cee’s Midweek Madness: Purple, and with Cee’s Flower of the Day

This is a twill background that I learned from John Steiner.

Remember the interview of John Steiner the other day? Several of you asked about the twirling process. Click on his name in the caption, follow his excellent instructions, and you can do this to any colorful photo!

#Prescott Walk #12B: Blooming Hills Drive

The charm of some of the flowering undesirables started my thinking about this Writer’s Wednesday QuoteFs post about beauty and along with that age since mothers are always older than we are. Until suddenly we are the oldest mothers in the family.

Like Restless Jo said to me yesterday in a comment, “Do you sometimes have the feeling that someone is shortening your day when you’re not looking, Marsha?”

Yes, I definitely do! but I digress…

“Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty – they merely move it from their faces into their hearts.”

Martin Buxbaum

Puppy Girl stopped frequently allowing me plenty of time to take some close up shots of the weeds. My favorite was the dandelion. I got to wondering if there was any beauty in fading, aging flowers. This flower, like number 3 above was not as pretty, but there was more going on inside the flower.

I am not a scientist, so if you have more information to offer about the beauty of this weed, feel free to chime in.

Inside this older flower, a spider had time to weave a little web and as the stamen had disintegrated, parts collected on the web. It looks like some tiny bugs had attached themselves. I saw a red leaf and the petals developed ruffled edges.

So the older plant offers more life to others. Its beauty has moved from its “face to its heart. ”

The Dandelion Allure

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”

Confucius

Dandelions have a short enough life span that we we can examine their beauty over time. Even if you don’t want them in your yard, they are a bright spot. They are loaded with anti-oxidants, although if you eat too many you could get allergic reactions, including gas, stomach discomfort, diarrhea, or heartburn according to Web MD.

One post sited ten significant health and beauty benefits that dandelions offer us. Medical News Today spoke of research done with mice. If you feed your pet mouse dandelions, it will never suffer from high cholesterol, saggy skin, high blood pressure, high or low blood sugar or inflammation. You might not either if you can get past the stomach discomfort of eating too much dandelion soup.

Dandelion soup, dandelion soup
If I don't get some, I think I'm going to droop.
Take away my puncture vine
Take away my spurge
But don't take away my dandelion soup.
© 2021 Marsha Ingrao
baby and mature dandelion

Once they finish their usefulness as an antioxidant, they develop into a seedhead. Many think this is when they are the most beautiful. Fathers love when their children run around the yard collecting them and blowing on them. Like blowing out birthday candles or bubbles, the beauty is in the competition to see who can blow off the most seeds in one breath.

Getting back to the original topic of beauty and motherhood, I look in the mirror and I don’t see the beauty in getting older. But I look at the seedhead above, and I see that it gets more and more beautiful as it ages.

But is physical beauty what is most important in life? Some of the most arresting pictures of people are those with faces aged with life’s trials like Khmer Rouge prison Tuol Sleng, in Phnom Penh survivor in this article by Sarah Wilkies .

Photo by Toonsarah (Sarah Wilkies) Follow the link to read the entire post.

“It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness.”

Leo Tolstoy, The Kreutzer Sonata

The Beauty of Mothers

Born May 12 (today), 1926, my mama was not considered beautiful by worldly standards. Yet the older and more frail she got, the more beautiful and precious she was to me. She enchanted and charmed people with her wonderful stories and endearing smile.

As a toddler, if Grandma didn’t tie her to the porch, she would wander down the street and have tea and cookies with each of the neighbors. She had her route.

At forty, she started life over as a single mom. Mom showed us what self-respect and bravery meant. She moved 2,500 miles taking her two children and with very little work experience, supported us, and expected us to contribute by being responsible and staying out of trouble. She went back to school and became a teacher. Even when she wasn’t smiling, we knew she loved us.

She taught us to care about our family, each other, and others. She never met a stranger, nor did we. The importance of education exuded from her life, and Randy and I both finished high school and got jobs. I went back to school later and earned my teaching credential, administrative credential and master’s degree. She was proud of both of us.

Mama loved purple.

Thank you Mom for showing us the power of inner beauty.

What’s your story of beauty? Tell it with a quote.

Check Out These Fabulous Entries for Last Week

Thanks, friends. See you soon.


