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Let’s Cook: Home for Mother’s Day

May has arrived and with it brings many things to celebrate! Graduations, confirmations, May Day, Memorial Day, Syttende Mai, and of course, Mother’s Day. Our world is brighter and a happier place all through the year because of mothers. It goes without saying that mothers have magic — how else would they know the secret places that juneberries and crocuses grow. Mothers know that the little red headed boy that likes hollyhocks likes frogs too, and therefore she knows a pond when they hop and join in chorus.

Mother’s Day has always been one of my very favorite days because we take the time to pay tribute to the dear souls who hold this world together — women. Just to be clear, mothers do not have to be women who birthed a child. Blessed are those of us who recognize friends, teachers, aunts, and others who have mothered us. Women relate their own pasts to younger and learning souls with their experience and memories setting forth a spark in the imagination that triggers our curiosity for a lifetime.

Mother’s Day was declared a national holiday by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914. The official holiday actually began with a lady named Ann Jarvis in 1868. Jarvis tried to establish a mother’s day after the Civil War. Her attempts were not successful during her lifetime; however, her daughter Anna Marie Jarvis persuaded the state of West Virginia to declare Mother’s Day an official holiday in 1910, and soon after this, the rest of the nation followed.

Our home in Underwood was much more than a patch of pink stucco, an awning, or rust colored shingles. It was more than a front porch and a dining room with an L-shaped window design. It was a place to enter where houseplants bloomed and the hectic pace of the world, disappointment by friends, and flat bicycle tires were easily forgotten because of my mother. She created a place of love, understanding, and where a listening ear was always available.

She taught me our living room window was a tool to look beyond the simple and complex distresses of life. Beyond our willow tree that had a swing and across the road was an open field. Several times she took my hand, and we walked to that field. It was here that crocuses bloomed, nests with eggs rested, and we stood with the wind as it swept away the concerns of the day. I was truly blessed with a gracious and caring mother; thank you God.

Mom has been gone for seven years, but her voice and advice echoes in my mind daily. I thank her for leading me to an appreciation of beautiful literature, music, art, and the world of nature about us. Thanks be to her for guiding me to appreciate and befriend people of all races, to live above petty grievances, and to sweep away the cobwebs of negativity. She had the wisdom to seek and understand each of her five sons and to appreciate each one for what he is and for what he brought to the world. She knew that I had a passion for photography and art, Tom loved nice cars, Neal wanted to hunt, Oliver liked community service, and that Kelly loved to sing.

My last Mother’s Day with my Mom is a lovely memory. She was 95 and looked beautiful in her lavender twin set with coordinating scarf. It was a good day at the nursing home with her. We laughed, enjoyed a meal together and talked. Even in her later years her advice inspired me. She reminded me to be part of as many things as possible and to soak up everything. She encouraged me to look everywhere to feed my spirit. She was the one who taught me that old fabric could be made into beautiful rugs. It was this lesson that has allowed Jan and I to recycle the former Minot State, McFarland fabric into keepsakes. When I cried because I knew she had to be in the nursing home, she reminded me that feeling different emotions is part of living. Her strength has made me extremely curious about nursing home care and inspired me to make a career change to be an activities coordinator. I realized through her that I was not leaving photography, only taking it with me to enhance the lives of seniors.

Thank you Mom for letting me know that I am strong enough to counter any changes in life and that I am strong enough to enjoy the beautiful aspects of life such Jan, Lydia, and many others. All of this possible was made possible because of your example of faith, trust, and prayer.

Wishing all women, a Happy Mother’s Day.

My mother had a file of recipes she wanted to try. Today’s recipe is one from that huge collection and I think she would be pleased with this. I do believe she would suggest to cut the celery in larger pieces, so next time I will.

Far East Celery

Delicious when served with chicken or roast beef.

4 cups celery, cut into 1″ pieces

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion diced

1 5-oz can water chestnuts, sliced

1 can of cream of chicken or cream of celery soup

1 small jar pimiento, diced

2 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup slivered almonds

1/2 bread crumbs

In a skillet olive oil and add onion and celery. Simmer until onion is clear, about 6 minutes. In a buttered 1-quart casserole, mix celery and onion, water chestnuts, soup, and pimiento.

Melt butter in skillet and lightly brown almonds. Add bread crumbs and sprinkle mixture over casserole. Bake in 350-degree oven for 30-35 minutes. This serves 6- 8.

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