The sun was up … the little one ‘fell out’ of bed in eager excitement … her young unco-ordinated body rootling around
for top and trousers … knickers –
what were those …
 |
| Godrevy Lighthouse |
… down the first half and onto the landing – here she
knelt to look out of the window at the sea … that lighthouse, where the family
went to gather seaweed for the garden and have pasty picnics …
 |
| a n other (not me!) |
… her three-year old self vaguely remembered that lure
of the back garden, with the plots of flowers, the box hedging surrounding the
jewels …
 |
| Anemones - bright and glorious: jewel flowers |
… she loved the beautiful colours of the flowers …
similar to those in the stained glass 1920s window – through which the sunlight
blazed its colours …
Little Miss Dumpy – the delightful golden curled
lass - her parent’s firstborn … always
loved being out with Muddy Label in
their garden when they were in Cornwall.
Muddy Label –
one of those nicknames that sticks and is remembered … for Mary and Mabel … the
twisty tongue of Miss Twinkletoes could not say Mary and Mabel – they were
Muddy and Label …  |
| Her jewel box |
Her memory was fading … but the familiar names rang a
bell … those delightful heart-warming moments of yester year …
… then when she was twenty-one … her parents gave
their golden girl the little jewel box … remembrances now of the many decades
of her life … the rainbow jewels are here in her room … she can drift off with
happy memories …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
83 comments:
A lovely tale, very nice blooms shared also!
When I read the opening section, Hilary, I thought it was biographical!
This is lovely.
Plomp, plomp, plomp is SUCH an wonderful description...
Precious memories indeed, and the very best kind of jewel box.
'plomp, plop, plomp' -- a delightful recollection of Little Miss Dumpy. I could see her, feel her excitement to be in the garden. A wonderful way to present Jewel Box. Thank you Hilary!
Pretty words, pretty pictures.
Muddy Label. Too cute.
I adore everything about this. Lovely, lovely take on a jewel box!!
Hari Om
Perfectly painted with words! YAM xx
This was adorable! Great job, Hilary.
Flowers and jewels have the same impact on the eyes and heart. But flowers are naturally occurring and are always magnificent, while jewels have to be carefully shaped by humans.
Very lovely, Hilary!
Oh so lovely, I really liked the image this brought too mind
So charming - this jewel box of memories.
Very charming - is this fiction, or your memories?
I chuckled at your description of the child plomping herself down the stairs. My kids did that when getting down the stairs. Safer too. This is a delightful tale and the memories some items hold for us. That looks like a handpainted jewel box. Liked this, Hilary!
@ Steve - I used to buy anemones for my Mama ... they're special flowers for us as a Cornish family ...
@ David - could almost be ... near enough ... years muddled together - but overall: yes!
@ EC - I put the plop in ... as the plomp, plomp, plomp doesn't always go according to plan does it ... Certainly a goodly mix of happy memories - the jewel box itself I added in ...
@ Denise - thank you ... little chubby 'usses' did plomp around - as do our offspring, or god-ones as I have!
@ Jz - so pleased you enjoyed the memories of early life ...
@ Liz - yes - they were Muddy Label!
@ Jemi - thanks so much ... it delighted me to write it up - brought back so much ...
@ Yam - I'd love to paint like whomever painted the jewel box ... but I do my bit with words - thank you ...
@ Lynda - that's great ... the reaction I love - thank you ...
@ Hels - don't they ... but I think I prefer flowers, though I'd like to have a few jewels too!
@ Denise - many thanks ... happy early memories ...
@ Jo-Anne - that's great if you could 'see' the story - so pleased ...
@ Olga - just pleased you enjoyed the little tale ...
@ Sue - both: memories merging reality with glimpses of life as it probably was ...
@ DG - so good to see you ... they work their way round getting to do what they wanted to do - even at that very early age, don't they? The little box just helped with the story - that part was the made up bit to tie things to a satisfactory finale ...
