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Friday Favorite: My Mom

June 2nd, 2017

If you’ve been reading here long, you know that my mom is an avid gardener. She cultivated my love of gardening from an early age. Whenever she went to the greenhouse to get annuals for the flowerbeds, I was allowed to pick out a six pack to plant. When we ordered seeds for the edible garden, we were each allowed to choose some variety of vegetable to grow (I remember always choosing something blue for some reason). When I lived in Ohio we cultivated an edible garden space in her yard together.


My mom battled breast cancer six years ago, it metastasized to her bones last year. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer last September, after discussing various options she decided she only wanted palliative care. Her last 8 months of life were good, considering what she was fighting. Her battle with cancer ended on May 19th, four days after my parents celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary.

She lives on in the gardens, both at her house and in mine. My garden is filled with plants I got from her, her garden is filled with plants she got from me, both of our gardens contain plants we got from her mother’s garden. We enjoyed gardening together, we enjoyed visiting gardens together. She will be sorely missed.

34 Comments to “Friday Favorite: My Mom”
  1. kristin @ going country on June 2, 2017 at 5:58 am

    I’m so very sorry, Susy. I wish you gentle passage through this difficult time.

    Reply to kristin @ going country's comment

  2. Mc on June 2, 2017 at 6:05 am

    I am so very sorry for your loss, and for what your family has gone through. Your grace, and love for her have shown through on this blog.

    Reply to Mc's comment

  3. Emily on June 2, 2017 at 6:25 am

    Oh Susy! This brought tears to my eyes. May His love and your memories cultivate peace.

    Reply to Emily's comment

  4. Marina on June 2, 2017 at 6:28 am

    I am sorry to read of your mother’s passing, you so gracefully let us know that she was getting worse as your trips became more frequent.
    Her love for garden and plants and her family are gifts you share so generously with us.
    Peace be with you!

    Reply to Marina's comment

  5. bonnie knox on June 2, 2017 at 8:34 am

    Susy, I’m sorry for your loss. I’m glad for you that you have such great memories and such a wonderful legacy from your mother.

    Reply to bonnie knox's comment

  6. PennyAshevilleNC on June 2, 2017 at 8:44 am

    What a beautiful tribute for you to hold close. Thank you for sharing some of her story with us and for sharing your love of family and gardening with us too.

    Reply to PennyAshevilleNC's comment

  7. Sara on June 2, 2017 at 8:48 am

    Sorry for your loss, and thank you for sharing your wonderful memories.

    Reply to Sara's comment

  8. Brenda on June 2, 2017 at 9:18 am

    So sorry to hear of the passing of your mum, you have many beautiful memories , I hope they bring you comfort at this difficult time. xx

    Reply to Brenda's comment

  9. Jill Donald on June 2, 2017 at 9:30 am

    I’m so sorry for your loss. The garden is a beautiful way to keep your mom in your life.

    Reply to Jill Donald's comment

  10. Misti on June 2, 2017 at 9:36 am

    Oh Susy. :( I’m so sorry. I had been wondering how she was doing but I didn’t realize she had passed. Many good thoughts to you and your family.

    Reply to Misti's comment

  11. Kathi Cook on June 2, 2017 at 10:08 am

    May your gardens bring you comfort and peace through this difficult time! 🌸🌱🌺

    Reply to Kathi Cook's comment

  12. Lori on June 2, 2017 at 10:39 am

    Oh Susy…..that made me cry. I have been wondering about her. I am so sorry. Thank you very much for sharing her with us. Praying for you and your family. She will live on through you and your gardens.

    Reply to Lori's comment

  13. Chris on June 2, 2017 at 12:23 pm

    Losing our mothers has to be one of the most heartbreaking things I know of. I am so glad you had these past several months to be with, say good-bye to and cherish each moment with your Mom. She will continue to bloom in your garden. Time will lessen the grief but never the love…My condolences to you and your family.

    Reply to Chris's comment

  14. Jill on June 2, 2017 at 12:51 pm

    Oh I’m so sorry, Susy. I know your garden will comfort you through the years, but there’s no real comfort at times like these. My heart goes out to you and your family. All my love, Jill

    Reply to Jill's comment

  15. Savitha on June 2, 2017 at 1:11 pm

    So sorry to hear about your loss, Susy. Your mother’s spirit will live on in your gardens.

    Reply to Savitha's comment

  16. Karen on June 2, 2017 at 2:48 pm

    My sympathy for the death of your mother. May you be filled with pleasant memories each time you tend the plants you got from her.

