May's Give-Away Apron and April's Winner

By the Peonies

The peonies bloom, white and pink.
And inside each, as in a fragrant bowl,
A swarm of tiny beetles have their conversation,
For the flower is given to them as their home.

Mother stands by the peony bed,
Reaches for one bloom, opens its petals,
And looks for a long time into peony lands,
Where one short instant equals a whole year.

Then lets the flower go. And what she thinks
She repeats aloud to the children and herself.
The wind sways the green leaves gently
And speckles of light flick across their faces.

The charms of the ordinariness soothe the threat of anxiety.

Czeslaw Milosz

(30 June 1911~14 August 2004)

Peonies are one of my favorite flowers and so for this month's apron, I found this beautiful fabric displaying bouquets of peonies that I wanted to share.

I know my love of this flower comes from my grandma Gladys, who gave me a piece of her prized peony when we moved into our first home and taught me lessons of gardening.  I still have that peony and it has traveled all over the country in every garden that I've planted.

Unfortunately, with our cool Spring, the blooms have not come out

Across the country in Virginia at my Sister's home, her's have!

To enter for a chance to win this month's apron, all you need to do is post a comment.  I know it's already the 20th and I'm really behind--all comments this month are counted!

Also, I'd like to mention I heard from Jodi in regards to the April's Apron.  She requested that I choose another name since she has so many aprons already--which I'm happy to do.

Congratulations to Allison Preiss!  Please email me your address so I can get this spring-time apron off to you.

Lastly, just in case you hadn't heard or been keeping up with...The March Apron Give Away which was sent to Meggie on the Prairie became a "traveling apron" by her inspiration.  She calls it "The Sisterhood of the Apron" and every two weeks, it is sent on to another member of our blogging community.  It's first "visit" was with Elaine of Pear Tree Log blog in Lincolnshire, England and now, Elaine has passed it on to Scarlet of Tales from Beyond the Nook blog.  I'm so honored that an apron, which inspired me to begin blogging, is part of a greater memory.  Thank you, Meggie; I can't wait to read about the adventures this Give Away goes on and the "strings" it creates among the sisterhood.

Enjoy!