Looking back, moving forward.

Pausing near to the end of January, I am ready for all that comes this February.

From January, with all love and light and laziness…

{Up above.}

{The beginnings of a mixed berry pie.}

{Admiring the graphics of Olle Eksell.}

{Apricots from the one tree.}

January reads, continued…
Mulliner Nights, P. G. Wodehouse
Passing On, Penelope Lively
In the Wake, Per Petterson

From long ago... I have been leafing through old photographs, looking back, and I have found all is balanced.

(Are you ready to help Louise and I install our cabinet this coming weekend? I do hope so. In the meantime, please explore (if you haven’t already) Book by its cover and All Species, All The Time. Happy discoveries to you.)

(Happy to see & hear so, Sabine. Your beautiful family photographs prompted a little digging of my own.)

Comments

[lottie]

All those apricots! Can't wait to see what you do with them. And aren't the rounded corners of old photos just lovely. I wish we still had them now. x

[shari]

i love that you say you've found "that all is balanced". fabulous photos from your childhood and i am craving a fruit pie now. look at your apricots!! such a lovely post gracia. xoxo

[risa]

i love the photos! since we are about the same age they remind me (fashion-wise) of some of my childhood photos. i, however, didn't have that gorgeous head of blond hair.

[lisa s]

love love the old photos.....

and those berries look divine

[cruststation]

And the most adorable kid, finding the balance is such a contented thought, love that! Thank you for sharing such wonderful pictures of your childhood and family life (your mum is super stylish).

[Brydie]

What a delight this blog entry was! Such beautiful and colourful images both around your home, and those from your past, full of warmth, and a dear sense of nostalgia. Great links, I've never seen "book by its cover" before. I'm hooked. Such gorgeous and accessible handmade treasures. Good luck with the mixed berry pie. Yum xx

[comfies]

oh for heaven's sake! i just love these photos! all is balanced indeed.

[kylie]

you were, and still are, 100% gorgeous - happy memories, g.

Kylie
x

[wendy]

your fruits look delicious & I love your super blond hair!

[julie]

Your old photos so made me smile - they are touching and lovely. And those berries..i bet the pie was delish! xxx

[gracia]

Hey there Lottie, Shari, Risa, Lisa S, CrustStation, Brydie, Comfies, kylie, Wendy and Julie,

Delighted, as always, to be able to share these old family photographs of mine with you, all of you. These four photos come from two extremely large, handmade by my Dad, photo albums; the second of the two is particularly heavy and heaving it, splayed open onto the scanner, proved no easy feat.

In the first one you can see my Mum and I, and I think, judging by the photos which neighbour it in the album, we are out the front of the flat in Windsor were we lived for a short while. Clearly something in all that undergrowth was intriguing to me. In the black and white pic, that’s me with my Dad, and this is a favourite photo of mine. Below this, there I am with my Mum and her Mum, Thelma, and my Aunt Elvie (my Mum’s sister), assembled for Anne’s wedding… years later, in my art school days, I would squeeze into this black hand embroidered top of my Mum’s though, it should be pointed out, with less 70s success (I must remember to ask my Mum about those perfect blue shoes, or are they boots, that she is wearing). And, finally, here I am with two of my beloved pet mice; I’ll always have a softer than soft spot for rodents.

Black and white, rounded corners, all of it… I love old family photographs, and I am glad you enjoyed stealing a glimpse.

As to the delicious abundance of summer fruit, the apricots were primarily enjoyed raw. What was left over made its way into bottles of preserves, relish and jam, and crumble also. With the berries, two large, thrown-together, rough pies were made and they were, it goes without saying, delectable.

take care, dear ones.
g xo

[Rachel]

Fantastic website, it is a big inspiration to me and i linked it on my art blog, keep going with your amazing work :)

[amisha]

such beautiful old photographs. and mixed berry pie... e's favorite!! i have never tried to make it though. any good recipe suggestions? :) xox

[bugheart]

how i love
old photographs!
alas
i was
the youngest
of 5 kids
and
family was
uninterested in
photographing
more children
when i came
around.

i love
your expression
in the first one.
a little elf!
xo