Happy Mother's Day

The apple doesn't fall far......

To all the fine mothers and the products of fine mothers who might be reading this...

But especially to my own mommy Owdice, who is and always has been the very best of mothers.

Thanks for raising me right, listening to rants and raves and whines for all those years, and for the amazing blankets, quilts, paintings and carvings you made me over the years. For putting up with reptiles and amphibians in your house, which i know was not your favorite thing.....For passing down Betty Crocker, that old red and white cookbook that has kicked off so many great recipes, and for our daily phone chats now that mean the world for me.

And for doing all the cool stuff you always did with dad that pointed us kids in the direction of doing cool stuff too. That is my favorite photo of you, binoculars around your neck, boots, and go-out-in-the-woods clothes, with happy face. Sorry I didn't turn out to be much of a girlie girl though, because you did that side of life well too.

I love you mama, more than words can say. Hope you have a terrific day and hear from both your boys. You know I will be calling you too....

Mom

I have written many times over the nearly eleven years that this blog has existed about how amazing my mother is.....mostly because she truly is. She supported my dad in all he undertook, which meant that although we certainly didn't grow up rich, we grew up well-rounded. He was president of everything from the local Audubon Society to the mineral and carving clubs and of this region of Clan Montgomery too. She was right in there helping, and doing all that good stuff right along with him.....And those were just some of the official things they did. I was learning about how the Mohawks lived in this valley long before we were taught in school.

However Mom has undertaken so many exciting projects there wouldn't be room for them here. They square danced for a few years...she handmade all their fancy clothes. Made kilts....real, properly pleated and stitched kilts for the male Montgomery descendants and dad.....and set  us all up with Betty Crocker cookbooks when we left home. Both of my brothers are outstanding cooks BTW. She talked me through stuffing my first turkey...over the phone....and making Thanksgiving dinner is something I do very well to this day.

She even makes good split pea and ham soup and that is saying something.

However, perhaps one of the most unsung, and yet incredibly heroic, things she has done, is tolerate a rock and roll band that practiced in her house.

We took our show on the road after the first few years, but when we were in the trying to get to play at school dances, but not quite there yet, stage, she endured all of Creedence Clearwater Revival with a sprinkling of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin and other  truly atrocious music thrown in, played, pretty badly, in the confines of their tiny house. That's a mother!

Later, we graduated to playing those dances, and playing clubs, and even a wanna be biker bar in a small town named after its lake to the north of us. (Born to be Wild!) She was always supportive, and we were often called upon to play a little acoustic stuff at family gatherings. How lucky is that? She has always been kind and supportive to the people around her and they love her for it....

So Happy Mother's Day to my amazing mom, and to all those wonderful moms out there on their special day.