So, I have discovered some great stories about my Great Grandma Nelson who died last August. I feel that need to share them, actually to journal about them.Josephine Nelson - She was baptized on her mother's coffin because she dies 1 month after grandmas birth. At this point she went to live with her grandmother who had four children herself without a living husband. Here my grandmother was raised strictly and by the age of 14 was canning, cooking, quilting etc because her older sister had left the house hold. When it came to school she was torn between her grandmother and her father, just as I was torn between my divorced parents at a young age. At 16 she began working for the Felix family, they owned the local clothing store. Through this job she met her husband whose sister was dating a Felix son.The following story is about my Great Aunt Joan - When my great grandfather left for WWII she thought to herself that he would never return. This caused her to be quiet for the next three years until his safe return. When he arrived home after a drive from Lacrosse my Aunt Joan ran to him in the back seat of the car and squeezed him so tight that he thought she would squeeze him to death. Aunt Joan also mentioned to me that when WWII ended there was a party on Main Street with a bon fire for 2 whole days.These stories are important to me and I wanted to get them recorded. My artwork has been dramatically influenced by these stories and the strength of my grandmothers, especially my great grandmothers. I can't wait to learn more and I hope to be at least half the woman they were.
-March 11th
So, lately I have been pulling from the women in my life, especially my grandmothers therefore I am going to reconnect with them in a spiritual sense. I plan to spend 2 days at my Great Grandma Nelson's old house alone, while I'm there I am going to make an apron that has feminine qualities yet is rough and strong looking.I am then going to spend a day making homemade mints. These were my favorite mints and My great grandma Primmer made them.
-March 14th
Over Spring I had some great discoveries about myself. I did what I could of my plans…The mints were wonderful, even though they didn’t turn out. While making mints I found myself surprised that my hands were getting blisters just like they do in the metals studio..but I too use to think that cooking was too girly…even though I didn’t know I thought this way, it surfaced when I was in awe of the blisters on my hands from stirring, the aching arms, and the fact that they didn’t turn out..it takes talent to cook/bake/make candy. This was an eye opener for sure.
I didn’t make it to my great grandma nelson’s house to make an apron but I did visit it and it’s empty pretty much, not so homey anymore. I did however work on a apron. This too takes talent, which I thought it would. Super fun and creative which I didn’t expect. I also found similarities to metals in the sense that I kept pricking my fingers, which I do in metals all the time.
Now the question is why do I not get the satisfaction I get from metals from these things…the things my grandmothers did?? I feel strong in the studio, but not the kitchen. Maybe this will change now. I’m not for sure.
I also spent about 3 hours with my Great Grandma Mills. This was an amazing time. Even though she wasn’t full of stories to share, other than those of people I don’t really know she did have some. Evelyn will be turning 96 this weekend and she can remember when she was 7…She provided me of stories of WWI. She could remember the women getting together to make quilts and such at the town hall, I even got to see a picture of this. There was a story of the first car in the family. Grandma can’t remember her first ride but when her father went to town to get the model T, her mother kept it a secret and sent the kids outside to play when she knew he would coming down the road. You see, there weren’t many cars in Newton Valley and when drove past the kids always ran to see who it was. Her mother told them to see if they saw anything in road and sure enough a Model T came driving over the hill. And then the unthinkable happened, it pulled in the drive way and it was her father.
I specifically asker her about the Great Depression..and I found out that she had all seven of her babies between 1930 and 1940. Fortunately for my Grandma she lived on a farm so they could grow their own food and such. She told me that no judge anyone because they were all in the same boat, they lived sparingly, they had what they needed and that’s it.
Also while there I learned more about the Mills Family and their trip to the United States from Ireland. My Great Grandfather’s father came from Ireland. I didn’t learn much but the tid bits I did I now have on paper from Newspaper article regarding the family reunion that celebrated 100 years.
Overall it was a great experience!! I can’t wait to learn more about the multiple women in my family!
