Something From Nothing: Dedicated to my sister, Gail

 

 

Recommended Reading

 

 

      When my older sister Gail was a stay-at-home mother with three young daughters, she had the time and inclination to preserve her children's artistic efforts in creative ways.  She spent hours with her children crafting beautiful things from virtually nothing.  Using materials that she had on hand, she expended very little money on her projects.  The items she made from "nothing" are so much more precious than what she would have bought and given away.  It helps that she has a creative/artistic bent that allows her to see how something can indeed be created from what others would see as useless.       
 

Gail, Eleanor, Margaret and Sheila

Models for a Christmas Card

 

 

     I spent a lot of time with Gail's three daughters before I had children of my own.  I so enjoyed borrowing them for days and nights and weekends.  Of course, my sister was happy enough for them to go with me either singly or as a trio.  We did exciting things together......

like working,

Sheila

 

and dancing,

Margaret

 

and singing. 

Eleanor

 

     One of Gail’s creative inspirations was based on her daughters’ self-portraits drawn with wax crayons in an array of colors.  Sheila was 8, Margaret was 5 and Eleanor was two and a half when Gail had the girls each do a drawing of themselves.  My sister then took the drawings and replicated them into cloth dolls.  It has been 32 years since she made them and my set still holds an honoured place on my dresser and a treasured place in my heart.  I see them everyday. 

 

Self-Portrait Dolls:  Sheila, Margaret and Eleanor

 

The Kelley Girls:

Sheila
      The finished product reflects the complexity of their drawing skill. At age 8, Sheila’s is the most sophisticated, of course, with a symmetrical face, lovely, almost even, blond hair, dazzling eyelashes and an expensive golden pendant hanging around her neck. 

 

Sheila

 

Margaret

Margaret, age 4, has her close-cropped blond hair under control, eyes that are only slightly different in size and a big grin that extends a little higher on one side.  Her nose is only a little off-centre. 

 

  Margaret

Eleanor

      Eleanor, the two and a half year-old, presents a most interesting figure.  The blue eyes are of very different sizes, her smile is a straight line, and her mass of red curls is represented by 3 red circles and a blob of red to the side. 

 

Eleanor

 

      And here they are in action.  Sheila has let her hair down, Margaret welcomes us with open arms, and Eleanor is about to dance a little jig!

My Three Kelley Nieces

 

     A more recent shot of the three girls.  Sheila is still wearing that golden pendant, Margaret's grin is still beaming, and Eleanor still has three red curls!

 

 

 

The Manger Scene:

     Another  treasured gift I received from Gail was a crèche which included Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, a shepherd, a donkey and a sheep.  She made the characters three dimensional from scraps of fabric and stuffing, items she had on hand from previous projects.  Over the 30-plus years that this collection has been a part of our Christmas tradition, the three adult players have lost their headgear, Mary's right eye has enlarged, the shepherd has lost his staff, and the donkey has had surgery on his right shoulder.   Jesus is still sleeping soundly, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying a cloth-covered matchbox.   

 

The Manger Scene

 

 My daughter Julia, born on Christmas Eve, has always taken extreme delight in all things Christmas.  We call her "The Christmas Spirit" in our house. 

Julia, The Christmas Spirit

 

Gail's homemade crèche has given Julia hours of enjoyment over the years as she would play with the characters and give dialogue to their actions.  I was often sitting off in the corner listening carefully and taking mental notes. The following is an excerpt from my Mother Journals, December 8, 1998, when Julia was almost 8 years old. 

Because the crèche is out for Christmas, Julia has been playing the Christmas Story.  Part of the overheard narrative went like this:  “Mary tossed and turned all night because the old man snored.”  The story continued and in reference to Mary she made the following statement, “It isn’t everyday you get pregnant and you don’t know how.”  A little later in her play I hear her say that Mary woke Joseph up from his sleep.  I guess Joseph was annoyed because he said, “Jeesh, I think I liked you better when you were pregnant.”

     Another day when Julia was spending time with the crèche, she came running out to the kitchen, very upset.  "The sheepkiller's stick is broken, the sheepkiller's stick is broken, ”  she wailed.   This turned out to be the shepherd’s staff which was fashioned from a pipe cleaner.

 

Gail and the Next Generation:

What would you do with an empty Pringle can?  Throw it away? 

 

 

NO!  Make an Easter Bunny! 

Gail and her granddaughter, Miss Emily, Easter 2014

 

Keep up the good work, Gail!

 

 

Until next time....

 

The Mother Journals: Dedicated to my Daughters

   The Mother Journals

 

 

      In recognition of Mother's Day, I have a few Mother Stories to share.  My daughter Emma, age 26, has recently moved back into the nest for a couple of months before she relocates to Denver, Colorado.  Emma has been quite generous with suggestions and advice on household matters as she settles back into the house.  She has been a tad critical of my house-keeping skills which, I will admit, are lacking.  The new dynamic in our house has been interesting and there has even been some name calling.  She calls me Hoarder and I call her Boarder. 

