Tussie Mussie is a posie arranged with herbs and flowers from one’s home grown garden. They originated in the Victorian era and were given as a sign of love.
*DOODY’S TUSSIE MUSSIE is a painting representing my time of healing after my mother unexpectedly passed away 19 years ago. Doody is my treasured mother in-law, an avid gardener, who’s always arranging posies from her beautiful rambling country garden.
Two weeks never went by with out Doody dropping around a Tussie Mussie, with a pot of food and a hug. Often I’d arrive home to a Tussie Mussie left at the door, no note or card, I knew who they were from. Grieving for my mother was a roller coaster of emotions, lasting years! Many low days of saddness. This is when I started to paint, which helped me understand and sit with my grief. It gave me a sense of control, gentle music playing in the background and always the sweet aroma from Doodys Tussie Mussie near my easel.
Healing from the lose of my mum was a journey of learning, it’s made me a better person, appreciating the simplest things. I still receive Doodys Tussie Mussies today. They are a reminder of what I went through and always remind me of my beautiful mother!