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    Aditus
  • Aditus
  • Author
  • 12/11/2016
  • 324 Words
  • 1,083 Views
  • 18 Comments
Poetry posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

An Advent Calendar - 11. Door#11 - Winter Garden

Winter Garden

Fifteen years ago when my grandmother sold her house and had a sale, my husband and I were helping her clean. I was in the attic and came across some picture slides. Since Ran was still working at a photo lab, he took these slides and printed them as photos. What we found was amazing.

These slides were taken back in the 1940s and 1950s by my great grandfather, my grandmother’s father. These pictures hadn’t been seen since then. No one in the family remembered them except my grandmother who faintly recalled a few of the images. This was “found” family history. It was amazing and also a bit surreal, in an interesting way.

In order to properly celebrate the find, I wanted to do something special. I decided to make photo books for my grandmother, my mother and my godmother all of whom were depicted in the pictures. I picked flowers from our garden and pressed them between books lined with coffee filters and then put them in the album. I affixed them with a little spray of glue and then put the photos opposite the flowers and leaves.

As a final touch, I selected poems and sayings and placed them below the pictures.

The three women cried when they saw what I’d done.

As you can see, I’ve done something similar in the photo at the link. What’s interesting about these dried flowers is the scent they carry, the texture they convey, and the delicate beauty they represent.

For Christmas, I’m making these flowers into cards for loved ones. Perhaps you will take this tale and do something like it. It doesn’t take money to do something special for others. For the season, create a winter garden of flowers to share with friends and family. They’ll love it. There is something extra special in things we make with our own hands. It shows how much we really care.

No guessing on the third Advent Sunday. :) Or maybe... :funny:
Thank you for reading, liking and commenting! And we are curious. Do you have similar memories? Ideas? Thoughts? Crafting instructions?
Copyright © 2016 aditus, Cole Matthews, Valkyrie; All Rights Reserved.
  • Like 15
Poetry posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 
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Former Member

I'm trying to motivate myself into sewing a bunch of felt giraffes for relatives by Christmas Day. I'm feeling overwhelmed and I keep procrastinating…

 

As far as photos are concerned, my father's oldest sister died a few months ago in her 90s. Someone put together a slideshow for her memorial service. I wasn't able to be there, but my brother put up a gallery/data dump of the images. Unfortunately there were no captions or metadata identifying who the people were in the pictures or when and where they were taken. I recognized a few people, mostly my aunt, uncle, and cousins. But I don't know who the others (including my cousins' kids) are!

 

There's a similar problem with all of my mother's photo albums. Kodak has a lot to answer for since the Instamatic created the first wave of mass amateur photographers in the '60s! How many of you remember flashcubes? ;-)

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Mikiesboy

That's wonderful! I'm making things for gifts this year, but I usually do make something. Money or not, I've found most people love something handmade and personal. This is a wonderful advent door!

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dughlas

As a child we would press flowers between sheets of waxed paper. The trick was to press them just enough with a warm iron to melt the wax but not damage the flowers.
I have pictures from when my grandparents were young. Even one of my paternal grandmother as a child. I've no idea who the others are only that it was taken at her aunt's.

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Slytherin

I love that idea of making Christmas cards yourself :) My sister had a "flower press" when we were Young and we used that sometimes. When my parents moved from their hous two years ago I brought home some of my old books and in one book ( Ronia the Robber's Daughter ) a beautiful flower - Violet fell out and it brought back memories. I still have it somewhere, I must go look for it :)
Thanks for sharing this with us, Cole :)

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Puppilull

Such a great idea! A winter garden...

 

I can look at things like that and go "Oh how beautiful!" but I know that if I try it myself I'd have a great ironic "Nailed it" entry... I just can't do any artsy stuff at all if it involves my hands. Well, I can write, but that's about it.

 

And I don't think this is a herring one. So Cole wrote it...

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hohochan657

I'm all thumbs when it comes to arts and crafts :o
Well, really an excuse to get out of MAKING a gift for loved ones ...
Okay, I'll just go and gather dust in the corner now ...

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Lisa

What a beautiful story, Cole. And a beautiful memory!

 

Being a wonderful chef and being creative in that area, it's no surprise you are creative in other areas like card making. :) I would have cried too if I were one of the three women! It's was a heartfelt gesture. :)

 

Was there a link? I didn't see one...

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Parker Owens

What a wonderful find and what a splendid thing to have done with it! Pressing and preserving flowers seems to be somewhat out of fashion these days, and what a pity. I still possess a lampshade made with such flowers; guests never fail to remark on it.

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Aditus
On 12/13/2016 01:12 AM, Parker Owens said:

What a wonderful find and what a splendid thing to have done with it! Pressing and preserving flowers seems to be somewhat out of fashion these days, and what a pity. I still possess a lampshade made with such flowers; guests never fail to remark on it.