 

The Hoarder and the Boarder in Front of the Cluttered Sink

    In the process of moving and changing furniture, Emma has unearthed some of my "Mother Journals" in which I recorded vignettes about the kids as they were growing up.

Some of The Mother Journals

Emma has been enjoying reading about herself as a child and particularly likes this 1992 excerpt from when she was 4 years old. 

       I took a parenting class in January and one evening when I was
       getting ready, the following exchange took place:
                 "Mommy, where are you going?"
                  "To parenting class."
                  "Why do you go there?"
                  "To become a better parent."
                  "Well, is there a sink there?"
                  "A sink?"
                  "Yeah, so you can do the dishes."

Emma, age 4.  Parenting Authority with Blankie

 

 

     Last week one day, I was upstairs puttering around, or maybe even napping when I heard Emma arrive home from work.  I went downstairs and found her in her bib apron and rubber gloves doing the dishes which I had neglected for two days.  She turned away from the sink and looked me in the eye as I entered the kitchen.  "I think you need to go back to parenting class," she said pointedly. 

Poor Parenting Practice

 

       Emma was 3 years old when Julia was born so she had been quite well-established as the only child when she had to adapt to a new sibling.  The following excerpt from the Mother Journal sheds some light on just how she was coping.

               One day while I was looking after some of Julia's
                needs,  Emma asked , "Why don't you call me darling anymore?" 
               Later that same day, Emma said, referring to Julia, "She's not
               the most important thing in the world, you know.  I'm important
               too and so is God."

Emma and Julia

 

     Of course the Mother Journals also have insights into Julia's opinion of my parenting skills.  Julia was 8 years old when we had the following exchange.
 

            "Mommy, do you love Emma with all your heart?"

            "Of course," I answered.

            "Well, then, do you have two hearts? 

Julia:  Heartbreaker in Pink

 

Often the Julia stories have a religious angle to them.  The following relates to both religion and parenting. 
             "It's too bad Jesus didn't have children of his own.  He would have

              been a great parent."

Jesus and the Children

 

Julia was always rather concerned about my appearance. 

                 One day when Julia was about 6 years old, I was home sick

                 from work.  When she ran into my room, I said, "Give me a

                 hug," which she did.  "Do you love me?" I questioned.

                 "Of course I do, Mother dear, even though you look like a total

                 maniac.  Maybe your hair will grow."
                 I had just gotten my hair cut and she obviously did not like it. 

Mommy (Total Maniac) and Julia at the Beach

             

And while looking at wedding pictures of Tom and me in our younger and slimmer days, Julia asked the following insightful question:

               "So how does that make you feel, now that you've got grey hair,    

                 you're fat, and you're starting to get migraines?" 

 

         Mommy and Julia in New York City    

 

And although I may have failed parenting class, being a mother has been and continues to be the best part of my life!

 

Happy Mother's Day to my daughters, Emma and Julia!

 Tucker, Julia and Emma

 

 

 

Until next time.....



My Personal Tribute to Alistair MacLeod

    
Alistair MacLeod
 

      My "relationship" with Alistair MacLeod began in 1978 when, upon my graduation from Acadia University,  I received his book of short stories, The Lost Salt Gift of Blood, as a graduation gift from my cousin Betsy.   This book, consisting of seven short stories, was published in 1976 so I guess I was early in my discovery of this man's writing.  Although I had just completed a BA in English in a Maritime university, I do not remember encountering Alistair MacLeod in my studies. 

My Graduation Gift

 

Loving Inscription

   

     Nova Scotia writer, Ernest Buckler received an honorary degree the day I graduated from Acadia, so, for a moment as I was handed my degree, I shared the stage with a great Canadian author.  I was quietly thrilled about that because I was a fan of Ernest Buckler and I had studied The Mountain and the Valley in the course of my studies. 

 

Ernest Buckler

     I am sure, given my own background, it is not just a coincidence that I was drawn to the stories of both these men who wrote of strong Maritime families with strong rural roots.

Alistair MacLeod
 

     Over the years since I discovered Alistair, I have come to love and admire his writing.  If I have done my math correctly, it has been 36 years since my first encounter with him.  Often described as "a novelist in no hurry", it has not been a race to keep up with his output.  His total works consist of fewer than two dozen short stories and one novel.  It is said that he took 13 years to complete No Great Mischief and that it had to pried from his hands.  He is certainly a writer of "quality" not quantity!

