Sweet "Aunt Loretta"...

My "just darling, sweet-sweet" Aunt Loretta passed away early Friday Morning at the the age of "97"... She was such a cutie!!! Almost always she would adorn herself with sweet little pins/brooches, along with matching earrings and handbag... - A real detail person!!! - I must take after her... She found fun in being a "Red Hat Lady" ~ LoVeD Pansies ~ Had seasonal displays on her door wherever she lived... Up until a couple years ago she still E-mailed me and did her own laundry... Her Singer Sewing Machine kept her busy with major alterations - zippers - hems - sleeves... She loved shopping at the "Turn Around Store" and would do alterations for both herself and others. She ALWAYS brought joy to others - had an amazing light spirit about her - always accepting the way things were and knowing that we're never given more than we can handle. Living so long she had a heart breaking family life - a husband with alzheimers for 8 years - and 2 daughters both dying from cancer - one just 2 weeks ago... In her 90's she had to move 4 times - so hard for an older person... With each move she would round up a volunteer or handyman to get her little furniture & wall hangings placed just right!! - Fussy like me!!! I think I took after her more than my own mother... I will truly miss her phone calls... She passed on in a season she loved - "Fall"...

RED HAT LADY...
I just LOVE this picture of Aunt Loretta in her RED HAT!!! Most certainly she was having fun with the girls!*!*!*!

I had postage stamps made for her with the Special Red Hat PICTURE!!! photo.stamps.com I mailed them to her using the stamps"... They stirred up quite a conversation!!! I will treasure the letters she sent to me with these stamps... Look at her beautiful handwriting...

Aunt Loretta & Me... Look at her cute "Pansy Pin"!!!

A Fall Visit to Cedarburg... Aunt Loretta in her PLAID FALL PONCHO!!!

FALL was one of Aunt Loretta's favorite seasons... Each year I would send her a box full of "Bittersweet Berries" for her to decorate with. We both looked forward to this harvest... Oddly enough, we do not have any growing on our property... I have a secret hiding places along the wooded railroad tracks where I would get them...

MYSTERY PACKAGE... Just a week ago on our doorstep I received a "Mystery Package" addressed just to me - It had 2 LIVE BITTERSWEET PLANTS - male and female... THERE WAS NO SENDER'S NAME ON THE BOX - just the company name where it came from in Michigan... Somehow I think it was her that sent them...



Jeff and I planted the bittersweet and tagged them with orange ribbons so we can recognize them in spring... Whether they were sent by Aunt Loretta or not, they will bring a smile to my face come Fall, as I fondly think of her and our love for the season and each other... "Bittersweet"...

~AUNT LORETTA~