Insightful Writings in Unexpected Places

My visit with my parents wasn't all typing and transcribing.  We started out with a visit to the Science Museum which had a very special and fascinating exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls.  A fitting way to start a week that was full of investigating some old family documents!  

Another day found us at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.  So very amazing to process all of the art collections, the new architecture (the new glass wing was completed in 2012) and learn more and marvel about Isabella herself.  Well worth our visit.   My mother and I were surprised when we entered the ladies room...which did not look at all like a public restroom, tiled in Kelly Green squares and with stall doors all bold and brilliant in what reminded us of Marimekko fabric.  We loved the random words of wisdom that were randomly placed on the walls.  And yes I did have to double check on the translations.  My high school French was a long long time ago!

 Very cool stall doors.  The inside latches were cool too.

It was so bright and refreshing!  I liked the long trough sink.

"A secret shared by two is shared with God,

A secret shared by three is shared with everybody."

Think much, speak a little, write nothing.

This French proverb is copied from an enamel plaque that was displayed on the mantle of John Pierpont Morgan's home.  Isabella either saw it or actually acquired the plaque as she collected a little bit of everything.  Actually a lot of everything.   Mom is the one who pointed out how appropriate it is for a bathroom as an anti-graffiti request.  Probably something that Isabella would like.

We asked my dad if there were any words of wisdom displayed in the men's room, but he didn't even know what color the wall tile was.   He was more interested in the details of the famous art theft that occurred at the museum in 1990.  It's the largest unsolved art theft in history.  He was disappointed that after Whitey Bulger was captured no more details about the heist came to light (the artwork has yet to be recovered and the FBI has identified the mob connections).  Perhaps more to come....

Memoirs and Memories

I've spent a week gathering as much information as I can from my mother about her side of the family.  It started out with the notion that I'd be tying up loose ends on her memoirs (which we convinced her to type out a few years ago) but now I am ending up with so much more information that my head is spinning.  I need to make some ancestor baseball cards, as I like to describe them, better known as genealogical cheat sheets!   It's been so interesting fitting all these names together but I swear not even 20 minutes after she tells me about someone I am already asking, "now which one was that guy again?"

The dining room table has been covered with notes and family tree notes.  Even my mom has a difficult time deciphering the old-fashioned kanji...kind of like transcribing Old English. 

I may have known this at one time (back in youth when things went in one ear and out the other) but I am fascinated once again to learn that there are some family lines that can be traced back over 15 generations to the 1500's of feudal Japan!  We already knew on my dad's Scottish side about one relative who can be traced back to nearly the same time period....but on the other side of the world. (This guy fought against Oliver Cromwell and lost and was subsequently thrown in prison at Edinburgh Castle where he  grieved to death).  

I spent one morning at Kinko's copying documents and photos so I can bring them home and go over them when I have a little more time (ha).  I haven't even left for home yet and I already feel I will have to plan another trip back up here to do some more interviewing.... 

The Next Best Thing to a Trip to China

A beautiful October day in MA spent at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem.  Fortunately this is a privately-funded museum so it was not affected by the federal shut down.  Salem's main visitors center was closed.  Imagine all the disappointed tourists and how it affects October business with Salem being  witch headquarters!

 Meanwhile, my parents and I enjoyed a day in one of New England's finest museums.  The legacy of the sailing merchants and sea captains who brought back extraordinary pieces of art and culture is what originally formed the basis of this museum.   There is lots to see, and one of the best exhibits is the Yin Yu Tang Chinese house.  It was brought over from southern China about ten years ago.   We watched a a couple of interesting films on the process of dismantling and reassembling it here at the museum.  It was amazing to see on film the house in its original location in China, and then walk through it here.  The house is 200 hundred years old, dating from the Qing Dynasty.  It is also furnished with authentic household items from the original residents...everything from cooking utensils, bedding, clothing, writing utensils, and posters and propaganda from the Cultural Revolution.   Photos of the house were not allowed (not even outside photos, but not exactly sure why).  I managed to capture a few shots from inside the museum looking out at the house, but of course the architectural fascination is inside the house itself.

