I was a shy little girl......and a day dreamer. Happy in my own company.
I did not like crowds, and busy places. My idea of fun was running through the woods with my brother........or climbing a tree in the park.
We grow, we change.....we blossom.........
We choose our own path.....I have led a colourful life.........
Eric who is 97, wrote his memoirs at the age of 93. A record for his family. I am honoured, he has given me a copy.
I have always loved pen and ink. Many years ago I worked for the Territorial Army....an officer noticed my writing and each year I would complete Meritorious Service Certificates, adding the name and unit of the serving soldier. My love of writing continued, and I was priviledged to do some work for our local church.
I have started a book for the grandchildren. A book for them to keep. An insight of their grandmother's life, her thoughts, her dreams, her disappointments....the joys....the sadness......
I shall fill the book with pressed flowers......with little sketches......and doodles.
I shall fill the book with pressed flowers......with little sketches......and doodles.A project each winter when the days are cold and wet.
Note: I was a constant frustration to most of my teachers.......for one reason and one reason only, my writing would change every week. When I look at my school books now, I can understand why ...........a mish mash of writing styles.......doodles in the corners. Still now I can play to my hearts content.........
29 comments:
Cheryl, Your grandchildren will love having your thoughts, insights and wonderful memories to read. Your script is beautiful...Mine is all messy and half the time unreadable! It must be a universal trait of teachers...They want order and prefer left brained children to teach...We right brainers are too often seen as day dreamers and difficult. Thank goodness we had woods to run in, trees to climb and people who loved and understood us. gail
Your lucky Grands getting a special book written for them by their Grandmother. It will be a treasured heirloom no doubt. I bet your children will like it too. I am glad you gave us a little glimpse into your book. I have always wished for something like this from my Mother or Grandmother. It didn't ever happen. I hope you complete it.
Hi Gail....we shall have to start 'the right brainers club'
I still day dream now and I can see it in Poppi.....she drifts away, and I know exactly where she goes.......I expect you do to!
Lisa....I am fortunate to have been given some of my mothers diaries......they have shown me a very different woman, to the one I see. With time I will understand her even more, she has always been an enigma.......
I am determined to finish the book....but you never really know, do you?
That should be an interesting project. I hope it will give your grandchildren an interest in family history. Do write down the family tree as far back as you can, it will be a great help to future generations.
I was the same way with writing, always experimenting with different styles. Still do that from time to time;) It's harder to change your signature when you're older. Banks and things frown on it.
Marnie
Hi Marnie....my father has taken the family tree back four generations........we have learned a lot. We are also fortunate to have a lot of old photograps. These I treasure......
I never change my signature.....that is one thing that does stay the same......
I am similar to you Cheryl, my writing changes with my mood... It also changes drastically with the pen I use and I hate biro's with a passion... They ruin my writing, I always prefer to write with inkpens.
Such a lovely idea to create a book for your grandchildren!
Can be have an 'ambi' club too? :D I'm ambidextrous, yes my right is the most dominant... Comes in handy when painting and such, if my arm gets tired I just switch over...
I always stare out of a window, even now... if I'm in training I have to sit near the window so I can see out, my desk is also luckily near one, and I know if I wasn't I'd go crazy!
Dear Cheryl,
You are an artist. This is a lovely book. It will be a lifetime in the making.
Your legacy, your love, your gardens kept and shared in a most beautiful way. Such a treasure you are.
The Grandchildren and your children will cherish this work.
Adding the pressed flowers will be wonderful...
I am so honored to call you friend...
Stay Strong,
Sherry
Cheryl, Beckie and I have often commented when we've received a card from you--which we always share with each other--what beautiful handwriting you have. I'm not surprised that you were chosen to complete certificates; I'm sure the recipients appreciated the artistic touch. Compiling a book for your grandchildren is such a wonderful idea and something they will always treasure.
I wasn't a tree-climber as a child, but I was shy and always a daydreamer. The world needs more daydreamers!
What a wonderful thing to work on, and what a wonderful gift for your grandchildren.
Cheryl, I am thrilled that you are writing for your grands! But don't ever finish it. Juts keep adding as long as you can. And don't forget to add some of your wonderful photos.
I have always wanted to write-thought I would write a best selling novel. :) But the diaries I kept when my children were young were all I managed. (And of course blogging!)Some day I hope they read those and find comfort from them.
With handwriting as lovely as yours, it will be even more of a treat for your grands. Thank you for sharing this with us!
Dear Cheryl, your post today was lovely! Your photos beautiful as always. I love the thought of leaving a book for your grandchildren--a loving gift--a part of you to keep you alive not only your grands, but great grandchildren. A treasure for sure.
Hi LIz....I hate biro's with a passion....I am using an old fashioned dipper pen to write this book. Its hard work but very very rewarding...
