Keeping - Rocking Chairs

SHE had an affinity for rocking chairs, and actually chairs in general.  Her great room was filled with them.  The sofa had been tossed after years of wear and abuse but SHE did not replace it.  There were two upholstered chairs, both inherited from Lexie, one was especially well worn,  to sit and relax in at the end of the day.  However the room was hardly empty, I lost track of how many chairs and rocking chairs SHE had or where they all came from or went to for that matter. I have two of the rocking chairs and two non-rocking chairs. There were at least a dozen all told.

The one above is especially old I think but I have no idea of its history, but I love the lines on it.  It will live with me.  It is rather short so I am thinking quite old, back when we were smaller.

This one was Lexie's,  I didn't really realize it until I was home with it.  The chairs are a blur really as there was limited time to determine where everything would go.  When I unpacked this one I realized it was Lexie's because of the seat "cushion."  

The "cushion" had been fabricated from layers of a blanket cut into shape to fit the chair.  I know this because years before I had been given two blankets from Lexie just as distinct as this one.  I love the layers.

Here it is without the "cushion."

What is it that drew her to chairs?  Rocking chairs especially represent comfort, security.  Chairs themselves give you a place.  Remember the game "Musical Chairs?" Being left without a place to sit was to be shunned, avoided, rejected.  Winning a chair was to be acknowledged, accepted, respected. Just guessing.

Parting - Books

SHE loved barrister bookcases.  I have three of hers, one for each son.  I filled them with books in her house.  Most of them are ancient books from Lexie's house,  and the others are from her own collection, mostly classics, SHE preferred reading from a vintage volume, some of which SHE purchased on ebay or thrift stores,  others SHE would simply check out from the library, but never a paperback did SHE read. 

I am looking for a nursing home for ancient books.  I am not sure what all I have really.  I did separate out some of them.  I have a box of medically themed books, a box of dictionaries, poetry and music.  And these are the ones not in the barristers.  I will plough through them all and hopefully find proper homes, it just doesn't seem right to just delete them from existence.  If you have an interest in books, they are free to good homes, email me at itsmarialice@gmail.com.

I am trying to catalog as I go. 

FIRST BOOK GIVEN:  

"The Surgeon's Vade Mecum:  A Manual of Modern Surgery

Author:  Robert Druitt

10th edition

350 wood engravings

John Churchhill & Sons 

Published 1870

This went to a surgeon I respect, whose aging father is also a physician who is still practicing medicine.  He was delighted.  

NEXT BOOK GIVEN:

"Farm Ballads"

Author: Will Carleton

Harper and Row 1873

The inscription in the cover reads:  Presented to Emma Eulalia Clark for her 18th birthday January 5, 1891, by her mother.

This went to our sister's husband Mark, tobacco farmer Extraordinare for Christmas this year.  SHE would have been thrilled.  Here he is in his Rat Rod.

This is the book.

NEXT

"Household Book of Poetry"

1882

and

"Poetical Work"

Sir Walter Scott

1853

These went to Carrie, a friend of my son who is studying for her Masters in Poetry.  There is a small tub of poetry books, these two were her pick.  She loved the "Household Book of Poetry," commenting how  cookbook-like it was, that every house would of course have a book of poetry.  

While talking with Carrie about all the books I had to part with, I mentioned music books, a full tub of those not to mention the mandolin sheet music, whatever would I do with mandolin sheet music?  I play the mandolin she said.  Hmmm.  So I will go into the attic and find these boxes as she is fairly new to her mandolin and her teacher could very well be interested in the music books.

AND THE FOLLOWING

Presented to son Number One, lover of the English language, all things written. Growing up he carried a book with him wherever we went, short trip to the mall, long drive to Florida. On vacations he would peruse used books stores starting around 5th grade, forget the scenic overlooks.  Studied Japanese literature, conquered that language, blogging instruction in Japanese shows as much of his knowledge of English as it does Japanese. Currently working on a masters in creative writing........

"American Illustrated Pronouncing Pocket Dictionary" 

1878 Hurst & Co

According to the preface the object was "to produce a Practical, Explanatory and Pronouncing Dictionary of our Language, at a price that would put it in the hands of the million."

"Handbooks of Society"

1871 G.W. Carleton & Sons

This three book boxed set is hilariously described as "the most perfect and complete of their kind ever published.  They are made up of no dry, stupid rules that everybody know, but are fresh, sensible, 

good-humored, entertaining, and readable."

                                                    Vol I "The Art of Conversation"

with

Directions for self education

Vol II "The Habits of Good Society"

A Handbook for

Ladies and Gentlemen.

with 

Thoughts, hints, and anecdotes concerning social observances, nice

points of taste and good manners and the art of making

one's self agreeable.  The whole interspersed with

humorous illustrations of social predicaments,

remarks on fashion, etc.

