The Best Might Be Yet to Come

"Life isn't a matter of milestones but of moments."

 

-Rose Kennedy

 

I didn't mean to lie about Old Copper when I wrote that she was at her peak. Perhaps it's easy to believe that something or someone is at its best when it still has farther to go? 

 

 

I can see the proverbial handwriting on the wall with the increased blooms on the ground, yet I can't deny that she's hanging on to her loveliness.

 

 

Nearly hidden under Old Copper is this yellow rose (look at the light on it!) which continues to impress me. Since I try to learn from everything, I'll take away from it that I need to accept the cycle of flowers and my own: we "bloom" at different times and in a variety of ways. I have to keep looking at what's "flowering" in my life and focus on the good.

 

 

When I first planted this rose (a gift from a long-ago French Club), Old Copper was a small spindly plant. She didn't produce any flowers for years and then it was a miniscule number. I wasn't sure she would survive at all. Yet here she is! 

 

 

 

In non-plant news, if I'd only had a better camera or been a decent photographer, I could have captured the Olympic Mountains from the deck at Dukes restaurant. My friend and I had a (mostly) delicious lunch, albeit expensive, and an excellent chat. She has familial problems herself and understands all about mine. We've known each other for over 60 years, so our histories are very familiar to each other. Unfortunately for her, she chose the lobster chowder, not realizing that they make it with Pernod. It was nasty! I like black licorice but don't like lobster and certainly not the two together. The price of it was taken off the bill by the sweet young server, which meant that we could then splurge on dessert! :)

 

 

There was no question that we would be sharing this Marionberry pie for which Dukes is deservedly famous. (marionberries are simply a type of blackberry) The crust is flaky, the interior contains a mix of marionberries and raspberry jam, the crumbly topping is divine and the melting vanilla ice cream makes the whole dessert perfection. Best of all, it has no calories! (I lied again)

 

 

In the category of "this sh*t is getting real" my 91-year-old mother, who should be nowhere near the Mall, drove up there because Carters was having a big sale and Younger Daughter's baby boy will be here in a couple months. insert panicked look Can you believe those squirrel feet on the far right sleeper? Totes adorbs as people used to say--and I made fun of them if they did... 

 

 

In the meantime, some BIG stuff is being delivered to my house; luckily, the majority of it isn't super heavy. 

 

 

When I say the majority, the Pack and Play did weigh 31 pounds which was a little difficult to cart off the porch. Mari's freaked out eyes on the Welcome mat mirror mine. Sometimes it's like Dickens wisely wrote: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Babies (and relationships AND families) are like that, eh? 

 

 

Comments

[AC]

Oops. Power failure, so I’ll just say hello and goodbye.

[Deb]

What fun for great grandma to be stocking up on baby clothes! I bet that made her day :)

[Maureen]

Oh it is getting real isn't it? The clothes are so cute and your mother sounds so much like mine; just doing what she wants if she can. I'm pretty sure I'll be like that too, if I live past 90. What a joy it must be to live in view of mountains.

[DrumMajor Linda in Kansas]

Old Copper looks like a giant prom bouquet! Interesting history on it's measly start in life. There always seem to be a lot more stuff than baby. Glad the great grandma is having fun too. (I'm gagging at the thought of lobster with licorice tasting stuff.) Linda in Kansas

[Anne@HeadFullofBooks]

Love your rody.

[Zazzy]

And Old Copper looks even better today! Who knew? We just don't know what tomorrow will bring.

And I love lobster. I cannot imagine why any chef would ruin it by combining it with something tasting of licorice.

[Ally Bean]

Baby stuff in your house! It's great that it can be delivered there, but does kind of ramp up the excitement/anticipation, doesn't it?

[Ed]

I've never heard of pernod but if it tastes like black licorice, I can't imagine how bad it must taste with lobster. I'm not a big fan of black licorice anyway.

We had a pack and play but it really got limited use. There was just a brief window when our child was mobile but small enough to not move much that we used it. Once they got bigger and could crawl, they hated being inside it. We finally got rid of it and didn't even miss it when our second child was born.

[Susan]

When Great Grand Mom is motivated she takes action. Love the PJ's she chose. I can't imagine lobster and licorice. NE lobster is served with melted butter. Delicious. Old Copper is still outstanding.

[PipeTobacco]

While your photos are beautiful, and the things you discussed are (as always) interesting…… what really struck a resonant chord with me today was the TITLE of your post! “The Best Might Yet Be to Come”….just the phrase alone helped me to feel and sense more joy today. I am not sure why, exactly…. but it gave me a feeling of optimism and helped make the day very pleasant.

Thank you!

PipeTobacco

[PipeTobacco]

And….. it took me a few moments to remember where I had heard that phrase too…. no wonder why it resonated so much…. it is akin to part of a Robert Browning poem!!!! Although I (unfortunately) no very little about poetry, the few I have especially fond memories of are from Browning and ee cummings.

Again, thank you!

PipeTobacco

[Pixie]

I love baby clothes; they're just so tiny and sweet. The flowers are beautiful and the mountains, I'll be there soon, or on Vancouver Island, soon.

[Karen Sullivan]

Old copper is beautiful! Having that in my yard would make me so happy.

Glad you had a lovely lunch with your friend.

So exciting that you're having another grandson! The outfits are adorable.

[Catalyst]

Is YD moving in with you, with baby in tow? Hmmmm.

[Robin]

Margaret, your flowers are gorgeous! Old Copper is incredible. Wow, your 91 year old mom drove?? Her trip was worth it, those sleepers are adorable. Goodness, only two more months until YD’s baby…that’s wonderful.
Have a great week.❤️❤️

[StoicWannabe]

Those clothes are adorable, and I love the squirrel feet!

I had been hoping for an Old Copper photo in the sunshine, and it really brings out the color. I am so jealous that you have a house with all of the flowers. I would love a rose bush to clip and put a rose on the table or nightstand every now and then, though something about cutting a flower makes me feel depressed (like I killed it!). Wonder if anyone else feels that way?

Looks like you're really getting ready for another bebe. Prepped with your own bassinet and everything. Good ideas!

[Matt]

I used to wear a plastic bracelet that had the initials "FTP" on it to remind me to find the positive every day. It is incredibly difficult changing that mindset and I am not as good as I could be but I am definitely better. I just try to remember that everyone is finding battles.
Your dessert looks fabulous.
Totes adorbs are the best way to describe those clothes.
Take care and good luck putting together all of those baby things.