My Beloved Mom

Kathryn Carlson McCloskey  

June 30, 1929-October 23, 2018

My mom passed away this past week.  Her little body was just wearing out, and shutting down.  I was so thankful to spend her last days with her.  After her Memorial Mass, my sister, nephew and I spoke.  Here are the words that I shared.

My Mom

Thank you everyone for coming today.  

I was married to my beloved Rich for 43 years, in this very church over 48 years ago, but my longest relationship was with my mom for over 69 years, and 8 months.  

She taught me how to love and be loved. 

She passed on the seasonal decorating gene to me and how to make a cozy home.

She had such a sense of style and always looked so fashionable, with matching shoes, belt, jewelry, and cute clothes.   I always try to look my best because of her.  She always sent me home with clothes from her closet, and they were always bought on sale.  In fact, this dress I have on today, my mom sent home with me last summer.  

Even though my mom didn't like to cook, she always had such good, home cooked meals.  She let me cook in her kitchen from when I was just a little girl.

Mom and I always laughed and laughed together,  We always thought we were so funny and just cracked each other up.  She was such fun!

Mom taught me to say my prayers and to believe in God.  

Mom was always interested in what I was doing each day, and when I'd tell her, she'd say, "Oh, you're so lucky!"  She loved hearing about all of our family, and the grandchildren, and great great children.  

It was such a gift and an honor to help care for mom, along with my angel of a sister, Amy, during her final days on earth and her transition into heaven.  

I will continue to try my best to make both of my parents proud.  There will always be an invisible umbilical cord between mom and I until I'm with her in heaven.

She was so loved and will be so missed.    

Even though it was such a sad event, it was happy at the same time.  I saw a friend from elementary school, another from high school, two families of now grown ups, that I babysat for years ago, a special cousin and her husband, my wonderful friends that we had in Ohio, then moved to Texas, and were in Columbus to visit, and nieces, nephews, a brother and sister-in-law, and three of my four kids that came into town.   It was so nice to connect and share memories of someone that touched so many lives.  

 

Thank you for your kind visit.  xo

 I am sharing with these lovely parties:

Cooking and Crafting with J & J
Keep In Touch

Full Plate

Dishing It! & Digging It!

Happy 89th Birthday to My Mom

 I was in Ohio this past week to celebrate my dear Mom's 89th birthday!!  Doesn't she look so cute?  I made her favorite angel food cake and topped it with her favorite frosting.  For our dinner we had, at Mom's request: Sloppy Joe's, green beans, cole slaw, pink raspberry lemonade, and the cake with ice cream and homemade hot fudge sauce.    My sister made  Strawberry Whipped Sensation Pie, also.  Mom loved it all!

 My sister set up the buffet for her, with fun props, pretty paper plates and napkins, and the counted cross stitch that she made years ago. 

 We made this cake pedestal from a thrifted candlestick that Mom had bought years ago, and a new plate ($2.50) from Big Lots.  Mom loved the plate so much.  it went so well with the paper plates. 

 Here's Mom's favorite cake.  My sister and I love it, too!  The recipe for the Speedy Meringue Frosting can be found here.

Here's a selfie with me, my brother, Mom, and my sister.

Here we are using our props:  My sister (holding my niece's baby, our great nephew, and my Mom's newest great grandson,  my niece, me, Mom, and my nephew. 

I had to get my nephew's girlfriend in the pic, who is on the left.  She was sweet enough to take our pictures, and then she did a timed selfie of all of us. 

 

I'm sharing this with these lovely parties:

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Cooking and Crafting with J & J
Keep In Touch 

Tea in the Garden

Share Your Cup

Full Plate

Dishing It! & Digging It!

My Mom's 88th Birthday and Meeting Michele

 I recently went to Ohio to celebrate my Mom's 88th Birthday.  That's my sister, Amy, on the left with my Mom and I.  We took her to the Morgan House, and had a wonderful lunch. 

Isn't my Mom so cute?  She bought this pretty dress to wear for her birthday lunch, and then before I left for home, she gave it to me!

 Here's a picture of my chicken salad, with a side garden salad with a fresh strawberry dressing.  We each had a pot of tea, and I chose Blackberry Sage, Mom had Apricot, and Amy had Wild Blueberry.

