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Within the confines of this blog, you will find bits and pieces of the life and times of myself, my family and friend dear and near., far and wide, few and far between. You will find bits and pieces of my world, tho small to some, but huge to me. You will find everything from 'soup to nuts',; recipes, hobbies,crafts, gardenings,loves of my life, GrandLoves-a-Plenty, and even my pets... Sooo, if you can handle family life, enjoy the tour of my 'Stuffings'.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Flashbacks

After all of these years, I'm beginning to understand 'Flashbacks.'
The term means many things to each of us. I seem to be having more and more of them since aging seems to make a difference in my life. As little as 10-15 years ago, it didn't appear to matter as much.
I'd thought I'd share some 'sweet' flashbacks with you that belong to me. It's like recycling I suppose.
Mom is strumming on the guitar that Dad gave her 60 yrs. ago when they were just teenagers and had just fallen in love. It brings back memories to me because it is the same guitar I learned a few cords on and played in a folk band when I was in high school. All 9 of us kids strummed that guitar at one time or another. I thought it was long gone, and one day last yr., Mom asked me if I wanted it. "It isn't good for anything anymore," she said, "because it's cracked, dried out, and is missing some strings." She said, " It costs your Daddy a few bucks by mail order, from the Sears and Roebuck." It was a searsucker, he'd say, cause he bought that sucker at Sears. It was the same thing he always said about his wool jacket.
Of course, I wanted it. My son surprised me with a new set of strings, had a friend tune it and tell him how to restore it.
My favorite part of this whole truth, is watching Mom play it again and show Andy a few cords. My grandson came down the stairs this past weekend with it in hand, and played it for me. He's only 11, but sure can hit a cord or two. When he heard who it belonged to first, his GGrandma, his pride was showing on his face.

Lookie what I found....now I have to figure out how to get the whole thing home so I can use it as a garden ornament amongst my flowers. I think that's why we have that pretty blue tractor. These wagon wheels remind me of some my GGrandparents had under an old buckboard at the homestead way up north at the T farm.
I also found this old rickety chair. The decorative back, means it has to come home with me too. I already have sweet plans for this one. Any of these carved chairs, old or new, are in my future. I can always find something to do with it...you will see.
These antiquated coat hangers are definitely of the past. These old originals will also find a new home, back board included. There are still some hanging at the farm in the stairway that Mom still uses. We all hung our jackets on them as a kid. I fell against one once, coming down our steep stairs, running late for the breakfast table. I went to school that day with a shiner. Talk about flashback, I just got a zinger headache just thinking about it. Ouch.
A garage sale find, this old rose plate reminds me of my Grams B. I don't recall her having this particular plate, but it just reminds me of her. She loved the violets which adorned alot of her favorite pieces. Perhaps because her name was Viola, was why. Grams was Mom's mother who lived to be a month shy of her 102nd birthday, fully mindful of her surroundings and loved talking about history. Her love of gardening has rubbed off on me and I'm grateful for that.
Heavens, this old bowl takes me a bit too far back. My ex MIL used to have one. I recall she always would say, "Get the mashed potato bowl," and everyone knew right off the bat, which one she was talking about. My daughter has her original one but when I saw this one, I thought, maybe her brother would like one too, just to remember their Grandma by.
So, there ya have it. My weekend found some treasures that sparked some sweet memories. I guess that's what books are made of, Memories gone back.
Have a great day, folks, as you do the same by having a 'pleasureable' flashback.

BlessYourHearts

18 comments:

Lucy said...

Memories or flash backs happen to me also. Some good and some not so good,. Until I started deleting a lot of what I wrote on my Day to Day blog I was writing about my childhood. Most are still there cause I had some frivolous ones. We had chairs like that that we used every day. I had forgeten they have a carved pattern on the back. Thank you for sharing.

Darla said...

Memory Lane...it's a beautiful place. You have some great finds here. (My first comment vanished)

imac said...