    Reply to Karen's comment

  17. Jaye Whitney on June 2, 2017 at 7:05 pm

    I’m so very sorry Susy :(

    Reply to Jaye Whitney's comment

  18. Wendy on June 2, 2017 at 7:17 pm

    I’ve always enjoyed reading about you and your mom’s shared love of plants and gardening. From looking at your parents’ wedding photo it looks like she might have given you some of your spunk and spirit, too :). I am sorry for your loss and will be thinking of you and your family. 💛

    Reply to Wendy's comment

  19. Whit on June 2, 2017 at 8:03 pm

    Meeting you and your mom a few years ago at Heronwood is still one of my best days ever. She gave you an awesome gift when she sparked your interest in gardening…not only one that can help nourish you and Brian but also one that can sustain your relationship and connection with her. May she be at peace. Our condolences to you and your family.

    Reply to Whit's comment

  20. Tracy on June 2, 2017 at 8:30 pm

    Praying for peace and comfort for you .

    Reply to Tracy's comment

  21. Kellie steele on June 3, 2017 at 3:15 am

    I am truly sorry for your loss of your mother. My thoughts are with you XO

    Reply to Kellie steele's comment

  22. Melanie G on June 3, 2017 at 7:00 am

    I’m so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my heart and prayers.

    Reply to Melanie G's comment

  23. Robin on June 3, 2017 at 7:09 am

    Life is never quite the same. I’m sorry for your loss and I appreciate that you share your stories of her and photos of your plants you shared together with us. I lost my mother to cancer 18 years ago. Some of her plants are still here in my garden and home and are a little more special each year.

    Reply to Robin's comment

  24. Patricia Forsythe on June 3, 2017 at 10:36 am

    So sorry for your loss. Our mothers are such an important influence on our lives and I’m so glad you have such happy memories of yours, as I do.

    Reply to Patricia Forsythe's comment

  25. Marisa on June 3, 2017 at 10:54 am

    I am so incredibly sorry. :(

    Reply to Marisa's comment

  26. Lynell on June 3, 2017 at 3:05 pm

    Susy,
    I do not know you, but I have been following your lovely chiotsrun for over a year. I got on today and read your post about your mother. I am so sorry for your loss. I could tell in your writing how much she meant to you, and all the many things that you shared together. What a blessing to have all those memories, and garden shares that continue on. God bless you and your family during this hard time!

    Reply to Lynell's comment

  27. Nebraska Dave on June 3, 2017 at 3:38 pm

    Susy, I know you and your mother had a special connection not just through gardening but through many other ways as well. Both my mother and father died of cancer. Mom went first then some years later Dad went. My family seems to have a history of cancer that puts us down in the middle 80s if not younger. In Mom’s case it was 69. Dad made it to 86. At first there’s a tremendous hole in life where the ones that were always the strong, caring, seeming to always have the answers lived.

    You are surrounded by the best memories of Mom and Grand-mom with plants that will continue for the rest of your garden life. Someday those tearful memories will bring smiles instead.

    Have the best day that you can.

    Reply to Nebraska Dave's comment

  28. Lisa Ghenne on June 4, 2017 at 11:32 am

    Isn’t it wonderful that the people we love can live on through beautiful, living creations? As a breast cancer survivor I have learned to live every day to it’s fullest. Sounds like your mom did the same. How lucky she was to be so loved. My deepest condolences to you and those who loved her.

    Reply to Lisa Ghenne's comment

  29. Carol on June 4, 2017 at 6:18 pm

    So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

    Reply to Carol's comment

  30. Kara on June 4, 2017 at 8:10 pm

    Im so sorry for your loss. What wonderful memories you have made together, in an out of the garden, and how you must miss her already.

    Reply to Kara's comment

  31. Kathy on June 4, 2017 at 8:23 pm

    My mother loved yellow flowers. And she had a lot of butterfly sun catchers and chimes. So I grow daffodils in her memory, and have some butterfly garden art around. I have many plants from my friends and family that I took with me to this new house (10 years now) from the farm where we lived with my parents in a garage turned cottage. The farm originally belonged to my paternal grandmother who taught my father and then me to love planting vegetables and flowers. So many memories of helping my grandmother and father in the garden. And so many memories of my mother. You will be much comforted by the many happy memories of your mother and grandmother and your gardens.

    Reply to Kathy's comment

  32. Lenore on June 8, 2017 at 9:55 pm

    I am very sorry for your loss. It sounds like she will live on in your garden and others for a long time.

    Reply to Lenore's comment

  33. Ghislaine on June 13, 2017 at 10:17 pm

    I’m so sorry for your loss. How wonderful you had all those years sharing that interest with your mom.

    Reply to Ghislaine's comment

  34. Jennifer on June 20, 2017 at 12:12 pm

    I’m so sorry Susy-thinking of you today-

    Reply to Jennifer's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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