Thanks everyone - I might be back and around a bit more now ... so see you all soon - cheers Hilary
Beautiful story, Hilary. Great take on the jewel box.
Very beautiful. Great imagery. And quite a rollercoaster of emotions. Well done.
Sweet, little story!
Have a great weekend.
Andrea
Utterly charming - quite a little jewel.
What a lovely memory story. Very visual. I could see her, see her memories, and then see her remembering. Lovely and almost sad...
Such a sweet and colourful story! And the descriptor, "plomp, plomp, plomp" is perfect. ☺ It instantly conjures up a mental image of a cute and chubby little girl. Alas, the muse abandoned me for this prompt. Hopefully, next time. Cheers,
Debbie
What a lovely piece. I can feel that little girl growing up. It will stay with me all day I'm sure.
I thought that this was biographical too!
Hi,
I love positiveness, the joy of encouraging people and seeing hope shine from their eyes. Your stories are an inspiration to me and I always enjoy reading them.
Thanks.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G
@ Mason - thanks so much ... I'm so pleased I found that little anemone box!
@ JL - glad you enjoyed it ...
@ Andrea - fun remembrances ... and thank you for the weekend ahead (you too) ... I hope some warmer sun will appear!
@ Deborah - so glad it resonated ...
@ Lisa - yes I turned it slightly sad at the end - the end of a life ... but one lived full ... but I'm glad I was able to weave a life (or two) into the story ...
@ Debbie - gosh I nearly gave up too ... but had the imagery of the stained glass beaming through - matching the anemones in the garden below. I'm glad the cute and chubby little one rang true ...
My plomp plop plomp ... was meant to be like that ... as when you're wobbly on your limbs - one can miss a little and plop against the balustrade, then regroup and plomp again!
@ Jacqui - thank you ... I'm delighted it'll stay with you - my memories are around now ...
@ Donna - almost ... a bit of matching eras ... but the flowers are a constant - the chubby chops looked after her mother with fresh flowers ... so almost biographical.
@ Pat - you're a star - thank you: I don't think I can do dark really ... but just so pleased you enjoy being here ...
Thanks so much to you all - delighted to see you and I'll be round visiting probably tomorrow! Cheers Hilary
Wonderful story! I loved the bright colors of the flowers, the thoughts of stained glass, the jewel box, and the point of view work from childhood to adulthood.
Such beautiful flowers!
What a beautiful story Hilary. Was this you? Still chuckling about Muddy Label, so adorable!!! <3
Lovely. And wistful. And a bit sad.
hi grandblogmom
love the story. memories are cool. as always, your descriptions are wonderful.
...hugs
@ Tyrean - oh yes those colours always drew my mother and I in ... as too with the rest of the family. And I've always loved stained glass since staying with 'Muddy Label'! Many thanks ...
@ Mark - fresh flowers are always wonderful ...
@ Debby - yes all me ... but drawn together and tidied up for this post - essentially yes.
@ LD - I gave it the gentle twist at the end to bring in the little jewel box ...
@ Lenny - how lovely to see you and thank you so much ... so pleased it resonated for you ...
Cheers to you all - happy early memories for me - but a wonderful era ... all the best for the weekend - Hilary
Lovely story! Pictures, too :). A garden is a jewelbox, isn’t it?
A lovely story beautifully written Hilary.
I echo, Keith. Beautifully written. Well done.
This is just beautiful, Hilary. A garden is the best kind of jewel box. The perfect take on the prompt.
Lovely flowers and the bumping down the stairs created fun pix in my mind. We look at a park which is also lovely, but no delightful blooms to enliven the picture.
That was fun. I especially like the pomp, plump, plomp – describes it perfectly.
Anemones were my mother's favourite flowers but I could never pronounce it properly as a child - I still stumble over it; how Freudian is that?!
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Sweet and touching, Hilary. Loved your use of alliteration to give sound to the story.
Lovely... With so much excitement.
@ Rebecca - oh yes ... particularly in Cornwall ... where little tiny plots (quillets) were planted, so that people could grow what they wanted ... and yes therefore a garden is a jewel box ...