Cole: Thanks for the thoughtful review. What’s old is new again, I say. Your lampshade sounds beautiful. I can imagine the light through the delicate colors of the flowers is wonderful. When special things happen, we need to treat them with care and to create memories we can cherish. I appreciate your review.

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Aditus
On 12/12/2016 12:39 PM, Lisa said:

What a beautiful story, Cole. And a beautiful memory!

 

Being a wonderful chef and being creative in that area, it's no surprise you are creative in other areas like card making. :) I would have cried too if I were one of the three women! It's was a heartfelt gesture. :)

 

Was there a link? I didn't see one...

Cole: I’m sorry. We couldn’t figure out the link thing. Adi posted a copy of the card I created in his gallery. It’s a cherished memory and I wanted to share how I did it. Thanks for the thoughtful review.

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Aditus
On 12/12/2016 11:54 AM, hohochan657 said:

I'm all thumbs when it comes to arts and crafts :o

Well, really an excuse to get out of MAKING a gift for loved ones ...

Okay, I'll just go and gather dust in the corner now ...

Cole: I’m not very crafty really. This was something I felt comfortable doing especially since it involved words, which I love using and manipulating. The flowers were in honor of our garden. I like adding little pieces of myself into communications and the dried flowers seemed appropriate. Thanks for the interesting review.

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Aditus
On 12/12/2016 06:42 AM, Puppilull said:

Such a great idea! A winter garden...

 

I can look at things like that and go "Oh how beautiful!" but I know that if I try it myself I'd have a great ironic "Nailed it" entry... I just can't do any artsy stuff at all if it involves my hands. Well, I can write, but that's about it.

 

And I don't think this is a herring one. So Cole wrote it...

Cole: It’s not herring, red or pickled. If you like words, adding symbols only reinforces it. My idea was to show if I can do it, so can you. I’m worthless with crafts unless its cooking. So go ahead and try doing something like it. I’m only encouraging you. Thanks for the thoughtful review.

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Aditus
On 12/12/2016 01:43 AM, Reader1810 said:

My guess: Cole, of course.

Lovely story and a great piece of family history. :)

Cole: I’m glad you liked the story and family history. It was a great time and this fall I enjoyed making the treats for my colleagues as well. Thank you for the lovely comments.

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Aditus
On 12/12/2016 01:03 AM, Slytherin said:

I love that idea of making Christmas cards yourself :) My sister had a "flower press" when we were Young and we used that sometimes. When my parents moved from their hous two years ago I brought home some of my old books and in one book ( Ronia the Robber's Daughter ) a beautiful flower - Violet fell out and it brought back memories. I still have it somewhere, I must go look for it :)

Thanks for sharing this with us, Cole :)

Cole: I’m so thrilled it brought back a memory of yours as well. That’s the point of these Advent windows is to give you a taste of our thoughts and remembrances as the days go by. Thank you for such an insightful and personal review!!!

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Aditus
On 12/11/2016 11:54 PM, dughlas said:

As a child we would press flowers between sheets of waxed paper. The trick was to press them just enough with a warm iron to melt the wax but not damage the flowers.

I have pictures from when my grandparents were young. Even one of my paternal grandmother as a child. I've no idea who the others are only that it was taken at her aunt's.

Cole: Your memory made me remember how we used wax paper as kids as well. I didn’t preserve them quite as completely as that. These are simply dried and glued. I’m so happy the idea of the pictures evoked memories of your family. It is the intent of this door to give you thoughts which warm your heart. Thank you for a gratifying review.

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Aditus
On 12/11/2016 11:12 PM, Mikiesboy said:

That's wonderful! I'm making things for gifts this year, but I usually do make something. Money or not, I've found most people love something handmade and personal. This is a wonderful advent door!

Cole: People do love handmade things, especially when it comes from the heart. Creating something with you in it means a great deal I believe. I personally cherish those things as special gifts. Thanks for such a lovely personal review.

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Aditus
On 12/11/2016 06:27 PM, droughtquake said:

I'm trying to motivate myself into sewing a bunch of felt giraffes for relatives by Christmas Day. I'm feeling overwhelmed and I keep procrastinating…

 

As far as photos are concerned, my father's oldest sister died a few months ago in her 90s. Someone put together a slideshow for her memorial service. I wasn't able to be there, but my brother put up a gallery/data dump of the images. Unfortunately there were no captions or metadata identifying who the people were in the pictures or when and where they were taken. I recognized a few people, mostly my aunt, uncle, and cousins. But I don't know who the others (including my cousins' kids) are!

 

There's a similar problem with all of my mother's photo albums. Kodak has a lot to answer for since the Instamatic created the first wave of mass amateur photographers in the '60s! How many of you remember flashcubes? ;-)

Cole: I remember flash cubes quite well. I also remember the flash strips and how we would bring film in and not remember what was on it. Even in my twenties in the 1980s, I recall getting pictures back and they were little forgotten mementoes of times with friends and family. Now you take a picture and you know immediately what it is. Back in the day it wasn’t so immediate. Thanks for a thoughtful review and your memories. They are precious.

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