Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Richer than I....

My brothers and I were truly fortunate to have had a mother who read to us. Actually not only did she read to us but she loved to recite poetry to us. To this day all three of my brothers and I can spout lines and whole verses should the opportunity or need arise.

This stitching piece was in a magazine from the 90s and every time I was going through the magazines I would come upon it and pull it out to stitch someday...then a few months later it would go back in the file unstitched till the next time I found it. This time I followed through and will make it into a flatfold to give to one of my relatives for Christmas....or perhaps I'll just keep it on my mantle as a nice memory of my Mom.

Many of the poems she read to us or just plain recited from memory came from the old red Ontario readers (Primer through fifth book) that she taught out of in the 30s and 40s. I have her original set of books and it is so interesting to see ...things like copyright 1923...or Price 9 cents on the inside title page. It is also interesting to see the level of reading that was in those primary grade readers...much higher level, I suspect than is in today's grade one or two readers.

If I ever need all the words to The Blind Men and the Elephant, or The Gingham dog and the calico cat (The duel) , or My shadow, or The Day in Done... I know where to find them.


Edited to add.... if any of you are coming to the retreat on Saturday, I will be setting up my display racks in the garage, with the freshly painted floor (thanks Dan) so we can have a gallery of finished works. There will be room for framed and unframed pieces...and yes someone will take pictures so all of you who cannot join us will be able to marvel at all the beautiful work which will be accumulated in one place this weekend.

12 comments:

Dani - tkdchick said...

It looks great Ann!

Thanks so much for letting me visit with you and Dan last week! I really appreciate it!

See you on Satruday!

Anonymous said...

Looks good Ann.
Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday.

Carolien said...

What a lovely story about your your mother and her poems, she must have been a great woman! I love the stitchwork very much as well!

About the nuns, Ann: seeing a young congregation of nuns/monks is something you can see in Lourdes. In Holland it's the same as in Canada: few vocations, lots of cloisters have been closed. In Amersfoort we have a Dominican cloister transformed into a restaurant and business center. I was there once for a dinner. I found it difficult to be there, can you understand?

Thanks for your sweet comments & hugs, Carolien

Shebafudge said...

What a lovely story and a beautiful design. Congrats on such a lovely design and I will look forward to seeing how you finish it off.

Karol said...

What a beautiful memory and piece.
Thanks for sharing.

Lilang said...

Hi!
Your works are beautiful.
Very much likes Pretty Pumpkins and CDC
Lilang from Hungary

Beatrice said...

What a lovely tribute to your Mom. Now I understand what you were saying about putting a verse on a stitched piece...you have them all in your head.
You do tell a good story!
See you Saturday!

Kathy A. said...

Love that piece Ann and the story that goes with it makes it that much more special. Have a great time this weekend and sell lots. I will miss you all.

Hazel said...

Have a wonderful retreat! I have been reading all aboput it in Dani's blog. Sounds like so much fun. Wish I lived nearby. xx

Sharon said...

Beautiful piece! You should keep it as a lovely memory of your Mom.

Lynn said...

I am so sorry that I had to miss your retreat. Can't wait to see all the pics though.

What a great remembrance of your Mom in that piece! I think I'd be tempted to hang onto that one.

Erin said...

I love that piece, Ann. I have a pattern of that same verse by Cross-Eyed Cricket, and I want to stitch it up for my mother someday soon. She read to me all the time....my favorites were fairy tales, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Frances Hodgson Burnett....