Today was May Day; it was bright and sunny: real sun, real warmth! Two years ago, this month, my granny passed away. A few weeks before that, I had made a May altar- the first time I had made one after years of saying I would. There is just something lovely about May altars: I remember when I was small in school the nuns always made a great deal of May Day, we would have altars and songs and nature walks. Today I **delighted** my children singing the song we sang in school: “May is the month of Mary, the month we all love so well”! I thought my pious warbling sounded, well, beautiful, but after a few renditions (I can only remember the first two lines, and not even sure if I have those correct) I was begged, begged, to stop. No appreciation, those children.
Anyway, at my granny’s funeral, the priest spoke of how, every May, her whole life, granny made a May altar. I didn’t know that. So now for the past two Mays, I have dusted down our ancient Mary and nestled her between flowers and other interesting bits (by the end of May, she will probably be peeping out from a towering pile of “things” that have accumulated in front of her).
(The cards are birthday cards for Fergal and I who celebrated our birthdays at the weekend- he being the more ancient by one day. The beautiful candle stand and candle was from my friend Susan, who just showers me with lovely things. The amaryllis is just about to flower)
I got my organic vegetable box this week, I try to buy as much locally produced veg as I can. I bought some delicious purple sprouting broccoli, green cabbage and spring onions, which I sweated in some butter with garlic and a pinch of chilli powder, then tossed in some pasta and served with locally grown salad greens and an avocado (sadly, not Irish) It was perfect for this first day of summer.
A moist chocolate banana bread was being steadily devoured all day…
Cows back in the fields and three new brown hens… they are as eccentric as our other three, and the second they see any of us, a chorus starts… Grace reckons they are saying “Where are our treats?” in chicken language. Between the cats (permanently whining for more food) and the chickens, I’m feeling under pressure…
Michael was making more of his little toys- they are outside most of these warm days playing games with creatures called “Packabocky” and “Muckachoo”. He makes them from gloves, and stuffs them with bubble wrap so they float. Today they had an epic adventure in this old green jeep that once belonged to my brothers, and there were several life or death incidents for the glove creatures involving water. And lots and lots of muck.
Summer, oh I love it.
Lovely photos and lovely mention of Marie and the May altar 🙂 looking forward to seeing it all in person tomorrow!! There BETTER be chocolate banana bread left for me 😉 xxxx
I’ll move the pile of debris from in front of it that has accumulated since dinner then…!!!
what lovely lovely photos emily! my mom loves mother mary so much. i always tease her because she has so many wall pictures, statues and books on her that she could open a little religious store with what she all has. maybe i’ll surprise her this may and make her a little altar in her house for her.
its always nice to get a peak at your world 😉
Your altar is just beautiful, the photographs are beautiful. Your giving me pangs of nostalgia and longing for what exactly I don’t know! Beautiful post. I love May : )
Thanks Jane, everytime I look at it I feel nostalgic too!!!!!
Thanks Rita Maria! Your mom would feel right at home over here!!!!!!
What a lovely way to remember your granny. 🙂 I love the little glove men and LOVE that they can float — I’m going to have to work on some of those myself.
Gail, easy and quick for the grand kids!! Couple it with a basin of water and they will be happy for hours! X
Sigh. That was just lovely – like a cup of tea when you need it most. And the boys actually *let* me read it. We have a baby bath somewhere and I was going to gift it to someone but your floating glove men changed my mind. It is going to live in the garden for summer.
What a lovely start to the Summer to see all your beautiful photos. My Granny always had a May Alter with her Mary statue and we loved adding bits to it when we went to visit. And then she would have one in June with her Jesus statue. Thanks for bringing back that memory. X
Susan, never heard of the June one!! Ill have to acquire a Jesus statue!!
Gwen, the simplest of creatures, made with bocky stitches ( or staples???!!!) makes for the most loved toys. Our lads have ones they made years ago 🙂