@ Keith - thanks so much ... memories of Cornwall
@ Sandra - delighted you enjoyed it ...
@ Nila - thank you ... the jewel box of memories ... it certainly has been for me of Muddy Label and those days ...
@ Jo - thanks ... sorry you haven't got a park to look out at - the flowers are so delightful at this time year ...
@ Patsy - so pleased you enjoyed it ... it was really meant to be plomp, plop, plomp ... because of the discombulation of that tiny age ... their balance will be regained ...
@ Bazza - anemones are so wonderful ... I always try to buy them for our Cornish family - particularly after our mothers have gone ...that word and others ... I too struggle to remember how to pronounce them ... it's the way it is sometimes ... I laugh ...
@ Lee - thank you ... I'm never sure what I'm writing - just always very happy when people come over to comment ..
Thanks so much to you all - lovely to see you ... cheers and have a very peaceful weekend - Hilary
Hi Bernadette - sorry ... I seem to have not replied to your comment ... delighted you could feel the little one's eagerness ... those days of happy freedom - cheers Hilary
I'm always in awe of writers who can write such great stories at under 1000 words! Wonderful job here with the word pictures (and I've always loved lighthouses!)
Love the names. I can totally see that happening since I do that with my kids too. Beautiful flowers!
This was lovely! So lyrical and it invoked a lot of wonderful images in my mind. Well done!
What a sweet story! I loved the descriptions.
Such a sweet story I could see her there with her chubby legs in the garden Great writing skills
What a sweet story and how lightly and humorously you sailed through her life. Flowers really are the best kind of jewels.
@ Elizabeth - many thanks ... I admire anyone who can write a book, let alone a few like you. So very happy to read this - Godrevy is a famous one for us as a family ...
@ Jean - yes ... kids with their way with words ... 'Muddy Label' makes sense doesn't it. Oh the flowers are just too gorgeous ...
@ LG - many thanks ... it was a lyrical time - I always loved it ...
@ Toi - thank you - the scenes are just there in my mind ...
@ Marja - yes she could so easily have been outside in the warm sun picking little bunches of bright blooms ...
@ Kalpana - I wasn't sure how to tie the threads up and then thought about the latter years with the jewel box ...
Lovely to see you all - those were the days of being tiny - cheers Hilary
What a happy story filled with color and memories. I can easily picture this cute gal excited to see the colorful garden. Thanks for a pretty story!
JQ Rose
Hilary, I know I've said this before, but I love your blog! I love the photos, the language you use to tell a story, the alliteration, the music of it. Thank you, my dear, for a lovely post. Enjoy your weekend!
Wonderful memories coined into a delightful story. You summon the point of view of a three year-old so well. The photographs are stunning. And how to describe the jewel box, precious. Thank you
Have a pleasant Easter to write down even more beautiful memories.
Susan B
Well told. Memories woven together so lovely.
Memories can tell a story though fragmented, can't they? Wonderfully crafted tale, Hilary. My entry is just up: https://rolandyeomans.blogspot.com/2019/04/weprif.html
Memories are like that - flashes of colour and names and places. Visual with economy of words.
@ JQ - so glad you enjoyed my descriptions of the youngster's journey into 'her' garden ...
@ Victoria - wonderful words from you ... many thanks - really appreciate your supportive comments. I hope you're having a blessed Easter ...
@ Susan - delighted to meet you and thank you for coming by. My memories for most of it ... the jewel box .. I'd love to own!
@ Susan - great to see you ... so pleased you enjoyed the memories of yore ...
@ Roland - thank you ... my memories are as you say fragmented through my life - but this was a very early one ...
@ Roland - appreciate your warm words ... I'm usually garrulous! I must try to keep my stories short and sweet or sour/dark - as the plot decides ...
Thanks so much to you all for coming by - have a very blessed and peaceful Easter in these unsettled times ... take care - Hilary
The sweetest memories are in that box. What a lovely journey you have penned.