Vol III "The Art of Writing"

The Arts of Writing, Reading and Speaking

"Composition and Rhetoric"

1912 by Erle E. Clippinger

Silver, Burdett and Company

The preface states this book is intended to "provide more definite directions for a secondary school course in composition and rhetoric" than before.

"New Dictionary of the English Language"

1925 Edition

This book is NOT published by the original publisher of 

Websters's Dictionary, nor by their successors, but published by

P. F. COLLIER & SONS COMPANY

New York

"The Desk Standard Dictionary

of the English Language"

Funk & Wagnall's Company

New York and London

1922

1,200 Pictorial Illustrations

All of these books are filled with small treasures, some used as bookmarks, some pieces of paper with notes to self,  advertisements, death announcements.  The last dictionary has a couple of type written sheets titled "Punctuation in a Nutshell."  I will leave these in the book but will make a copy for me.  I love nutshells.

All for now, many more books to come.  Check back for updates.

Keeping - Whirly-gig

This windmill whirly-gig belonged to Lexie.  It lived on her sunporch all the time I knew her.  After that,   it went to my sisters garage.  I am not sure why it was never taken out of there, it made no sense but then, there were many things I just didn't question.

It is quite weathered, shows its wear from the past, paint peeling, bare wood exposing.  It spins beautifully. After considering the age and wear, I kept it on my back porch,  a clear view from the breakfast table, mesmerizing with its movement, magical. SHE asked me to take it, I will never understand why SHE left it in the garage all those years.  Watching it spin through the window though is rather uncanny, I feel her presence.

I wish I were savvy enough to capture this in action and download it on this blog.  This hardly reflects the beauty of the turns, or the architecture of its construction.  I brought it inside as even on the backporch I could see the weather would do it harm.  

This shows the wear a bit more.

So now it lives in my front room.  I will take it out to the back porch from time to time to let it fly, to bring back the magic and take me closer to my sister.

Parting - Shirts and Medals

Her first 5K was across the Luling Bridge crossing the Mississippi River west of New Orleans. April 13, 2002.  SHE ran with my husband, I am the cheerleader.  At the end there was beer and jambalaya to celebrate.  SHE was hooked.  SHE was fifty one, her time was thirty three minutes and forty eight seconds.  She came in 136th out of 725 women. After this, much was to follow, 5K's, 10K's, half marathons, marathons, neighborhood runs.  I filled a 30 gallon tub with running shirts.

The first two shirts and medals went to guardian angels.  Without these temporary humans she would not have been blessed with one additional year of life.  They worked behind the scenes to keep her safe that summer of 2010, had extraordinary perceptions and connections.  Is there any way to express gratitude?  The shirt on the left is from the Marine Corp Marathon, perhaps the hardest race she ever ran our brother said who was her companion and champion on many of her runs.  And the Chicago Marathon 2003 shirt on the right was favorite,  the first of many Chicago runs.

I didn't think to take a photo of everything before I started to part.  Her medals hung in a group on the mirror door of her medicine cabinet, inspiration I think from the first moments in the morning.  These are just some of them.  It was a fine balancing act for her to keep them all on the mirror.  

The parting of shirts and medals was actually started by her and how I thought to pass these on.  What powers they should bring to the new owner.  My suggestion to a couple of people was to wear it as an undershirt, Superman style, to give them that breakout strength needed for tough times.  SHE certainly knew about that.

SHE gave the first shirts to our scrawny bird-legged niece, young wife and mom and now runner herself. Who knew?   I made sure to add the matching medals.  

2009 Gasparilla Half Marathon

2006 Walt Disney World Half Marathon

2007 Bank of America Marathon (Tampa)

2008 Chicago Marathon

There were two shirts and medals from the Country Music 1/2 Marathon 2004, 2008 that were sent to our sister in Tennessee along with the Chicago Marathon 2008. Also to her the lone NYC Marathon Medal 2006 with no shirt, I think SHE wore that one out.  My husband wanted the Mardi Gras Marathon set from 2004.  There were three OUC 1/2 marathons 2005, 2006, 2007 sent to her neighbors kids who helped their parents watch over her house, mowed her grass and included her as part of their family.

Gasparilla Half Marathon 2008 went to another neighbor kid, who really isn't a kid anymore but SHE loved watching the three generations of women in this family and became part of their family too.  Winter Park 2008 10K was for the kids mother and neighbor extraordinaire - I can't even begin to list the things done to help.  There is never enough thanks.

