Tuesday, May 14, 2024

MAYDAY! MAYDAY!! MAYDAY!!!

 

 Hooray- Hooray

It's Really Is May Here!
source
I apologize for not being
as regular with posting
as I was in the past.
Hubby is not well and takes
a lot more time at this point.
However, On with the show......

I was born late in my father's life.
He was 53 when I was born-
his first child.
Born on a farm in
Pennsylvania with
uncles and aunts that
owned farms around,
or connected, to ours.

Because of my father's age,
that meant that I grew up 
with cousins
that were almost 
a full generation 
older than I was.

So, by the time I was six or so,
many of my older cousins 
were driving.

Some were already married
or engaged.

On the first of May,
my cousins down the lane
 would come,
along with my Aunt Bessie,
and pick me up.
She never drove a car 
in her life so her
daughters drove.

We would drive 
a few miles to 
a lightly wooded area
where we would pick
MAY FLOWERS.

Today,I know that 
they were simply 
SWEET VIOLETS
in pretty pastel colors.

Oh- How I loved MAY DAY
They spread before us 
in the woods on leggy stems.
We would pick big bunches 
to bring home
and we would plop them 
in jelly jar vases.
source
Then, Aunt Bessie 
would give us each 
a slice of fresh baked bread
slathered with butter 
and homemade strawberry jam.
source

I would go home 
full and happy,
with my hands clutched full 
of wildflowers.
I would be smiling 
when I entered the back door 
to our farmhouse, 
 the screen door slapping shut behind me.

My brother, Charlie, who is 
smiling down from Heaven,
had a special poem
JUST FOR ME.

It went like this:

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
I thought I was ugly
Until I saw you.

Yes- Oh- the fond memories 
that take me back to childhood.
I would stick my tongue out 
at him and set my
MAY FLOWERS
on the counter
to celebrate the
MAY DAY.
source
So-CELEBRATE TODAY
~ JUST CELEBRATE~
CELEBRATE TODAY IN MAY.
SHOUT IT
loud and clear
MAYDAY!  MAYDAY! MAYDAY!

Did you know that if you shout MAYDAY
three times in a row 
it is 
the international signal 
of distress?

Be careful-
Be.very.careful.

You know what THAT means, 
don't you?
You may get someone 
that looks like 
THIS coming to your rescue!
source

Just never you mind Kris, 
Junk Chic Cottage,
you have your OWN fireman!

HAPPY DAY IN MAY!
your photo name

38 comments:

Pamela M. Steiner said...

Oh, I love this, and it is SO good to have you back whenever you can be here. (((hugs))) I do remember the beautiful little wild violets in springtime in PA. My sister and I would pick little violets and dandelions and whatever else there was and make little bouquets or put them in our hair. Those are sweet memories. I love your memory of the fresh homemade bread and jam/jelly at your Aunt Bessie's house. What a happy memory! Thank you for sharing this today. Made me smile. Praying for you and your hubby.

Cheryl Kimbley said...

Such wonderful and sweet memories! We used to pick wildflowers (dandelions & violets) for mom on May Day every year! I used to love to pick those flowers and thought I brought the grandest bouquet ever for mom.
Thanks for the smile.
Prayers for your husband and you!

Donna said...

Lolol...Sounds like you had a fantastic childhood...so did I.
hugs
Donna

Debra She Who Seeks said...

That's a wonderful memory to cherish, Diana!

Anonymous said...

So glad to hear from you. I visit here every day...several times a day! Prayers continuing for you all.
Patricia

jack69 said...

What a beautiful display. We are seeing those wild flowers along the roads and by the farms here in Michigan. A few weeks ago I picked a bouquet for my Sherry down south. Prayers for the Hubby, I know many prayers are going up. We men don't like to be a burden, but we area at times. However the LOVE does make a difference.
Thinking of you and yours,
Sherry & jack in Michigan for a few more days then to Iowa!

Red Rose Alley said...

Happy May Diana! I love hearing about your days at Aunt Bessie's farm. How fun that you would pick May flowers with your cousins, and then come inside for some fresh baked bread and butter and strawberry jam. Strawberry jam still reminds me of the country. All these great memories we have will last us a lifetime. And then, we get to share them with others. Thanks for sharing your memories, Diana.

~Sheri

Anonymous said...

Beautiful beautiful share ... smile n lovies

Junkchiccottage said...

LOL Hmmmm you kinda have a cute sexy SIL firefighter in your family!!!!. My friend Sandy who you know has a husband from South Dakota and they did May Day and May baskets with flowers and little gifts instead of Mother's Day. It is a sweet tradition.
Have a great week. Hugs. Kris

This N That said...

I have been out on my porch yelling Mayday Mayday Mayday! I want that to come to my rescue. It didn’t work. You lied lol
Love all the pretty flowers. Can’t get too much of that.

Ginny Hartzler said...

What a wonderful memory. Doing simple things like this just add so much joy to life! I have never seen or heard of the pink and yellow violets!

Anonymous said...

