Celebrating Life

My friends:

I have been out of the loop for a couple of weeks,

but I have a reason.

My dear mother passed away two weeks ago.

Now, I don't want to bring anybody down 

and I understand that some of you

may feel offended at my sharing 

this very personal part of my life.

However, my blog is a part of myself.

I live, so I blog. I blog, so I share.

Yet...at this time, I do not want to be sad.

The best way I know to honor my mother's life,

is to live mine to the fullest,

making daily commitments to be joyful.

And joyful I am.

From my dear mother, Maria Susana, I learned:

1. To be a very resourceful cook. 

I am a total foodie because of my mother, and I am thankful for that.

I don't need a recipe to come up with a feast.

Thank you, mamá, for spending time teaching me by example.

2. To feel happy when I am organized.

3. To crochet.

At this moment, I am knitting something like this

(I will show you when I am done as now it is just a sea of

crocheted flowers all over my house, with no apparent purpose)

4. To love 1940's music and musicals:

5. To adore, super adore! 1940's fashion:

6. To be in love with Tiramisu 

(my mother made the very best Tiramisu ever.

Seriously! sweet lady fingers dipped in expresso and dark rum, 

surrounded by layers of sweet mascarpone cheese, what's not to like?)

7. To make excellent jam.

When I was growing up, my mom would grab 

whatever fruit from whatever fruit tree in the backyard,

she would add sugar, cook them forever, and voila:

Amazing jam.

 I now make jam too. Kumquat jam is my fave.

8. To love entertaining.

 She was an awesome hostess.

I can go on and on forever thanking my mother. 

Yet, she´s not around to hear me.

If your mom is still around, talk to her today. 

Call her and tell her how much she means to you. 

Even better, if you have her close, give her a hug.

Gracias for stopping by,

MAMÁ:

I love you forever, and ever, and ever.

You will always be in my heart and my thoughts.

Te quiero.

A pic of my beautiful mother when she was very, very young!
She's the one in the flowery dress.
What an wonderful woman.