Saturday, March 16, 2013

More Treasures

I hope you are not bored with the Treasures I have shown you because I have a few more to share.  I love old things, and I love them even more if they are from my family.  I think I feel more comfortable with lovely, older things surrounding me.  Yes I love the comforts of home, I mean I don't want to be doing my laundry on a washboard or anything, but older things just seem to speak to me.  Hang with me a bit there are quite a few pictures here.


This is Dinah, she is my prized possession.  She was my Grandmother's sister's doll.  Rhoda was her youngest sister, she died of the flu at the age of 16.


 Sorry for my camera reflection in this photo.  I have written about Rhoda and this doll a few years ago so I won't go into too much detail here.  Dinah's clothes were lovingly made by my Grandmother, she even has pantaloons.


 My Grandmother grew up in a farmhouse in Orillia, Canada.  They were not well off at all so purchasing this doll must have been quite an expense for the family.  Did you notice that Dinah's feet are on backwards?  My guess is they bought her for less money because she was not perfect.  The fact that my Grandmother made her clothes also makes me think she didn't come with any.  She is a beauty and I cherish her.


This was my Great Grandmother's chocolate service.  It is a gorgeous, delicate green and this is a picture of my Great Grandmother.


Here are two of the five cups and in the background is a picture of Rhoda.  She was so beautiful.  It is so sad her life was cut short.  As I stated in my last post my Grandmother came home from nursing school to take care of her sick family.  She lost her oldest and youngest sisters within ten days.


These books are a combination of my Grandmother's, which is the blue one in the background, and my Father's. It is fun to imagine them learning to read with these books.


This compass was my Grandfather's, my Father's Father.


These red leather shoes are on loan to me.  They were my brother's.  I have very little of my brother's things.  He died 21 years ago of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.  He was 17 years older than me.  I still miss him.  These will go to my niece (his only daughter), when she is ready for them.  She likes that I am keeping them safe for her, and I love having them.  The paper weight belonged to Arthur Hill, my Grandfather.


This is my Father's violin, he played as a child.  My Grandfather Arthur's tools and my Grandmother's dice.  These are all from my Father's side of the family.


 This little rocking chair was in the farmhouse where my Grandmother grew up.  I remember it in her house, and we had it in our joint bedroom growing up.  My Mother's Shirley Temple doll used to sit on it.  Probably not the best idea for Shirley to be left out in the open all those years.  My sister Claudia has Shirley now and I do not think she is in the best condition.  And this sewing cupboard was my Grandmother's.  It still has spools of thread, buttons and needles in it that were hers.


These are my Father's Father (Arthur again), wooden golf clubs.  He made them, and he taught my Father how to play golf with them.  My Father was quite the golfer when he was young.  

Hope you don't mind me feeling all nostalgic and all.  Mr. 19 year old returned to school today from his Spring Break, he was home a whole week.  Maybe I am feeling sad because he left, or maybe I feel like I need to reconnect with my family of old.  Whatever the reason, I hope you do not mind me sharing.

27 comments:

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

I love it when you share with us! Keep'em coming. :)

I love the dolls eyes. So sweet.

Such a sad story about the loss of the sister's.

Sending hugs and blessings your way dear friend.

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Hi Meredith, I loved seeing these photos and hearing the history. It is all so interesting and part of our past. It really makes you think of how far we have come, for better or worse?!?! Love the doll story, I bet you are right about the cost being less due to the feet and the lack of clothing. I actually remember my parents getting me a nicer doll then normal due to the fact that the dolls hand was not molded well. It looked like she had chicken poxes, which was what I had!!! Kind of funny and fun looking back.
Thanks for sharing my friend, xoRobin

Unknown said...

I love these posts! But then I love things from the past. I don't have many things from my family. I should photograph them some day. You have some beautiful things and I am glad that you posted about them. You are lucky to have them and to know the history...so cool!

Betsy said...

Oh Meredith you don't bore me at all. I LOVE old things and wish I had things from my grandparents. Unfortunately, I don't have much at all except memories from my Dad's family. My mothers parents were gone before I was born.
Thank you for sharing with us,
Blessings,
Betsy

Anonymous said...

My step-mother-in-law had a doll just like Dinah. Her doll was named Emma and she had her own chair and a little wicker pram to ride in.

My sister has a set of golf clubs just like yours. She has the clubs hanging on the wall in their family room. Along with those she has several coal mining and railroad lanterns that belonged to my grandfather's brothers and cousins.

I got the old rocker. It's really NOT that old in terms of antiques -- it's from the 60's, but I just love it. It's a Kennedy rocker that was so popular those years when we all thought Camelot would reign forever.

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Treasures indeed. Loved seeing and reading about your family treasures.
Joy

Petunia Pill said...

