Sunday 6 November 2011

Sian's Storytelling Sunday: Grandma's Treasure

Hello, hello.

You might have noticed that I like to tell a tale or two here, so I'm a bit surprised I've never joined in with Sian's 'Storytelling Sunday' which she's been hosting all year at From High in the Sky.  So let me make up for that straight away...

'Grandma's Treasure'

This glamorous lady graced my Grandma's shelves for as long as I could remember. She, like Grandma, was just always there.

A few years ago, while visiting Grandma I mentioned to my Mam how much I liked the [I don't know exactly what to call it ... is it a mug? A cup? A glamorous Toby Jug?] ... so let's call it the pretty ornament! Whatever she is, I liked her ...

Later on Mam joked to Grandma: "Julie's putting her name on that ... for when you've gone". [Don't worry ... that was Grandma's sense of humour too!] and to this day I remember vividly what happened next.

A look of surprise but also pleasure spread across her fac as she weighed up the situation. You see, she didn't own many of those things that some families put value on and hand down through genrations [no house, no diamond rings, no family silver] and I think she was taken aback at hearing that I wanted something of hers. 

"Do you really want it?" she asked and when I nodded 'Yes'  she replied without skipping a beat:

"Then take it now".
"If you want it, take it now" she insisted.

Which is how Grandma's treasure became mine.

And while I no longer get to see Grandma's face I do get see this one, every single day:

In fact, as it sits on the chest of drawers at the bottom of my bed, it's one of the first and last faces I see each day.

Better still,  Grandma had a habit for storing things in vases and jars and now I seem to have taken up that mantle, as carrying on in that tradition, I now use my heirloom pretty-lady-jug to store my earrings in! 

I think Grandma would be happy to know that, quite apart from a much-loved ornament, I've inherited aspects of her character too.
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Thanks for listening to my story, if you're in the mood for more, drop in on Sian to see who else has left a link to theirs.

Julie x

21 comments:

  1. How perfect that you get to see her just before you go to sleep. She seems to have her lips pursed, exactly as if she is about to give you a kiss good night.

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  2. What a lovely story Julie and what a lovely keepsake

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  3. Great story Julie, I too don't seem to have inherited and diamonds, but the treasures I have from my Granny are worth more :)

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  4. What a lovely story, and a lovely LO. Sounds a bit like my family, we have things "with our names on"

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  5. A lovely story and I like to fact that your Grandma got to pass it on when she was alive so she knew someone would love it as much as you! It also conjures up memories of my granny and the treasures around her house some of which did end up with us.

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  6. What a lovely story - and a beautiful page. I love that you've mixed white and cream. Definitely a rule that can be broken with style.

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  7. I love the fact that your Grandma was able to give it to you herself and knew that you would treasure it as much she did. Your layout is a lovely tribute, a perfect mix of colour and the square photos look great too.

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  8. Great post, FANTASTIC page and what a wonderful story to capture on paper. Love your design- it's absolutely stunning! Look at the color and painting! Off to write up my own story to share along in Sian's blog. Thanks for reminding me. :)

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  9. what a fun treasure, thanks for sharing

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  10. What a beautiful story! I am wishing we had told mom what we loved in her "collections" before she began to lose her memory so she could have enjoyed knowing who would take care of her lovely things.

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  11. I LOVED reading your story and your page is perfect for the subject all in its feminine and vintage look.

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  12. Cute story. Grandma's houses are always a treasure trove when your a kid - even if all their stuff is worthless to the world it means something to you cos of the memoies attached. Great delicate layout too.

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  13. I love your ethereal layout - and the cup is lovely. It's often the simple little thigs that hold the most memories

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  14. A lovely reminder of your Grandma xx gorgeous layout Julie, I think your Gran would have loved to see the layout you created about her too.

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  15. Julie, what can I say? It's an absolute pleasure to have you join us today :) Thank you for sharing such a lovely story and creating such a beautiful page to go with it. I love it! And of cousre all the best stories spark off another one. Or at least another memory - and you have taken me back to the collection of cups and saucers my Grandma kept on a shelf in her scullery. She only had one of each pattern, but we used to think they were so pretty.

    Again, it's a pleasure!

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  16. Great tale, well told Julie - how wonderful that you treasure one of your Grandma's treasures and how clever of her to make sure it would be so.

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  17. What a lovely story, and how lovely that your Grandma got to see you enjoy her treasure.
    I'm sure she would love to see how much pleasure you get from seeing it every day.

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  18. that is a beautiful piece of treasure from your gramdmother. I enjoyed reading your story :)

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  19. I am such a sentimental person, I love to hear stories like this one you have told today Julie - treasure indeed!

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  20. There's nothing like a lovely Grandma and to have something of her's is so precious, it's priceless! That you now find yourself with some of her traits is the best gift she could give to you. Wonderful story, thankyou. Irene

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  21. How lovely - both the earring-holder, your Grandma, you and your telling of the story. Having Grandma status myself, I can see where she was coming from ... the gift of it now gives the recipient more years of pleasure, and gives the giver the pleasure of knowing it is being treasured while still alive to enjoy the knowledge. You've pointed me to a great and useful lesson, Julie!

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