What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. ~~ Emerson
The weather is scheduled, according to the forecasters, to be stormy and cloudy the rest of the week. I sit and watch gloomy skies outside my window with Mr. Bluejay flitting from branch to branch of the chinaberry tree. The world around me is awash in color. Leaves have grown overnight from tiny little sprouts to a green blanket that isolates me in my treehouse of a den.
The house is silent except for the snoring dogs and the refrigerator humming - my mother's clock strikes the hour. The clock my father traded work for so mom could have a chiming clock that reminded her of her childhood. I hated chiming clocks growing up but now it's thing to smile about. When I was a child, my brother was sick and my father worked a lot of odd jobs on the weekend to bring home extra money...or the occasional barter. Jobs at Roper's turned into birthday presents of rings or watches. My father could build almost anything out of what seemed to be cheap pine, a saw, nails and wood glue. He built furniture out on the back porch and I would love to sit and smell the saw dust.
One year for Christmas, my father built my sister a cradle. A beautiful cradle and she got her first Madame Alexander baby doll, Elizabeth. Today, it stands the test of time. In fact, GA is plotting to get my sister's cradle. Her current strategy is to convince Jean-Marie that she's too old for a cradle and she doesn't play with her dolls anymore. I don't think it's working.
I love that story of how your dad got that clock for your mom. He sounds like a wonderful man! And that cradle, it will be cherished in your family for years to come, I love anything that gets handed down to V!
ReplyDeletei love having a handy people in my life. my grandpa is one of those guys .. can build & fix anything. amazing!
ReplyDeletegreat story :-)
my dad likes to work with wood and has been doing a lot of turning for the last several years. and now he is getting in to furniture a bit, including the rocking chairs he has made for each of his 4 kids. it is nice having someone around that is handy and talented and makes things that you can enjoy for a lifetime. :)
ReplyDeleteYour family sounds so different than mine growing up. How lucky you were to have a dad to make you things that will be cherished for years to come. A lovely memory story.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet memoir! We never had a quiet house where I was raised...if there was a clicking clock, I never heard it!
ReplyDeleteThe dogs snoring and the fridge humming...best line!
ReplyDeletewhat wonderful memories
ReplyDeleteMy Daddy.... (yes, I've been grown up for many years and he's gone now but he's still MY DADDY!) built me a sled, a doll cradle, and for my teenage years a bookcase headboard for my bed. There is nothing as precious as a parent who creates things for children.
ReplyDeletethe fact that you are sitting in a wash of color makes me soooo jealous....as it's still brown here with the gloomy forecast of rain....and maybe even some snow this weekend....sheesh !
ReplyDeletemy hubby is one of those guys who can make anything and it amazes me...and lucky for my son, even though he won't appreciate it for years, his dad has taught him how to use every tool to make and do just about anything....actually it will probably be his wife someday that will be also be the happiest...
What wonderful appreciated times, and you always uplift my spirit :))
ReplyDeleteBrought me back! I recall sawdust on the shop floor and the hum of the skill saw too. Great memories.
ReplyDeletewhat a nice memory that your chiming clock brings to your mind. i love a chiming clock - i have childhood memories of the ritual dad would go through each night winding the grandfather clock, pulling the chains of the cuckoo clock, and winding the many others that we had. oh and the smell of sawdust - i loved playing in his shop, building things with all the scraps. my dad stills builds me furniture today (he's 83)
ReplyDeletelovely memory...you are truly blessed! ~Happy s p r i n g*
ReplyDeleteMy Spring is Awash in your lovely memory. Thank you for sharing. Coming from someone who likes to work with their hands and especially loves the smell of fresh cut pine the only thing I like better is the smell of Freshly sanded Cedar or Mahogany oh and a new coat of Varnish or stain.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing like a silent house.
ReplyDeleteOr a gift given in love.