The first coughs, the fevers, the “tummy hurts” whimpers, all of them get us right there. And moms will just drop everything when their kids need them — even when the kids are grown.

And the kids still want mom to come running. One day this spring, my son woke me up at 5:45 a.m. to tell me he was feeling sick. I hung up and tried to get back to sleep, but I knew my day was going to be different from what I’d planned.

At 7:15 a.m. he called back to say: “Mom, come get me.”

My “baby” is almost 27 and lives six miles across town. So get him I did (after finishing breakfast and getting dressed).

I even washed the sinkful of dirty dishes at his house while he checked in with his doctor’s office. Well, it made me feel better to know he’d have a clean kitchen.

Anyone who has lived with me knows: I’m no Florence Nightingale.

My nursing abilities are not great, just good enough to get by. There’s a reason I work in newspapers and not medical care.

I’ve cleaned up my share of sick messes and felt lots of feverish foreheads in my day, but I’d rather fluff the pillows and wash the PJs, maybe minister with a cup of tea or hot cocoa. The sympathy doesn’t readily flow in these bones, I tell ya.

And my sons could tell you how I doubted their tales of woe when they were little. While my husband was quick to call the doctor or reach for the baby Tylenol, I’d just tell the boys to go back to bed.

This time, my son was convinced he had something serious, but, again, I was doubtful, figuring it was one of those quick flu bugs. The doctor told him to wait and see.

He’d already had his appendix out, so no worries there. I brought him back home with me and he mostly slept and sipped the ginger ale I ran out to buy.

He was feeling better by evening, so I drove him back to his house, supplied with extra ginger ale and the dish soap and paper towels I’d found lacking in his kitchen. His roommate appreciated the soap anyway — “your mom rocks!”

My son is lucky he got sick on my day off. Although I had all kinds of plans for shopping and spring cleaning, I was able to postpone things to take care of him. I really didn’t mind because I got the rare opportunity to see him.

He’s no dummy.

“Mom,” he said to me. “I know what’s going to happen when Mike (his brother) and Angy have kids — I won’t be your baby anymore and you’re going to stop pampering me.”

Likely very true, but those days are a ways off.

So, even though my sons are grown, I’ll drop everything when they need me. I’m lucky; their hurts have been minor.

Many mothers aren’t so fortunate. Their children are wounded in battle or on the job or are stricken with serious illnesses. And mothers still ache for their hurting children, no matter how old they are.

I think especially of one mom. Her daughter, a classmate of one of my sons, died of breast cancer last month. She was just 29. I didn’t know her or her mother well, but I remember Bridget as a happy, sweet girl.

I later watched a video of her giving a talk for Susan G. Komen For the Cure and was impressed by the strong woman little Bridget had become. Sadly, she is gone.

As for me, the disruption of my day off is nothing in comparison.

Still, the small sacrifices have some rewards. The “Mom, come get me” call made for amusing storytelling at a social gathering later that week and now I can just laugh about it.

Except for the fact that on my next day off — two days after I took care of my son — I once again had to postpone the chores.

I got that flu bug.

Madeline Hawkey, 3, and Tiffany Bodisch of Spring Grove watch the East Prospect Memorial Day Parade last year (file photo)

If you’re looking for a way to educate your children on the importance of Memorial Day and do your part to remember fallen soldiers, we have a list of local events happening throughout the weekend.

Hope you have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!

YORK’S HISTORIC PROSPECT HILL CEMETERY AND CREMATION GARDENS will partner with the Fourth Day Divine Floral Design LLC, to display a unique Memorial Day Floral Tribute of a fresh flower arrangement of 400 roses and candle light the evening of May 24 through May 27 on the Fallen Heroes Memorial and Banner Display at Prospect Hill Cemetery and Cremation Gardens, 700 N. George St., York. The public is invited to participate by viewing the display.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., Independence Mall, Philadelphia, 215-409-6895, May 25 to 27. The National Constitution Center will honor U.S. service men and women who have given their lives in defense of the Constitution and its legacy from freedom. Memorial Day programs include:
Memorials: How a Nation Remembers Show
10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. This 20-minute interactive program illuminates the history of our nation’s famous memorials, including Little Bighorn, the U.S.S. Arizona, and the Lincoln Memorial.
Liberty Tree Show
10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. Memorial Day Weekend marks the “birthday” of the National Constitution Center’s very own living memorial, the Liberty Tree. Visitors can learn about the history of Liberty Trees in America and the story of how Pennsylvania’s Liberty Tree came to live on the Center’s lawn.
Flag Etiquette Workshop
11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Explore the history and meaning behind America’s national symbol and learn about the ways to handle the flag with reverence and respect.
Flag Ceremonies
9:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. The American flag will be raised every morning and lowered every evening on the Center’s front lawn. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate as they learn the proper protocol for this poignant ceremony.
Giant Flag Folding Activity
1:30 p.m. After learning the ins and outs of flag etiquette, visitors can put their new knowledge to the test as they help fold the National Constitution Center’s giant American flag.
Patriotic Karaoke Station
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors will have an opportunity to sing their favorite songs about America.
Make and Take Craft Activities
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can create patriotic crafts including poppy pins—the symbol of Memorial Day—as well as star wreaths and crepe paper American flags.

