A Squirrel in the Crabapple Tree

Sean and I visted Mom for Mother's Day today. A squirrel visited us while we were relaxing under the shade of the crabapple tree that refuses to die. 

Sean found a better position at just the right time to capture a much better shot. 

Mother's Day 2023

Sean and I have enjoyed a lovely two-day visit with Mom this weekend helping plant her garden. Mom had too many bedding plants, so she generously donated the leftovers to Sean and Sylvia and me. 

And we enjoyed a really nice Mexican lunch at Habanero's in Leduc. Beautiful weather, too. Two very good days. 

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! 
 

Mother's Day 2022

Sean and I helped Mom in the garden yesterday and wished her Happy Mother's Day then, but I wanted to mark the occasion today too. I'm very grateful to Mom for her love, guidance, and the example she set, and I'm looking forward to celebrating a milestone birthday with her, Sean, Sylvia, and our aunts and uncle this summer. Happy Mother's Day! 
 

My Mother's Mother

Our Mother's Day plans for this year were partially foiled by weather, COVID-19, and family illness, but Sylvia and I managed brief visits with her mother and mine to check in and wish them well. This Mother's Day I'm particularly grateful that Mom remains healthy and sharp-minded, and that she's now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Fingers crossed this also means she's protected against the new variants bubbling up around the world, but luckily Mom is smart and cautious so I'm confident she's going to be okay. 

Earlier today Mom sent over this photo of her mother, my maternal grandmother. It was taken on the Leask farm sometime in the 19-teens. She looks quite vibrant here! It's an image I've never seen before, and I'm grateful to have it - not as grateful as I am to have Mom, of course. 

Mother's Day 2020

Here's a shot of Mom back in 1967, back before she was "Mom" to Sean and me. For the first time, we weren't able to properly celebrate Mother's Day today thanks to the COVID-19 restrictions, but our gratitude for having Mom in our lives remains as strong as ever. Happy Mother's Day, Mom, and all you other Mom's out there! 

Mom’s Daffodils

Sean and I enjoyed a very pleasant stroll through the garden with Mom today, followed by a delicious brunch at Kosmos. It was the perfect day to celebrate all Mom's meant to us - 24 degrees and sunny. Mere thanks will never be enough, Mom. 

No Woods

Mom wanted a photo of her sons for Mother's Day, and I suggested standing here, not realizing that an overhead drain pipe would create a diagonal shadow across our bodies. Not Dad's fault! 

Sean vs Yeti

Yesterday Sean and I went to pick up flowers for Mom from Canadian Tire. They're trying to sell this giant garden Yeti for $2500, $500 off the regular price. I mean, I would buy this if I were a trillionaire with a mansion, but I'll bet I'm the only person who's lived in Leduc who can say that. 

The Magpie and the Chicken

Mom retold an amusing family story for Mother's Day. 

Happy Mother's Day, Mom

Mother's Day 2015

We just returned to Edmonton from Leduc, where we stopped in to visit for Mother's Day. In honour of the day, I present one of my favourite pictures of Mom. Here she's posing in front of a couple of her paintings - she took some art classes back in the 90s. I think her work turned out pretty well! Sadly, that particular talent didn't rub off on me, but I'm certainly grateful for everything she's taught me over the years. Happy Mother's Day, Mom! 

Mom and the Dinosaur

Mother's Day is a good time to reflect not only how important our mothers are in our lives, but to wonder what their lives must have been like before we came along. I certainly wonder that sometimes, at least, especially when I run across old photos like this one, which depicts Mom in 1966 sitting on the tail of a dinosaur. The slide was pretty degraded, and it's going to take some more work to properly retouch it, but even as it is I find this image a fascinating glimpse into the past. Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Two Stories About William Woods

Hope and William Woods, July 1957

Today Sean and I took our parents out to Huckleberry's restaurant in Wetaskiwin to celebrate Father's Day and a belated Mother's Day. On our way back to Leduc, Dad related two stories about his own father, William Woods.

The first story is one of Dad's earliest memories. It takes place in 1945 or 46, when Dad was three or four years old and his family was working their farm in Moose Range, Saskatchewan. Granddad was attempting to assemble a stovepipe within a granary to provide warmth for some chicks. But however Granddad struggled, he couldn't make the pipe sections fit together. His temper slowly simmered and finally burst, and he heaved the stovepipe to the floor. "If you don't want to go in, you son of a bitch, you don't have to!" he declared, leaping into the air and flattening the pipe with one mighty stomp. Sweet revenge!

Later, when Dad was 17 and helping his father on their second farm in Dauphin, Manitoba, Granddad's tractor wouldn't start. The elder Woods' strong hands twisted the choke and cranked the key over and over to no avail, until finally Granddad - who was "5'2" and built like a box" according to Dad - leaped from the tractor's seat, delivered a spinning kick to the tire on the way down, and with balletic grace flung his felt hat upon the ground the moment his feet touched the earth. Dad was paralyzed with laughter, and indeed his driving became a little shaky as he related the tale, laughing still. The Woods temper is somewhat infamous, but luckily it's always vented against inanimate objects!

Images of Mom

Mom worked hard all her life to make sure that Sean and I would enjoy happiness. Now she and Dad are both healthy and happily retired. For all this, I consider myself very fortunate indeed. I hate to resort to cliche, but words are truly inadequate to express my love and appreciation, so in lieu of inadequate language, I simply present some of my favourite images of Mom.

Thanks, Mom.