61 responses to “#WQWWC #24: Beauty/Mother’s Day Revisited”

  1. Quote – Beauty – Mother’s Day – Week #24 – Our Eyes Open Avatar

    […] Written for Marsha’s Writer’s Quotes Wednesdays Writing Challenge #24: Beauty | Mother&#821… […]

    Like

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Fabulous, Cee. I’m glad to see that you are not always that frustrated. That’s how I feel sometimes without having long haulers but when I can’t figure something out. When I was the Executive Director of an organization and was responsible for the books, that was exactly how I felt when I had to tackle Quick Books at first. 🙂

      Like

  2. Pick Me Up and WQWWC #25 Healing – Cee's Photo Challenges Avatar

    […] Here is my entry for Marsha’s WQWWC (Writer’s Quotes Wednesday) #25. […]

    Like

  3. #WQWWC #25: Healing – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write Avatar

    […] of a job on us as they can on an old Desoto? (I’m showing my false reliance on the power of beauty – see last week’s […]

    Like

  4. Sunday Stills: May Gray Vacay – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write Avatar

    […] Quotes Wednesdays – This week beauty, coming up – […]

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  5. Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge: May #Gray – Second Wind Leisure Perspectives Avatar

    […] quote is inspired by Marsha’s Writers Quote Wednesdays, and helps define how we appreciate beauty. As the color gray is often found in nature, haven’t […]

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  6. WQWWC # 24 – Beauty/ Mother’s Day – Keep it alive Avatar

    […] Marsha is the host of WQWWC […]

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  7. CBWC: Las Vegas Buildings in Shades of Black and White – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write Avatar

    […] Are you looking for a place to honor your mother or the beauty of the universe using quotes? I’d love to have you join the fun at Writer’s Quotes Wednesdays Writing Challenge. […]

    Like

  8. Norah Avatar

    I loved learning about your mum, Marsha. What a woman!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Thanks, Norah. I think so, too. But then you come from a family of strong women, too. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Norah Avatar

        Yep. We’re all descendants of survivors. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Marsha Avatar

          True that, or we would not be here.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Norah Avatar

            Exactly!

            Liked by 1 person

  9. the eternal traveller Avatar

    This is a lovely tribute to your mother, Marsha.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Thanks, Carol. It worked out perfectly to be on her birthday.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Lisa Coleman Avatar

    This is such a wonderful post and I love that you shared your mom photos. I didn’t take many photos this weekend as I was too busy living in the moment and what a great Mother’s Day it was. I just realized you probably didn’t see my quote for last week because I didn’t change my link for #23. I just fixed the post and hope you enjoy it when you get time. 🙂 Duh! LOL!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      I’ll take a look tonight. 🥰🥰🥰

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Prior... Avatar

    Hi M
    This post was delightful and seeing your mom at 80 – well
    You could feel the joy!

    ((And it is posts like this one that make coming back to blogging even more enjoyable – these rich blogger shares that are one of a kind posts

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Hi Y! Welcome back!!!! I missed you!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Prior... Avatar

        ☀️🙏🌸🌸🌸🌸

        Like

  12. ladyleemanila Avatar

    such a lovely tribute to your Mom, Marsha 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Thank you so much, Lady Lee!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. #WQWWC #24: Beauty/Mother’s Day Revisited – Ladyleemanila Avatar

    […] For: #WQWWC #24: Beauty/Mother’s Day Revisited – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write (tchistorygal.net) […]

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  14. […] post is supporting Marsha’s Wednesday Writing Challenge (WQWWC). I invite others to visit Marsha’s post about beauty and other participants. All it takes to […]

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Thanks, Frank.

      Like

    2. Marsha Avatar

      Thank you so much, Frank.