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE, 6 p.m. May 26. The parade will begin on South Main Street in East Prospect. Following the parade, there will be a program at East Prospect Cemetery to honor the fallen.

JEFFERSON COMMUNITY MEMORIAL CELEBRATION, Bethlehem United Methodist Church, 47 W. Hanover St., Codorus, 1:15 p.m. May 26 Memorial Day parade. The parade will proceed to the community cemetery on Baltimore Street for a memorial service at 2 p.m. The featured speaker will be Controlled Material Petty Officer Michael Lentz, a former resident of Jefferson with 24 years of service in the U.S. Navy. In case of inclement weather, the service will be held in Christ United Church of Christ, Baltimore Street, at 2 p.m.

MEMORIAL DAY IN WRIGHTSVILLE, sponsored by Wrightsville American Legion, Abel Poff Leitheiser Post 469, will begin with breakfast 8 a.m. May 27 at the Post Home, 2nd and Hellam streets. The speaker will be Maj. Kevin Romine of the PA Army National Guard who served in Afghanistan, Kosova and Bosnia. The annual Memorial Day parade will leave the Post Home at 2 p.m. and travel west on Hellam Street to the Fairview Cemetery for the memorial service. The speaker will be Col. David J. Smoker, United States Air Force. Following the parade, refreshments will be served at the Post Home.

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE AND CEREMONY, Downtown Gettysburg, Lefever Street, Lincoln Square, Gettysburg, 2 p.m. May 27. The Gettysburg Joint Veterans Memorial Day Commission will present this parade and celebration to honor the men and women who have died while serving our country.

HANOVER ALLIED VETERANS AND POST 22 will sponsor a Memorial Day parade at 8:30 a.m. May 27. The service will follow at the cemetery. The guest speaker will be Army Lt. Col. Larry D. Fletcher Jr., U.S. Army War College, Class of 2013.

MEMORIAL DAY RODEO, Wellsville Frontier Days Inc., 75 Carroll St., Wellsville, 11 a.m. May 27. The rodeo will include bull riding, bronco riding, barrel racing, break-away calf roping and more.

LITTLESTOWN ALLIED VETERANS COUNCIL will sponsor a Memorial Day parade and ceremony May 30. The parade will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the ceremony at the cemetery at 6:30 p.m. the guest speaker will be Air Force Lt. Col. Joseph M. Blevins, U.S. Army War College, Class of 2013.

MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAM, Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Indiantown Gap Road, Annville, 865-5254, 2 p.m. May 26. This will be the 13th Memorial Day event to be held in the PA Veteran’s Memorial. There will be a keynote address and music by the 28th Infantry Brass Quintet.

QUICKEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 60 Canal Road Extended, Conewago Township, 1:30 p.m. May 26, Memorial Day worship service with special patriotic music provided by the First Capital Brass Quintet. The guest speaker will be Cpl. Lee Salmon of the U.S. Army War College. The worship service begins at 2 p.m. The Mount Wolf VFW Post 2493 will hold a short graveside service following the worship service at the gravesites of Clair Grim and William Quickel.

SHREWSBURY GOSPEL TEMPLE, 713 W. Forrest Ave., Shrewsbury, Memorial Day praise and worship at 10 a.m. May 26. For details, call 717-235-5151.

