Tuesday 5 August 2008

Nostalgia and wild flowers.....

It is raining today and chilly. I have been cleaning out some of the chests in the bedroom and decided I would complete the task this afternoon......while clearing bits and pieces I stumbled across my gt. grandmothers poetry book.........and a book of paintings that was my grandmothers............I started to drift back into childhood days and could see my gt. grandmother quite clearly. She lived with nannie and gramps during her last few years. She would walk the cottage garden smelling the roses and other scented plants. She was very much the lady.....in fact Dad tells me that in the local village they called her 'the duchess' because of her genteel ways and good manners...... I found myself smiling at sweet memories.....
This is one of my favourite paintings in my grandmothers book ( 80 years old)........it was done by a member of the family. I never knew my grandmother, she died when Dad was four.....Gramps remarried..........

I think there is an artistic streak in our family........I think mine takes shape in my handwriting.....I still write with ink......I believe it is a dying art, to write properly.......but recently I have felt a rapport with my camera and I am going to take my photography more seriously........I hope over the next year you will begin to see changes in the way I look at things....I hope you will guide me with your comments and critism is very welcome, it is another way of learning......but for now I leave you with one of the poems from Gt Grandma's poetry book.......it is called EVENING and is by Bee McCullen......I have uploaded some wildflowers....I took these photographs today in the garden......My Gt Grandmother loved wildflowers, so this in memory of her......


The songs of the birds have ended,
The tasks of the day are done,
And into the cottage windows
The lights come one by one;
The hills are folded in darkness
That burnt with the noonday heat,



The air is filled with the perfume
Of jasmine and meadow-sweet.
The white moth stirs in the grasses,
The screech-owl calls from the hill,
Then peace descends on the village,
And even the trees are still;

And nature and man have entered

The calm that follows the day,

While night with her cool soft fingers

Is smoothing life's cares away................






36 comments:

Goosey said...

That book is lovely, the pictures and writing so even and beautiful, I agree that writing is a dying art since the age of the PC. My own children don't write much at all now.

Cheryl said...

Hi Goosey....the pc has been advantageous in many ways......but I feel we have also lost a lot because of it....

Q said...

Dear Cheryl,
Your Great Grandmother was an artist and a refined lady. The poem is lovely. You also are an artist. I write in my journal every day.
I am excited about your photography. I have enjoyed teaching the camera to see what I see.
With your fantastic gardens and your eye for beauty you will always have fantastic pictures.
Sherry

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I love this poem Cheryl. What a treasure to have your Ggmothers journals and paintings.

I will look forward to more photos. You do such a good job now that I can't imagine better images from you.

Jules and Ken said...

My first vist to your site. So interesting to see the different birds you have and the pretty butterflies. I have tried to do some italic writing but don't have the patience. I'll will be visiting you again, keep those beautiful garden pics coming.
Jules

beckie said...

Cheryl, what a lovely find. It is so special to have something like the book and the paintings. And you are artistic(I've told you!). The poem is lovely as are the pictures of the flowers to go with it. My mother would have loved you. She was a letter writer and after 20 years, people still comment to me how much they enjoyed her letters. I did not inherit that trait.:(

Naturegirl said...

Cheryl your great grandma's spirit lives in you! A beautiful tribute post and wonderful images!Keep doing what you do well. hugs NG xo

Cheryl said...

Dear Sherry....you are my inspiration with regard to the photography.....you have taught me to see things with a different eye, I am grateful to you and look forward to your comments as time progresses.....
Thank you for your lovely comments.....

Cheryl said...

Hi Lisa....I am glad you liked the poem....I posted that with you and Rose in mind....
Thank you for comments re photography, you are very kind.....

Cheryl said...

Thank you Jules for dropping by and the positive comments.....very kind....

Steve said...

A beautiful post Cheryl....I think you have a good eye as a photographer with some interesting compositions. Keep up the great work!

Cheryl said...

My dear Beckie.....I am so surprised you do not have your mothers trait......I am always so eager to read your comments....you have such a wonderful way about you....
Someone recently said to me,,,'who would you like to have sitting around your table to have coffee and a chat.' You instantly came to mind....I have so much I would like to talk to you about.

Yes you have always told me that I am artistic......thank you......

Cheryl said...

Thank you naturegirl, how lovely....

Leanne said...

morning Cheryl. what a lovely post, that book is such treasure, you must be so thrilled to own it. I often see old books like that on bootfairs, etc, and I always buy them, i find it so sad that things like that are not valued by later family members and treasured.

I agree wholeheartedly about the lost art of writing. young people these days may be able to type quickly and accurately, but they do not have good handwriting, or accurate spelling thanks to spellcheckers taking away the need to learn. You know I am very old fashioned in many of my preferences and in the ways I choose to live my life. so you wont be surprised to know that I write with the most beautiful fountain pen...and gosh, real ink!!

(and going back to your old book, one of the delights of finding old books in charity shops etc is that they are often inscribed with the most beautiful flowing handwriting)

Leanne x

Cheryl said...

Thank you Steve praise indeed...I am determined to improve....

Cheryl said...

Hi Leanne.....family treasures are priceless to me....I would never part with them....

I to have seen books in charity shops and feel sad they have lost their family connection.....still I am sure you are like me, if you find something you treasure it forever.....

My son bought me a womderful fountain pen.....It is beautiful to use and I think of him each time I use it......he travels with his job, so it means a great deal to me.....

I to am told fashioned, and love the way I am.....as I have said to you so many times, I was born in the wrong time......