Ambidextrous, how useful. Now that would be helpful writing this book.I do get some pain in my hands from gardening.
I am glad to hear you are another day dreamer.....
Your writing is beautiful Cheryl, both in content and appearance. Riley and Poppi will treasure your gift to them for sure. We are putting together a little book for Kyla with some old photographs and little bios of everybody. I think it's important that she knows where she came from.
I thought of you yesterday because we were told that a willow tree that runs along the side of the garden next to the wood has got to come down. I am devastated to be honest, even though I understand the reasons. It is growing at practically right angles towards to light that the trees in the wood are depriving it of. It could fall on the house, or the cars, and it is no longer safe for us to leave it as it is. But I cannot bear to be here when the tree surgeon comes - I knew you would understand that. I hope that all is well with you and Mr P and Mich and the treasures. Love to all xxxx
Cheryl what a lovely idea to start this book for your grandchildren. How happy they will be to read it all; especially written for them by a very special person in their lives.
Hello Cheryl, how are you? Such a nice thought to write memoir :-) I learnt something new today. Writing down something is a good gift for loved ones. TQ. Have a wonderful day!
I envy you, wish I could write.
This book you're keeping is a wonderful way to share your life for gererations to come.
You will always live on.
Hi Rose.......I agree Rose.....I truly believe all children should be allowed to daydream, if they so choose. We have to enter the real world soon enough.....
Thank you re handwriting....you are most kind.....
Dear Cheryl, every word at the beginning of your post could have been written by me with the exception of tree climbing, I was never brave enough for that! I don't think any of it has really changed for me except I walk more often than run ;) I too was, and still am, a daydreamer. I would start listening attentively to the teacher but before long my mind would be far away in another place, it still happens now, I can miss whole chunks of films and dramas on the tv...it can be a problem!
I am so intrigued by your phrase 'colourful life', not that I expect you to reveal it of course...;)
Your writing is beautiful and your project a lovely idea and one which I am sure your grandchildren will treasure in years to come.
Dear Beckie.....I doubt if it will ever be finished.....I do want it to be something special for the grandchildren.
Diaries are a wonderful gift to any child....they tell stories of everyday life at that time....a little bit of history.
Our blogs, I feel sure, will be a great insight of our journey towards older age. Our gardens a record of climate change. I was thinking the other day, if all the data from gardening blogs was processed, it would be a wonderful record of how weather patterns are changing......
Hi Dawny....a lovely gift for Kyla.....when we leave this world we take so much information with us. I believe it is important to tell them as much as we can. A book, for me, is the best way to do it.
I could not watch a beautiful tree being felled. Several years ago now, network rail felled seven old oaks at the back of our property. It broke my heart, it really did......
Being able to interchange my hands is definitely useful, especially when gardening because I can dig with either hand and to be honest I actually tend to lead with the left when using a trowell/hand fork.
It runs in the family, my mum and one of my brothers are the same...
I think daydreamer is my middle name, and possibly the reason very little gardening ever gets done :)
Hi Jan...I thought you would relate to the beginning of this post. I have a few scars on my legs from the tree climbing....
I appear not to be alone with the daydreaming....that is good to know. I can be out with family and go far away.....sometimes I worry people think that I am bored, it is not that, I am just one of lifes daydreamers......
A colourful life.......a life that has been truly lived Jan.....much too detailed to give a total explanation.....
What a lovely, peaceful blog you have.
cheryl,
i think this is such a great idea. i love that you are making these for your children and grands.
your doodling and handwriting is scrumptious. i loved being at my grandparents when i was young...about 8 acres of trees and pastures with cows and horses, dogs and chickens. i love it. it was my playground. i am so glad you had woods to play in as a child. it makes appreciate the outdoors so much more.
happy autumn.
your photos are so lovely.
What a wonderful gift for your grandchildren. And equally as wonderful are the memories you are giving them of days spent with you in the garden.
Cheryl,
Congruatulations upon writing a book for your grandchildren. They will love it and I'm so glad you are doing that for them. Your photos of the flowers are beautiful. Have a great weekend and thanks for visiting my blog.
Oh I absolutely LOVVVVE it Cheryl!
I have been gone for a while. No need to go into the story. But I am back...slowly...cautiously...
It helps to come here to see you again. I feel a breath of fresh air come into my lungs as I read your beautiful post & I see what you are creating now.
I have yet to post again. Maybe soon......
What a treasure you will leave for your grandchildren. Your writing flows beautifully! Mine is terrible. But maybe I could slow down and try to make the letters into art. Or maybe not.
Those first few lines could also describe me as a child. Tree climbing and all. I had to keep up with my brothers, after all. I loved to play in the woods, pick flowers, and be outside. I used to get real(not imagined) stomach-aches while sitting in the classroom and had to be sent home. I could never explain it to my parents, but I just felt "locked in".
This is a beautiful legacy you are leaving to your grands.
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