What fun memories. I love violets - they show up here in late February- one of our first flowers of spring. They always make me smile.
😊 Cecilia

Anonymous said...

I’m sorry that your husband isn’t doing well.
Yes I was rescued by a few of these guys on Mother’s Day. I fell. I’m okay .

Anonymous said...

Anymous is Debby Messner

Jackie See said...

Diana, prayers for comfort, strength and peace as you navigate an illness. Sending you positive thoughts and energy. I loved the story of your childhood, a lot like my own. Lots of grown ups, cousins, farm and family. Today is so different sometimes I wonder if we came from a different world. Our children have all passed, so Mother's Day is hard but each year gets a little better. Good to see your post! ~jackieseeme (GeeDazee)

Lynne said...

Beautiful post . . .
Beautiful violets . . .
Beautiful thoughts of May Day . . .

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

Very special memories of May in my heart too, Diana! May is just a month to rejoice in! I loved hearing about your very special Aunt Bessie, and what a wonderful lady she was to you. May Day is a beautiful time of year. Praying for you with your husband's health struggles. So tough! May the Lord give you strength for each day!

HIBISCUS HOUSE said...

Oh my how cute! I love this and all of your memories! Dolly

BeachGypsy said...

So happy to see you post!! I remember May Day and hanging flower baskets on doors, ringing the bell. And running ---so fun! "Ring the bell and run like h__ll!!". We weren't allowed to say that word!! LOL

Ann said...

I would yell Mayday three times loud but the firemen around here don't look anything like that.
I'm cracking up at your brothers poem.

Yvonne said...

This is so sweet and enduring. I have my own patch of violets in my fron yard and they put a smile in my heart when they bloom. They have been very happy this year with all the rain. It is so difficult to get through hardships, and I wish you and your husband a bit of peace at the end of each day. Hugs.

MadSnapper said...

there was a time in my distant past that I would be hanging out my front door shouting Mayday. ha ha, not now though. would not want to scare a handsome fireman to death.
I love those flowers in the little bottle at the end. we used to pick flocks, hand fulls of flocks. the field where we played at my aunts house was full of them. I took grew up with cousins all around but out of 8, 6 of us were born in the war years, the other 2 were 9 years older than us... fond memories

Melanie said...

Beautiful flowers and memories!

It's always good to seeing you popping in on your blog now and then. I had assumed you were busy with your husband's care. Sending you a big hug and prayers for both of you. God bless.

Unknown said...

I visited with your cousin Steve while at the Chapel on Sat. evening! He reminded me of stopping in at your Aunt Bessie's after church and the gracious smile she always had when she welcomed in my Grandma Carroll, my mom, and us little ones for a visit! Lovely lady! Happy memory! Deb

Terri D said...

Happy May to you, Diana!! May flowers are so pretty!! Love ya!

Kim said...

Ah, memories of spring and summer are the best. I remember days on the beach with my older sibling and cousins and the smell of lilacs in a jar on the kitchen table. Sometimes, I would bring a few to my teacher, their stems wrapped in tinfoil. Can you image doing that today? I hope you have a fabulous MAY!! xoxo

Nellie said...

Sending you my very best wishes for the month of May….and for ALL the days, actually! Special thoughts to John! Love and big hugs!

Henny Penny said...

Oh, your story of picking violets in early spring is wonderful and reminds me so much of going to my Aunt Berlie's to pick violets and wild Easter lilies. I LOVE springtime!! Life sure gets hard at times, doesn't it? Thanks for visiting and the nice comment. Think I might try MAY DAY, MAY DAY!! You really think it will work? :)

Anonymous said...

I love this, Diana! It reminded me of when I was bogging. When Curt and I were out driving around (anywhere) and I saw a favorite tree full of blooms or flowers, I would tell him stop! Let me get a photo for my blog! He always would, my how I miss him! Sorry to hear that John isn’t doing well ❣️🤗. Sylvia former from A Grandma’s Blessings

HappyK said...

Nice happy memories!!!
The flowers are so pretty.
Yes, did know about MayDay being a distress signal.

Carla from The River said...

Ha ... what a fun post my friend.
Happy Spring!! Sending a hug and prayers,
Carla

Kay G. said...

Hey Diana! Trust you to give us May flowers and a hunky fireman! LOL, you crazy gal, you do make me laugh. x

Cindy said...

Such a fun post! I don't have brothers but it sounds like they would be a lot of fun! :) Have a wonderful weekend Diana!

Billie Jo said...

How happy am I to see you here?!?! Prayers for your man, my friend. And Pennsylvania?? I am from there!

Sandi said...

What a wonderful memory!

Gay Van Beek, Canterbury Cottage Designs said...

Diana I saw this post a few days ago and meant to comment but like most good intentions, I FORGOT! May is probably my favorite month, when the garden comes alive, before temps return to levels of h*ll degrees, etc. My dad used to take us riding around the yard in the back of his tractor hitch, and did it with my kids too. Love your memories.

diane in northern wis said...

Come back! I just found you! :)

Lowcarb team member said...

Sending my good wishes.

All the best Jan