These are the last, I am not sure I kept track of everything as I tried to move these on quickly.  There was a Deland Thanksgiving ten mile/5K for another colleague who we were most thankful for during crisis.  A Chicago Marathon 2004 shirt with long sleeves for someone SHE worked with to keep her warm as her friendship gave my sister genuine warmth.  The Suzuki Rock and Roll Marathon goes to our nephew, a young dad who is one that can use this as his Superman shirt as he assimilates his parenting skills.  Women Rule the World.  There were three of these medals but only one shirt and it was well worn.  I sent that one to our niece who is a new mom, not sure what it is good for really as it is the most worn of all the gifted shirts but maybe just put it in a drawer somewhere for strength and love, pull it out when you need to find your inner power. (The bottom right shirt was for neighbor extraordinare in above paragraph. 

This isn't a complete accounting of all her running by any means. There were missing shirts and missing medals. And I sent four Orangewood 5K shirts to her neighbors who inspired their church/school through her to start an annual run.  SHE was relentless with her passion, working to convince anyone she could to take up this same pursuit that gave her so much satisfaction, sense of achievement and self respect.  

Whenever SHE ran, SHE ran with a photo of our mother secured to her for inspiration and fortitude.  I will take the leftover remaining shirtless medals and turn them into Christmas ornaments to hang on my tree every year, a solemn but meaningful recollection.  

Keeping - Shell Seekers

I stitched every night for years, it used to drive my husband crazy.  Once the kids were in bed I would find relaxation and relief by sitting and stitching on linen.  You need to worry I told him when I am not stitching as then there is a problem. Therapy.

After the seaside sisters went up on her wall, I could only add more.  SHE never went over the top with the nautical theme like I did, SHE seemed to have more fun contributing to mine.  Shell Seekers though was perfect for her. There are only two sisters in this piece but then our third sister was a landlocked landlubber who stayed in Tennessee when we migrated to a tropical locale.  So it qualifies.......we shared an immense love of the seaside, the smell, the salt, the sand.  SHE preferred secluded beaches while I favored the busier ones so we took turns getting our way. 

So now the Shell Seekers hang in my powder room.  

Somehow though I always felt that missing sister.  So when I saw a third sister all alone, well I stitched it too as there were three of us, and it has always hung in my house.  Now it is not far from the seekers.  Memories of simpler days, simpler times.

Parting - Seaside Sisters

We used to send each other things depicting three sisters.  I found this piece in a gallery on Royal Street and instantly bought it for her.  The colors were so vivid you could almost smell the salt water.  SHE hung it in her bathroom and began her own nautical look.

So needless to say, when there was another one in the gallery window then she had a pair.  

It's funny how sometimes you just know who would share this kindred spirit of three sisters.  So parting with these pieces was a no brainer for me.  

D is one of the most remarkable women I have known and is one of three sisters.  Accomplished professionally D stood apart from the way I have seen most women lead, a style of her own.  There has been incredible tragedy in her life that sometimes just seems endless but there is no waffling or hesitation,  just pressing forward. D has great wisdom and is someone whose advice I know I can seek and respect.  What my sister would have liked most about D though, is her dedication, commitment to and love of her own mother, going the distance, just as SHE did.  The fisherwomen go to her, supplier of sustenance.

J just makes me smile, can be crazy goofy and great fun to be around. Another survivor, we met at a bumpy time in both our lives, a time that will stay significant for the two of us always.  J's bumps were  more severe than mine but she kept a sense of humor and helped me muddle through my own worries while surviving hers.  J has three daughters,  is a devout mother, one of the best, totally dedicated to her family. It is hard work that will pay off in the long run as the daughters have witnessed her strength through a very difficult time.  The bathers go to J, tender protector.

I was unable to decipher the signature of the artist.  So I hit Royal Street to try and find the gallery that had them.  After two Sunday's search I gave up.   Finally one gallery owner led me to believe the shop where I bought them has since closed, he was familiar with the style of work they dealt in.  So the name of the artist may be secret forever.  I have learned a lot from these two women, grateful for their influence.   I am pleased with this parting, the ladies are with kindred spirits.  

Keeping - Cats

SHE was a dog person.  Lexie and I, cat people - they own us.  

I found this timeworn cat hidden in the bottom of a box of Lexie's things.  The glaze is crackled and the ears have been broken off but there is still something quite remarkable about this piece. I can only imagine its age and history.  So it will stay in my dining room to remind me of Lexie and my sister and the stories I have yet to discover, stories I wish I knew. 

My mini dachshund lived for sixteen years, he was perfect.  He grew up with a kitten I rescued on the side of a busy street.  They were best friends, Snuffy groomed Rex every night.  He fit right in with the other cats, we have had many.  Actually Rex thought he was a cat.  I was convinced my sister's herd of dogs would be better behaved if they had a cat to play with, or manage them is what I was really thinking, so in jest I bought this one for her.  Well at least I can say I was wrong, those dogs didn't even think this cat was even worth chewing up.  So it has come back and sleeps on Lexie's sofa, a reminder some dogs just will never be cats.  And likewise, SHE was who SHE was, regardless.