"Wisconsin Memories" Book...

I finished my memory book last night. I'm calling it "Wisconsin Memories", 

and I've filled it with items that come to mind whenever I think of Wisconsin.

I didn't do anything to change the layout of my front cover, except to add the silver

 owl bead. I threaded my seam binding behind it after I finished making the bow.

Why the owl? One day, I looked out the window of our home to see a Great 

Horned Owl sitting in the old oak tree on our hillside. He was looking right back at

me! We watched each other for a long time that day. He belonged on the front cover,

 right along with the acorn. They represent the woods and wildlife on our property.

The first set of inside pages only changed a little. I added our favorite photo of me

with Bannor to the page. I printed it on linen fabric and then affixed it to the lace.

This was taken by a staff photographer for the Department of Natural Resources. 

I was featured in an issue of the DNR magazine celebrating the 25th Anniversary 

of Wisconsin's Hunter Education program because I was  the administrator for 

the Hunter Education program in Fond du Lac, WI and I was the first only female 

to hold one of the top three positions for the state-legislated Wisconsin Conservation 

Congress in their now-eighty year history. I was State Secretary for the organization.

I served as the administrator for the Hunter Ed program, and as WCC Secretary

for ten years during the 1990's. The photographer captured my reaction as Bannor

surprised me with a kiss, and of the thirty or so images he took, this is the one they

used. It's still my favorite picture of me with my boy, so I had to add it to my book.

The left side page represents Mom Grace. She taught me to crochet my first granny

square, so I made this one using #12 pearl cottons. She also loves daisies, so I stitched

a bouquet for her. The heart is Swarovski crystal. That sweetheart ribbon at the top

was so very appropriate for her page...and it was a recent gift from my generous friend,

Sherry of Createology blog. She sent a whole card-full, and it came just in time to use.

Of course, the right side also represents our high ground woods at Hawk Hill. There

were many squirrels that lived there. This squirrel is a design from The Hearts Content.

I stitched him using one thread of floss over one thread of linen. Michelle Palmer

created the wooden button with one of her ink drawing of an acorn. I love her work!

The center of my book is very special to me. First, the heron (a pendant) and 

the feather remind me of the birds that were always visible around Handsome's

and my home - lovingly called Hawk Hill. The feather represents the resident

hawks that inspired the name for our home. I also sewed a whole page of silver-

lined beads beneath my "North Star" on the right. They stand for all the blinking

fireflies that used to fill our view on hot, summer nights in July and August.

The left side page is a tribute to my paternal grandfather. Printed on fabric is 

an image of my grandfather's pride and joy...his mill house in White Creek, WI. 

He personally built a home that overlooked the creek and mill, and lived he there 

for a number of years. I worked about a half hour away and visited him often

when he lived there. It makes me happy just thinking of him and his bright smile.

Below the mill house, I stitched ruched seam binding (the same used to tie the

book closed). I also added a charm of a frog on a lily pad and three abalone discs.

They added sparkle, and made me think of the water swirling below the dam.

I have multiple collections of British cigarette cards, so I made a pocket to hold

a few of the cards representing some of my favorite Wisconsin flowers - geraniums,

chicory and wild roses. I just liked the basket of blueberries button, so there it is!

Anyone who knows me well, knows I love barns. I've pointed them out and marveled 

at them since I was a child. I have no idea why. They just always captivated me. A

quilt and robin's eggs in a bird nest also seemed to go with the theme for this page.

My final set of pages has a vintage crocheted lace sewn to make a pocket of the

faces I remember most affectionately when I think of Wisconsin...all the beloved

dogs, long gone but never forgotten; our sons and their wives and children. Our

hearts fairly burst when we think of them; and one of my favorite photos of 

Handsome with our grandchildren. That little red head hanging on his neck, 

and the older two grands being silly and serious. We miss seeing them every day.

These are two of the photos that I placed in the pocket. There is a third - a family

photo taken of all of us in the studio of a photographer friend up north. 

