Friday, October 16, 2009

A Legacy of Pink

Pink Rose
My mother inspired me beyond any other person who walked the face of the earth. With a gentle spirit she taught me to cook with love, garden with beauty, and embrace family with jubilant wonder. Her mother taught her and it is the legacy of a grandmother I never knew that I ponder today.Macro Pink Hydrangea
My oldest sister remembers Grandma B as a wiry, spirited soul who scurried into the yard to grab a chicken, chop off it’s head and prepare it for supper the same night. I know through stories she planted a garden, but what she planted is lost. Many of the recipes that my family treasure came from Grandma B’s kitchen. Her soft, spicy gingerbread men visit every holiday. An old recipe for grape juice, written in her hand, is a recipe yet to be tried, but I imagine rows of purple grape juice lining a pantry shelf some day.Lilies
I know so little of this woman, who bore and raised my mother and aunt. A few years before I was born, Grandma B succumbed to breast cancer. She was only 48 years old. It was with great fear and trepidation that my mom approached her 48th birthday, but she breezed by it until cancer took her away from us at the age of 74. Copy of Summer Valentine
I like to think of my mom in a beautiful garden, sitting in a rocking chair cuddling a baby, whispering softly to the fuzzy headed cherub while fragrance from pink roses waft around her. Close by my grandmother rests in a vegetable garden with chickens scratching at fertile earth.
Columbine
These two women left me a legacy of pink…pink flowers, pink toes, pink ribbons, and so much more that reminds me that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I remember each, grandmother and mother, with a sprig of rosemary and a pink rose tied with a satiny pink ribbon.
Pink Rose with verse

21 comments:

  1. It brings happy tears to my eyes.
    I love it.
    Amanda

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  2. Today I did a second post for Pink Ribbon. My Strong Family History is celebrating her birthday today. You and I seem to be the only ones on this theme.

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  3. Hello,

    What a touching tribute with beautiful pink flowers.

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  4. Amanda...love you to the moon and back.

    Elephant's Eye...thank you for visiting The Cottage, again. I'll be checking out your post shortly. I have problems leaving a comment on your blog. I'm not sure why.

    azplantlady...Thank you for your kind words. All photographs were taken by me throughout the spring and summer. I just adore pink flowers.

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  5. I have appreciated your comments on both posts. And I love your take on Pink. What an inviting selection of pink flowers. Am thinking of working my way thru the rainbow. My favourite red etc.

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  6. Beautiful pink flowers for a very touching post. I have lost friends to breast cancer and my mother had colon cancer.

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  7. What a beautiful posting in tribute to the ladies in your life.Memories to treasure always.

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  8. Love 'em all esp the rose.
    As for cancer, urghhh!

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  9. Loved your thoughtful post - I have three women in my family who are 5+ year breast cancer survivors - your post just reminded me that it's time to get my annual mamogram!

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  10. Such a lovely post in tribute to those special women in your life. You were very right about the mountain scenery of AZ being so foreign to those of us from Ohio. That's what made it so beautiful! But you know what? I wouldn't trade our greenery for that dry, desert climate. No way!

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  11. Beautiful post! Very touching and heartwarming!Gorgeous photos!

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  12. Elephant's Eye...what a great idea to focus on the colors of the rainbow. I'm constantly amazed at the ingenuity of bloggers and how each one is so unique.

    Thank you for your comments.

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  13. MsRobin...I whole heartedly agree, while I'm fascinated with tropical, sub-tropical, and desert gardens and landscapes, my favorite remains the northern regions with four distinct seasons.

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  14. I don't know of a family that has not been touched by cancer, in some form. As women, don't you think we tend to take care of everyone else? I'm so glad that this post reminded a few women to look after themselves.

    Thanks to each of you for your kind comments.

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  15. 48 is way too young to pass away from cancer. So sorry about your Mom and Grandma.

    My dad passed away from cancer way too young too at the age of 59.

    That was a very nice post

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  16. I couldn't resist the pink in the title. Lovely photos, and a deeper message as well.

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  17. Beautiful post.
    Beautiful photos.
    Many of us share losses due to cancer. Evil disease.

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  18. Thank you, Patsi for comments. I'm glad you enjoyed my photography and post.

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  19. This is heart-warming, but heart-rending, too.

    Any chance of you posting that gingerbread recipe?

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  20. Hi Bee and welcome to The Cottage. Yes, there is a good chance that sometime in the next few weeks I'll be posting the gingerbread recipe along with Grandma B's sugar cookie recipe that makes soft, really scrumptious cut-out cookies. Both are family traditions.

    PS Love your blog.

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