Ageless Style: Mother’s Day
Even if there were no pandemic, I would not be with my daughter (or with my mother, who is long gone) for Mother’s Day as she is 3,000 miles away. But I recall so fondly Mother’s Days of the past. My favorites were when she was probably 3-4ish and we would go to the Mother’s Day Tea at Peconic River Herb Farm, one of my favorite places to go on Long Island. It was such a low-key, lovely event. They would put out refreshments in an antique greenhouse on charming mismatched vintage cups and plates. You were free to walk around and enjoy the property, which is always a delight. Of course, they sold plants, pots, garden statuary, etc., so it was a marketing technique for them, but…there was no fee and I never felt any pressure to buy anything (although I can never walk out of there empty-handed).
I would put Katie in a favorite dress and we would make the long drive out east in the morning. We would have a little snack at the greenhouse, then visit the tree swing and the pond, just enjoying one another’s company and the day.
I’m disappointed because I know I have pictures from at least one of those days, but two photo albums are missing (I just discovered) so of course that’s where they must be.
OH WELL WHATEVER.
I wish she was here and we were revisiting that favorite spot this year. If we were, weather permitting, I would wear my favorite dress. Anyone who has been reading the blog for awhile knows The Junarose Dress. I love the print and colors, I love the fit. I love how effortless it is to wear. You put it on and don’t have to think about it again. There’s nothing to straighten or tighten or adjust. It’s not tight anywhere, in fact it barely touches the body at all. It’s the lightest cotton so it’s pleasant in warm weather, but it goes nicely under a lightweight cardigan if the day turns a little cool. All those factors make it My Perfect Dress.
A few years ago I had a little scare when it shrunk in the (cold, delicate) wash (no dryer) and I was afraid I’d lost it. But a reader shared the tip of rewetting it and gently tugging it, stretching the fabric back out again – and it worked! But I am always on the lookout for a replacement, because eventually it will get torn or stained beyond repair, and I can’t imagine going through a summer without a dress this easy to wear.
I wish you all an (early) Happy Mother’s Day.
PS – for regular readers of Fashion Schlub, Week in Review will be tomorrow, Tuesday, May 5.
Make sure to visit my creative and talented friends to see their take on this month’s theme.
Amy ~ Amy’s Creative Pursuits Blog, Facebook, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest
Daenel ~ Living outside the stacks Blog, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter
Debbie ~ Fashion Fairy Dust Bloglovin, Blog, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter
Jennie ~ A Pocketful of Polka Dots Blog, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Bloglovin
Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style Blog, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter
Julia ~ When the Girls Rule Blog, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram
Kellyann ~ This Blonde’s Shopping Bag Blog, Instagram, Bloglovin, Twitter
Shelly ~ The Queen in Between Blog, Instagram, Bloglovin, Pinterest, Facebook
Shugunna ~ Nzuri N* Simplicity Blog, Pinterest, Instagram
Ruth Josey
I love a dress like that, Bettye, and this one’s pretty too! The colors are perfect on you and I love those sleeves. Your flats are a great style. Maybe in your search for the perfect black flats, you could find a pair styled like them? What a gorgeous view you have – it makes for such a beautiful background for your photos. And I love the idea of an herb farm with a Mother’s Day tea. It makes me want to go right out and open an herb farm just so I can have a neat little shop and have special occasion teas. I’m so sorry you can’t find your photo books with those photos. Don’t you just hate knowing you have that photo but you can’t put your hands on it? Even now with digital photos I still have that problem :/ Thank you so much for the linkup. I’m going to enjoy going through it and through the rest of the Ageless Style group’s Mother’s Day stylings.
Ruth
https://voguefauxreal.com/2020/04/20
bettyewp
Yes! Those photo albums! Where could they be? Why weren’t they with the OTHER photo albums?? This kind of thing will make me crazy til I get it sorted out.
I HATE LIVING OUT OF BOXES!!!
Iris
I love that dress on you. It is very becoming and does look comfortable (a major benefit in my opinion). I particularly like the fit and the sleeves. Not much negative you could say about it. Would love to find one similar. I too, will be without any of my kids on Mother’s Day, but there are sweet memories – enjoyed reading yours.
Grace & Peace,Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
bettyewp
Yep, I’ve bought or tried at least half a dozen dresses thinking THIS MIGHT BE THE ONE…but they never are 🙁
Sorry you won’t be with your kids for MD. Soon.
xoxo
Amy Johnson
What a BEAUTIFUL Mother’s Day story. Thanks for sharing that. I know Mother’s Day will be sad for everyone this year. I am so grateful that I will have at most of my children and grandchildren with me, otherwise I don’t know how I’d survive it. We are thinking already of how to make it special even though we can’t go anywhere. Your dress is beautiful.
bettyewp
Oh how nice you’ll have your family with you, Amy, that’s wonderful 🙂
Marceline Miller
Just lovely – thanks for this post.
