……………………….Pansies are one of Jac’s FAVORITE flowers….but only the ones with FACES….Jac loved the ones with the SMILING faces….Every spring before Easter Jac would plant her pansies with a little help from me…….My job would be to get the pots and saucers out of the garage, and once planted, set the potted pansies in their place around the brick porch, clean up and water. I would also take the pansies out of their containers and set them in the pots for Jac to plant…..”always the director” she would say…..Every year Jac would say “I’m not going to get as many flats as last year….it’s too much work!”….. Off she would go to the Garden Center. Sometimes I would go with her, but many times I would stay back and get the terracotta pots, saucers and stands out of the garage and set them up along with the potting soil. We have two garden statues that she loved, and I would put them in place….. When she would arrived home from her shopping expedition, she’d come and get me, and saw all the pots I set up. She would say, “you set up so many pots!”. Then we would go to the car, open the trunk, and take the FLATS of pansies out…….one after the other, after the other, after the other. I would joke, “I don’t think I took enough pots out!”……….and she would give me her sheepish grin……….She loved her pansies, and I didn’t care if we needed a million pots…………………………as long as Jac was HAPPY……………………I was HAPPY!
Louis, for weeks I have been reading your posts and feeling such a connection to you and Jac.
Your love and spirit have been so inspiring and have helped me deal with many of my own
personal problems. When I read your post about the pansies l couldn’t help but exclaim, well there you go.
Every year I can’t wait for the moment I can plant my pansies . No wonder I feel so connected to these
people. I will always think of Jac when I plant a pansy. Louis l know you realize how blessed you are to
know such love. I love you too.
I especially love this picture of Jac. Classic beauty!
Louis.
I will never see another pansy without thinking of Jac. What a lovely way to pay tribute to her by continuing your traditions. All of the photos you have posted of Jac have been lovely but I agree with other ladies who have commented that there is something special about this photo. It speaks to the comfortable, wonderful life you shared with her. Thank you for sharing your journey of healing. Your posts remind me to charish the happy times I shared with my husband before Alzheimer’s changed our lives.
Donna from California
Louis, I absolutely love reading your posts! They are always so vibrant in the love of life that you have and the love you have for your sweet wife. And this photo of her is beautiful because it just glows with her enjoyment in whatever she was doing (whether planting pansies or modeling clothes). Today I’m wondering though if you’ve had to cover the pansies because I saw that somewhere in the northeast there is snow of several inches. I hope that’s not where you are; but if it is, then perhaps these little pansies are hearty enough to endure the cold and snow. My maternal grandmother could grow anything (roses, African violets, peonies, etc.). Sadly I didn’t inherit that ability. I’m so glad that you’re carrying on Jac’s planting tradition.
I was at my brother’s for the Easter week end and only came back today after the snow. I think they will be OK even with the 3 inches of snow on them. It’s getting warmer as the day goes on and the snow should melt. It’s not the snow that will hurt them it’s freezing temps that could kill them. I hope that will not be the case. If so I will start all over again.
Oh Louis, such a treat to see all of your beautiful pansy pictures. It made me smile to see the pic of Jac planting. And then to see your smile, planting pansies for your sweetheart. I’m glad you had company while doing it.
I love your story about the egg hunt. I hope you had a good day with your family today! And something lemony?
I spent this cold, blustery day cooking and having a lovely meal with my husband and sons. My Cody is smiling a lot more these days and we are so grateful.
He is Risen! Hugs and love.
So happy to hear about Cody…..I’m smiling
It feels so good to smile, doesn’t it??
What a beautiful story! Happy Easter and thank you for sharing such sweet memories of your beautiful wife.
Happy Easter Louis! I am so happy Jac loved those Pansies and it gave you such fond memories with her! She looks so lovely in that picture just working in nature.
Louis, Happy Easter. I love the way you loved your wife, you are blessed to have had her in your life. She will guide you through the rest of yours. I love to read memories that you share of her.
Dear Louis —
Thank you for sharing these beautiful memories and photos. I recall other photos of Jac and her pansies that you posted over the years. But I hadn’t realized that planting day involved such an elaborate process — flat after flat after flat after flat! I love the mix of colors that Jac chose and that you chose this year in her honor. Something about digging in the dirt and creating beauty that is very therapeutic. I’m sure Jac is smiling down on you now. God bless.
Warmest wishes for a lovely Easter. XO
Dear Louis,
This is one of the most lovely, heartfelt tributes I have ever read. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful thoughts with us. ~ Barbara C.
You are blessed to have such lovely memories of special times. Thanks for sharing. Try to have a happy Easter.
What you and Franco have done is so beautiful and life affirming. Your determination to carry on and the honesty with which you share it all with us is an inspiration for us all! Seeing your photos and entry today put a smile on our faces and joy in our hearts to see you carry on Jac’s love of life! Happy Easter, Louis!
Dear Mr. D, what a lovely way to spend the days before Easter. It is not quite that warm here in New England, but we are getting there 🙂 Jac will always be with you with those lovely pansies around and thank you for sharing the photos of her being who she was when she was with just you.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful memories with Jac.
As I Looked at these photos, tears of joy swelled with a smile for you and Jac. Strangely of all the things that you have posted, this affected me the most. Perhaps it’s the honesty…and the perfect entrance to Easter.
What a lovely photo❤️ Happy Easter to you and your family
Love this photo Louis of your beautiful Jac.
Relaxed and doing what made her happy and your home beautiful.
Wishing you a peaceful and happy Easter with your family.
A hug and a kiss, Elaine
Louis,
How perfectly beautiful…Jac as inspiration is soothing your heart as each experience without her makes you cry and miss her. These are tiny stitches in your heart. Jac knows exactly how to make you better and is taking care of you. Keep it up…she is showing you the way!
Happy Easter with Jac’s beautiful pansies
Thank you Victoria….I would like to think Jac is showing me the way.
Your other post made me weepy, this one made me smile. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but as much as I enjoyed seeing Jac as your perfect model, I love seeing pics of her doing mundane things like planting flowers. Love this pic of her. Thank goodness for such special memories. Have a blessed Easter.
Dear Melissa, what you said would never bother me. There were two Jac’s…….Jac the Model, and Jac the home maker. She had a wonderful fulfilling career….but…..this is who Jac really was…..No make up, comfy clothes and being home with me and the girls. As she would call our life together…..”our own separate peace”.
Glad I didn’t offend. I really can relate. 😊
Louis it’s wonderful how you keep Jac’s traditions alive. It’s inspirational how much joy it brings you. Thank you for sharing with us & allowing us to take this journey with you!! May Jac continue to give you strength & purpose!!