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”
Ah! A clean house–time for a cup of coffee and a leisurely stroll around the farm to snap pictures! Wonderful gift. The new peahens are beautiful and so regal!
Now that is a great gift idea for a Mother’s Day gift! It sounds like you thoroughly enjoyed it, too. Great set of farmy pics, today. You’re too far inland for it but we had a thick fog last night and into this morning. Although the sky is still a bit hazy, the sun seems to be burning it off. I certainly hope so. Things are pretty soggy around here and a little sun wouldn’t hurt. Have a great day, Celi.
Sun is coming.. ! c
Ohhhhh that would be heavenly!!! What a gift. I almost didn’t put my blog up today because it showed how dirty my house is… 😉
I zapped over to look at your dirty house and found a remarkably clean lamb in the kitchen!! c
Oh, what I wouldn’t do for a cleaning lady on occasion. So glad you got one and then spent much of your day writing. Wonderful. My brother and his wife hired a cleaning lady to come to my mom’s house twice a month. It is one of the best gifts ever for an 80-year-old woman, especially when most of us six children lives hours away.
It is so simple and works all round. Your mum got a clean house, some one dropping in on a schedule plus the cleaner gets employment.. a great idea.. c
I am happy you had a change of pace and a little extra time to spend doing what you do so well. Enjoy!
Actually, my mom would love the toad, the chicken, or the policeman sheep. Not sure about the peacock, he’d compete for attention too much.
Coltrane does not like to be left quietly on the corner and toads are only loud in the evening! I think I would like your Mum..c
You are so right about a top to bottom (house) cleaner. I’d love that for Mother’s Day, next year in March since we celebrate ours at a different time of the year in the UK. Oh, and may I please have one of those froggies to eat all the mozzies that are breeding in our wet weather, please?
I will pop one in a box for you, we have plenty!! In fact i have to be careful not to step on them in the grass! c
True words! Once in a while it is nice to have all that invisible work that you do recognized and lifted away. I like the sound of a frog garden. My number one son is an avid frog hunter- happily, they are too quick for him!
My mother would love having the house cleaned for a Mother’s Day gift, especially because it is a big, old, decrepit house. But she is very particular about how things are done.
It would take the heavy work out of it though, the shelves, and walls and doors, she can always pop about with the duster and do a touch up afterwards. Maybe one day! c
Absolute heaven would have been a groom to clean out the barn too. Mama is so slim and the lambies so grown up. Best MIL and you deserve the treat. Laura
Actually i think the barn is cleaner and tidier than the house as a rule, i like it out there!! c
don’t doubt that ….. but then you would have had time to read and write:) Laura
ah.. VERY good thinking, maybe i will get a groom for my birthday! c
Reblogged this on One Unschooling Mom and commented:
I always love C’s posts, but this one is especially delish, and with Mother’s Day just around the corner I’m sure some of you might need some instruction on the matter 😉
Thank you Julia. I think it is a super idea, we should spread the word! c
So happy your Mother’s Day is one that’s bringing you joy for more than a fleeting moment 😉
Brilliant gift, Celi! How wonderfully thoughtful…and lovely sweet memories of your “little ones” all grown up! Debra
May your life always include Cleaning Ladies in the Rainbow!
I’ll be sure to remember these tips for mothers day 😉 – I think we were planning brekkie in bed 😀
And a cleaning lady? Nice touch! 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru