2. To plant iris - never too deep, never too shallow
and not until July. It seems to work that way.3. To drink tea - hot or cold, with lemon or cream (never both!) and not all those herb beverages - real English tea - Earl Gray, English (or Irish) breakfast, darjeeling, or assam.
4. To swim. A strong swimmer herself, she saved my life once in the ocean and made it her mission to be sure that I would not need her the next time.
5. "It's only hair." And, no matter how bad the cut or curl, it will grow out! I've needed that one a lot recently.
6. Grammar matters. She was right about that. In this world where good grammar is going the way of Fat Sam, there are still plenty of us hanging onto the old rules, and trying to keep the world a more pleasant place for conversation... and writing.
7. To cook - well, not so well. Mother was an unadventurous cook
and kept things simple. Spaghetti was a pretty fancy meal for her. Someday I want to take some classes and become more adventurous and move outside my small comfort zone.8. To upholster. She would strip a chair down and dive into re-doing it without anything but guts. "It's all in the process," she'd say. "Just start at the back and work to the front, then work your way back." She was right. It works.
9. To wear good (by that she meant "not holey") underwear. You might be in an accident and wouldn't want the folks at the emergency room to see you had on old, worn underwear. I choose to interpret that to include lace as much as possible.
10. To always have some money put away. Mother (like her mother) was adamant about this. I've had a bank account since I was 10 and always a little put aside. She always made sure I had at least one nice piece of jewelry.... in case I needed to sell it for quick cash.
What did your mother teach you?
A very happy Mother's Day to all!
Lovely post Webb. ditto on the underwear. to cook, garden, not to swim unfortunately, to laugh, to keep my hair out of my eyes.....the list goes on.
ReplyDeleteSending you love this day.
xo Jane
What a brilliant list! "Do as you would be done by" and "Don't worry so much" were my mum's constant pieces of advice when I was growing up, along with the fact that playing in sandpits can give you worms (!!), and coffee is best drunk black. She is my hero.
ReplyDeleteOur mothers had some things in common. Is it that generation? Where things were practical and you were taught about money, but not necessarily about cooking? Your mom sounds like a great woman, I would have liked to have met her.
ReplyDeleteBoth of us without mothers now, I send you love and warm wishes. Are you a mom? I am not (choice), except to various critters
Jane - I forgot keeping hair out of my eyes - too short these days, but that was a good lesson, to.
ReplyDeleteBelinda - worms? really? didn't know that!
Anneke - childless by choice, too.
Love to all you find ladies! xoxo
Great list! My Mum was always very layed back about everything except for time keeping she taught my brothers and I the importance of being on time... if not its rude x
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful list you have shared with us. You have a special mom.
ReplyDeleteJo
I think that's a great list! What a wonderful set of skills and knowledge you have there now! (In my house, it was daddy doin' all the teachin'.)
ReplyDeleteSound advice :-)
ReplyDelete