RECIPES

Saturday 9 November 2019

Joining The Centuries


I feel like a generational connecting point.  My grand-daughters are both born in the 21st Century.  My grandmothers were both born in the 19th Century.   I and my siblings were born in the 20th Century.  I have known family members from three different centuries!

Today it is 31 years since my paternal grandmother died at the age of 93 years.  With her Victorian upbringing, she could be quite a stickler about certain things but she never lost her sense of humour and I still miss the long conversations we used to have about everything under the sun.

This is a studio photo of her as a young child.




She was an intelligent sociable woman who loved her home and garden, who put her family before all others, and who enjoyed a good argument with anyone willing to take her on!




In 1921 she married my grandfather.  He died less than four years later, leaving behind a woman who had to care for a farm, a 19 month old daughter, and a 4 month old son (my father).


(This photo is hand-tinted)


Six years later she remarried and had another son.  This marriage lasted 15 years before she was once again made a widow.  By now her bright auburn hair had become a pure snow-white.  I can remember watching her sitting at her dressing table in the mornings and brushing her long waist-length hair before tying it up in a bun and adding a hair net over it all.




In her later years she had her hair cut off shorter – for the first time in her life – and remarked how much easier it was to care for.  By now her mobility was becoming an issue and this greatly impeded what she was able to be involved in, although her interest in life and the world around her never waned and she still loved to have a good gossip with anyone who visited.




I wonder what my grand-daughters will say about me when they become grandmothers themselves!


Stay happy,
Margaret.

22 comments:

  1. Lovely photos of your grandmother. My late husband's first wife used to colour tint the old photos, I assume they were just given a written note on the colours to use.

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    1. Yes, I never thought of that before. I suppose they were given notes or how else would they know what colours to use.

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  2. I enjoyed the story of your paternal grandmother. She sure had a difficult life; still she lived to be 93!!

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    1. She did! I am so glad I had the opportunity to spend holidays with her as I was growing up. She became a big influence in my life.

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  3. What a wonderful description of your grandmother. That and the photos brought to.mind my own grandmother who was of that generation....and always wore a hair net. Mine was born in the gold Fields in the South Island.
    So happy to have found your blog!

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    1. Happy to have you, Local Alien. I popped over to your blog and love your header of Pukehina Beach - just down the road from Papamoa where we lived for many years :)

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  4. Lovely photos. I enjoyed reading your reminiscing.

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  5. Lovely post about your grandmother and what a difficult life she must have had when both her husbands died so soon. My mum is now 93 - all the women on mum's side of the family seem to be long living.

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    1. Long life seems to run in some families, mine included. I wonder if I will live that long? I don't know if it would be a good thing or not!!

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  6. You are so lucky to have been able to have 'known' your grandma. Mine lived across the Irish Sea and we saw her on rare occasions. She wore her long hair as a top knot - no hairnet though - and from what I remember she never seemed to have any teeth. With only one photo of her as an older lady I'll never know what she looked like as a young one
    Thanks for sharing your grandma with us.

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    1. I only met my maternal grandmother a handful of times as she lived in the South Island and we seldom visited, so I never felt I really got to know her.

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  7. A lovely tribute to your Grandma.

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  8. All my grandparents died before I was born, so I never met any, I did have a gran after I married my 1st husband, and loved her company. My mum was a joy to watch with my daughters, saldy mum is no longer with us, but we do often speak of her. I love all my grandsons, who range in age from 14 down to 2, with another due in 3 weeks. I also hope I am giving great memories to each one.

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    1. I'm sorry you never got to know your grandparents but it is great you are making memories with your own grandies.

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  9. I always think the same. I have such fond memories of my grandmother too. We were fortunate to have such women in our lives!

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    1. We were indeed very fortunate. This particular grandmother had a huge impact on my life, on how I view things and how I cope with hardships. Precious memories.

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  10. It was wonderful to read the memories about your grandmother. She looks like a strong woman, which I think she had to be. She also has a kind of smile on her face, looks like a good woman.

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    1. Thankyou for those kind words Marit. I appreciate them :)

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Thank-you for visiting my blog. I love it when you leave a comment so please feel free to have your say. Have a great day! Margaret xx