As a rule, we are a very throw away society. Sometimes I wonder which of my current treasures (from my lifetime), if any, will survive. We give things to charity and toss things out, willy nilly...it will be a wonder if things survive. As the only child of an only child, I have many of the prized family treasures that have been passed down from generations dating back to the early 1800s. I feel so blessed to have them. I loved looking at your treasures in this post. That doll is precious! And I love the clothes! You have an amazingly varied collection of goodies...ifmthey could all talk, the stories they could tell! Hugs, Annette

JCDiTaranto said...

You have some great treasures, and it's wonderful that each piece has a story behind it. Loved seeing it all!

Lillie and Moss said...

I love hearing about stories from your past and your family. Love the fact you are keeping your brothers shoes for his daughter....I know that is special to her. LOVE your grandmother chocolate service teacups....they are so pretty!
Wonderful treasures indeed!

Hugs, Shari

Teresa Kasner said...

Dear Meredith - we love anything you want to share with us - because we get to know you better and that's what friendship is all about. I love all your things, you're lucky to have so many. I have collected several family things as I found several wonderful things in my grandparents farmhouse before it was bulldozed away to make way for more farmland. I have their Hoosier cabinet and 5 legged dining table. Treasures, indeed!
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Gerda said...

It's nice to see the things which are dear to your heart, memories for you. Love to read he stories. Thanks, groetjes, Gerda

Kris said...

You are so lucky to have those treasures! I also have many family treasures in my house. I am the sentimental one here. I love to have family things! Such history!!
Hugs,
Kris

Babajeza said...

These are all nice things. I wonder what I will get from my parents house one day ....

Have a nice and comfy weekend. Hugs to you. Regula

Pradeepa said...

I love your posts Meredith. I love your great treasures. You are really very lucky.

Elisabeth said...

Another beautiful post here Meredith. It's so wonderful to look at these treasures. Thank you for sharing! Elisabeth x

gaia said...

This is such an interesting post! thank you for sharing! Hugs,Gaia.

Mrs. Micawber said...

Oh Meredith, these are wonderful. Thank you so much for letting us into your lovely family heritage....

Those golf clubs and the doll clothes are especially precious as being the handiwork of your dear family members.

I love the sewing box too - I have some old wooden spools of thread that belonged to my mom and I love them. I can just imagine the pretty little bits and bobs you must have in that box.

And that chocolate service! So beautiful. :)

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

I think it is absolutely fantastic that you have all of these family treasures. Most people would just get rid of them or sell them to make money but the fact that you hold on to them and cherish them says a lot. How interesting that the legs are switched around on that doll. So sad about your mom's sisters. And your brother's untimely passing. Big hugs to you, Tammy P.S. I'll cook for anyone who will do the cleaning. :)

20 North Ora said...

I just figured out you are Claudia's sister. So nice to meet you. Love all of your vintage heirlooms! Aren't family treasures special?

Judy

cockney blonde said...

I am living your visual trip back in time. Thanks for sharing, x

Liz said...

Wow...I've been away too long and missed so much. I loved reading about your family and seeing all of the treasures. Things from the past are so interesting and neat.

The beach is so nice, you reminded me how much I want to go. Does it ever get old? I always wonder about how people feel that live close to the beach.

I also love your new space. I'm sure you'll be super-productive...it's so nice and neat.

I wish I hadn't stayed away so long, I really did miss so much,
Much love,
Liz

kathy b said...

I am really enjoying seeing your family HISTORY. Fascinating MEre....Love the golf clubs....and that he MADE them

Rose Red said...

So many wonderful family treasures. I especially love the doll and the sewing cabinet, how wonderful.

Gracie Saylor said...

Thanks for making time to share more of your story with us, Meredith. Human experience...varied, yet common...a treasury of times...and the treasures that trigger memories of those times....

My dad's first name was Arthur...
and he played golf :-)
I loved seeing your Arthur's handmade clubs!

And time with loved ones...loved sons...treasure and treasured!

Love with hugs from Gracie

Pooch said...

Enjoying your lovely treasures and your strong sense of family. The doll caught my attention since I'm a doll lover. That one is a gem for you to have with all the personal significance and history. So precious.

:)

EMMA said...

Really enjoyed seeing all these wonderful things and reading about their history.
Years ago my grandmother gave me a tea-set, which she inherited from her grandmother. I feel very special to have been given it as she had 12 children and lots of grandchildren. We were also gifted some very old wood from my husbands grandfather to use for the chalet we were building, I know it's only wood but it's still very special to us.

Between Me and You said...

Wow, what a treasure-filled post! They are all wonderful but those handmade golf clubs must be very rare indeed. Probably worth quite a bit, especially to a golf fanatic but of course, you can't put a price on a little piece of family history - worth a lot more in memories. Good for you, Mer, for keeping them all safe and sound.