Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • May 4, 2011
Remember Mom on Mother’s
Mother’s Day is supposed to be a happy occasion wherein individuals honor their mothers and other special women with gifts and tokens of appreciation. But for the men and women who have lost their mothers, this holiday can be everything from bittersweet to painful. Honoring Mom takes on new meaning. Any holiday can be particularly difficult to enjoy when a loved one passes away. However, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day -- dates on the calendar specific to a special person in one’s life -- can be even more trying, especially if the loss is still fresh. Individuals who have lost their mothers may experi-
Day! Sunday, May 8th
something special for one’s mother. If a person is looking for a way to celebrate Mom after she has passed on, here are a few ideas. Remember a good time had with Mom and then capture those happy feelings. Donate to a charity or do something special that Mom would have appreciated. Plant a tree or plant in her honor in the yard. Watch a video or look through pictures of Mom and remember all of the good times had together. If you are a mother, relish in the day with the kids and other family. Wear a white carnation to symbolize that you have lost your mother. Gather together with siblings or friends who have lost their mothers and spend the day together.
Helpful tips for a Mother’s Day minus mom
ence Mother’s Day in myriad ways. Some may choose to ignore the day, preferring to keep busy and not acknowledge that Mother’s Day is taking place. Others may pore over memories of their mother, looking at old photos or videos. Some may make a trip to a cemetery or special place of reflection. Certain people prefer to be alone, while others want to be in the comfort of a group. The way the holiday is spent is entirely up to the person and the way he or she feels the most comfortable. In fact, it can be downright challenging to wade through the rows of greeting cards at every store and watch scores of commercials on television reminding one to pick up
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Garden features: Thoughtful gifts with staying power
(MS) We have all seen the sweet pictures of precious children gifting their adoring mothers with a bouquet of flowers on Mother’s Day. This year, keep that charming tradition alive while adding a new twist: home-grown flowers. Carolina jasmine is easy to grow, it smells great, and the pretty little flowers add a touch of sunlight to any yard. Go back in time with hyacinth, a classic flower that can reseed itself and has been a favorite in yards and gardens for decades. Your grandmother’s garden might have a delightful variety growing in it right now. Roses are a long-time yard favorite, and they are not hard to grow. Many varieties offer disease-resistant properties, and some beautiful selections can be found at your local nursery. For a bright, happy welcome each day, plant morning glories. Many varieties bloom throughout the growing season to provide an ongoing dash of color and charm to any yard. Where should those flowers grow? A simple, beautiful wooden arbor adds depth, architectural interest and character to any yard, and most of them can be easily constructed with some treated lumber, a tool box, and a few family helpers. Brad Staggs, HGTVPro.com and DIY show producer and host, and a licensed contractor, recently designed a wooden arbor as part of a multi-project do-it-yourself brochure. “Garden structures are a great way to call attention to a certain area of the yard -- perhaps the back patio, a quiet corner, or maybe a pretty area near a fragrant tree -- while they also provide an inherent sense of calm and quiet,” according to Staggs. “What’s great about this arbor is that the whole family can get involved, and the options are unlimited: You can take an existing plant from a pot and transfer it to the arbor, or plant something brand new and watch it take hold and grow throughout the spring.” A long-time wood fan, Staggs chose pressure-treated southern pine for his arbor. “Wood is an authentic product: it’s real, it’s genuine and it’s natural. It’s also one of the only naturally renewable products on the market.” So get started now: Buy some lumber from your local dealer, grab your favorite tool box, gather the kids, and build Mom an arbor. The glorious blooms will remind her, year after year, how much her family loves and cherishes her. To download free arbor plans, visit www.spanpine. com and click on the brochure cover.
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