YORK COUNTY MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY, sponsored by the York County Department of Veteran Affairs and the York County Commissioners, will be 11 a.m. May 27 at Veterans Memorial Park in York (located next to York Catholic High School). Local military veterans will be recognized for their service. All military veterans, their friends, family and the public are invited. Springettsbury Township resident Richard Allan Witzke, a Vietnam War veteran, will be keynote speaker. He was a captain in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970. The public is encouraged to attend.

GLEN ROCK AMERICAN LEGION POST 403 will hold its Memorial Day service 11 a.m. May 27 at the church cemetery of Immanuel United Methodist Church, 1 New St., Glen Rock. Daryl A. Rinehart will be speaker. Following the program, the Auxiliary will serve refreshments at the American Legion Post located on Manchester Street. In the event of rain, the service will be held in the church.

NEW FREEEDOM VFW POST will sponsor a Memorial Day ceremony 2 p.m. May 27 at New Freedom Cemetery. The ceremony is open to the public. Light refreshments will follow the ceremony at the Post. The Treehouse Florist in New Freedom is one of 2,000 florists nationwide participating in the Memorial Day Flowers Program. There will be a stand at the New Freedom Cemetery to give out roses to visitors during the Memorial Day Ceremony. Each visitor will receive two roses, one to place on the headstone to honor someone who served and one to take home in remembrance.

Related posts

Smart: Green your Memorial Day weekend
FlipSide: Memorial Day events in York County and beyond
Twenty & Change: Changing Memorial Day weekend celebrations

We are at my house. The front porch rail planter box that looked so empty just a few weeks ago is almost overflowing.

As previously mentioned, I’m a big fan of onions. Chives are in the onion family, so by the law of deductive reasoning, I’m a big fan of chives as well. I love fresh herbs in general — so much so that I found a way to enjoy them year-round. But more on that after the recipe.

Lots o’ chives at my house! The flowers are edible, too, if you want to try them.

Harvesting chives: Chives are like grass. If you cut them, they will grow back. They sport pretty — and edible — purple flowers. Personally, I have grown and harvested chives for years, and however much I’ve cut, and however far down on the plant I’ve cut, they’ve always grown back. As perennials, even winter doesn’t kill them. Cut as much as you need at a time.

The thing about herbs that I want people to understand is that they are so much more than a garnish or throwaway item. They can make or break a dish. Think of dill pickles without dill. Imagine simmering a homemade tomato sauce without adding oregano, or thyme, or  …

I have to stop now. I’m getting upset.

But wait, one more! Imagine pesto without basil.

Hmm, I might be on to something here.

Chive Pesto-Stuffed 5-Minute Naan

Chive pesto (Pesto-making is an ordeal. Lots of herbs makes only a little pesto. This easy recipe is for just enough pesto to stuff a few pieces of naan. Feel free to make it in epic proportions.)

• Chives, LOTS of them (aim for a good 1 to 1 1/2 cups), diced small
• 2 cloves garlic (Or 12. I might use 12.), minced
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Puree. And try not to eat it all before the naan is ready to be pesto-ed.

5-Minute Naan (Endless thanks to fellow food blogger, co-worker and cube mate Bethany Fehlinger for introducing me to first this recipe, then its source, {never}homemaker, an amazing blog.)

• 1 cup flour (all-purpose, whole wheat, self-rising, doesn’t matter), extra for rolling
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 2/3 cup water

Whisk together dry ingredients, then add water and stir. When dough comes together, knead it with your hands, adding more flour a little at a time if it’s too sticky.  When you have a ball of dough, roll it out onto a floured surface. According to {never}homermaker, “Dough should be smooth and elastic.” Cut it into four balls and roll them as flat as you can get them.

My deviation from the original recipe: Cut each of the four flattened pieces in half. Spread chive pesto onto one half and top with the other half.

Heat olive oil in a skillet and fry stuffed naan a few minutes on each side until golden. Serve them with literally anything, though I myself plan to try the curried chickpea mash {never}homemaker used with her naan.

If you don’t want to stuff the naan, just roll your four original balls out flat and fry them, and simply spread the pesto on top.

Storage tip: This isn’t just any storage tip. This is my favorite storage tip, the one that makes me feel like Martha Stewart.

Are you ready?

If you can’t use them all while they’re fresh, dice up your leftover herbs and tightly pack them into mini ice cube trays. Run a few drops of water over each slot so that herbs are just covered, then freeze. The amount of water is so negligible that you can just throw fresh herb cubes into any dish without making it soggy. 

