No, it is not a toad. Unless of course Mum loves toads or your Toad lives in a Hall. 
The best Mother’s Day present is probably not a skinny nosy chicken. Better to have a fat one, served with roasted rosemary potatoes and gravy scented with orange zest. 
The best Mother’s day present is not a poopy barn pigeon either. Or even two of them. Forget about a pigeon pie too. Too much cleaning up. 
It is not the policeman sheep with her disinterested offspring on a muddy day. Though they are kind of cute on any day. 
The Best Mother’s Day present may not be three peacocks in a row waiting to be released. because they have to wait just a little longer. Though they are a close second I think. 
No, the best present for a mother, because her five children are all grown and far away and cannot collect her wild flowers with broken stems and perfectly missing petals or pin abstract big brush paintings on the wall, or at age 11 busk with a didgereedoo outside the music store counting in the money until he has enough to buy her a favourite CD.
The best present is a Cleaning Lady for the day from the Matriarch. Only another mother would understand the joy of a house-work-free day! Yesterday my house was scrubbed from one end to the other. Brilliant. In the afternoon I wrote for hours. Just worked with words. I just sat in my summer office, with the windows open, in a lovely clean sweet smelling house and worked on the story!
I am telling you this now because when word gets out these amazing women who clean will be all snapped up. So find her. Bring her home. Or buy an apron and a duster. This is the best Mother’s Day present for someone like me.
Good morning. Today is dawning clear, sunny and soggy. We have mammoth puddles still covering the fields, which is wonderful for the frogs. Last night the air was full of frog and toad sounds. The half planted Frog Garden already has two big fat residents. Mary’s cat has taken to lying on the board walk of the Frog Garden with one arm sleepily dangled through the slats to the water below, like a lazy fishing line with a claw hook. It won’t work Puss. The frogs can see you!
Have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
75 responses to “The Best Mother’s Day Gift is not a Toad”
What I would have given for a gift like that when my three were small! I remember asking (for a birthday, I think) to have an entire day to myself, take the kids to your Mama, I need Thinking Time…
No deal.
One of the many reasons we didn’t stay married….
I’m hoping for a Big Ol’ Porch Swing this year, but I’d take the toads, too!
Enjoy your day, C! I’ve got one more before the rain comes back!
It looks like we have a few perfect days in a row, good gardening days, no wind and in the 70’s. JOY! a porch swing with your angel in the evening sounds dreamy! c
What a wonderful treat. It is such a luxury to have your house cleaned for you and then to have a day of uninterrupted time. And it sounds like you made the most of it. Love the image of sheep – they are too cute! xx
They would NOT pose for us yesterday! but strung out behind their Mum they still look cute! morning charlie.. c
Our monsoon is still here. I love your idea of the dos and don’ts of mothers day gifts. Definitely the best one is a day off. I am lucky enough (or unhealthy enough if you want to look at it that way) to have a once a week cleaner, and the feeling of relief at gazing round a clean house is one to cherish.
It certainly is Viv, it is just lovely. And I am unapologetic in my delight! c
Good post.
And may I also have the toad?
Of course you can have the toad darling as long as I get seventeen turtle posts a week!! c
Good morning Celi! Although wilf flowers, paintings and busking (?) we’re priceless ah the beauty of a clean house by someone else and the hours freed up to spend with words, Now that is beautiful!
I think so. It is a hard job – cleaning, and deserves to be well paid. Doing it for nothing is just a bore! c
Oh yeah! Having a cleaning person come in would be bliss.
Morning Miss T! I see you are being very PC!! Good girl. Though I do not see many men clammering for the job of cleaning toilets!! c
Do not get me started! Men + toilet cleaning = Fail!!! Morning Miss C 🙂
Well great, I hope they take back the poopy pigeon.
I will tell the poopy pigeons to pop over to your place! c
what a great present! we finally got some rain! gotta run….i am going to go dance naked in it!
Fantastic that you are being rained on!! c
Love the whole thing, but the reference to Wind in the Willows won my heart early on.
Who doesn’t love THAT Mr. Toad?
I always think of him messing about in boats! c
Awesome! What a great gift! Nothing nicer than a spring-cleaned home to warm the cockles of your heart – even better when you had the whole day to do your writing.
🙂 Mandy
Mothers Know!! Morning Mandy! c
Lovely – and yes, a great present indeed for anyone! Love the shot with the bike and the house..so restful.
It is a restful POV, looking back at the verandah, which reminds me i have to get the hammock out today and hang it up! c
Love the pictures!
I didn’t know that you have 5 children, that’s wonderful. How exciting to have the prospect of so many grandchildren!
Your mother in law is a smart woman. 🙂
Yes, she is smart. She knows how i am! Morning April.. c
What an amazing treat! Inspired choice. 5 children?! Wow. You don’t look old enough! 😉
I started very young! c
You can make your mum toad in the hole 🙂
(laughter!).. c