March is/was my mother’s birthday month…
my Onkel Sepp and Tante Erika bought her a lovely Royal Albert flower of the month (Anemones) plate and tea cup for her birthday one year…
I am not sure she ever used it…
I do know she kept it in a place of honor…
taking apart a home is hard work…
what to let go of and what to hold on to are very emotional for me…
coping with loss and grief is so different for each of us…
the lovely quilted piece was a gift to me from the very talented and generous Lina LaMora…
it makes me happy each and every time I look at all of those beautiful fabrics and stitches...
my sweet friend, Jo Ann, from Pennsylvania sent me a nice article recently from Country Woman magazine about a special tea spot in southern Iowa along with this perfect quote:
“Sipping tea reminds me of my mother — warm and strong, with a touch of sweetness.” ~Lori Lau Grzybowski
continued thanks to each of you kind and thoughtful readers…
come join us for T over at Kimmie’s Art in Red Wagons
Magpie's Nest ~*~ Patty Szymkowicz 
Perfect quote, quilt and china pieces. I know how difficult it is to go through a lifetime of collecting beautiful memories. I asked our two sons to pick whatever they chose from Mother’s collection.
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As we age through life and experience many changes,some good some not so good. The one most important thing we have in life to sustain and keep us warm are the memories we’ve gathered. They are precious.
Hugs, Amy
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Dear Patty…all those beautiful things that were your Mom’s…hold on to them for a long time. They give such wonderful memories as each year passes….they keep her close. You are still being prayed for during this very difficult time….love from Broadway.
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Love that quote.. so true.. yes it’s difficult to let go of things that you know they loved so much and evoke so many memories….. I have that cup and saucer too… my mom gave me one for my b-day years ago.. that quilted piece is gorgeous…
big hugs..
Kath
xx
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It’s so much more then we think it is, let go of someone you loved so much and specially one of your parents. What a beautiful tea cup, sweet memories are nice to have. Take care dear Patty xoxo
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A Tuesday Tea filled with memories my dear… through you, your mutti is in my heart and memory too.
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Loss always reminds us of how fragile life is…to be tended to every day with grace and love. I, too, have lost both parents and a baby girl. Blessing come to us, from them, in memories and things they’ve touched. How wonderful that we can hold these things in our hands and in our hearts. Love to you , Patty, my friend.
Karen
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beautiful tribute to your dear Mum, and a lovely post, wish we could sit together and have that tea, we could talk our hearts out. sending you love and hugs, xoxo
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All the best as you search out what brings joy to you and are able to let go of those things that no longer serve you well. Tea is a good place to start 🙂
Happy T on T
~Dawn
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Such a lovely post and the tea set is beautiful ~ I love having tea with you on Tuesdays! Your dear mom is living on through you ~ and your words and photos. Have a blessed week dear Patty! ❤
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As I sit and read this post, I am struck by the love and happiness that are held up with positive memories. Right now you may not see the happiness, but it is there. And of course I see it in the stitching, the well used books, and the daffodil straight from the garden. This is a powerful post, dear friend.
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Beautiful pieces to treasure and enjoy with your memories. I didn’t realize that German and Norwegian had the same words for Aunt and Uncle. That’s neat. When I was little my friend always called her Aunt, “Tante”..I thought Tante was her name because she didn’t say Tante Alice (made up the name because I still don’t know it) LOL
Have a wonderful day!
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Loving the quote, it’s so true. Patty, I do knot know, not can I grasp, how much you are hurting over the loss of your mother. It must be a terrible, terrible thing. But she’ll always be with, whenever you drink tea from her cup or hold something of hers.
Sending lots of love and hugs~
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lovely, dear one…happy t tuesday…
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Patty, Oh what a splendid gift in that quilt! And such precious china.
So hard that you are already having to face “a first without” day….
When we moved both of our parents out of the home they lived in for 40 years I remember all too well the anguish in deciding what to keep….
And just to put a little smile on your face, my older sister, a retired teacher who now buys/sells antiques brought some much needed humor to this occasion for us. On her way home from the house, she stopped by Goodwill. When she saw several of our parents’ donated items on the shelf, it was too much for her….she bought them back!
I did find that by taking photos of the stuff I loved/had special memories of, etc. but just couldn’t keep it all did help a little.
Always such special posts from you.
xo, Sue
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Vibrant (colorful!) post, Patty. You honor your mother beautifully.
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Greetings Patty,
I am very sorry to learn of your loss.
As I get older I have begun to look at what we have a slowly dispose of non-essentials and find out what our children which to keep, so not to burden them with the decision what to keep and what to give away.
With the situation in Japan, we are reminded how fragile life is and that we need to take out a little time each day to give an uncalled for hug, just to give a hug in passing, a word of comfort or encouragement and let them know you love them.
It is wonderful that you have some very beautiful items your mother treasured and I also see a ‘housewife guide’ book in German, precious as a time capsule of a period long past.
Enjoy your tea and the memories that burn deep in your heart.