The last page is my Brynwood page. I began Brynwood Needleworks in 1989

as the name of my cross stitch design business. Although I rested for a while, 

I've been Brynwood Needleworks ever since. Acorns and oak leaves were my

inspiration for the logo that was designed for me all those years ago. The pin

on the right side of the page was available to my customers - and I even have

a dozen or so of them left. I may have more of them made in the future to sell.

  So, there you have it. My completed labor of love - "Wisconsin Memories". I'm  sure I'll add more photos to my last page. My BFF and other family members will  be tucked into the pocket, too. I always think of them when my mind goes north. This was really a fun project. While I'm quilting, everything has a certain size and  place, but with this little book, my mind could wander and explore. I'm sure I'll make  more in the future, but for now, I'll just enjoy this one...my heart in a little fabric book.

Parting Was Such Sweet Sorrow...

Saturday was our last full day in Wisconsin.

We got to see my nephew and his family in the early afternoon, and then we 

were invited to spend the evening with our elder son, his wife and our grandson.

Grandpa Handsome asked me to take a few photographs of him with our 

favorite (and only!) grandson. I took loads and loads of images of the two of 

them, but my favorite, by far, was the very last frame I shot. I walked away

with tears in my eyes and couldn't talk until we were back in the house together.

We had a wonderful, although short, time in our home state this year.

It just didn't seem long enough this time, and we're already looking

forward to being together again. If you ask us, it won't be soon enough.

Parting was such sweet sorrow.

Memory Lane Monday - A Box of Photographs...

 This is the house where I grew up. When I was five years old, we moved into 184 E. Division Street in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It was a large two-story home with three bedrooms upstairs, and one more tiny room with a closet that I convinced Mum to let me move into once I became a teenager. (I mean, who wants to share a room with their sister for-ev-er?) If I close my eyes, I can still walk from room to room, seeing every little nook and cranny, as though it were yesterday. (This picture was actually taken to showcase our shiny, new station wagon out in front, rather than the house. Just make believe it's not there, ok?)

See those three windows behind the balcony on the second floor? Well, the two on the left side belonged to the bedroom that I shared for many years with a messy, younger sister. Being more of an anal OCD organized person, I constantly picked up after her so that Mum wouldn't trash the room empty closets and dresser drawers (that we shared) in her ongoing efforts to teach us how to be tidy. Ah, yes, how we spent many a Saturday morning...but, I digress.

What I really wanted to share today was this photograph. A family photo taken on the front porch of that old house, with all the memories that well up inside me when I look at it.

I see my grandparents (my beloved Grandpa with his arm around me in the front row), little cousins, my younger brother next to me and that messy little sister (she still is, by the way!) right in the middle of the group with our grown cousin's (her godmother) hand on her shoulder. I see my Uncle Larry (right behind Grandma on the left with his arm on her shoulder) who passed about eight years ago. He was only five years older than me and the closest I'll ever have to an older brother, and I think of him often. My father (Don't smile at any cost!) in the shirt and tie on the right. Aunts and uncles smiling for the camera - and Mum (up in back) looking down the stairs to be sure her kidlets were being good little angels.

I have a special fondness for these old group photos. Between Handsome and me, we have a lot of them. Memories of days when families took the time to travel to be together. When they cared and looked out for each other.

Many of the people I love(d) in this picture have gone. But there are still people who shine in my life like brilliant stars in the night. I'm grateful to still have them to share some of these precious memories.

Life goes on. Change is inevitable, but those memories of meals, laughter, happier days spent with people I loved are seared in my memory - and will last forever, thanks to a box filled with photographs like these.

Thank you for letting me share another Memory Lane Monday today. I apologize that it's late, and thank Marydon from Blushing Rose for reminding me. (Ah, yes. Senior Moments. I've come a long way from that picture, Baby!)

I'd love it if you'd like to share a memory, too! My link will be open until a week from now, so just write your post and add it back here. See you with another memory next month.

Memory Lane Monday - Remembering Grandpa...

L-r: My great-grandfather, Percy; unknown; and my grandfather LaVerne. circa 1927.

He was born in Buena Vista, Wisconsin on January 11, 1911, was forty three years old when I became his first grandchild. He was 16 in this picture. It was taken in my great-grandfather's garage. This was before the building burned to the ground, necessitating a complete rebuild not long after.