That bunny statue is wonderful! 🙂
bettyewp
Thanks, Marceline.
That’s the bunny that got stolen off my front porch when Katie was little…and after the police politely took my report (and I’m sure laughed their way back to their car)…my husband went out and found me the exact same one 🙂 And now I’ve had this one for…almost 30 years.
Susan
Junarose, I’ve missed you!
I had this dress mixed up with the lavender fields dress, apparently, and thought this dress was gone. So glad it’s still here, and the sleeves are awesome. You could wear any color of cardigan/jacket/kimono with it, and your shoes are great. I can see why you love it. Happy early Mothers Day.
bettyewp
This IS the lavender fields dress! One and the same 🙂
I know, I LOVE the sleeves. They’re neither too much nor too little.
Happy EMD to you, as well xoxo
eva @ StyleMyThrift
Lovely!
the print is so cool! love seeing the crane!
looks fabulously romantic with those sleeves
ps i love all your garden fixtures : )
xo Eva
bettyewp
Good eye! The birds can be hard to pick out!
Oh, you mean the 2,000 pounds of concrete statuary I’ve been lugging from home to home for the past 30 years?? Ha! I love it all, too, but…there’s a little too much for this small patio. I rent so there’s nowhere to store things. I think it’s time to cull. SLIGHTLY.
Rena
Bettye,
It’s magical when a dress is so easy to where and looks so fabulous like yours does. This years Mother’s Day will indeed not be like any we’ve had before. Wishing for you a lovely day. Be well.
Rena
http://www.finewhateverblog.com
bettyewp
Yes, this dress is magical for me – good word, Rena!
Kellyann Rohr
Bettye I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day! I think your dress is perfect, it’s pretty and looks comfortable and that’s key for enjoying the day! I love your planter and your cute bunny!
xo,
Kellyann
bettyewp
Thanks, Kellyann, same to you! Yeah, once I’m dressed, I don’t want to have to think about my clothes anymore!
Cheryl
Your dress is beautiful and looks lovely on you, comfort is everything to me now in the clothes I wear. Your potted flowers are so bright and colourful! Hope you have a happy Mothers Day.
bettyewp
Comfort is the name of the game, for sure! As soon as there’s anything futzy about a dress, it’s out!
Wishing you a Happy Mother’s Day as well, Cheryl.
jodie filogomo
Those kinds of dresses are the best Bettye!! I just bought one from Old Navy, and I’ll be wearing it a ton this summer.
And I love that memory of years gone by. I’d be the same way with purchasing something from the place (it’s good to support those small businesses!)
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
bettyewp
And I really like supporting her because long ago and far away I’m pretty she bought some advertising in the Long Island gardening newsletter I did…
Plus, the place is just amazing. I know I’ve featured it on the blog several times. I try to get there once a year.
Linda Root
What a great memory & place for Mother’s Day with your daughter back then !! The police & your rabbit report (in comments), LOL!!
bettyewp
Ha, yeah. They were like…uhm. Really? You want us to file a report? I didn’t REALLY expect they were going to find the culprits and bring them to justice, it was probably just some kids in the neighborhood…it was more about me feeling…violated. Someone came up on our FRONT PORCH AND TOOK SOMETHING. I just wanted it noted. I wanted them to maybe just turn their heads and look at our house as they drove by on their rounds.
🙂
Linda Root
“…… didn’t expect to bring them to justice, LOL”😂 Years ago, my neighbor posted a sign in her front yard asking for the safe return of her ornament with “no questions asked”😂 Not sure of the outcome.
PaulineA starsmore
Hi love the dress, when I saw the bog with a title of Mothers Day I thought it must be an old one popped up, but on reading it occurred to me that you have a different date for your Mothers Day (ours was in March) just before our lock down so was able to spend it with my Son, Daughter and her family
bettyewp
Yeah, ours is second Sunday in May. AND this post was early, but the Ageless Style posts are always on the first Monday of the month
Donna
Great outfit, Bettye!!
Donna 🧚🏻♀️❤️🐝
https://donnadoesdresses.com
bettyewp
Thanks, Donna – it’s a LONG time favorite. And it’s one of those that on paper I wouldn’t have thought I would like. But I’m sure glad I tried it on that day cuz it’s been my Dress Soulmate for three years now 🙂
Deborah Stinedurf
That is the perfect dress and even more so because you’re wearing it! That Mother’s Day Tea sounds so nice…I hope that eventually the photo albums turn up. xo
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
bettyewp
Me, too! I move so much that whenever anything seems to have gone missing I always worry that a box got lost in the move. But so far, everything has always turned up…EVENTUALLY!
Ooh, maybe I should plan my own little mother’s day tea right here…as of now the weather looks mild for Sunday…hmmm…will have to think on this 🙂
Thanks for coming by, Debbie!