Kitchen utensils made by three different generations. The small rolling pin was my mother's made by one of her cousins, the middle spatula was made by my brother and the newest (2002) was made by my daughter. I bet you have lovely versions too in your kitchen.
A cake tin made by my brother at school. I know Nan used it, then it found it's way into mum's cupboard and now it is used in my own kitchen. His name and class is scratched into the back and I get a special feeling every time I wash it up.
Particularly good for making Sesame Seed Squares or Pumpkin Fruit Cake from my grandmother's recipe book.
A crocheted bedspread made by my grandmother for me when I was 13 years old. Still used and useful and treasured. I was taught to crochet at six and I know exactly what goes into making this cover. It has an incredible amount of weight in it and I was shown how to manoeuvre it carefully so it wasn't stretched or the seams strained. Will the next generation appreciate it?
A little tatty but precious nonetheless this panel of lace from my mother's wedding dress.
My nest is so engulfed with nostalgic possessions though that I wonder if I am about to tip the scales towards hoarding. As my mother declutters and downsizes and childhood memories found in odd teacups and dad's swimming prizes make their way towards op shop piles I can't bare to let them go. I feel compelled to rescue and store as the "keeper of the memories". My brothers don't want silver cake forks but their children just might. Does this happen to you? Are you trapped by
"nostalgic materialism"? Is there a word for it? One things for sure, they'll be some "stuff" for the next generation to deal with. I only hope I won't be called upon to downsize before I go.
"nostalgic materialism"? Is there a word for it? One things for sure, they'll be some "stuff" for the next generation to deal with. I only hope I won't be called upon to downsize before I go.
Oh my, that crotchet cover is just beautiful...time and skill and family and love and memory! I have just a few sentimental things ... six napkins my great grandmother stitched and that I could never part with among them. Meg:)
ReplyDeleteI am beswoggled by the amount of stuff in the world. Surely there is no need for the current generation to buy anything at all when we have grannies to inherit cake tins from. I am busy handing on much of my stuff to my children as they set up house, just to get it out of my own place. It is so hard to let go of those memories. The solution - don't buy new, inherit old!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post and lovely treasures. It made me think about my own carefully kept inherited stuff, including three beautiful glasses that my cousin etched at Art College, a tatty old plastic weigher that I still find useful and a fab 1960s flowery ceramic coffee pot and two sandwich plates from the same set. I remember making potfuls of coffee in it for my friends when I was a teenager (some 50 years ago, lol); the plates I use every day and the pot now holds kitchen utensils. Great bit of nostalgia. :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I know JUST how you feel, Tanya!! I too feel compelled to 'look after old stuff for posterity' but am beginning to wonder why? I have so much stuff, all with memories attached and my children are always saying, 'get rid of it mum, move on!' And sometimes I really want to lighten the load but always theres the feeling of "but it was so and so's and its old so I must look after it!!"
ReplyDeleteI read an article recently that the next generation are a minimalist lot and have no use for dark old wooden wardrobes or heavy silverware or...... I feel that may be true and my lot will just hoist my treasures to the tip ;)