Take care......xx

beckie said...

Cheryl, your comment on my post was so sweet. Thank you. I have often thought how wonderful if we could visit. I am hoping we can one day. Rose and I have talked of maybe making the trip in a couple of years. (if you thought you could put up with us for a few days!)

Anonymous said...

How `Beautiful` Cheryl..I must agree the creative side must run in your family:)
The picture of the rose is..`divine`TFS!!!and your handwriting is` gorgeous`.....
Have a lovely Day....remembering such beautiful things:)X
What a blessing:)xxx

Libbys Blog said...

How lucky you are to have some family history like that!! My nana threw everything out and once she died her son threw the rest away!!!
Good luck with the phtography!

Meems said...

Very beautiful poetry that went so well with all your beautiful flowers. Your writing is stunning... I so wish we weren't losing some of those valuable arts.
I can see where you get your reverence for wildlife and all things growing. It's so nice to connect back with a family member to identify a piece of ourselves. What a precious gift for you to have your granmother's journal and painting.
Meems @Hoe&Shovel

Cheryl said...

Dear Beckie....it would be wonderful if we could meet one day....how strange, I have said to Mr.P how about going to America again and popping to see Beckie and Rose.....

Of course I would be glad to show you around Kent....there are some wonderful things to see.....

Cheryl said...

Thanks Terrie so much....

Cheryl said...

How sad Libby.....I love family history...I think it often explains a lot about ourselves, don't you?

Cheryl said...

Dear Meems.....I treasure the memories and the keepsakes....thank you for your kind words....

Q said...

Dear Cheryl,
If ever I can help with a photo question let me know. I know a little bit and am always happy to share.
You have the eye of an artist so now it is getting the equipment to do what we want! Sometimes it is only the need for more zooming power. LOL!
Sherry

Wendy said...

Ohhh that is absolutely beautiful! I have goosebumps as I read your great-grandmother's poem. She must have been a kind, sweet soul.....and I think Naturegirl is right - her spirit lives in you.

Sometimes rainy days take us away to another time and we get lost in nostalgia and memories. I had one of those days today - a "cocoon day", it felt like to me.

Mary said...

Cheryl, I don't think you need to change anything. I, for one, love the way your reflect on human emotion and the way you admire your great grandmother. You are poetic whether you know it or not.

So, keep doing what you do so well. I love it here. Just my opinion.

By the way, the way your described the cool, rainy day makes me green with envy. I could feel the oool, damp breezes through the house. But it's 100 and hot and dry.

Lucky you :o)

Mary

Rose said...

Hi, Cheryl. I never knew either of my great-grandmothers, so you are very fortunate to remember yours. How wonderful that you have this book of poetry to remember her by. A very touching poem, perfect for the photos.
Cheryl, I can't and won't give you any constructive criticism on your photography...these photos look perfect to me! In the few months that I've been reading your blog, it seems your pictures just get better and better. Are you using the same camera as a few months ago? If so, then it's definitely your artistic eye that is improving!

Rose said...

Me again...I forgot to comment on your letter writing. I am so happy you continue to write letters; you are so right that it is a dying art. I'm afraid I'm so used to typing on the computer that I seldom write handwritten letters anymore.
And handwriting! I don't think students learn how to write cursive anymore! I had an older teacher in my early elementary years who taught us the "Palmer Method" for writing, which could produce beautiful handwriting. I'm usually in too much of a hurry to write as well as I could, but my students often commented on my handwriting when I took my time writing on the chalkboard.
I'm afraid handwriting is becoming a lost art.

And all the texting and IMing now is causing kids to write "u r" and all sorts of abbreviations.

Sorry to ramble so...you've obviously struck a nerve with me, Cheryl:)

Cheryl said...

Thank you Sherry....that is so kind......I understand what you are telling me re zooming power....lots to think about....

Cheryl said...

Hi Wendy.....it was a good afternoon looking at old books from family members.....ithold them close and I like that....

Cheryl said...

Thank you Mary for your comments....you know I respect them....

If I could send you cool breezes believe me I would......

Cheryl said...

Hi Rose.....still the same old camera....so thank you for the compliment....

Handwriting....I feel exactly the same....another dying art....my grandfather had the most beautiful handwriting. In my younger days I used to do some work for the territorial army.....filling the certificates in for presentation for the troops.....

Stopped doing it around ten years ago due to government spending cuts....

Ruth said...

What a lovely, peaceful poem. I love going through my grandmother's old books and journals and would find it difficult to part with them. Writing is done less, but the important thing is that we continue to communicate, even if it is on a PC.

Dawny P said...

Hi Cheryl. I've had a few problems with that naughty Mr Blogger for a day or so - he wouldn't let me leave any comments. But I hoep you are well xx

These are not only beautiful images but beautiful words as well. I do agree that writing is sort of lost on the younger ones (ooh don't I sound old saying that). And the art of handwriting is indeed an art. I so admire people with beautiful writing - mine is just awful, especially if I rush anything. Computers, as useful as they are, have a fair bit to answer for. I notice that my spelling, which was excellent at one time, has deteriorated and I blame it to an extent of spell checkers and the like. Makes you a bit lazy!!

I was at the zoo yesterday with a friend who is a fabulous photographer and I was telling her all about you and your blog so she might just pop over. Just off to look at the next post now .... back in a sec :)

Cheryl said...

Hi Dawny....I have had trouble with blogger to, I coulc not leave comments either...so frustrating....

Computers are great, but you are right they have a lot of answer to....

Thank you for the mention, re your friend....