Sunday.
Mother’s Day.
One of those mellow days of love and recognition that seemed to flow slowly and deliberately into a forever memory.
After Sunday worship, we went to Jennifer and Jason’s for brunch. Egg strata, bacon, salad and Mimosa’s. As I sipped and savored, I remembered another Mother’s Day, more than three decades past, where a toddling Jennifer brought me breakfast in bed. On that long ago morning, I opened my eyes to a wee darling saying “happy Mother’s Day Mommy” as she slowly settled a plate of breakfast in front of me.
I remember it vividly.
A dollop of strawberry yogurt with Cheerios on top, toast, and a few slices of hard salami on the side.
This year; mimosas, egg strata, salad, coffee and Kringles.
On our way home, Tom and I stopped at Lilacia Park in Lombard, where it is lilac time. Though the skies were gray and it was cool, the lilacs and tulips were resplendent.
I took too many photos. Everywhere I looked was color and contrast, statements of nature painted on every stem, beads of moisture clinging to petals and leaves, a concert of color singing all-the-more brightly in the absence of sun. You can imagine my bliss as I tiptoed among the tulips, my indulgent and supportive husband at my side.
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Lifeonthecutoff's Blog 
Text and photos all– gorgeous!
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Thank you so very much – and for stopping by. Penny
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Great post! I LOOOOOOOVE your photos. So beautiful. I can see lilacs outside my window.
I was glad when the sun appeared in the evening yesterday. Sadly, it’s raining right now.
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What a wonderful sight to have outside your window, L. Marie. They were beautiful yesterday in Lilacia Park. If you’ve never been there in spring, you must go sometime.
The sun is actually trying, to poke through here right now, but, even if it does, I think it will be fleeting. It stopped raining a few hours ago, but is so humid it might as well go ahead and rain. Still, it is grand to be seeing green.
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Penny, those lilacs are so gorgeous. I love them but they have a hard time growing here in California . Wha a lovely post.
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I wish I could bottle the scent and send it to you, Gerlinde. Heavenly. They really need the cold to go dormant in winter. We had a rough one this past year, but, the lilacs seem to be all-the-better for it. The t own of Lombard, where these photos were taken, has a huge lilac festival each May and this lovely park is filled with all specimen of lilacs. It is a sight to behold each May.
Thank you Gerlinde.
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Beautiful picts! Darn, I should have re-created that salami/yogurt breakfast instead, what was I thinking! 🙂
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Thanks, Jennifer; for yesterday’s scrumptious brunch and company – and for NOT re-creating the salami/yogurt breakfast.
You should take a walk in Lilacia Park before the blooms are blown away.
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The absence of the sun captured the vibrant colors in fine fashion. And the tree has such character. It looks like a place where fairies would gather.
Your current Mother’s Day breakfast was one to behold. But I think the charm of the salami/yogurt one may be a memory to cherish. A story of the true meaning of a Mother’s Day gift from the heart.
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Oh, Marilyn, I wish you could see this tree. It is so old and gnarly and spreads about taking up quite a bit of real estate – the perfect place for fairies to gather,
The salami/yogurt breakfast was a memorable one and it’s retelling i’s taken out to retell just about every year. It is a cherished memory, Marilyn, and of a very sweet little girl – who, though no longer little, still very sweet. You would, I think, enjoy our Jennifer, who can charm any cat in the neighborhood. 🙂
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I could dive into those lilacs and get drunk, Penny. Really. Your pictures are always exquisite, but I don’t get to see lilacs at home. Or smell them. My imagination cannot conjure their scent with any accuracy.
I’m glad you had a lovely Mother’s Day. Please tell Jennifer and Jason I said hi.
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Thank you, Andra.
There are so many lilacs in Lilacia Park that just opening one’s window in May is intoxicating. The bad news is that we have have to endure long, hard, cold winters. The good news is the reward of so many spring and summer delights that need to go dormant to later shine. Sigh.
Not to make you feel bad, but, the peonies are just starting to open. 🙂
I will tell them, Andra. Thanks.
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Wonderful memories and a wonderful ‘present’. The Lilac Park is wonderful and your pictures are too. I have been waiting to see a picture of a lily-of-the-valley…. I think my spring memory garden is now complete.
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Thank you, Sallie – for all your kind words.
Hmmmm . . . I think I just might have some lily of the valley to show you.
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Oh my goodness, Penny! The color of that lilac! Breathtaking! I am so glad you had a warm on the inside even if it was cold outside Mother’s Day! 🙂 I wondered if you had a chance to be with Jennifer and Jason, and it sounds like a lovely brunch. I’ll bet two little darlings sent their love to Yia-Yia as well. Sounds like a terrific day all round, Penny!
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Cloudy days often bring out the best colors, especially with lilacs. You would like this little park, dedicated to lilacs. I’m always surprised at the variety of lilacs there – and the variety of visitors. It was a lovely brunch, Debra, thank you. Now, if I could just get the little ones to the Art Institute. 🙂
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What a sweet memory of your daughter Penny. And as for the tulips and lilac, I would have taken too many photos too. Ah, the intoxication of spring. It’s a long way off for us now as the nights grow colder.
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Spring is intoxicating, isn’t it, with the bright colors and alluring scents. Every day now, something new emerges, blooms, surprises me. I will wish some warm thoughts down to you as you head into the dead of winter, Juliet.
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I would say you had a pretty terrific Mother’s Day!!! Your pictures of Lilacia Park are beautiful! I so enjoy reading your blog, just need to comment more!
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I certainly did, Roz. Thank you. Lilacia Park is such an open canvas for the camera’s lens. I am so pleased to know that you enjoy reading the words here, Roz; your comments are always welcome and, for me, the icing on the cake. Thank you, dear friend.
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It sounds like you had a lovely day Penny. I enjoy Mother’s Day! My older children brought me breakfast in bed, I think it started with Anton being told how to do it in preschool and then he saw to it that Kate joined in. 🙂 Nobody taught Eoin but these days with the grown children we go out to eat on Mother’s Day so I usually opt out of breakfast haha! I love lilacs but have never made it to that park.
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Yours sounds lovely as well, Janet. Those breakfasts prepared with the littlest of hands are the best.
You should try to make it next year. It is a small park and filled with lilacs. A friend’s daughter had her wedding there several summers ago and it is very nice in summertime.
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What wonderful photos, Penny! I particularly love the one of the raindrops on the petals of the red and white tulip. Really beautiful. Actually I think lilacs smell even lovelier in the rain, so what better weather to visit them?
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Thank you, Perpetua. It’s funny you mention the smell of lilacs and rain. I hadn’t really thought of that, or observed it, but, just came in from my daily wander around the garden beds. The lilac here is in bloom and its fragrance was much sweeter today in the rain. Thank you for that.
I want to boo hoo the rain, but, it is just what we need for what we just planted.
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