Grandpa always worked with his hands and he was a genius when it came to building or repairing anything mechanical. But he had other talents, as well.

Grandpa was also well-versed in the fine arts of pickling and wine-making. He made some fierce dandelion, currant, gooseberry and grape wine (to name but a few).

When we'd visit my grandparents, he'd delight in bringing out jugs of his favorites (especially if they'd fermented for a few years) so that Mum could be his taste-tester. He'd sit with a wide grin on his face, offering her a jigger at a time, and watching her get silly from all those little sips.

I now own two of Grandpa's crocks. One has a two gallon capacity and the other is a beautiful twenty gallon crock with metal bands. I have them where I see them every day, and not one day passes that I'm not reminded of him.

I adored this man. He was hard-working, and although he could turn a room blue with his colorful language, he never raised his voice or passed a cross word with me.

Grandpa and me. Taken 1995 in Cedar Grove, WI

When Handsome and I still lived in Wisconsin, I was only about a half hour away from the nursing home where he spent his sunset years. I'd visit him at least once a week, and ask him to tell me stories from the days working in Alaska, where he helped build the Al-Can Highway. They were stories he was always happy to share with me. Stories of bears, the great outdoors, big machines and his adventurous life in "the wild". I knew he frequently embellished those stories for me, but I didn't care. 

He lost his right thumb as a child, and it wasn't until he passed that Grandma finally told me the true story. (He always said that she cut it off in a fit of pique, but we all knew that wasn't true!) When he and I spent all those hours chatting and sharing the past, he'd punctuate his stories with that left hand held in the air, fingers wrapped around the stub of his thumb. If I close my eyes, I can see him to this very day.

As we parted at the end of each visit, I'd always ask him if he wanted me to bring anything when I returned. He'd always say, "No, Honey. Everything is copacetic. See you next week." As I headed for the door he'd add, "But if you'd like to bring a couple of O'Henry bars with you, that would be nice." I always brought them for him. (From time to time, I'll eat an O'Henry bar in his memory now.)

He died January 15, 1999, only a few hours' drive from his birthplace. I was at his side, holding his hand. As his eldest granddaughter, I was honored to give the eulogy at his funeral. It gave me the opportunity to share my memories of his gigantic personality with his many friends and family.

It's with great affection that I share just a small portion of my memories today. I'm proud to have been his granddaughter, but more than that I'm proud to have been a part of the life of this honest man.

Thank you for joining me for another Memory Lane Monday. If you have a memory you'd like to share, please link up your post below.

When I Fall In Love...

Today, I'd like you to meet our grandson. He's the eldest of our grandchildren and the only boy. From the first time I set eyes on him, I was smitten.

After he was born and came home with his mom and dad, I was privileged to stay with them for about ten days to help out. The first night I babysat, I remember singing "our song" to him for the first time. No one else knew that I'd chosen this song for him. It just happened without forethought. I actually never told a soul until Handsome recently played it with Mike Markaverich. (Remember? I told you about him a couple of months ago.) I had to explain that, hearing it performed, my eyes welled with tears of happiness as I thought back to singing it for our boy.

Thursday night, as he sat on his grandma's lap, I told our grandson the story of holding him in my arms and singing "When I Fall In Love" to him, and as I sang a bit to him then and there, he put his arm around my shoulder, closed his eyes and smiled as he listened to me. My eyes welled with tears again...with such love in my heart for this little boy.

Then, when that moment had passed, I found that my sweet grandson had been plotting a few surprises for his grandma. Last time I was in Wisconsin, we were talking about our favorite beverages and I told him I liked root beer. Well, guess what?Not one, but two cartons of Sprecher artisan root beer for his grandma! I think my thirst will be adequately quenched on this trip!

He also gave me a necklace that he made. The main feature is a 3" round clay pendant that has designs on the front and his initials on the back. (He made a point of telling his grandpa that they share the same initials.) It even has glow-in-the-dark beads! We giggled as I told him I'd have to wear it to bed so his grandpa would be able to find me in the dark.

What a perfect end to a day of travel. Family, good food prepared by loving hands, and memories to last a lifetime.