tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412556112231214747.post8215050160131228971..comments2023-12-17T22:24:54.778-05:00Comments on taylorbakercousins: Happy Birthday, Gladys: One Month and One Day Apart--by Aunt CBPat Herdeghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17049766276043715800noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412556112231214747.post-82898826693672533572008-04-24T19:07:00.000-04:002008-04-24T19:07:00.000-04:00Whew! All this talk about Ma's garden brings back ...Whew! All this talk about Ma's garden brings back memories! Every time I was there, she would take me for the 'tour' and tell me how she was planning to change things in her garden. I am OK at gardening, but no where near Ma's class. It seems like just this morning, that I had a garden tour with the commentary...wait a minute, it was this morning. The tour is now by Beth. She has been doing that for years. Her gardens are awesome. They remind me of my Mom's. So do her plans for her garden expansions. Her front yard is becoming less and less grass. She uses stones for landscaping too. Ma's green thumb went straight to Beth. Kayte is darn good too. She does not have as much area she can use tho. Beth has a nice yard and really puts it to use.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412556112231214747.post-28690272054869642222008-04-23T20:11:00.000-04:002008-04-23T20:11:00.000-04:00Her garden was everything a faerie glade should be...Her garden was everything a faerie glade should be, from the very first tree (the one with a gnome living in the hollow at it's roots, whose voice she would still offer on my request when I was 21). Grandpa Lester had made a trellis archway for her climbing roses and she had peonies and flowering oniongrass planted at the opening of the path that wound up the hill, stepped flowerbeds all along the way, carved from the land and edged with robust slabs of limestone she had gathered.<BR/><BR/>One of my favorite sights was the hill of foxglove running all along the side of the house one year, and another was the small sitting area at the top of the garden, overlooking it all. Still, the best place to be when visiting was the glider on the porch, shaded by overflowing pots of fuchsia in purple and deepest pink. I could sit there for hours and talk to her, bring out items from her cupboards and listen to the stories behind them.<BR/><BR/>Grandma was a wonderful and talented woman. She always made me feel genuinely special and deeply loved. Once, she allowed me to cut her hair before the family reunion, and she often asked me for backrubs while telling me stories about her youth. She could whistle just like a bird or produce full showtunes at mesoforte while frying up bacon and eggs for breakfast!<BR/><BR/>CB, thank you so much for teaching me more about her past. Like so many others, I miss her more than I would have thought was possible. She encouraged me in so many things, warned me about dangers I had been blind to, and never feared to tell me the truth, as she saw it. More often than not, she was right.<BR/><BR/>I talked about her a lot at work yesterday. Earth day will always be her day for me.<BR/><BR/>~Kayte (Kathryn's younger daughter)Kaytehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14658834760518529970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412556112231214747.post-73241980485694134662008-04-23T10:54:00.000-04:002008-04-23T10:54:00.000-04:00Laurel,Welcome to you also!!I also have a not so g...Laurel,<BR/><BR/>Welcome to you also!!<BR/><BR/>I also have a not so green thumb. My brother Jim manages to grow all sorts of plants that stay green--and alive!--in his house and yard.<BR/><BR/>My brother Tom keeps a garden every year and grows all sorts of normal peas, carrots, etc, along with colored potatoes--blue?<BR/><BR/>So, perhaps it is not too late for me to learn also. Our yard normally has more dandelions that tulips and crocuses, but I'll attempt to change that this year in honor of Aunt Gladys!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412556112231214747.post-69822458215637325332008-04-22T20:41:00.000-04:002008-04-22T20:41:00.000-04:00Needless to say, Gladys never had a more wonderfu...Needless to say, Gladys never had a more wonderful "garden" than her 6 kids!! She never had an easy life but they were her pride and joy! At the same time, the most beautiful garden that I ever saw was on the side hill at her house!!! Colors spilling down in a riot of shades-- I, who have no green thumb was in awe of her ability. <BR/> I know that she is with us now! Aunt CBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412556112231214747.post-29404970278293734262008-04-22T14:06:00.000-04:002008-04-22T14:06:00.000-04:00Wow. As a daughter reading this article, I loved t...Wow. <BR/>As a daughter reading this article, I loved the pictures love the stories. <BR/>Growing up it was hard NOT to miss the closeness that the Gladys and Aunt CB had with each other. <BR/>Now, as an adult ~ WHAT were the three of you thinking? ~ you were all so lucky you didn’t break your necks on that bike! <BR/>Being spring, with the flowers coming into bloom I think of mom much more often. She was hopeful that I some day would take a greater interest in them. She of course could spend hours in her flowerbed. The beauty of her flowers shined faithfully every year with her care. <BR/>I miss her too. <BR/>Love always Laurel <BR/>P.S. Mom would be happy, I have begun to find my green thumb with dealing with flowers.laurelamydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15033957548763755220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412556112231214747.post-38306224336970716352008-04-22T13:06:00.000-04:002008-04-22T13:06:00.000-04:00Mom told me that Aunt Gladys would have loved this...Mom told me that Aunt Gladys would have loved this blog and would have been the first here to tell tales about her cousins.<BR/><BR/>Wendy--welcome to the blog! Any stories, memories you want to tell, just email me. I am #4 in Aunt CB's family, so the middle of the crew.<BR/><BR/>Kathryn, GREAT picture of our two moms. They look so confident and ready to take on the world!<BR/><BR/>Gladys and Aunt Lil (yes, Wendy, today IS the anniversary of one of her 'labor days !), can you hear us talking about you down here?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412556112231214747.post-52296146415488169872008-04-22T12:09:00.000-04:002008-04-22T12:09:00.000-04:00Everyone is (or should be) aware of the bond that ...Everyone is (or should be) aware of the bond that mom and Aunt CB shared. Their relationship was one that very few people ever get to experience, a true blessing, not only for them but also for the people around them that shared in it. And yes, yes I know Aunt CB is really my cousin but mom raised me to call and think of her as my Aunt… so that is what she is to me!<BR/>I have met very few women that compare to my mother as far as aspiration, determination and passion oh and lets not forget that sense of humor. She was a truly remarkable woman, and I miss her so very much. <BR/>Love to all<BR/>Wendy or as mom called me "#6"<BR/>Oh and, Grandma (Lil)… Happy Labor Day!Wendy (Wood) Osterhouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00716291011387473178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2412556112231214747.post-60962548042547683252008-04-22T07:59:00.000-04:002008-04-22T07:59:00.000-04:00My Mom (Gladys) would have loved this blogsite! I ...My Mom (Gladys) would have loved this blogsite! I also know that she loved CB as a twin. You 2 were real close.<BR/>When she found out that she had ALS, she did her best to prepare Dad for what was going to happen. Being very intelligent, SHE knew exactly how it was going to end. She had her affairs in order, her funeral planned and paid for and her grave stone ordered and paid for. She even tried to protect her children from Dad's predictable temper. She pleaded with him in her will to not turn on one of us kids or Wendell. She was really something.<BR/>She and I butted heads about a few things, but I always knew that she loved me. She was a fantastic grandmother to my daughters. She was clearly proud of their achievements, and lavish with her praise and adoration. <BR/>I still miss that old bat!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com