Reflections of Family ---

This is a picture of my Dad’s mother when she was just a baby.  SO CUTE!

My sister-in-law, Sharolyn is really great at organizing and home decorating, and when Dad bought his little place here in Sun Lakes, she was on hand to help him FINALLY get some precious family photos out of boxes, framed, and hung in groupings on the wall.

Family photos have always been a thing of awe and wonder for me.  The passing of time.  Did we really look like that?  It seems like only yesterday.

And then there are the photos that came from BEFORE I was born – before my Dad was born, or when he was a small child.  It’s hard to imagine what a parent’s life was like when they were tiny, or to see your grandmother in her youth and beauty holding small children on her lap, the moment captured forever in a black and white photograph.

These photos-of-photos are not the greatest, but they will do for me for now!

This is my Grandmother, Mary Margaret Malcolmson on her wedding day to my Grandfather, William Alfred Wilkinson, Sr. in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

I believe this was about 1939.  Grannie would have been a mere 21 years old, a rare beauty, and this photo of my Grandfather always makes me think he looked much like a movie star from the silver screen.  Grandpa passed away in the mid 1960s from complications of hepatitis contracted on a visit to Mexico—It was quite unexpected, and being the oldest grandchild-- I am the only grandchild that really has any memories of him as I was very small when he passed.

Dad & Grannie, 1942?

My dad, a toe-headed blue eyed blonde was born in 1940.  I love this picture!  This is the only photo I have seen of my Grannie with longish hair.  I used to wonder what life was like for her as the mother of small boys with her husband off to war in the navy.  I imagine her wearing the fashions of the day and looking quite smart as a young wife and mother. What was playing on the radio?  What movies were the "latest" at the theater?  What were the magazine and newspaper headlines of the day?

Uncle Fred, Grannie & Dad

Doesn’t Dad look so cute in his WWII era sailor suit?  I imagine Grannie yet again combing their hair into place and getting them to sit still so this photograph could be taken.  Moments captured in time.  I try to imagine my dad's voice, and what he would have sounded like as a 4 year old.

Grannie and Dad in her later years.

And I can see  my own reflection taking this photo on my phone ---but that’s okay.  This is the Grannie that I remember.  She passed away when she was 82.  A long full life, 3 sons and 6 grandchildren who loved her dearly.

Grannie would have been completely blown away by the technology we have today -- I think she would have gotten a real kick out of it!

The hike didn’t happen yesterday – just a bit too much on the chilly side for going up the mountain.  I ended up doing something I hadn’t done in a long time ---took a nap smack dab in the middle of the afternoon!

The evening was topped off by dinner out with my brother Mark and his wife ---so good to see them and sit and relax and talk over a leisurely meal.

Today is the big transition.  Dad is driving me up to Cottonwood where I’ll be teaching the next couple of days, so I’m sure we will get more quilting related posts going here!

But this time I’m grateful for – it’s about family.  Quilting can wait!