As for telling Tyler about Whitewater. It went well. We are going to make things work. He is super supportive, it won't be easy but it's worth it!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Springing Self
My Spring Break Plans are not as relaxing as I would have hoped but full of excitement and self discovery...my new goal. This is more of a reminder to myself of what I need to get accomplished while home but also just to let everyone know what I'm up to.
So, lately I have been pulling from the women in my life, especially my grandmothers therefore I am going to reconnect with them in a spiritual sense. I plan to spend 2 days at my Great Grandma Nelson's old house alone, while I'm there I am going to make an apron that has feminine qualities yet is rough and strong looking.
I am then going to spend a day making homemade mints. These were my favorite mints and My great grandma Primmer made them.
Finally I am going to visit with my only living great grandma and take advantage of all her stories I haven't heard.
Now for the even more difficult things...Lately I have been having difficultly deciding where I want to go to school next year...My options were La Crosse or Whitewater but after spending a weekend with a new found friend Dessa I have discovered that I need to stay here - 90% positive. Finally I am enjoying it here and I am finding myself.
When in high school I was a following leader, I saw what needed to be done and I did it but I wasn't necessarily doing what my heart desired, now I want to fight for the things that are most important to me...I still have to figure those things out yet though.
I was never able to make decisions based solely on myself. I was always concerned with what others expected of me and I need to stop doing that.
So, now I have to explain all of this to Tyler...and I don't know how. He knows most of if but I don't know if he understands it. And, I'm afraid. It seems that the stronger I become the weaker our relationship is getting and I don't want that to happen. I love him with all my heart and I never want to lose him. But I have to find myself and I have to have the opportunity to be myself. I'm afraid he won't love me anymore, if I change to much. But I can't keep things suppressed inside, that won't work. It's just scary to think that I could loose him over this....over my self discoveries.
Ahh, I have also learned not to take life so seriously, which is what I'm trying to do in this situation. As scared as I am, I am still happy and still pushing forward with my self discoveries.
We only get this one life and I personally want mine to be fun...not full of all this seriousness. Yuck.
So, lately I have been pulling from the women in my life, especially my grandmothers therefore I am going to reconnect with them in a spiritual sense. I plan to spend 2 days at my Great Grandma Nelson's old house alone, while I'm there I am going to make an apron that has feminine qualities yet is rough and strong looking.
I am then going to spend a day making homemade mints. These were my favorite mints and My great grandma Primmer made them.
Finally I am going to visit with my only living great grandma and take advantage of all her stories I haven't heard.
Now for the even more difficult things...Lately I have been having difficultly deciding where I want to go to school next year...My options were La Crosse or Whitewater but after spending a weekend with a new found friend Dessa I have discovered that I need to stay here - 90% positive. Finally I am enjoying it here and I am finding myself.
When in high school I was a following leader, I saw what needed to be done and I did it but I wasn't necessarily doing what my heart desired, now I want to fight for the things that are most important to me...I still have to figure those things out yet though.
I was never able to make decisions based solely on myself. I was always concerned with what others expected of me and I need to stop doing that.
So, now I have to explain all of this to Tyler...and I don't know how. He knows most of if but I don't know if he understands it. And, I'm afraid. It seems that the stronger I become the weaker our relationship is getting and I don't want that to happen. I love him with all my heart and I never want to lose him. But I have to find myself and I have to have the opportunity to be myself. I'm afraid he won't love me anymore, if I change to much. But I can't keep things suppressed inside, that won't work. It's just scary to think that I could loose him over this....over my self discoveries.
Ahh, I have also learned not to take life so seriously, which is what I'm trying to do in this situation. As scared as I am, I am still happy and still pushing forward with my self discoveries.
We only get this one life and I personally want mine to be fun...not full of all this seriousness. Yuck.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Stories
So, I have discovered some great stories about my Great Grandma Nelson who died last August. I feel that need to share them, actually to journal about them.
Josephine Nelson - She was baptised on her mother's coffin because she dies 1 month after grandmas birth. At this point she went to live with her grandmother who had four children herself without a living husband. Here my grandmother was raised strictly and by the age of 14 was canning, cooking, quilting etc because her older sister had left the house hold. When it came to school she was torn between her grandmother and her father, just as I was torn between my divorced parents at a young age. At 16 she began working for the Felix family, they owned the local clothing store. Through this job she met her husband whose sister was dating a Felix son.