Happy Easter
Hi Lesley - thanks so much ... my memory bank of those very early days are just beautiful ... cheers Hilary
I worked with people who had dementia for many years. It was always interesting and a little sad to see pictures of them from when they were younger.
I've had too many people close to me succumb to dementia for me to be able to do this sort of work anymore. It became too personal.
Hope your Easter was delightful, Hilary.
I think Muddy and Label is the new rock band everyone is talking about.
What a sweet story! It tells so much in so few words.
Loved the blooms and awesome story!
@ Cie - thanks for coming over ... I'm lucky my family don't seem to suffer with dementia - I was there for my family when they reached the end of their lives.
@ Sandra - we've had a lovely time ...
@ Powdered Toast Man - many thanks - fun idea and certainly Mary and Mabel would be totally bemused by your idea ...
@ Carrie-Anne - it was a delightful period in my life ...
@ Kelly - anemones ... family favourites and they always can fringe or make the centre piece for my little tales ...
Cheers and thanks for being here everyone - all the best Hilary
Happy memories. Those really are the best jewels. Excellent way to turn the phrase.
What a heartfelt story. I love it and you did a great job telling it. You are a great storyteller, my friend.
Teresa
I love Muddy Label. Too cute.
Wonderful memories... real gems!
Lovely writing. I adore that jewel box with the flowers. So pretty. A story that tugs at the heart. :)
~Jess
Good feels post. Is that box wood, cloth covered, or plastic? Neat looking.
Glad you had a blessed Easter.
I don't know if you noticed, but I've been gone for a couple of weeks - my computer crashed and it has taken me forever to get myself going again and I am totally back yet. I may not go back and answer all your letters, but I am here.
Sandie
Love the story and photos! Knickers is a great word!
@ Operation Awesome ... thanks so much - memories do make the best jewels ...
@ Teresa - thanks so much for your generous words ...
@ Michelle - yes Muddy Label ... those early years were wonderful ... and are real gems of memory worth keeping ...
@ Jess - I never had an actual jewel box like that ... but the anemones, stained glass windows in the boarding house and views over the bay are so very real in my memory bank ...
@ Jamie - thank you. The little box is china I think ... I never owned one like that ... but the 'box' was meant to be the plant 'box' which makes wonderful low hedging round a flower bed ...
@ Sandie - thank you ... I did comment on your blog about your computer challenges ... I hope those are now behind you -
@ AFieldtriplife ... many thanks ... glad I'm grown up enough to know how to spell 'knickers'!!
Cheers to you all - and thanks for commenting - Hilary
Lovely photographs to accent a lovely story.
Enjoyed this forray into the past, Hilary- "plomp plop plomp" such an apt description - exactly what my little ones do with their arms full of treasure gathered from the bedroom that I keep just for them, bunk beds and toys and space to play..."plomp, plop, plomp" all the way down...lovely, nostaligic writing, thank you. :-)
*foray ;-) X
Thanks Sandra ...
Hi Deborah - that's great ... that you could imagine this nostalgic tale - and link it to your own grand-children's time at your home ...
Foray is a great word ... and thanks for the wonderful comment and for the noted correction!
Cheers to you both - Hilary
I'm bit late here, Hilary. This was a lovely evocative post, so descriptive of a small child's view...and then later the prize of the jewel box/! Wonderful!
Hi Val - lovely to see you ... I'm just delighted you enjoyed the little story and the fact I could bring in the jewel box to entwine with the anemones through her life and memories ... thankyou! Cheers Hilary
Gorgeous - and love the accompanying illustration. Muddy Label, indeed :)
Thanks Jemima - and yup ... that's what they got called 'Muddy and Label' ... still fun to this day - cheers Hilary
Delightfully written. Loved reading this ... Plomp, plomp, plomp ... so onomatopoeic!
Thanks Pradeep ... a generous comment, which is much appreciated. It was fun to write and brings back memories of my early days - cheers Hilary
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