Saturday, March 4, 2006

Two weeks ago today, my Mother passed from this life into the next. At her funeral I lit a candle in this turned walnut base and place it on her coffin. It was on the beautiful mahogany top of the coffin my siblings and I along with Dad had so lovingly built for her.

Two days earlier, the last smile I saw on Mother's face was when I showed her my bright red gerbera daisies.

Although she suffered from allergies to flowers, I have indelible memories of her magical touch with growing them, the fuchsia in the later years and the impatiens in the earlier ones. Is it any wonder I'm intrigued by the visual capture of blooming growing things?

Benedictus by Jan L. Richardson

In your leaving
we say peace.
With the last light of you dying
we say peace.
And where there is no peace
we say peace
in the hope it will rest in our bones.

In your going
we say joy.
With the last breath of you leaving
we say joy.
And where there is no joy
we say joy
in the hope it will dwell in our flesh.

In your departing
we say love.
With the earth taking you in
we say love.
And where there is no love
we say love
in the hope it will come to our souls.

jim in memory of my Mother

Early turnings of wooden vessels

Developing collection

More recent turnings