The house is situated right off the museum's atrium.

 A peek through the second floor of the museum provided the best view of the rooftop and the clay tiles.  Loved how this window was naturally framed by the ivy and leaves.  The house is built like a box with a central courtyard providing the only light.  None of the bedrooms had any windows.  Exploring inside the house was amazing...like stepping into the pages of Snowflower and the Secret Fan!  I think this could have been her house.   Or...maybe the house that OLan (from The Good Earth) worked in before she got married.....   One of the film documentaries included a wedding in 2003.  A little surprising that the bride even in this day and age was illiterate.  The groom met her working in a quarry.  All the food prep for the wedding feast was done by the women of the household...no wedding caterers for these guys. The groom's side brought over food and other gifts (like a live rooster and hen) in baskets carried on each end of a bamboo pole slung over their shoulders.  The word that came to mind was Primitive with a capital P.  There were so many incongruities:  the bride's house had electricity but the floors were dirt, and chickens were running around.  The kitchen stove was a clay and brick form with wood fire for fuel, but there was a mini van in their "driveway."  The bride wore red lipstick and blue jeans but didn't seem to be that far removed from the females in The Good Earth!
Also, it was a little unnerving watching some of the food prep...slaughtering of the pig and preparing fish, and watching them sauté the fish heads.  Not the most sanitary of conditions!  We left the theatre feeling as if we really had just been transported to China.

When I saw these shoes for bound feet of course I thought of Snow Flower again...

How about that round Chinese bed! This was produced for a foreign merchant, probably in Canton.

These pleasant blue and white design works were produced by a contemporary artist, Michael Lin.  The designs were influenced by oriental motifs on porcelains brought back by Dutch traders.  These blue and white patterns were so refreshing and reminded me of bed linens I would love to have.

Pretty staircase leading from one gallery to the lower level.  Very reminiscent of a ship, or maybe a New England church pulpit.  I would love to have a house with a staircase like this one!


The Taj Mahal!  This is a pure alabaster model from the West Asia collection.  Another destination on my travel bucket list!

Looking Back....

One year ago today!  Happy Anniversary Aya and Alex!  So hard to believe this was the wedding weekend last year.   Biggest party I was ever involved in planning....   and ultimately the most fun! 

 A gorgeous, low-humidity day for a ceremony...who knew August in Atlanta could be so auspicious.

with this ring....

a princess and her hand maidens...

the groom protecting his bride...

Jumping for joy!


Aren't weddings fun...whichever side you are on.  Wonder who among us is NEXT...?!

Update on the Sub Deb Girls

  After our recent beach trip, the Sub Debs girls were feeling great about our weekend and our friendships.  We always seem to have even more contact after such a get together and it is fun to email back and forth about the smallest of things.

    Here we are looking mighty cute (Jane was behind the camera and Karen was picking up shells).

     Ginny always wears her cancer sucks sweatshirt on these trips.  In 2005, she was diagnosed with lymphoma, did two years of treatments and has been rolling along for five years now.  Well last week she found out that her tumor who she calls Bertha is growing again although slowly.  Back to treatment as of this past Wednesday.  The SubDebs have rallied around her but Ginny is the toughest of us all - nothing but a great attitude and looking ahead - already she has a plane ticket to California in July with her son and his family!

     Here's to you Ginny - a fantastic role model for all of us and the strongest Sub Deb Girl of all.  We know you are going to knock Bertha right back out of the ballpark and we are with you all the way!!!

Happy Mothers

Motherhood.  The best thing I ever did.  Also the hardest but most rewarding job I've ever had.  Really. Nothing unique in this observation!  But the realization of these cliche observations becomes even more profound the further you have been away from the "hands-on" part of mothering....  Generation after generation...

Hands Full.    1954.  Tony's mother had her hands full with four children....

and this was a couple of years before Tony was born!