Fresh basil in a winter lasagna! Super Bowl Sunday guacamole with summer cilantro!

If this hasn’t saved your life, you don’t love food enough. And that’s chive-talk.

Where to shop for fresh herbs if you aren’t growing them: Horn Farm Center’s stand opens for the season this Saturday. The stand is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays at the farm, 4945 Horn Rd., Hellam Township. Show up early in the day to catch the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the farm’s new greenhouse at 10 a.m.

Clyde Hilker holds a strong salute in the heat during the Memorial Day Service at Veterans Memorial Park in York in 2012. Hilker, of Spring Grove, is a WWII vet who served in the Army and is retired from the Coast Guard. (YORK DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS – PAUL KUEHNEL)

How are you celebrating Memorial Day weekend?

Maybe you’re into backyard barbecues or beach trips. Maybe hiking and camping are your family’s go-to-activities.

No matter how you’re celebrating Memorial Day weekend, why not trying to make your celebrations more environmentally friendly?

Here are some ways you can do that:

Are you going to cook up a storm? Try to eat local and in season. Stacia Fleegal’s recent series, Reciplease!, offers many yummy recipes using local food. Also, Stacia offers tips on foraging, which would be a great weekend activity!

Are those garden weeds getting out of control? Maybe you didn’t even have time to start the yearly garden. Try these weeding tips from Green Moon Farm owner Emily Kelly.

Don’t fill the air with chemicals while trying to get the pests away. Try more natural methods for shooing the mosquitoes.

Head to the York Free Store on Saturday at the Friendship Meeting House, 135 W. Philadelphia St., York.

Heading out of York? Some green tips from last week’s festivals and concerts post can also be relevant for you, such as transportation, trash and reusable devices.

Are seasonal allergies getting you down? Try these homeopathic methods (but ask your doctor first.)

If you are spending time with your family and friends, try to unplug for the day. I know it is hard, as you want to take and post photos and videos. But give it a try. Pull out that old digital camera, or even film!

Go on a bike ride. 

Read about green living while relaxing in your yard/on the beach/etc.

How will you celebrate Memorial Day? What are your green tips? 

If I would have put all seven in the ground together, chances were great that they would choke each other out. With this tutorial I am minimizing loss and maximizing yield!

Look for multiple sprouts in your pot to maximize your investment.

This is how I separate them to maximize the yield:

Want a recipe to use a few leaves of basil? Check out my tutorial on canning bruschetta at howipinchapenny.com.

Related posts

Create a decorative planter with leftover tile and a bucket
Take your spring cleaning to-do list outdoors
The importance of buying plants made for containers
Opt for DIY planters this summer

My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe recently opened at 14 N. George St., York. Photo submitted by Alexandria Keener.

Do your feet need some attention before you reveal them in your summer sandals? No worries. My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe Consignment Store wants to help you out — for free.

For June’s First Friday festivities (Friday, June 7), Perfectly Posh will be soaking, scrubbing and exfoliating your feet with fizzies during a free pampering appointment at My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe.

You must schedule a time slot to get in and spaces are limited. To sign up, call 717-668-3020.

Photo courtesy of Strasburg Rail Road

Ride the rails this summer with Strasburg Rail Road’s new Summer Fun Pass.

Located about an hour away from York, Strasburg Rail Road is home to turn-of-the century steam locomotives, freight cars, dining cars, private cars and one of the largest fleets of historic wooden passenger cars in the world.

The Summer Fun Pass is available for $35 per person and will pay for itself in just three visits, according to a press release from the Lancaster County attraction.

The fun pass admission option also includes a 10 percent discount at the gift shops and access to members-only specials throughout the season.

The pass is valid May 25 through Sept. 2.

For more information on Strasburg Rail Road — including its upcoming Day Out With Thomas program — visit strasburgrailroad.com.

Taylor Swift accepts the award for top Billboard 200 album for “Red” at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 19, 2013 in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Winner: Taylor Swift won eight awards, including top artist and top Billboard 200 album for “Red.” She also looked great doing it. How glam was her long-sleeve blue Zuhair Murad dress? SO CUTE.

Emmy Rossum also put her best fashion forward in a long black gown with sheer polka-dot cut-outs. It was architectural, fun and sexy.

Then, singer-songwriter Nayer, showed up baring too much chest in an one-piece hounds-tooth hoodie? …with a dog? Awkward.

