Happy Birthday Bernadine

Happy St. Patrick!

This Sunday my mom would have been 91 years old.  Since her birthday followed St. Patrick's Day, quite a few of her celebrations included a meal of corn beef and cabbage.  I'm not sure that she actually cared for it all that much. If she didn't, she wouldn't have said anything.  That's just the way she was.  My mom had no exclamation point.  My mom never got too excited about anything.  Sometimes when you did something really marvelous, her reaction was very minimal.  I quickly learned that wasn't a bad thing.  When I totaled the family car my senior year, all I remember her saying was:  " I'm glad you're still alive."  Not in an upset, frantic voice, but just a calm, matter of fact tone.

Bernadine Cooper

I learned a lot from my mom.  She taught me how to sew and crochet.  She inspired my love of flower gardening and landscaping.  She would have taught me more about canning and food preservation if I would have let her. She taught me how to play Euchre (a card game of necessity in the Midwest).  Most importantly she taught me patience and perseverance and the importance of family.

Her memories are always close.  It isn't hard to see her everywhere around us.  I use her crocheted pieces throughout the house.  She even had afghans and doilies made for my daughter's high school graduations and weddings prior to her death in 2004.  So, some of her gifts are yet to be given.

"The Workbasket"magazine was one of my mom's favorites.  I've included a few scans from the March 1951 issue along with some pictures of her handy-work.  Enjoy. 

Size 12 was the smallest back then, what happened?

Wouldn't that be nice to have?

Thanks Mom.