Can you find Penelope, my favorite Squirrel among the Repurposed *Wedding-Wine-Flowers?
My Heart is steeped in each and ever flower delivered to me on Sunday, October 26, 2025! (See blog below Wedding-Wine-Flowers) My Mother, Ada Patrick Craddock was born October, 26, 1904! It was her earth 121st Birthday!
Ada, was known as a Master Gardener. She grew up on a farm on the Albermarle Sound, NC. And, yes as a young girl living in the 1900’s worked on the farm where sandy soil produced much fruit. The greatest supplies for sale were peaches, apples, watermelons, cantaloupes and Scuppernong grapes. Their boats would often leave their pier to make the voyage to the nearest town to sell their produce. Her father seem to have a reputation as the grand master of wine. I don’t need to tell you, our readers, that was illegal in those days.
For among the fruits and vegetables and wines were fish of many kinds with beef and pork as the barnyard staple.
Their farm had the beauty of the beautiful water of the Albermarle sound where we, her kids of a dozen and, I being her tenth, among cousins as well, played and swam and enjoyed the abundance of fine cuisine.
Ada, had married and they had a farm of their own and I must add NO wine for her beyond an oz for her Christmas homemade fruit cakes. And maybe church communion on her appointed Sunday to adorn the altar with her home grown flowers, wine and bread.
She did have her own little country store of many lovely things. It just seemed her flower and vegetable gardens were her master piece. The customers mostly neighbors thought the same.
I don’t want to forget she truly had the art of the sewing needle from our school dresses, quilting, to name just a spot in her profile. Did I mention a songwriter and published poet? She also crocheted, making gifts to sell and share.
So much I could go on and on about yet the one thing that amazed me the most from my childhood on was her love of nature. A walk in the woods and fields would be called her sacred spot. She had all kinds of animals on our farm and trees and plants thriving by a stream seem to greatly delight her. We could often hear her laughter from a distance when a bunny, a squirrel, a bird plus butterflies, bees plus other crawling things moved around in her sacred space.
I was greatly blessed by Jen to be given a ‘garden of flowers’ on what would be her 121st earth Birthday. The wedding flowers truly looked like they were from the Kings Garden! I often imagine her there!
Yes, the process of sharing her recent BD flowers are still in progress as our readers know from the blogs below. In sharing my deep thoughts I wanted to honor nature also with her flowers when I thought of one of my favorite websites, Nothinggoingon. I’m a fan of Penelope, the squirrel. Ada, would be, too. Take a look and maybe you will smile or have a good healthy belly laugh!
“A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22 NKJV)
I want you to know today that you are loved and you are enough! You are beautiful right where you are! Jesus truly loves you and me!😍
*Our thanks again to, Jen, Old Farm Winery at Hartland, Caroline and Mary Adeline, and our Bride and Groom, Lauren and Danny!🫶🏼
thedailylily.com 
What a special delight to read your stories, Sara; ones I want to read again and again! I love how they tell of your virtuous mother and others whose lives were woven into the land and water and nature.
And so amazing how the beautiful flowers arrived on your mother’s earth 121st Birthday, delivered by Jen and provided from all the others connected/named!
Yes, I found Penelope! I loved watching that video and many more from the Nothinggoingon website!
Than you, Sara, for sharing all this beauty…your words, the video, scripture… truly a gift.
Debi, you write, “and others whose lives were woven into the land and water and nature.” A thoughtful thought!
“Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!”
Psalms 103:22 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.103.22.NKJV
Looks like Penelope was enjoying the beautiful flowers🥰💐 Amazing how Jen and family shared the flowers, right on your mom’s birthday!🥰
I agree, Tammy, amazing! Often, we hear, He’s right on time! When amazing things happen like “Birthday” remembrance as shared here I thought how timely! Right on time!
And, Penelope has a way to remind us to smile! And, call to remembrance.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:”
Psalms 103:2 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.103.2.NKJV
Sara, you wrote above…“…Then immediately arranging a time for Debi to pick up for their ride to ‘Academies of Loudoun’ for any conditioning needed and their walk in refrigeration to keep fresh. So grateful to have a space to work from, teach students and share….”
Yes, I agree, Sara, so grateful!
The flowers have lasted beautifully in refrigeration and today my Plant Science students were thrilled to be able to learn and use them in many different ways. Some students learned how to ‘flower pound’ by arranging the flowers, petals, leaves in artistic patterns on unbleached muslin sandwiched between parchment paper. As they happily pounded away with mallet and hammers, the beautiful colors permeated the cloth making an everlasting piece of ‘art’. Some were then glued on cards, or on the re-purposed vases; placed in baskets decorated with the dried flowers; or left for the next project purpose. Other students made dyes from the flowers by placing flowers and water in glass lab beakers and then bringing to a boil on laboratory hot plates. The cloth was pre-soaked in a vinegar/water solution, rinsed and then placed in beakers filled with the simmering dye until the cloth absorbed the colors. They further experimented by adding salt and/or vinegar to the dyes to increase the color absorption and even tried doing some watercolor painting with them!
None of the plant material was wasted as whatever could not be used in the crafting such as stems, etc. was put in buckets to be composted for their outdoor classroom garden. What an enjoyable learning day they had! They are looking forward to continuing to learn from and utilize the ‘re-purposed’ flowers.
“*Our thanks again to, Jen, Old Farm Winery at Hartland, Caroline and Mary Adeline, and our Bride and Groom, Lauren and Danny!” Yes, how we agree!!