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Learning to slow down, because life's too short ~ ~ ~

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Bella had a Little Lamb…

09.21.2021 by Barbara Grant //

Bell & Molly resting

My 12 year old grandchild recently complained to me that the only problem she has with her family is the way they refer to Molly, their beloved blonde lab who has been with them since the year Bell was born. “They call her the dog!” she laments, “But Molly is family; she’s a member of our family.” 

Bell & Molly waiting

I’m pretty sure Molly has always been Bell’s best friend. One of my favorite pictures is one my daughter took of the two of them sitting side by side on the steps watching for the school bus to bring her older brother home.

I felt moved to send her a note in the mail and looked through my selection of cards for something appropriate. I came across one I made of a lamb standing in the framework of a barn door. And then because of Bell’s compassion for animals, I started thinking of the vintage nursery rhyme “Mary had a Little Lamb”.

"Sheep in Doorway" artwork

Most people around my age at least vaguely remember the story. The lamb’s fleece was white as snow. And everywhere Mary went the lamb was sure to go. And sure enough he followed her to school. Even way back in the pioneer days that was against the rules. His presence made the children laugh and play so the Teacher had to turn him out. But still he lingered near and waited patiently till Mary reappeared. And then he couldn’t help himself – he ran to her and laid his head upon her arm communicating that he wasn’t afraid because he trusted Mary to keep him safe. 

Lamb drawing

Her classmates asked the Teacher what made the lamb love Mary so much (and here comes the teaching moment that somehow eluded me all these years). The Teacher told them, “You all know Mary loves the lamb. Do you realize you could also create this type of bond with gentle animals, nourish their trust and make them want to follow you? If you are always kind you can do this, too.” 

Lamb drawing

This is my version of course. I embellished it, because after doing a little research I became enlighten as to the real message of the poem. My eyes were opened to the fact that Mary really did have a little lamb. It’s a true story.

Sarah Josepha Buell Hale

I’m glad I took the time to research this, because I learned some inspiring information about the teacher. It is my own assumption (after putting two & two together) that Mary’s wise teacher was, in real life, the poet who wrote about the incident of a little lamb who followed a girl to school and caused an uproar in the classroom. The author, Sarah Josepha Buell Hale, was born in New Hampshire in 1788 and lived till 1879 – a pretty long life and quite full! 

Lamb drawing

Sarah was not only a writer; she and her husband raised five children, she taught school, became an editor of a Boston-based Ladies Magazine and Literary Gazette and activist. She campaigned for the creation of Thanksgiving to be an American holiday and other worthy causes like the completion of The Bunker Hill Monument! During the push to finally raise the funds for this obelisk in 1830, she published a plea to society to “shake off the dominion of selfishness, and make the object of their ambition, moral and mental excellence, rather than wealth…”

A woman after my own heart. I’m going to tell Bell all about Sarah Josepha Buell Hale!

Lamb drawing

* Attached are the original poem and a few resources.

http://bostonliteraryhistory.com/chapter-4/sarah-josepha-hale-1788–1879-“mary’s-lamb”-poems-our-children-designed-families-sabbath.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Had_a_Little_Lamb

https://www.nps.gov/articles/bunker-hill-monument-fair.htm

https://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/bhm.htm

Categories // Reading Tags // kindness, teaching moments, vintage nursery rhyme

The Tie Project

06.20.2021 by Barbara Grant //

A decade ago my family gathered in our hometown for the monumental task of emptying our parents’ home of things and memories that filled each room. We needed to accomplish this in a weekend! Fortunately I come from a large family; we were able to share the load of physical labor and decision making: what gets saved? what goes to charity? what gets tossed in the big rented garbage bin in the driveway?

The Tie Project

It was by fortune of luck and timing that I happened to be helping in my parents’ bedroom when my sister-in-law checked behind the door to discover my dad’s tie collection hanging on a rack. We were boxing up most of his wardrobe to give to the needy and my hurried inclination was to toss the ties in, also. But Mindy hesitated, ran her hands through the colorful silk designs and said, “Maybe someone could do something creative with these.” I paused, agreed and gathered them into a plastic bag and stashed them in the cabinet of my mom’s old Singer sewing machine (also being saved).

I’m close to my siblings, so it was fun to spend that weekend together at our old home, remembering our childhood. But it was also a harried and emotional time. I’m thankful that Mindy was able to discern the importance of my dad’s ties. It’s not just the beautiful fabric. It’s the memories I have of those neckties that he wore to church on Sundays, to weddings, to funerals. I remember their designs and colors. They’re familiar. My mom shopped for his clothes and made sure he dressed appropriately and looked classy escorting her. Some of those ties had been gifts from us.  

Years passed… 

On one of his visits to my home studio, my super creative grandson Logan was looking for something to do. I showed him the basket of ties, and we thought of various ideas. If I remember correctly, we thought it would be cool to make an ottoman cover. He loves machinery and enjoyed using my sewing machine, even though he could hardly reach the peddle. But visits are never long enough and our project was left unfinished.

  • Tie project 01
  • Tie project 06
  • Tie project 02
  • Tie project 07
  • Tie project 08
  • Tie project 09

The next time he came to visit his younger brother sidetracked us with so many other fun things to do outside. The tie project was ignored and once again remained unfinished. I decided to let him take the ties home to finish on his own time. I knew he’d have fun with it, because he’s the type of kid who needs to stay busy, always learning new things, interested in new technology. (He laments that he has to finish school while what he really wants to do is start his own business and be a CEO.) Anyway, I forgot all about the tie project until three years later…

A box came in the mail that said do not open until Christmas. Logan had grown up and learned how to use his own machines and researched how to quilt. He had started over from the beginning to design a quilt of his great-grandfather’s ties for me. And not only that – he documented his progression through each step of this process by videotaping his work!