Hands Full, literally.   1961.  My mother with me and my brothers.  This is her passport photo, back in the day before every U.S. citizen is required to have their own passport, no matter how young.  We were going on our first trip to Japan as a family.  By ship.   Sounds like ancient times.

The fun.  1992.  Brendan and me, at his kindergarten Field Day 

(Undokai) at Sarejio Yochien, Tokyo.  

The exasperation.  1966.  Tony's mom keeping an eye on her 

two sons, Tony and Mike, while they keep an eye on her.  West Point, NY.

The wonder.  1990.  Chandler,  2 weeks old, and me.  Chatham, NJ.

The scent.  The snuggle.  Tony's mom with her tenth grandchild, Alex.  1986.  Chatham.

1968.  Garden City in the back yard.  Tony's mom already had her sons standing
at attention,  especially her youngest Tony.

  My mommy and me. Dressed up for Christmas time. Schenectady, NY  1958.

Happy Mother's Day!

Hills and Dales Saturday April 20, 2013

 Here we are on a book club field trip to LaGrange, Georgia to visit an estate called Hills and Dales.  This wasn't a trip connected to any particular book we read, just an excuse for a little Saturday excursion.  Hills and Dales is the family home of the Callaway family (as in Callaway Gardens and Callaway Golf)  The home was built on the original estate of Judge Blount and Sarah Ferrell.   Mrs. Ferrell made it her life's ambition to create a formal garden reminiscent of an  Italian villa.   Her garden was known in town as Ferrell Gardens or The Terraces.   Fuller Callaway purchased the estate from Mrs. Ferrell in 1912 and began construction of his mansion which was completed in 1916.

   In this photo Lori, Susan, Cheryl and I are standing on the steps in front of the formal entrance side of the home.  The more common entrance is on the side with a porte-cochere.  We had a private tour of the house with our guide Joanna.  Photography wasn't allowed inside the house, hence no interior photos for this blog.  We all agreed the home was (surprising for its time) outfitted with some conveniences and luxuries that can be found on many house-hunter wish lists today: things like a full-body spa shower,  master bedroom coffee bar....lovely bright kitchen breakfast area with an appealing black & white tile floor... large kitchen island w/ built in pot rack...a mudroom off the kitchen, to remember a few.   We were lucky to have the whole house and gardens almost completely to ourselves.  What a delight to be in a pretty place on such a pretty day!

Unusual window treatment of espaliered magnolias.

Cheryl, I and Lori are basking in the sunshine!

 The elegant and stately Italian villa which was built in 1916 for
Fuller E. Calloway, Sr.

 Doesn't this espaliered shrub look like a six-fingered hand slapping the pool house...

 Meandering around the house into the formal gardens.

 We were told the long rectangular troughs were for storing the bricks and foundation blocks, but I can't remember why, maybe for maintenance...

 Close up of a calla lily in the greenhouse pool.  Calla lilies were the favorite flower of the  first Mrs. Hallway (Ida Cason Callaway) and have become a Callaway icon.

 Lori admiring the orchids.

Gorgeous white phalaenopsis orchids....they look like they're just begging for a wedding invitation.....

                                  Aren't these polka dot caladiums as cute as can be?

                                         The greenhouse framed by the snowball hydrangea.

The lovely snowball blossoms resembled paper lanterns hanging from the tree....perfect for a wedding photo opp....Can't you just see a bride and groom in this photo?

 An organic arbor formed by some very old cedar trees and framed with wisteria.  We thought this would be just the site for an outdoor wedding.... Insert bride and groom here

....

Lovely view from the garden looking towards the kitchen side of the home.        

                                              Close up of the original Ferrell garden gate.

 The contempletive section...

 This little oriental-style ceramic birdhouse was tucked in the shrubbery near the gate...

                                                  One of the original (read very old) trees...

                                           The formal boxwoods in front of the visitors center.

                                                 Cheryl and Susan at the end of the tour.


I liked this quote found in the tour brochure:
"Life is short, and as we pass this way but once, why not strew our paths with rose petals, so as to leave fragrance on life's way?"....Ida Cason Callaway, 1929.