Many years ago...probably about 65...my mother entered a contest at her local Garden Club...and SHE WON!
Or did she???
The prize was a pair of brightly painted, concrete, art for the yard, FLAMINGOS!!!
They came complete with iron rods (think rebar) for legs.
Now Mother has her silly side...sometimes...but THIS was not something she would deign to put into her beautiful gardens. So these "lovelies" were packed away, in the back of a closet and forgotten.
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Thus began a new Hill family tradition...
For the first Christmas in our new home, Mom gave my dad a beautifully wrapped present...with a FLAMINGO inside.
After much laughter, joking...and threats... the FLAMINGO was packed away once more until the next big event in our family's life...
Over the years, the FLAMINGO has made appearances to celebrate new homes, college graduations, weddings, babies, etc. It has traveled around the USA, decorated every room in a house (for photo purposed, only!!!), tagged along on a honeymoon, and been presented on a covered food tray, surrounded by garnishes at a wedding dinner. For the past 30 years, a booklet has traveled with it...telling the tales of where it has been...and immortalizing the "pomes" that often accompanied it.move to the present day...
This past weekend, my family gathered to celebrate Mom's 92nd birthday. We had a fabulous brunch and even more fabulous time just being together. Mom was the queen of the day...with all her children, some of her grandchildren, and even one of the great-grands. She was PREENING!
And then it was time for the gifts...
Can you guess what she unwrapped?
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Yep...you're right! It was...
THE FLAMINGO...
wrapped in a Tiffany's box.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!
12 comments:
I love this, too cute! and how creative, this little flamingo has made its way around! the world and back! Happy:) Birthday to your Mom!
so damn cool!!! Every family should have such a neat game to play! Happy Birthday to jane's mom!!
p.s.....I have the plastic flamingos in my yard, in flowerbeds and on the deck at the lakehouse!! What can I say?? I'm a PF lovah!!
Jane, that's a fun story...sortof like the traveling gnome story. :)
Happy birthday to your Mom!
Such a great story... that flamingo's seen a lot of smiles. Happy Birthday to Mom!
Happy Birthday to your Momma, who started that whole process. :) I loved the story. That has happened with a couple of items in our family and I just love the laughter it brings!
This is just the greatest story! Happy Birthday to your beautiful Mom!
Love the scarf.
Awww....that is so sweet!!!!
I think your famingo needs to come to my house next...seeing that it's wearing a scarf and all!!! It would fit right in here with all the snow:)
So fun! At first, I was holding my breath just a bit..., thinking WHAT Tiffany has a flamingo design!!!
I LOVED every single word of this post so much, I had to read it three times and I smiled bigger each time. What a great tradition, it so beats the "ugly earrings" that get passed around in my family.
But, what a treasure to have in your family's possession. Sixty-five year old flamingos? That is so cool! They obviously preceded the plastic ones and since they were hidden, or rather, stored in the closet the color is still perfect.
A Tiffany box? You're family is the best!
Hugs
Hi Jane, I LOVE this story! Bless your mother's heart. I bet she had the biggest smile and that it made for a great birthday surprise. :)
Donna
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