The following story is about my Great Aunt Joan - When my great grandfather left for WWII she thought to herself that he would never return. This caused her to be quiet for the next three years until his safe return. When he arrived home after a drive from Lacrosse my Aunt Joan ran to him in the back seat of the car and squeezed him so tight that he thought she would squeeze him to death. Aunt Joan also mentioned to me that when WWII ended there was a party on Main Street with a bon fire for 2 whole days.
These stories are important to me and I wanted to get them recorded. My artwork has been dramatically influenced by these stories and the strength of my grandmothers, especially my great grandmothers. I can't wait to learn more and I hope to be at least half the woman they were.
On to other topics, I think I'm staying in Whitewater. I need to do what is right for me. And I need to live for me, no one else. This has been very hard for me and I don't believe I've ever lived for myself, so we will see how this goes.
Josephine Nelson - She was baptised on her mother's coffin because she dies 1 month after grandmas birth. At this point she went to live with her grandmother who had four children herself without a living husband. Here my grandmother was raised strictly and by the age of 14 was canning, cooking, quilting etc because her older sister had left the house hold. When it came to school she was torn between her grandmother and her father, just as I was torn between my divorced parents at a young age. At 16 she began working for the Felix family, they owned the local clothing store. Through this job she met her husband whose sister was dating a Felix son.
The following story is about my Great Aunt Joan - When my great grandfather left for WWII she thought to herself that he would never return. This caused her to be quiet for the next three years until his safe return. When he arrived home after a drive from Lacrosse my Aunt Joan ran to him in the back seat of the car and squeezed him so tight that he thought she would squeeze him to death. Aunt Joan also mentioned to me that when WWII ended there was a party on Main Street with a bon fire for 2 whole days.
These stories are important to me and I wanted to get them recorded. My artwork has been dramatically influenced by these stories and the strength of my grandmothers, especially my great grandmothers. I can't wait to learn more and I hope to be at least half the woman they were.
On to other topics, I think I'm staying in Whitewater. I need to do what is right for me. And I need to live for me, no one else. This has been very hard for me and I don't believe I've ever lived for myself, so we will see how this goes.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
First Discovery
recently i have discovered what i have to offer...well at least to my friends.
some people can offer an exciting, spontaneous night
some a night or jokes, drinking, adventure
but i can offer a laid back night. Whether that be at a gallery, a performance or dinner that's what i can offer. a night of sophisticated relaxation and conversation.
my goal, to be the best friend i know how and to embrace what it is i have to offer.
as difficult as it may be, i can't make everyone happy and there's no point in trying.
it is just like your art, if everyone likes it, you're doing something wrong..according to teresa.
some people can offer an exciting, spontaneous night
some a night or jokes, drinking, adventure
but i can offer a laid back night. Whether that be at a gallery, a performance or dinner that's what i can offer. a night of sophisticated relaxation and conversation.
my goal, to be the best friend i know how and to embrace what it is i have to offer.
as difficult as it may be, i can't make everyone happy and there's no point in trying.
it is just like your art, if everyone likes it, you're doing something wrong..according to teresa.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Something New
i feel the need to start something new. at this point in my life i am utterly confused.
where to go? what to do? why am i here? what is important?
the questions don't seem to stop. so here i am, using technology..something i don't do that often to sift through my life bit by bit. i'm not sure i'll enjoy what i find here but i will never know. hopefully i will be able to see growth through these posts and use this to my advantage.
considering my fear, i will start tomorrow. self discovery here i come!!
where to go? what to do? why am i here? what is important?
the questions don't seem to stop. so here i am, using technology..something i don't do that often to sift through my life bit by bit. i'm not sure i'll enjoy what i find here but i will never know. hopefully i will be able to see growth through these posts and use this to my advantage.
considering my fear, i will start tomorrow. self discovery here i come!!
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