  • Logan's tie project 01
    FaceTime with Logan when I opened my gift
  • Logan's tie project 03
    Surprise!

Of course, I was beside myself happy and so touched by his loving gift. For many months I wrapped up in it on the couch in the evenings. But then I realized I was going to cause wear and tear and didn’t want to wreck this work of love and art. It now hangs in the guest bedroom for all to see.  

  • Logan's tie project 05

If you have time to watch The Tie Project video you’ll witness Logan’s fearless creativity! I’ve edited 30 minutes down to less than 15, and because of that I needed to removed his voice explaining all his tips and tricks on how to construct this beautiful and sentimental work of art. That’s a bummer, but I added some nice music 🎶

Categories // Limelights on my friends Tags // cleaning out family home, creative kids, grandson's thoughtfulness, necktie quilt, sentimental gift

Flo Saw Horses

03.13.2021 by Barbara Grant //

Flo Saw Horses ©2016 Barbara Grant

Ideas for my artwork come to me fairly easily. It’s the development of those ideas to fruition, the follow-through to resolve and finish that is the challenge. I’ve learned to stay open to all kinds of inspiration to bring whole projects and individual artworks to completion. I’ve been fortunate to have many good influences.

I want to share the impact of one person who not only inspired the realization of a few paintings, but who also showed me how it is possible to mature and stay young at heart and mind.

Florence was a long-standing member of the Rita & Eli Gecht Book Club at my local library. About ten years ago, my husband and I moved back to Fox Point, a North Shore Village of Milwaukee that we love. And I re-established my library membership. I sat in on a meeting of this book club. As I listened to members share their opinions about that month’s book choice, I pondered if I might join – if it would be a good fit for me. At some point, Flo began to share her thoughts and feelings. I strained to hear her soft, raspy voice across the long table in the conference room crowded with readers. I’m fuzzy on the details, but what I detected from her demeanor was a woman with expansive experience, a passion for life, a keen intelligence and sincere kindness. I kept still and paid attention. 

The book club has become my continuing education since that day. Flo took an interest in me, inviting me to lunch after the meetings. Sometimes others would join us, but many times it was the two of us building a trusted friendship over time. When we first met she was about eighty-four years old (27 years older than me) but accustomed to hanging with “younger” people. Many of her lifelong companions had either passed away or couldn’t keep up with her energy and interests. I found her stories fascinating, and enjoyed the stylish way she presented herself with colorful jewelry, scarves and bags. 

One day she visited my art studio, which is in the lower level of our home. She wanted to see where I spent most of my time. Seeing my workspace through the eyes of another is a revealing experience for me. During this visit, Flo looked across my messy space and said, “I see horses.” I said, “What? Where?” She pointed to a painting on an easel that I’d abandoned, unresolved… Her seeing horses in my abstract expression so delighted me that I laughed out loud! I told her I was naming it “Flo Saw Horses”.

Flo Saw Horses ©2016 Barbara Grant
Flo Saw Horses ©2016 Barbara Grant

Some time later, as this painting hung in the lounge of The Bottle Shop in Lake Geneva, a man sat with his glass of wine long enough to decide to purchase it. The owner said he told her it spoke to him. (I love that😌)

Three years ago when I was recovering from unexpected heart surgery, Flo brought me a huge pot of her home-made chicken soup (my husband carried it in from her car). She is of the Jewish faith and it always amused her when her gentile doctor referred to chicken soup as the Jewish version of penicillin. True, it was quite healing – along with her generous loving gesture. 

Fireball Triptych ©2018 Barbara Grant
Fireball Triptych ©2018 Barbara Grant

One day when I was visiting her home, she asked what I was working on. I told her a triptych of sunsets that needed to be stitched together. She wanted to know what color thread I was going to use, because she had some left over from the crewelwork pillowcase she created to match her new carpeting – Fireball Red! It was perfect. I call this painting “Fireball Triptych”.

I found another use for this thread as I was using my “Three Figures” group in a painting to quote Shakespeare: 

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more...
Staged ©2019 Barbara Grant
Staged ©2019 Barbara Grant

In the autumn of 2020, Flo called and asked with urgency in her voice, “Do you still have that painting with the Shakespeare quote?!” Yes, it was still available. “How much? I’ll send you a check tomorrow!” It was a gift for one of her three sons who had seen a photo of it and expressed interest.

Staged (back)

I wonder if she told him that the thread winding through it was her gift and inspiration for me.

Staged (back)
Staged (back)

Over the years I listened and learned about her background, Jewish traditions, education, two wonderful marriages, children, grandchildren, work and community activities, and her passion for the arts (I swear she must have had season tickets to most of Milwaukee’s theaters!). She wanted to know about my life, too, and enjoyed times my husband could join our company. If my grandchildren visited, I made sure they had the opportunity to meet Flo, because she had become such a positive mentor to me.  

The Recent calls on my phone list Flo’s name on January 7th, the last time we connected. I haven’t deleted it yet. It was nine days later that my friend died peacefully in her sleep. Not of Covid. But because of Covid, I wonder how many people hold on to little pieces of memory this way. Hanging on by a thread…

Fireball Red crewel thread from Flo

Categories // Limelights on my friends Tags // book club, chicken soup, crewel thread, inspirational friends, Shakespeare quote

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