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Thursday, December 3, 2009

A Fishing Trophy!

My late mother loved to go fishing. She was a born lady and was an example to many more than me and my sister. She grew Orchids. She was a well known painter. She was a past president of the Woman's Institute. She led the Homemaker's 4-H Club locally for years, but really, she was just a country girl her whole life.


She's been gone about two years and a half now and I like to bring out some of her photos and shuffle through them, like I'm sure you all do. It's starting to be long enough ago that she died that the pictures are bringing me more pleasure than pain and I would like to share one of my favourite.


Somewhere on Manitoulin Island in northern Ontario, Canada, my mom and her friend Jim spent a few holidays at the Red Lodge. (I think it was called.) Every summer, the lodge owners would record the length and weight of the fish caught by their guests, then skin them and cook them..... made to order. Each summer the record holder's picture would be hung in a new spot on the faded walls of the Lodge ...


And guess who took the biggest catch honor one year?




This is my beautiful mother with her record breaking trout. Taken in her early eighties and she was loving every minute of every day. I learned many lessons by her side and one was:


"You get old quick if you sit down!"


Take my momma's lesson to heart and just enjoy. Do whatever you can every single day. In November of 2006, she was driving herself to the casino and was gone by the middle of February.


She would like to know she has taken her place here in my Blog, sharing every day like she always did.


Hi Ma!

7 comments:

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

your mom looks so cute holding that big old fish..

glad to hear your kitty is under the covers too...

Love that..

Thank you so much for stopping by...

I'll check back later...

Kary
xx

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

What a wonderful picture -- she looks exactly like you describe her! Don't we all hope to be just like that!

Unknown said...

That's great! what a wonderful memory!

Jenn Jilks said...

These are telling words. Such a post that reflects great love and admiration.

Debra from Bungalow said...

She looks like she loved life and had fun. Great advice she gave you along with wonderful memories.

Impala Image Works said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Impala Image Works said...

Interestingly enough, my Mom loved to fish too and she raised orchids. The one I have from her is at this very moment - (and after a very shakey time when I rescued it from near oblivion after she died) - is exploding into three dramatic magenta bloom spikes. I guess it enjoyed the wet summer we had, as did I. I put it and all my house plants on the front porch, overlooking the lake, as soon as it's safe from frost and I'm usually frantically dragging them in at the very last minute in the fall. The orchid blooms on this small but mighty plant are wonderful to see now that the weather has finally decided to act like December and they will likely last just fine until Christmas so my family can see it. I know Mom would be pleased.