Mum gave me this delicate and most beautiful little handkerchief on the weekend. It's a sister to the one
my sister carried on her Wedding day. It belonged to our Great Grandmother.
I feel it's so precious it should be tucked up somewhere secure like the very back of an underwear drawer, hidden from the world until those moments where you just have to pull it out to have a memory jogging peek and feel.
But just for the moment, I hope not to Mum's discomfort, I have to put it by the bedside. And fittingly also right next to my Great Grandmothers jewellery box.
This jewellery box has accompanied me for many many years now, holding precious items of adornment and small mementos and memories......old rings, school badges, family brooches, charms and buttons.....oh how this box has collected buttons! Unfortunately it is quite worse for wear but it is still my priceless treasure.
Despite the obvious aesthetic value, I love having these items close to me when I'm at my most vulnerable self. So old and loved already by a special woman I barely knew, akin and cognate, I can't help but wonder if we are also allied by nature and life.
We've been munching our snow peas straight from the garden for a little while now....mostly plucked by little fingers and eaten immediately....and a few are kindly shared with whoever is lucky enough to be pottering or working in the garden at that moment.
I thought it was about time to have a decent harvest for a full meal or two before they continue to dissipate slowly over the season in this indulgent pattern. Really there is nothing wrong or more satisfying and pleasing than nibbling straight from the garden....besides the regular plucking is actually great to encourage more flowering and therefore more crispy flat green pods of sweetness..... except my intention was to feed the family via family meals with the precious things we grow.
So half my little cache yesterday went home with "Bob the Builder" and most of the other half along with some greens from the patch went into our salad to accompany dinner.
There are plenty of pods out there still maturing nicely and more delicate little white petal faces bowing there heads so I'm sure (and am looking forward to) more backyard plucking and munching will resume while we water, work and potter in the next few days, and then hopefully month or so....who knows if we control ourselves again we may even manage a few more meals as well.
