i had several ideas in mind for the prompt this week…i have so many old dishes that belonged to my grandmother. a cedar chest full of cherished keepsakes. little knick-knacks all around the house that remind me of my loved ones. but it just so happened that i needed to get into the closet in our guest bedroom, and it was there i saw my granny’s shadow box up on the shelf. and i knew that would make a perfect little setup.
my granny’s shadowbox is filled with all kinds of tiny treasures – salt & pepper shakers, little thimbles, miniature teacups. my granny was so sentimental…i’m sure these were all little trinkets that were either given to her or collected from her travels close to home.
on sunday, as i vacuumed out the dust and lint, and then wiped it down with furniture polish and a small paintbrush…i remembered exactly why i put granny’s shadowbox away to begin with. and don’t ask me how, but i even found little tufts of cat hair in some of the boxes.
pet hair…honestly…it’s the story of my life sometimes.
but at any rate, as i was taking out each piece and wiping it down, i was overcome with such a wave of nostalgia. i have so many memories of visiting my granny when i was a little girl. this little shadow box reminded me of all the times i would stand on a chair in front of the corner cabinet in her dining room, examining her vast collection of salt & pepper shakers.
i especially loved the ones that were shaped like ears of corn.
and then i thought about all the times i would go out back into her garden and pick a small bunch of zinnias. i’d bring them into to her so proud. granny would make such a fuss over them and then plop them into a glass or a jelly jar and put them in her kitchen window.
i loved my granny so much.
after i got the shadowbox all cleaned out, i went out in my own back yard and picked a few little zinnias and i put them into one of the miniature glass jars from the shadow box. and i don’t know…something about it felt so…..well, i’m not really sure what you’d call it…. but whatever it was, i felt so connected to her. and something inside felt very warm and fuzzy.
so now after having cleaned up granny’s shadow box, i have hung it back up on the wall in my office. it’s back there over my left hand shoulder as i type this. i like to think that granny is here with me.
and if she is, i hope these pictures make her as happy as they do me.
love, kelly
LOVELY post Kelly! Lovely images as well! I too loved the prompt for this week’s Be Still Fifty Two and had a nice trip down memory lane myself. You can check out my Be Still Fifty Two post here if you like: http://cherylmccainphotography.com/friday-finds-be-still-and-a-few-tips/
Beautiful!
Such endearing photographs. As a quilter and sewer, I hope my sons will one day treasure my thimble as you cherish the one worn by your grandmother. Your heartfelt memories made for beautiful art.
oh my… what a touching tribute kelly…. love all the different perspectives…. and tiny treasures… and your processing…fits the mood…so perfectly….
beautiful.. always… xo
Kim
This is such beautiful and amazing post. Glorious photos, beautiful story … I’m going back to read it again – beautifully done.
Lovely tribute to your grandmother.
Such a sweet post. You are lucky to have the mementos. Great photos also, and especially like the little vase with the Zinnia. 🙂
Such a sweet post. You are lucky to have the mementos.
Beautiful tribute to your Granny. I love shadow boxes with miniatures. The collection tells such a story about the collector. I have one and I do know that time consuming they are to dust!
So beautiful, Kelly. Such love and gratitude. What a blessing to read this and see this.
Oh, this is so beautiful – the images, your writing, and that you are sharing this with us. Such a blessing. You are so lucky to have her things!
Absolutely lovely!
The best part of this post is reading about your memories of your granny, and the sweet things you did as a child! This is just beautiful Kelly!! Pure, and sweet!
How perfectly lovely ! I love that you have put the shadow box up on the wall, and your photos are really touching 🙂
Gee whizzzzzzzzzzz — totally goodness… memories keep them near always – indeed!
Your texture Tuesday image is grand.. liking it alot.
Hugs
So very precious, thoughts, photos and all…
Beautiful Sis, just beautiful. I’m glad you got the shadow box out and have hung it your office. I loved it when I had it. Treasure it always.
Beautifully done. Wonderful love.