 

  

 

"The Boat"
     Alistair MacLeod's short story, "The Boat" was in the grade 11 English anthology, Echoes, in my teaching years.  The story is about the conflicting expectations parents have for their son who is the main character and narrator.  I always taught that story with Alden Nowlan's poem "Warren Pryor" which offers another perspective on parental expectations and sons.
     One year when I was teaching that story and poem, Alistair MacLeod just happened to be coming to UNB to do a reading.  I was so excited to tell my students that he would be there on a Monday evening and they could all go for free to see him.  I coordinated the study of the story and poem to coincide with the date of his appearance. 
     In "The Boat", the father dies in an apparent fishing accident.  However, it is not clear as to whether the death was an accident or suicide.  We spent a lot of time in class discussing the possibilities but we reached no final conclusion.  Finally I told my students that they could ask that question when they all crowded into Memorial Hall to see Alistair MacLeod on the approaching Monday night.  I assured them I would be there and would save them all seats.  I even suggested they could bring their textbooks and we could get autographs.  Alas, not one student showed up!  There I was alone, with several empty chairs around me.
     Although I was a little disappointed, I settled in to watch and listen to Alistair.  When  the time came for audience questions, I did not have the guts to ask the burning question---accident or suicide.  However, when the formal part of the evening was over, and he was signing autographs of the books he had for sale, I lined up with my Grade 11 English anthology, Echoes, and my 1976 edition of The Lost Salt Gift of Blood. 

Treasured Autograph
 

     Alistair was quite impressed that I had a first edition of his book.  He said that would probably be worth some money on ebay now that it was autographed.  I knew then that Alistair and I had made a Scottish connection over money!  Feeling such tight kinship, I conjured up the courage to explain the grade 11 class discussion over the father's death in "The Boat".  I bluntly said to Alistair MacLeod, "Was it an accident, or did the father commit suicide?"  He looked up at me from under his bushy eyebrows, and with sort of a smile, he said, "I don't know."  The perfect answer. 

The Tarragon Theatre:   
     In October 2012, I attended a stage adaptation of No Great Mischief at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto.  Although the production did not get rave reviews, I was excited to see the theatrical interpretation of this great book.  All but one of the six women in our group had read and loved the book.  There I sat with my daughter, my aunt, my cousin, my niece, and my second cousin watching a story about a Maritime family bound together with Scottish roots, family ties, and common history.   Our own little clan in Row 14.

R.H. Thompson as Alexander MacDonald and David Fox as Calum MacDonald

 

The Frye Festival: 

     The last time I saw Alistair MacLeod in person was just one year ago  when he was interviewed at the 2013 Frye Festival in Moncton by Michael Enright, host of CBC Radio's The Sunday Edition.  Alistair spoke about death, geography, scribblers and ballpoint pens, and the great Canadian novel among other things.  He disclosed that he did not own a computer, a cellphone or an I pad.  As usual, his kindness, generosity, intelligence and sense of humour was evident in his talk and demeanour.  You can hear that interview at the following link.   Michael Enright Interview with Alistair MacLeod at the 2013 Frye Festival
 

Michael Enright

 

Kindness Indeed:  

     Since Alistair MacLeod's death on April 13th, there have been many tributes and remembrances.  The most touching memory I heard was related by Shelagh Rogers, host of CBC Radio's The Next Chapter.   She spoke of a time when she was on a long-term absence from work due to what she termed as a nervous breakdown.  Alistair had won a prestigious American literary award and part of the prize was a public interview.  Alistair was allowed to choose the interviewer and he chose Shelagh.  When he phoned and asked her to do the interview, she responded that she would love to but did not know if she would be able; she had lost confidence.  Alistair said, "Oh, I think we should give it a try."  The interview was a success and Shelagh says, "He helped me back on my feet.  I'll never forget his kindness."
     You can hear more of Shelagh's memories at the following link:  Shelagh Rogers Remembers Alistair MacLeod

Alistair MacLeod and Shelagh Rogers

My Personal Favourites:
     Although I hesitate to play favourites, I do identify Alistair MacLeod and Alice Munro as my favourite Canadian authors.  These two short story masters just happen to have the same initials--A.M.  And here they are together at the 2002 Scottish Studies Society Tartan Day where Alistair was named Scot of the Year. 

Alice Munro and Alistair MacLeod

Memorable quotes from Alistair MacLeod:

"All of us are better when we're loved."

"No one has ever said that life is to be easy. Only that it is to be lived."

"Living in the past is not living up to our potential."

"And then there came into my heart a very great love for my father and I thought it was very much braver to spend a life doing what you really do not want rather than selfishly following forever your own dreams and inclinations."

So long, Alistair.....

 

 

 

The Barbour Cookbook (Dedicated to Donna)

Today's Featured Mittens

Strawberries and Cream

 

     Recently my cousin Donna posted an interesting challenge on our Henderson Relatives Facebook page.  What is your favorite Barbour Cookbook recipe?   Although there were not a lot of responses, those who did respond had fond memories of the cookbook, the recipes and the emotions evoked by food.  