      Like

  15. A Beautiful Heart > A Beautiful Face, #WQWWC – Susan Joy Clark Avatar

    […] was from a prompt on Writer’s Quote Wednesdays from Marsha Ingrao. The theme was beauty, and bloggers were asked to respond with any form of post […]

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  16. restlessjo Avatar

    I never know where I’m going to pop up next 🙂 🙂 Wonderful to have that kind of relationship with your Mum, Marsha. She must have been a wonderful soul. Now I need to go and read Sarah’s link. Missed that one!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Say hi to Sarah! Thanks for stopping by. Link to link to link, right? 🙂

      Like

      1. restlessjo Avatar

        🙂 🙂

        Like

  17. Cee Neuner Avatar

    Here is my response for the week. I hope you like my flowers. 😀
    https://ceenphotography.com/2021/05/12/pick-me-up-and-wqwwc-24-beauty/

    Like

  18. Pick Me Up and WQWWC #24 Beauty – Cee's Photo Challenges Avatar

    […] Here is my entry for Marsha’s WQWWC (Writer’s Quotes Wednesday) #24. […]

    Like

  19. KL Caley Avatar

    This is such a lovely post and dedication to your mother, Marsha.
    I love this line particularly – So the older plant offers more life to others. Its beauty has moved from its “face to its heart. ”
    This is my entry for this week – https://new2writing.wordpress.com/2021/05/12/national-limerick-day-12th-may/
    Thanks
    KL ❤

    Like

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Very cute post, KL. I wrote you a limerick! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. KL Caley Avatar

        Thank you for joining in the fun. They were both really good. KL ❤

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Marsha Avatar

          Thanks KL. 🤗🤗❤️❤️

          Like

  20. National Limerick Day – 12th May – New2Writing Avatar

    […] This week Writer’s Quotes Wednesday Writing Challenge takes a look back at beauty and Mother’s Day. Remember you can take this beautiful topic anywhere you want to take it. To check out the prompt visit Marsha @ TCHistoryGal.Net […]

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Toonsarah Avatar

    Thank you for featuring my post about Chum Mey. Your mum sounds like an amazing woman and I share her love of purple!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      You are so welcome, Sarah. I only wish my mom could have known you. She loved everything English!

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Cee Neuner Avatar

    Love the photos with your mom. The purple is great too! 😀 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Thanks Cee. Something besides flowers. 🙂

      Like

  23. Kirstin Avatar

    Loved your post Marsha. I shared one of the same ones you did, and your first quote, I thought of sharing. I love your illustration of the flower in the first quote. So good and so true. My girls grew up calling the “aged” dandelion wishy flowers…I think they are beautiful.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      So cute. They are sort of wishy flowers. They make great photos. I think I like the oldest one of the three best. 🙂

      Like

  24. Sadje Avatar

    What a lovely post Marsha. Thanks for the mention

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Thank you, Sadje. I had fun with the post. Beauty has many directions and possibilities!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sadje Avatar

        Indeed, it can go many ways. You’re welcome. I’ll be writing my post tomorrow

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Marsha Avatar

          Awesome, I always look forward to reading and responding to it, Sadje. Have a great day.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Sadje Avatar

            Thank you so much ☺️

            Liked by 1 person

  25. Frank @ Beach Walk Reflections Avatar

    Very clever way to meet the purple challenge and honor your mother. Cheers to the fortitude and example she showed you during her life. I will give you a double feature this week. First, here’s a recent beach walk I did about my mother. https://beachwalkreflections.wordpress.com/2021/05/08/72-mom/ …. PLUs, early morning tomorrow (actually late tonight for you) you will receive a pingback for a new beach walk about beauty.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Perfect. I’ll expect it. I’m on my phone today while we travel. Internet service is slow.

      Like

  26. Terri Webster Schrandt Avatar

    What a wonderful post honoring moms and fading beauty, Marsha. Your mom was a go-getter and how proud she must have been of you as you followed in her educational footsteps. I wish my own grandparents could have known that three of their grandchildren achieved secondary degrees and worked in education. I love how you tied it all in to faded beauty and the weeds in our lives. I already posted that our “noxious” weeds, the sunflowers and now lupine and popping up all over our property and how much joy they bring me. Love your quotes and I’m inspired to tie WQW into my SS color challenge!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Thanks, Terri. I’d be honored to join forces. I try to link up to several challenges. My topics are all listed, but I’m going to do one week of choice. Kudos to your kids for doing so well. They are making a difference and working under such challenging circumstances.

      Liked by 2 people

  27. Jim Borden Avatar

    as soon as I saw purple, I had to read it. your mom sounds like a wonderful woman – nice to know she liked purple as well!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Marsha Avatar

      Thanks, Jim. She was a fabulous mom. We were very close.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Jim Borden Avatar

        that’s nice to hear…

        Liked by 1 person

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