Family Resources Kid's Resources
Family Support
The Parlor Join us on our message boards for conversation, introductions, support, encouragement and chit chat. Stop by and introduce yourself Here!
Recipes
Tea
Crafts
Garden
Forums
A Remembrance and Comfort Bouquet
By Brenda Hyde
A very touching Remembrance and Comfort Bouquet can be made from herbs
and flowers to express our feelings of loss. It can also serve as
a gift of comfort for someone who may have suffered a miscarriage,
loss of a baby, a parent or other loved one.
You will need:
Thyme sprigs
Rosemary sprigs
Calendula or pot marigold
Raffia for tying
Gather together the thyme, rosemary and calendula
into a bunch. You can either tie with raffia for hanging
upside down, or you can tie loosely for placing in a
vase as a bouquet. Either way works well. Attach
a card with this written inside:
From my heart, I am bringing you:
~Thyme for courage to see you through a difficult time.
~Rosemary for remembrance of (insert the name of
the person or child who passed away or "your baby")
~Calendula for the raising of your spirits and joy as you heal.
If you cannot find calendula you can also use pink roses
which you would substitute in your note:
~Pink Roses for thoughts of happiness as you heal.
The same theme can be used to make a simple wreath
using fresh or silk flowers, with a grapevine wreath as
a base. Tie the gift card to the wreath and wrap in a
pretty box with tissue paper.
This a special gift of remembrance and comfort that can
convey what we may have trouble expressing during a
time of loss or tragedy to someone we care about.
About the Author
Brenda Hyde is a freelance writer, editor and
mother of three, living in Michigan. She gave birth to her daughter
Emily after two miscarriages and 9 long months of worry, anticipation
and joy.
For more Family Remembrance features visit our Index.
SeptemberLady "Born and have lived in Southern MD most of my life. My husband and I just finished building a new home on the family farm, where I hope to retire in the near future.
My interests: Doll collecting, cookbook collector (especially old ones), antiques, family/friend get-togethers, cooking/baking, flower and vegetable gardening, bird-watching."
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling Memorial Day signals the start of barbecue season. Everyone wants to light that fire and charcoal that first meal. A few tips might pre- vent your entree from becoming a "Burnt Offering."
Read these tips for plenty of grilling ideas, make this year's barbecue perfect!
Growing and Using Garlic Chives Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum, is a hardy perennial (Zones 3-9) that will grow to about 12 inches high. The stems are skinnier and flat, instead of hollow as are regular chives, with greenish white blooms that are about an inch wide and not as rounded. They bloom in the summer rather than spring. The bloom stalks grow much taller than the leaves, sometimes up to 30 inches.
The stems and blooms are both edible and have a mild garlic onion taste. I've noticed many writers will list this as primarily as an Asian herb, as they are also known as Chinese chives, Chinese leeks, ku chai (China) or Nira (Japan), but it has many other uses as well!
The Perfect Porch Swing Perhaps it is the soothing rhythm or the reassuring creak of the porch swing that attracts us. Perhaps it is the companionable silence or quiet conversation. Or maybe swings simply remind us of more genteel times.
Although porch swings can be purchased in a wide range of materials, the most common are wicker and wood. You can also make your own porch swing from one of the myriad of woodworking patterns available at garden centers, hardware stores, or on the Internet.
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling
Growing and Using Garlic Chives
The Perfect Porch Swing