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For many years my two daughters have come together each summer to spend some quality time with their Mom. Due to COVID-19 and a few other issues, that didn’t happen for the last two years.

Then, this May 17, they arrived and we enjoyed some of the established traditions, along with experiencing some new ones..

They are both avid gardeners and like to help me out with my gardens. Two years ago they planted a hummingbird – butterfly garden outside my kitchen window that I continue to enjoy tremendously.

This year they tackled the chore of creating a rock garden along the fence, and filled it with succulents. As my daughter from Massachusetts drove down, she was able to bring me a box of rocks, which she dubbed my Mother’s Day present. (Is that something like getting coal in your Christmas stocking?)

Anyway, with the garden completed, they loved spending days in the back yard, doing Yoga in the shade garden, and watching movies together in the study at night.

They cooked interesting meals, using products that my husband and I do not normally eat.

We visited the old places they love: In the Garden, where they found all the unique succulents; Flint River Outfitters; Jonah’s in Thomasville, where they always order the shrimp and grits; and, of course, Belks. We also enjoyed lunch at the new Sio’s. They were very impressed with all the upgrading of the downtown business section.

They were constantly on the go, and when they left we had exactly four days to prepare for the arrival of my son, who I also had not seen for two years.

He is more quiet, and easy to cook for, and we enjoyed his company for five days.

His occupation is landscape architecture, and this is his busy season, so he spent several hours a day on his laptop designing major patio entertainment areas. It was fun to watch what he was creating as he explained such issues as land slopes, soil types, appropriate plantings and more.

He took a look around my yard and garden and found plenty of deadheading, trimming and clearing out to do. He also made some suggestions about projects we are thinking of undertaking, such as a deck and pergola.

We visited his favorite place- In the Garden, where he loves studying the different plants available for this zone; shopped at Long’s Farm and toured the airport, where he learned some of the history of the airbase and housing of German prisoners during WWII. We also spent an enjoyable hour at Southern Philosophy, where he introduced me to craft beers – his favorites, while we sat at the bar and watched a Corn hole tournament broadcast from Indiana. In the evening I watched hockey games with him – another of his passions.

The house seems pretty empty now. The dogs lie around the house, bored to death without someone to follow around and play with, and the increased heat has reduced all of our outdoor activities.

It was a great two weeks with “the kids,” as we had a lot of catching up to do.

Next year, I think they should all come together and they can amuse each other.

It can be hard for us “older folks” to keep up.