Hugs,
Egmont
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It requires a lot of gentleness with oneself and tenderness to sort through a home with all of the memories. Your mother would be honored that you’re using her tea set so lovingly and sharing it with us. Thank you…
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i think miss wendy said what i wanted to say but i couldn’t find the right words…gentleness and tenderness…and thank you for sharing
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What a beautiful quilt piece you have and your Mother’s china cup set is so special, I am glad to see you using it, we should all use the ‘good china’ because we all deserve the beauty of them, not keep them in a dresser to be looked at.
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I just Love that tea quote and I feel as though I’ve had a brief visit with both Judy and JoAnn all while reading your blog. I also love your Mutti’s special tea cup, enjoy it and keep her close in your heart and in your memory.
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Very lovely post, as usual. Happy tea day to you !
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I certainly have been thinking of you Patty …. And imagining how hard it must be to sort through your mother’s possessions. My mother kept a pair of my grandmothers shoes. The most unexpected things bring on the strongest of emotions. The quilt is beautiful, the flowered plate too, but most of all is your gentle and tender heart through it all.
Hugs to you, Kimmie
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I very much want a biscuit now. Mine won’t be heart shaped, but I need to score one pretty quickly.
Xx,
A
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Beautiful treasures and so delicate … the memories so precious – and the most precious ones are in our hearts, hugs Petra. x
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This must be a bitter sweet time and so very hard I can’t imagine. Thinking of you x
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Why does the Good Lord give us hearts when they break into a million pieces?!? How I wish I could comfort you . . . but words are so inadequate, Sweet Patty. Be comforted by the many loving and happy memories that you have of your Sweet Mutti . . . . and know that she is with you in spirit. Many blessings, Terri xoxo
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Lovely and meaningful treasures Patty. May they comfort you with the loving memories you and your Mom shared together. xxoo
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I hope you don’t mind me visiting. *Ü* I found your blog through a friend of a friend and love the Tuesday morning tea idea. The cup and tea plate is beautiful, as is the quilt. Our loved ones that have passed on are but just in the next room. I wish you peace. TFS. ~Glen~ in UK
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Dear Patty,
What a beautiful post. It is gorgeous (your photos…oh my!!!) and speaks of you being where you are meant to be! I have never taken apart a house and imagine it would be a very emotional experience, full of happy memories and deep sadness. I hope you know that however you grieve is right for you.
Love you, precious Patty!
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So lovely to see you joining us for tea Patty. Your dear mothers’ china and beautiful quilt are so precious and will be treasured. I have kept a shopping list written out by my mum just before she passed away.. she had many beautiful possessions but the shopping list is what I treasure the most, silly hey. An emotional time for you…I send you understanding and love. xx
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Another beautiful post Patty. I can’t imagine what a difficult thing it is to dismantle the home of a departed loved one. Beyond imagining. My Mother’s birthday month is also March. I send you healing wishes, Pen x
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March 10 for my Mom 🙂
The quilt is beautiful!
Keep lots, you can do something with it whenever you’re ready. Because when it’s gone, it’s gone. Some of the silliest things mean the world to me 🙂
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O Patty, I could feel the deep pain your dear mother’s departing left in your heart as I read your post. I can also feel the love and precious memories that fill your heart now to overflowing. “Precious memories how they linger, how they ever fill my soul” are words to an old beloved hymn…they fit so well in the loss of someone so loved. You are so blessed to have precious memories.
The quilt is lovely and teacup are both beautiful.
Happy tea day. oxo
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beautiful quote Patty! I am sipping sage tea here at the moment because of my nasty cough… and enjoy your photos and text!
have a good day… and I hope time heals your wounds!
xxx Susi
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Such gorgeous photos! You make me want to sit down and enjoy a cup of tea. I saw some anemones growing a in a garden while I was walking the other day — such pretty little flowers.
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So beautiful Patty, what a gorgeous cup to remind you of your Dear Mutti, I wish you lots of strength at this time Mxx
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This post is a quiet and beautiful tribute to you dear mother. I pray for Love to see you through these hard times dear Patty.
You’re in my Heart,
Hugs and Love,
Linda
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Patty, I cannot imagine how difficult it must be to go through your mother’s home. We have not touched my Grandma’s things really. Everything sits as it was in her room in my Mother’s house. I would like to think that I am ready to go through things, because I want to have her things and use them and always remember her, but that concept may not hold water in reality. You continue to be brave and as you unearth each treasure, hold it all dear. My Mom wants to leave things the way they are, so I don’t dare mention otherwise. See the blessings, in that you are free to take your time with all of this and keep the things that are dearest to your heart. My thoughts have been with you through all of this. Big, big squeeze,
Autumn
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thinking of you often…
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Oh, Patty, reading this post gives me a lump in my throat. That first birthday after someone dies is so very hard. The first everything is hard — it seems like we need to continually reprogram ourselves that things are different. Not that the second is always easier, because the loss remains, but at least we know we did it once before and made it through.
The plate, books — what wonderful things to keep, to treasure, to touch. It is simply beautiful, as every one of your memories will be.
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