The gusting wind swept across the seedheads by the path, tossing tiny withered clusters into the chilly air. "Oh, they've kept really well!" she exclaimed. And so they had, the little pot of hyacinth bulbs she had left at Christmas, last time she was with us. Gently easing the tulips out of their crinkly cellophane, we fumbled for the packet of needles. "Are you sure this is right, Mum? We just push one through the stem?"
"Internet", I told her. "Best way to stop tulip heads from flopping. Lets the air bubbles in the stem escape, so the water reaches the head". She grinned at me. "Ah, well, if it's the Google gospel ...". We worked quietly for a moment. "Do you think Grandma knew this tip?", she asked.
"Probably", I replied, pricked yet again by the regret that I hadn't learnt more from her. "She was a wonderful flower-arranger. And embroiderer. And cook."
"And knitter", she said, touching the front of the speckled blue jumper she has been wearing for the last fifteen years. "I don't think there was anything she couldn't do."
We arranged the stems as best we could in the wind, gathered up the bits, and stood for a moment, hand in hand, remembering ...
.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Memorandum Monday is the gift of the lovely Sian, over at From High In The Sky: the chance to share something new we've done or learnt over the weekend. Do call in and enjoy all the memos :).
What a nice one.
You've made me want to sit here quietly for a little minute and think about all the amazing women in our pasts. My Mum always says that there were women in our family and the only things they couldn't do were "Make mice and change the weather". I don't know where that comes from; but I do know that I'm thinking there are plenty of examples of the same in your family.
Wishing you strength and good cheer in the week ahead.
Posted by: Sian | Monday, 21 March 2016 at 04:17 PM
Oh, this is lovely Alexa. I have those pangs, usually when I am sewing, thinking of how much more I could have learnt from my Gran, if only I'd asked.
Posted by: Fiona@Staring at the Sea | Monday, 21 March 2016 at 04:39 PM
Sounds like you shared a poignant moment together. A lovely tale of three generations of women in one family. P xx
Posted by: Paul | Monday, 21 March 2016 at 05:33 PM
A lovely post today Alexa. It certainly has so many of us thinking of the Grans & Mothers that have passed. I did not know about the pin in a tulip stem - next time I get a bunch I will have to try.
Posted by: Mary-Lou | Monday, 21 March 2016 at 05:42 PM
What a beautiful post! I did know about the pins and tulips tip, but am now wondering what else I might have neglected to learn from my mum when I had the chance.
Posted by: Ruth | Monday, 21 March 2016 at 07:23 PM
Oh Alexa you will never know how much this made me smile. I once went to my parents house and saw a vase of tulips, each one had a pin through the stem. Mum had read about this tip but hadn't realised you just pricked the stems, she had left the pins in!
Posted by: Debs14 | Monday, 21 March 2016 at 07:47 PM
now I remember what we did before we had Google Gospel ... we asked our mothers (and fathers and grandmothers...) what a great reminder...and a wonderful tip!
Posted by: Mary | Tuesday, 22 March 2016 at 01:23 AM
A lovely post, indeed. My mother died when I was young enough that I didn't even think to ask those kinds of questions. How I wish I could have asked for advice on so many things. And you have taught me something new today. I'll be sure to try it next time I have some tulips. Who knew?
Posted by: Karen | Tuesday, 22 March 2016 at 02:30 AM
Who knew you could pin tulips? Beautifully written x
Posted by: Julia | Tuesday, 22 March 2016 at 07:20 AM
Aww, what a lovely conversation and bit of silence too.
Posted by: Susanne | Tuesday, 22 March 2016 at 03:24 PM
Oh, Alexa. So beautifully written. I shed a tear. (Can't believe it's been nearly four years). Your words are so, so poignant.
Posted by: Helen | Wednesday, 23 March 2016 at 12:23 AM
What a lovely story that shares a special moment between the two of you and beautiful memories, too!
Posted by: Melissa Gross | Wednesday, 23 March 2016 at 03:22 AM
thanks so much for the chuckle, Deb!
Posted by: Beverly Edwards | Wednesday, 23 March 2016 at 07:10 PM
Such a beautiful moment of remembering and sharing and yearning. I've never heard this tip but will certainly try it, wonder if it will work on Gerbera daisies as well.
Posted by: Beverly Edwards | Wednesday, 23 March 2016 at 07:12 PM
A very poignant story with a beautiful tip as well. I'm wondering if the piercing trick would work with other flowers as well?
Posted by: Cheri Andrews | Thursday, 24 March 2016 at 07:43 PM
What a lovely and poignant post Alexa.
Thank you for making me pause and reflect about the dear women in my life!
xx
Posted by: alexandra sirugue-macleod | Monday, 28 March 2016 at 11:38 PM
Lovely moment and I think that we always wish we'd learned more and spent more time with our loved ones.
Glad you were able to do that together.
Posted by: Missus Wookie | Saturday, 09 April 2016 at 08:07 PM
Hi Alexa, so lovely of you to visit my blog and comment on both my new posts, despite my long absence - thank you! XX
This is a great post and a great story too. All about sharing and learning... and love.
Makes me remember certain special people too.
And a new tip about tulips. I'll try that!
Posted by: Lizzie | Sunday, 17 April 2016 at 05:41 PM
Oh how lovely Alexa, what a tribute to your Mum.
Posted by: Gail | Thursday, 21 April 2016 at 01:43 PM
Thank you for giving us all a few moments to pause, reflect, rejoice and remember. Such a lovely gift and glorious tribute...and yes, I know how you feel. Blessings, friend.
Posted by: Honoré | Friday, 29 April 2016 at 01:12 AM
Beautiful, simply beautiful. The words you have on your mothers headstone sent shivers down my spine.
Posted by: Miriam Rogers | Wednesday, 04 May 2016 at 03:16 PM