 

 

3rd edition

 

      My tattered copy of this cookbook tells a story or two.  The cover is absolutely filthy and certain pages are stained with splashes and crusted with dough.  There are notes and directions reaching back over the years.  Those splatters and stains, of course, speak to the popularity of the recipes on certain pages. 

 

My Dirty Copy

 

     My favorite recipe is on page 22.....Melting Moments.  I love the alliterative name and the finished product.  They are shortbread-like and really do melt in your mouth. I connect them to my mother and her sister, my Aunt Jean.  When complimented on her Melting Moments, my mother would always say, "Well, thank you, but they aren't as good as Jean's."  

And just below Melting Moments, you find the recipe for Never Fail Cookies which is so encouraging for the novice baker. 

 

 

 Melting Moments

 

     Not only does my BCB evoke tender memories of my mother and my aunt, but it also preserves a bit of my "nuclear family" history. On page 27 of my BCB there is a child-scribed note written beside a recipe for Brownies.  The note, with an arrow pointing toward the brownie recipe, says "This one, Kelly."  It is a message from elementary-aged Julia to middle-school aged Kelly indicating which recipe to use.  Kelly was a good friend of Emma's and they had a brownie baking streak when they were in grade 8.  I probably would not remember that if not for that scribble in the cookbook.  Now it brings back the fondest of memories. 

 

Brownies

 

     And speaking of history, the BCB also enhances the social history of New Brunswick.  One of the features of the Barbour Cookbook (Third Edition) that has always intrigued me is the names of the contributors.  They are often Mrs. Husband's Name.  For example, the recipe for Melting Moments was  contributed by Mrs. Wilmot Giberson and Mrs. Wm. Scott.  There are some contributors who have their own names, but not many.  This edition was published in the 1950s so I suppose that was the standard at that time.  I recently finished a book about Cottage Craft in St. Andrews and the author addresses the practice of using the husband's name when the female employees of that company were listed on a roster in 1917.  She makes no apology, no statement about identity or feminism, but simply says "...the author used the then polite rule of using their husbands', not their own given, names..."

      Cousin Donna's favourite recipe is Walnut Slice found on page 28.  This blurry photo shows the contributor of this recipe used her own given name, Dorothy.  Perhaps she was unmarried. 

 

Walnut Slice

 

     And a history lesson on a more global scale.  My mother and aunts often made War Cake, found on page 7 of the BCB.  As a child in the 60s, the very name of this cake held negative connotations for me.  Who would want to eat a cake called War Cake?  And it was dark and heavy and had raisins in it!  I did not know its history until later when I learned that it was so named because people baked it and sent it overseas to family members during World War1 and 11.  Its ingredients---no milk, butter, eggs---allowed it to be safely shipped from New Brunswick to Europe.  It must have been a welcomed treat for the soldiers.   

 

War Cake

 

     Another feature of the BCB that always amused me is the brevity of instructions.  If you are able to read any of the blurry recipes I have included, you will see that baking directions are a bit sparse:  "Bake 35 to 40 minutes in hot oven.  Bake 30 - 45 minutes in moderate oven.  Bake 1 hour in a slow oven.  Bake until done."  Right.  As it says in the introduction to this cookbook:

 

                      "Most of these recipes have been passed on

                        from mother to daughter over many generations,

                        and were originated before the day of the electric  

                        oven with automatic controls."

 

 

Current History:

     I recently made a chocolate cake for a friend's 59th birthday.  I used a recipe from the Barbour Cookbook and I used my imagination in the decorating of the cake.  The bikinied model on the cake looks like my friend did when she was 28.  The 2 and the 8 were the candles I found in my "candle drawer".  I figured she would rather be 28 than 82 so that determined the positioning of the candles.  Those balloons have been in the candle drawer since Julia turned 8; they are re-used every time someone has a birthday in our house.  I am sorry to say the cake was not my finest but the icing was good.  

 

Birthday Cake for Friend

   . 

 

In Closing....    

      I think of The Barbour Cookbook as a uniquely New Brunswick publication.  It is available at G.E.Barbour Inc. which is located in Sussex, New Brunswick.  G.E. Barbour Inc. has existed since 1867 and currently produces such favourites as King Cole Tea, Barbour's peanut butter, and Sussex cheese.  All of these products are exceptional and are staples in our home.

 

 

 

     I could not confirm the size of the Barbour workforce but this photo suggests that it is a substantial number.  You can access more information and even order your very own Barbour Cookbook at G.E.Barbour Inc.  Buy local!  Support our New Brunswick economy!

 

 

 

Until Next Time.....