Thursday, December 29, 2011

On The Fourth Day of Christmas - Liz Fenwick Brings Her Grandmother's Ornament


On the the Fourth day of Christmas Liz Fenwick brings us an old glass bauble for the RNA tree...

Our tree is filled with so many memories that it's hard to choose...the wooden bear from Calgary days, the elephant from Indonesia, the camel from Dubai, The cowboy boot from Houston, the onion dome churches from Russia, painted seashells that children have done, silk China Men from our trip to Beijing, and the list could go on. But for me each year it's the careful unwrapping of the last remaining glass baubles that were my grandmothers. She died long before I was born so each year these fragile pieces connect me to her and to the past.

I remember those childhood days watching the snow falling outside and hours spent dreaming of Christmas lost in the reflections caught in the glass....

I'm now hoping that everyone had a magical Christmas and a wonderful start to the New Year...

You can follow Liz on Twitter here.

Her début novel, THE CORNISH HOUSE, comes out on 24th May 2012...

When artist Maddie inherits a house in Cornwall shortly after the death of her husband, she hopes it will be the fresh start she and her step-daughter Hannah desperately need. 
Trevenen is beautiful but neglected, a rambling house steeped in history. Maddie is enchanted by it and determined to learn as much as she can about its past. As she discovers the stories of generations of women who've lived there before, Maddie begins to feel her life is somehow intertwined within its walls. 
But Maddie's dream of a calm life in the countryside is far from the reality she faces. Still struggling with her grief and battling with Hannah, Maddie is unable to find inspiration for her painting and realises she may face the prospect of having to sell Trevenen, just as she is coming to love it. 
And as Maddie and Hannah pull at the seams of Trevenen's past, the house reveals secrets that have lain hidden for generations. 

6 comments:

Laura James said...

We too have glass baubles going back to my childhood, but with young children and two cats, we look at them but leave them in the box for fear of breakage. I will not part with them but will pass them to my daughter, who I know will take good care of them.
Our tree is adorned with new memories, created by the children - a soft white and gold bootee, a beautiful ballerina, drums and stars and angels, each placed with a sense of occasion and every memory honoured.
This year, my very capable daughter dressed the tree as the rest of us were ill. I think we have started a new tradition.
It is lovely reading about your favourite ornaments and the memories behind them. Thank you for sharing.
Happy New Year to you all.
Laura x

Unknown said...

Laura - your tree sounds lovely. For a few years the precious ornaments were restricted to the highest branches of left in their boxes but fortunately the cats aren't interested any more and my kids are big enough!

Good luck with the new traditions.
lx

Jane Odiwe said...

I love the vintage baubles that come out every year, and the memories that go with them-that's a gorgeous one, Liz!

Unknown said...

Thanks Jane!
lx

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Those baubles remind me of my grandmother's, although I don't have any of them.

My special baubles are ones the children bought me when they were much younger and a Scottie dog bauble from my nephew.

Unknown said...

Debs - maybe you could find a bauble like your grandmother's at an antique shop to add to your children's and your nephew's - love the scottie dog!
lx