My mother will be 88 very shortly. I’ve probably said that fifty times in the past six months. It’s amazing to me that she will be EIGHTY EIGHT!
\nAbout six or seven years ago, Dear Husband and I went to New Orleans for a few days rest and relaxation. We had dinner in a fabulous restaurant called “The Courtyard of the Two Sisters.” We enjoyed our elegant dinner so much, we returned for lunch the next day. Ever since, I have been trying to persuade my mother to hop a plane for two days and a night in the Big Easy to celebrate her birthday at the “Courtyard.”
\nThis year, she announced that if she made it to ninety, she wanted to celebrate in Paris! I like a woman who thinks BIG! *G*
\nSince we are not going to Paris this year, Mother has decided to do an open house. Two of my nieces work for a major grocery chain, and they are organizing trays of finger food from their deli and bakery departments. One of my sisters and her daughters will be coming for the weekend, and she’ll organize the flowers and give me a hand getting ready. I’ll be adding things like shrimp trays, beverages, and holiday decorations.
\nTo that end, we will begin decorating tomorrow. I have ornaments to hang from the chandelier, and I’ll swap Christmas themed wall hangings for those that normally cover our walls. I have evergreen swags and bows to put up on the carriage lights, and I plan to buy garland to drape at the front door.
\nI have one wreath, but I need four more. I use a lot of dried flowers and weeds when I make up wreaths, and sometimes I add silk flowers to the mix. Most of it is pretty understated and mellow. We’ll put up a tree in Mother’s sitting room, but the tree in our living room will have to wait until closer to Christmas.
\nI’ve tried for years to get Dear Husband to trim the roof line with white lights, but it’s never going to happen. We finally resorted to hanging the icicle lights in the front windows, and some years an angel made of grapevine, covered with tiny white Italian lights, greets our visitors.
\nSo, tomorrow will be the start of our decorating season. Just call me Martha.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My mother will be 88 very shortly. I’ve probably said that fifty times in the past six months. It’s amazing to me that she will be EIGHTY EIGHT! About six or seven years ago, Dear Husband and I went to … Continue reading