All went pretty well! Mum and Dad didn't arrive until 1.20 - as I
expected, the roads were clogged with people headed for lunch with
mother. At least this meant everything was well and truly ready. Most of
the preparation was done yesterday in any case.

We began with pea soup wth croutons. I was originally going to do carrot
and tomato soup, but the cold, dank weather had me craving pea soup and
I made a couple of litres yesterday in the pressure cooker. Then we had
roast chicken, a butterflied chook marinated in lemon and herbs (bought
vacuum packed from the butcher, you understand). With that sweet potato
puree topped with breadcrumbs and chopped pecan nuts, and brussells
sprouts in Christne Dabney's lemon sauce. Dad has got over his dislike
of chicken and polished off a whole front quarter of chook, though I was
surprised that nether he nor Mum ate the skin, which was particularly
delicious.

Dessert was a magnificent cake (bought, of course, from the local
magnificent cake shop) in the shape of a giant cupcake with a sugar rose
on the top; not the best for Mum's diabetes, but you only needed a thin
slice. If Mum looked pleased with this, she positively beamed at her
present, an assortment of Guardian chocolates, Belgian and sugar-free.
Poor Mum, she does love chocolate.

We ate off my new china, which has finally arrived and was bought with
the money Dad gave us for Christmas.

They went off with the usual stock of food, including a piece of corned
beef cooked this very morning, and the leftover sweet potato. When your
mother is 90 with dementia and uncontrolled diabetes you've really got
to make the most of Mothers' Day.

What about everyone else?

Christine

You are a loving daughter, Christine, I'm sure everyone appreciated
your thoughtfulness, cooking and love in their own ways......
I survived my first Mothers Day without Mother (she passed away last
year), but to be truthful we celebrated our love for each other
everyday so MD was never specially celebrated (in latter years
anyhow)... but I do miss her as does my twin sister.
Hubby and I went bush for a bushwalk with friends, beautiful sunny Qld
autumn day, it was a blessing to just appreciate it all. Lots of mums
and their families were having coffee in the sunshine..it was lovely to
watch.
A toast to all mothers,
--
Bronnie