Finally, an opportunity to unwrap my Gran’s cookery books and bake. My sister is hosting a morning tea for Mum’s birthday, and I’m looking for something reminiscent to make. I flick through the pages, unsure how practical this idea might be When clearing the old house, I came across two very old books. They areContinue reading “Gran’s Pavlova Recipe”
Category Archives: Family History
An old gardening hat
Trying to be a little more organised, a little more upcycled and a little more … bohemian … As I try, I find I’m standing at a critical juncture, again. If pressed, I could find a critical juncture to stand at every weekend. Today, I ask myself if hanging on to this hat makes meContinue reading “An old gardening hat”
Ownership
Will you please stop fussing over what to write next, just go to the first box, pick up the next object and write about it. (Kewpie Doll was the first object.) So I did. I went to the box, put Kewpie to one side and picked up the scrunched-up paper she was lying on. InsideContinue reading “Ownership”
Objectifying fascination
A fascination with objects must start somewhere. Some people are fascinated by animals. Or nature. Both of these are socially acceptable. People become zoologists or botanists or environmentalists, or tv documentarians. People who are fascinated by objects can become museum curators or conservators. They become collectors if they focus on one type of object. ButContinue reading “Objectifying fascination”
The kewpie doll
Her face hasn’t fared well, and I dare not try to remove the dent. Yet, her eyes are as arresting as ever. This dainty little kewpie doll was found amoung my grandmother’s things. It’s age is unknown, unknowable. When I started digging online into the history of this toy, the spelling was unexpected. I alwaysContinue reading “The kewpie doll”
A useful distraction?
Where does nostalgia fit when there are so many things clamouring for our attention? Knowing and understanding history has its benefits, but at what point do the costs (time, resources, opportunities) outweigh the benefits, particularly when talking about the personal (as distinct from the institutional) collection, maintenance and presentation of family history? The washing upContinue reading “A useful distraction?”
Cherrie Zell 