What wonderful travels you are having my friend,
its a wonderful thingm this memory lark.lol.

Kellie said...

Hello Dar

I love it that you still have your folks' guitar! And are teaching the grandson! Music is a beautiful family tradition to pass on.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Dar, Awe---sweet memories.... I see things that remind me of my family too--and want them! When I was a young adult, I didn't really want all of this 'old' stuff... Now---the older I get, the more of it I do want. I yearn for those memories.... You have some great items there including the 'mashed potato bowl'.... Cute!!!!

Are all nine of you kids still alive? Are all of you still living in WI?

Hugs,
Betsy

jack69 said...

Yes, a wonderful trip down memory lane. Love the story of Mom and the guitar. And you were a star in a band, all right!
I hurt when you said you got a shiner from the coat hooks, I can just imagine the ribbing you took.
Memories are what we have, memories are what is left of our past. As WE get older we take more trips down memory lane.

Love from North Carolina
Sherry & Jack

renewd42 said...

Memories are such a neat and wonderful thing! Thank God for so many that flood our minds. Great post and thanks for sharing yours! Neat, I still have an old first time I ever played guitar too....memory! Stop by my blog and feel free to join me there, love to have you along!

crochet lady said...

Those kind of "flashbacks" are the kind to have.

Love your great finds, especially the wheel and the old chair. I've always kind of hankered for an old wheel to put in my flower bed...maybe someday I'll find just the right one.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Dar: Beautiful remembrance from the past.
BTW: I didn't get the E-mail, here is my address: imafishingguy@yahoo.com

Shelley said...

Love the history on your guitar and wonderful that it is being passed down in your family! More great memories to be had.

Fred Alton said...

Great Post, Dar! My memories were certainly stirred as I read about each of the items - the guitar, wheel, carved chairs, hanging hooks and china. I started trying to learn when I was just eight years old and am still learning on the guitar. I remembered playing along with my Dad and his brother, my Uncle Fred. Wonderful times. We were privileged to have carved dining room chairs and carved rocker while we lived in Kenya - but it didn't seem special then. Bought some real quality china real cheap while living overseas too. There were some perks to being missionaries! ☺

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Hi Dar,
Speaking of memories, I don't recollect how I got to your blog, as I arrived here earlier today, and didn't get a chance to comment. Either you left a comment on one of my posts, or I liked a comment you left for someone. Oh, were you the one who told Darla you had surgery like mine on your elbow?

Well, I liked your memories. You told some nice stories here. I love all those items, too. I hope you get the wheel dealy to your garden.

Leedra said...

I think memories is the reason I like antique stores. You did very good. I would be wanting the wagon wheel(s) too! Nice that family can still play the guitar. That really adds to the memories for the younger ones in the family.

Paula said...

Wow- loved hearing about your flashbacks!! And seeing all the wonderful treasures that bring you so many sweet memories- those are priceless!
Thanks for stopping by and saying Hello- please come back and visit anytime!

dee said...

Ahhh, memories are so precious. It's such a wonder to hear a bit of music or see an item and the memories comes back like yesterday.
Sweet!
Lovely posting. Wishing you a nostalgic rest of the week!
:)

Prairiemaid said...

Love the story of the guitar.....hummmm...seems your flashback is also making some great memories! Love that your mother is teaching your grandson. How awesome!

Cindy Bergeron Scherwinski said...

Lovely post, Dar. Did you learn "Puff the Magic Dragon" or maybe "If I Had a Hammer"? Keep up the wonderful job on your blog ...

Cindy

RURAL said...

This is too much fun, that mashed potato bowl is exactly like my Mom's. She had matching salad fork, and spoons, with ceramic handles, and olive wood utensil parts.

How wonderful for you to have such great memories of fun things. I will admit to being a chair collector also, I think we have one exactly like that in storage. It was a wedding gift, one I loved to receive.

And that wagon wheel is going to look fine in your yard.

Jen