Emmy Rossum arrives at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 19, 2013 in Las Vegas. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

Nayer arrives at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 19, 2013 in Las Vegas. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

Lauren Kelly and Sophie Dekker model homemade avocado beauty masks at a recent sleepover.
(Photo courtesy of Joe Kelly)

Sleepovers are one of the best things about summer aside from catching fireflies, beach vacations and eating s’mores.

Spending quality time with family and friends — and creating lifetime memories — can’t be beat.

So this week I spoke to a variety of children and some of their parents to see what manners they expected during a sleepover.

Parents say

“I try and make sure … all of the kids sleeping over play well together, respect each other, (don’t) boss one another around. I’ve been lucky to have great kids here and they are (here) a lot!”

– Joe Kelly, Conawago Township

“Children who are guests in our home follow the rules of our house (and) respect one another.”

– Mary and Patrick Potter, York Township

Kids say

“Be respectful of the other parents’ rules and be sure to include all the other kids when doing activities, not to exclude others.”

– Lauren B. Kelly, age 11

“Monitor the amount of things you ask for, for example food. Sometimes things can get a little out of control. Be sure to clean up any mess you make.”

– Mickey Potter, age 12

“Be nice to one another. Say please and thank you. Always be polite.”

– Pastelle Pergament, age 10

Bathroom manners at a sleepover

Have your child bring everything that they would need: toothpaste, toothbrush, hair brush, etc.

If your child forgets something, make sure they ask their host for it, instead of rooting around drawers and cabinets on their own. The privacy of their host family is important.

If showering at the friend’s house during a sleepover, have your child pretend that there is a timer set and she has to get in and out quickly. Keep in mind there are other people waiting for the bathroom that need hot water, too. Have your child hang up her towel when finished.

After using the bathroom, remind your child to flush the toilet, rinse the sink after brushing teeth, wipe the counter with a wash cloth or tissue and remove any hair from drain before replacing shower curtain properly.

All toiletries should be returned to your child’s overnight bag to keep things clean, neat and organized.

Sleeping etiquette

Yes, kids are actually supposed to sleep at the sleepover.

Let your child know that when the host says it’s lights out that they should get their rest.

If your child is a night owl (like mine!), have them bring along a book and small flash light/book light to read quietly until they fall asleep. You or your child should inform the host of any bedtime reading rituals before the sleepover.

Smart tip

I love details but sometimes it is challenging to get information from my child so I need to be creative.

Purchase fabric markers, a pillow and plain pillow case for your child to take with her to all of the sleepovers she is invited to.

Then have her ask her friends to sign it. Now all you do is ask about each name and you’ll be in the know!

From left, Swiss chard, a tomato bush, two cherry tomato plants, a cucumber plant and the parsley. (iPhone photo by Sarah Chain)

This past Saturday, I planted my garden.

I pulled my six pots from the floor of my bedroom closet (apartment living = little storage), found my gardening trowel and somehow managed to lift the pre-purchased bag of organic soil down my apartment stairs and into the trunk of my car.

I stopped by Why Not Greenhouses in Dover (whose owners were very helping with my many questions), then filled in with a few things from Stauffer’s – six plants total.

I drove over to the YDR offices, unloaded my car and made a significant mess filling my pots and planting my plants. I finished just as a shower passed through.

Then I went home… and promptly forgot about my garden.

So when I remembered to check on my plants today around lunchtime, they looked a little thirsty. Pro tip No. 1: Water your plants. Often. Especially when they’re in containers.

But once I get into the swing of things (read: Remember to give my plants the basic necessities for survival), I’m hoping they’ll spring back to life.

Tomatoes are my mainstay this year with three plants, as I enjoyed those the most last summer — my first year of container gardening. I nixed the bell peppers, as I wasn’t thrilled by the return on investment. But I’m back at it with cucumbers, my sad and abysmal failure of 2012. I’m hoping in a larger pot, a cucumber plant will thrive.

My Swiss chard looked decidedly happier on Saturday, above, before I neglected to water it for three days. (iPhone photo by Sarah Chain)

My two new forays are parsley (everyone can grow herbs, right? Right?!) and the Swiss chard.

It’s the chard that’s worrying me. I’ve never grown greens. Are they supposed to stand up? Or fall over? Do they need staked? More water? To be sung a song?

I’m not sure, folks. But it looks like I’ll find out this summer.