Shelves

A thin flat piece of material (usually wood) fastened horizontally at a distance from the floor to hold objects is defined a shelf.  Of course, the objects placed upon the shelves are completely left to the one owning the shelf.  The following picture is such a group of shelves.

These shelves belonged to my Granny Ewen.  The picture was taken in the early 1960's. [Not sure of the exact date.]  It contains the items that Granny thought were important to her.

Let's see.  There are cups and plates along the lower most shelf.  It would certainly be helpful in getting to them when all the family was around to eat.

The next shelf contains a radio, clock and some unclear items.   Music and time...or time for music...or just what time is it...could all be handled from this shelf.

The third shelf contains plants.  It looks like ivy.  Plants growing over the plates, clock, radio, and those things below.  Granny must have been a good plant "grower" and "waterer"  to keep things out those objects below.  [She did love plants.]

The forth and fifth selves contain some objects that were probably not needed very often.  Jugs, fancy cups, a plate nailed to the side, etc., etc...those kinds of things you want to show, but not have any touch. [Or break when I was around.]

The shelves of our lives contain all kinds of stuff.   They tell others what is important to us in a way that nothing else can tell.  These were Granny Ewen's shelves.  What do your shelves tell about you?

IT

Can you believe it.  It is just hanging there.  Move it a little this way...that way...ouch it hurts.  I can't sleep...I can't eat...I can't smile because of it.   Dad just wants to grab hold of it and yank it out.   Mom wants to wiggle it a little at a time until it just falls out.  My brother wants to tie a string around it, then tie the other end of the string to the bedroom door knob, and slam the door shut on it.  What...are you kidding me...it won't work.  

Anyway, it has got to come out sometime.  Maybe if I just pretend it doesn't exist...maybe it will just go away... or fall out all by itself.  Nope...doubt it.   Hey...life will go on in spite of it.  Well enough already...it is time to go out and play... or is it?

Special Events

For most of us, the memory of our first pet is special.  It might have been a puppy, or kitten, or fish, or turtle, or even a snake, or some other sort of critter.  But just having that first pet, becomes a special event.  "You will have to feed it"..."You will have to take care of it"..."You will have to train it"..."You will have to clean-up after all its messes"... were often some of the requirements. 

Here is a picture of Linda Carol.  It must have been one of those special events.  A puppy it is.

My puppy...my puppy!   I have got it safely tucked in my arms, and I will feed it, take care of it, and clean up after it, and sleep with it, and...and give all my love.    Not enough hugs to go around.  Here, take this picture of my new puppy and this special event. 

The Real Jewel of Alfred The Great

A Saxon kingdom in southwestern England produced a fellow named Alfred [also spelled Aelfred] who is given the name "Alfred The Great".  He is credited with saving the Saxon world from the Danes, and ignited the Saxon world with learning and literacy. [It is felt by some historians that the writing of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle began during his life (b. 849-d. 899 AD).

An elaborate gold ornament was found in 1693 with an inscription stating: "Alfred ordered me to be made".  Now just imagine what it would be like to be able to order a "gold" ornament consisting of an enameled plague with your figure in the middle, and your "order" written on the side.  It has become known as "The Alfred Jewel".  It measures about 2 and 1/2 inches, with a sketch of it shown above.  It must have been special to Alfred since it was found near Athelney, Somerset where Alfred took refuge from the Danes in 878 AD.

The sketch of this jewel as drawn above is found on the cover of the book published in 1873 and entered according to "Act of Congress" by Leypoldt, Holt & Williams, in the Office of the Librarian of  Congress.  The title page from the book is shown below.

A hand-book of Anglo-Saxon and early English.  At one time it was owned by Winfield S. Moody, Jr. who has written his name in the upper right.  Now it was Alfred who invited scholars to his court to help him make available books that were "...most necessary for all men to know".  He also directed that all young freemen of adequate means must learn to read English in 887 AD.  Can you believe it.  All this time the jewel of Alfred has been felt to reside in a museum at Oxford clasped in gold and enamel.  But old Hiram Corson knew the truth.  The "Real Jewel of Alfred The Great" lies in the book above.

Imagination

To form a mental image of something not present to the senses can be a powerful tool.  This is especially true for those of us who at times what not to confront and deal with a problem.  Or, it may actually help us deal with the problem.  Childhood trains us to use our imagination.

Here stands Will and Ian, two of my grandsons.   They are trying on their imagination.  Their creative ability has certainly been directed toward shields and capes, but hey...their capes are colorful, and their flying ability is yet to be tested.  "Here we come to save the day", they seem to be saying.   A creation of the mind it is.  At least they shared this day in their world of fantasy.  Childhood is such a world of exploration...and imagination.

School Plays

It would certainly be expected that most children's elementary education includes school plays.  You know those plays that require group participation, cooperation, acting, and those stomach butterflies that generally tell us that something unusual is about to happen.  Getting up in front of people and pretending that you are some character not usually part of the normal day, can produce a lot of these butterflies.

A "bunny rabbit " all dressed up and no place to go except to this school play.  Yelp...there I stand in all my glory, floppy white ears, crossed arms, and plenty of butterflies.  There were a few other kids dressed up a bit, but not like me.  Mom always thought I looked extra cute, but you can judge for yourself.  I was suppose to hop across the stage and not slip on the recently waxed floor.  Overall, I was pretty successful, and for this picture I got to stand right behind the princess that was suppose to come to life after I hopped by her pillowed rest.  Ah...those were the days.  Lights...action...let the school plays continue to train us for life's bigger stages.

Coconut Trees

Trees were a part of my growing up years.  Many days were spent climbing them, eating cherries, apples, pears, and walnuts from them.  Sitting under the shade of them on hot summer days with a little breeze making its way through the branches and leaves.  Now there were plenty of them around my neighborhood, but a palm tree was not one of them.

The picture above shows my Mom [to the right], her sister Faye [to the left], and a first cousin they called "Sissy". [In the middle of course.]  Sissy appears somewhat larger in statue than both Faye and my Mom, but Faye and Sissy seem to share the same facial features, including the red lip stick.   Mom may be about 14, and Faye about 16, and Sissy...well not sure, but would guess she is several years older.  Mom tells me that she usually did not wear lipstick or makeup.  Together, they are pausing for this picture in time.

The picture is taken in front of a back drop that contains a palm tree.  Now I didn't see my first "real" palm tree until our family took a trip to this new place called "Disneyland".  No branches, no real leaves, a lot of funny looking bark, and only a large black fruit called a coconut that you had to use a sledge hammer to get into.  Humm...a coconut tree in Winchester, Kentucky used as a back drop to take pictures.  I imagine that not many folks growing up in Kentucky during WWII would ever see a real palm tree.  That is unless you were in the military and got to that part of the world that had many of them. 

The back drops to our life.  We stand in front of many to get that picture just right.  On this day Mom, Faye, and Sissy shared this back drop.