Saturday, January 22, 2011

Daffodils for Rada

I made today's card for my mother-in-law, Rada. My husband flew to Croatia to see her and will hand deliver this to Rada on her birthday today. :) Every summer we go to Croatia to see her and this time my husband will be going for a week to spend some mother/son time together.


I like the card much better in person than in the photo. I wish the picture was a little better, but I had to rush to take the picture so we could make it to the airport. The daffodils are embossed in gold and the sentiment is outlined in a shimmery soft gold (it looks very pronounced here for some reason). The papers are shimmery as well.

In Croatia this past summer, Rada pulled me aside and handed me a couple of poetry books she'd studied as an English Literature major in college many years ago. She loves poetry and asked me to read several of the poems aloud to her. So we sat together on her couch as I read to her Longfellow, Dickinson, and more.

She loves many poems, but her favorite poem of all is The Daffodils by William Wordsworth. I must have read it to her at least a half dozen times. Her name translated means "daisy", so it seems especially fitting that her most favorite poem is about flowers.

Now everytime I see daffodils, I think of her.

So here is Rada's most favorite poem. Hope you enjoy it.

The Daffodils
by William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud
   That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
   A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
   And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretched in never-ending line
   Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they 
   Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee:
A Poet could not but be gay,
   In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
   In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
   Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Monica, the card is really very pretty! its true, the photograph didn't capture the gold embossing but I am sure it looks stunning in real life, your mother-in-law sounds like a nice lady! she will love it!

Sue Ann said...

I think it looks fantastic ........ all those daffodils ....... I hope I see some coming out of the ground soon!!! Have a great weekend!!!

Stephanie said...

Monica......Thanks for sharing the poem and the meaning behind your beautiful card. It's just beautiful. I'm sure your MIL will just absolutely cherish it.

Kay D said...

This is beautiful; I love the daffodils, and thank you for sharing this beautiful poem, too!

Cathy Weber said...

At first I was thinking, "What a Pretty Card", but then as I read the story behind it, I realized it was so much more. What a wonderful thought and I am sure your MIL will cherish that afternoon you read poetry with her.

Laurie said...

Monica this is so pretty! I love the embossing in the background!

IamDerby said...

aww what a great card and story. hope your mil likes it.

Aimes said...

Ooooh love the embossed Daffodils, Monica! I can just imagine how prettily the outlines shine IRL!
Love that poem too - next weekend I'm heading to the place that inspired Wordsworth to write that very poem! Though the daffodils won't be blooming there yet ;D
Hugs,
Aimes
x

Melissa said...

What a beautiful card, I love the gold embossing!

I hope your husband has a wonderful visit. Thanks for sharing that lovely poem, daffodils always mean the start of spring to me, and I love them!

Linda Suarez said...

Wow! What a beautiful card. I'm sure your MIL will love it. You did an amazing job.

Jen Adcock said...

What a stunning card and a lovely post. Both beautiful. Thank you for sharing the poem too. So much talent.

Diane Jaquay said...

The daffodils are gorgeous Monica, even uncolored! Beautiful card!

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