Mother's Day in the garden

We spread a sweet table under the shade of the Mulberry Tree. A feast was prepared, a feast fit for a table of mothers. Women who love children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, sisters, mothers, and puppies all gathered.

The table was set with vintage linens. Recycled bottles held small bouquets of mint, jasmine, purple pansies and miniature red roses from the garden. A fire roared to ward off the chill of the morning.

The feast was served. Creme Brulee French Toast, Apple Smoked Bacon, Scrambled Eggs with Swiss Chard, Dill, Oregano, Thyme and Parmesan Cheese; the eggs were from my sister's chicken ranch and all but the cheese was from the garden. Enamel bowls were piled high with blueberries, boysenberries, raspberries and strawberries with fresh mint. There was also a bowl of Mulberries, gathered earlier in the morning. To top the berries, a bowl of Creme Fraiche flavored with Vanilla Beans, Coconut and Organic Agave Nectar was set upon the table. Fresh Melon from the Farmer's Market was sliced and topped with Raw Almonds.  There were fresh biscuits piled high in a vintage cast iron bundt pan, served with Strawberry-Rhubarb jam and organic butter. Small pitchers were filled with fresh Mulberry Syrup and Maple Syrup. There was organic cream and raw honey to sweeten the Fresh Mint Tea and Creamy Caramel Rooibos. An old Fiesta Ware pitcher, thrifted at a HALF OFF sale at the local thrift store(love half off sales) held Sweet Mango Lassi made with Organic Yogurt, Organic Turbinado Sugar and Rose Water. I also whipped up a small batch of Haupia for my mother and aunty as a reminder of their days as girls, growing up in Hawaii. There was a pitcher of fresh mint water and green bottles of San Pellegrino dotted the table.

The morning was cool, but my heart was filled to be surrounded by women I love, and who love me. The sun began to peak out as the meal winded down, our bellies satisfied. The garden danced in the background, happy to be part of the celebration. As people finished eating, we switched seats, here and there, to visit with those across the table. My mother had to be shooed out of the kitchen several times by my daughter. When we finally made it into the house when the sun grew too strong, the kitchen had been cleaned by my love. 

A Happy Mother's Day it was, surrounded by happy hearts that have grown from the love and loving of children and family. May the love of this day steel your souls in the arduous day by day happenings, the ones that challenge us and scare us, that fill our hearts so, that we feel they may burst.