Look who showed up to meet us!!  My friend, Michele, from The Nest at Finch Rest, surprised us!!  I had texted Michele to tell her where we were going, hoping that she could come by.  Michele and I have always wanted to meet in person.  Of course, we already knew each other well from blogging, but meeting in real life was such a treat.  My Mom and sister loved Michele right from the start, and she stayed and had a pot of tea with us.   Michele was too kind and brought my Mom a gift that she had made, with the instructions to open later. 

Here's Mom at home,  opening her gift from Michele.

The gift was a darling pitcher (which my mom collects) with a pretty floral arrangement.  Wasn't that sweet of Michele?  I placed it on my Mom's nightstand.

 My Mom always wants me to make her an angel food cake with her favorite Speedy Meringue Frosting.

Singing Happy Birthday to this sweet lady!  

My Mom and I had a day to spend together because my sister had to work.  I was down in the basement doing some laundry and this quilt and sham set was calling to me.  I brought it up to see if mom would like to change out her quilt on her bed, and she did.  It gave her a pretty summery feel to her room.  The green quilt at the foot of the bed was found down in the basement, too. Yes, it was such fun shopping the house! 

One evening we did the fun tiles that my son, Mike, and I had done this summer with the grands.  My nephew, Shane, joined in for the fun project.  He was so sweet and asked to create one together with his grandma.  the bouquet of flowers behind Shane were a gift from him to his Gram.

Happy 88th Birthday to my beautiful Mom, sitting on her pretty patio.  I was so happy to be able to share her birthday with her!

Now I am off to Breckinridge, CO, to vacation with my youngest son, Kevin, DIL, Kristen, and granddaughter, Harper.  

I am sharing this with these lovely parties:

Tuesday Cuppa Tea 

Cooking and Crafting with J & J

Tea in the Garden

Share Your Cup

Foodie Friday

Dishing It! & Digging It!

Thank you for your visit!  xo

Happy 85th Birthday, Mom!

My Mom flew from Ohio to Texas to spend her 85th birthday with me and my family. We had a wonderful family party last night and today I set up a tea and cupcake for her on my patio.  Isn't my Mom beautiful?

 I made some special cupcakes that Mom could enjoy.  Here she is ready to blow out the candle!  Happy 85th Birthday, Mama!

 My Mom sent this pretty teapot to me recently that she had found a thrift store.  I love the pretty design.  You can see a bit of the embroidered tablecloth that my Mom made when I was a baby.  It's a treasure.

Here's the inside of the pretty teacup that my Mom gave to me that had been in her collection.

 Cupcakes make everyone happy!  These have a delicious  strawberry filling and a cream cheese frosting.  If you ever need a wonderful cupcake, please try these.
This recipe is adapted from www.tidymom.net.  I made them when I had a Royal Wedding Party here.

Happy Birthday Cupcakes

1 white cake mix
3 eggs
1/2 cup melted BUTTER
1 cup water

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix all ingredients on low & then mix on high for 2 mins. 
Pour into paper lined cupcake pans.  Bake for 20 mins.


Strawberry Whipped Cream (filling)

1 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup sugar
1 t. vanilla
5-6 chopped/processed strawberries

Chop strawberries in blender or food chopper until they are thick.  It only takes about 4 large berries.

Beat whipping cream & vanilla until it starts to thicken.  Mix in sugar.  Fold in berries.  Set aside.

Cream Cheese Frosting 

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
1 t. vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar

Place butter in mixing bowl & mix slightly.  Add cream cheese & blend until combined.

Add powdered sugar & blend on low speed until combined.  Mix on medium until it get fluffy.

NOTE:  for chocolate cream cheese frosting, add 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder BEFORE adding the powdered sugar.

For Filling Cupcakes

1.  Bake cupcakes & cool.
2.  Cut a small section in the center of the cupcake.  I used my apple corer & it worked great.  Save    the extra cake to eat later with some of the filling!!!
3.  Replace the tops.  I actually just left them off.
4.  Pipe the frosting on top of the cake with a 1M tip, or just generously spread, or put the icing in a food storage bad, cut a corner off and pipe on the icing.  I sprinkled on some sparkling sugar. 

Refrigerate the cupcakes until ready to serve.

I am sharing this with:

Make It Pretty Monday
Tea Time Tuesday
Tuesday Cuppa Tea 
Friends Sharing Tea
Tea Cup Tuesday 

Share Your Cup
Full Plate
Foodie Friday
Weekend Potluck