On the shelves of a large wall unit are photos and keepsakes going back as far as 1888. Across three shelves, I have photos, hand-painted china, shells, a music box, my great-grandmother's photo album and a set of encyclopedias from my father's childhood. In other areas of the house, I have wooden and papier-mache boxes, several candlesticks, and yet more photos.
Plus I have lots of "stuff" from my travels around Australia and the world - keepsakes and photos scrapbooked into albums. I have rocks collected along the way, a piece of pottery, a bullet casing (from when I got to shoot an AK47!), books, ornaments and lots of tourist paraphernalia collected on my travels.
In these days of minimalism and de-cluttering we often forget that keepsakes are a way back to the past, to honour our ancestors and are a great memory jogger for family get-togethers. I can't tell you how often my great-grandmother Montagnat's photo album has been pored over by cousins and aunties; or how often I have been asked about different keepsakes around my house.
My home is certainly NOT minimalist and I love having these objects around me - reminding me of my parents, grandparents, and other relatives whose stories I have been told. While you don't have to go overboard, it is nice to have a few things to display like family photos or other memorabilia - that way when something catches your eye you get that nice, warm remembering feeling.
Stuck to my computer desk with a bit of washi tape is a picture of my Mum - leftover from a Documented Life project in 2015. It's not much, but it is nice photo of her and I often look at it, smile back at her and say hello. I don't see it every day, but when I do it makes me happy.
Some of my memorabilia
Cup & saucer painted in 1888 by my mother's great uncle, Poppy vase painted by my mother, music box with dancing dolly from my great aunt, glass cup from my great uncle, wooden cigarette holder belonging to my Dad
Photos of both my nephews with their father's baby photo behind. Photos of my niece, my parent's wedding, my Nana in her best coat. Shells, pincushion & candlestick in front.
In pride of place on one wall is a large (20" x 24") portrait of my Nana and her two sisters taken around 1900. The rather solemn girl to my right is my Nana Eileen, the middle girl is my great-aunt Margarita (Rita), and the cutie on my left is great-aunt Angela (Angie). As we have a couple of picture framers in the family, I am assuming that the frame was made by a relative.
Footnote
Quite coincidentally, my sister-in-law has to go to the cemetery where my parents are buried and rang today needing a lift (she has busted a couple of bones in her wrist & cannot drive). So tomorrow, while Cheryl discusses recovering her father's ashes, I will make a visit to Mum & Dad, as well as Auntie Angie (music box) & Uncle Jim (glass cup) who are buried nearby. And I will probably say a prayer while I am there!
