charm and grandma

Yesterday was a lovely day here in Washington, the backdoor was open letting in the cool fresh spring air.  The kids were playing with Pixie and combing the backyard for sticks and pine cones to throw in the fire pit. While they were all busy I hauled out some of the photos and mementos I inherited from my grandma Marion when she passed away last May. Looking through them at the kitchen table so I could keep an eye on kids, dog, and fire respectfully. I came across this book Charm The Smart Point of View. The book is in the magazine style and is on heavy old-fashioned paper, and was definitely meant to be kept and read over and over again.

The pictures are so amazing as is the advice, and speaks to the heart of a by-gone era. It gives instructions on how to be a lady, proper grooming and how to attract male and female attention in the proper manner. The caption of this picture reads...Youth, beauty, and exquisite grooming do not ensure popularity. Charm is the magnet that draws-and holds attention.  The picture though obviously from a different time is lovely I particularly love the hair styles. My grandma was a extremely popular woman her entire life. Reading the letters she received from soldiers she met at the officer's clubs and dances held in her seaside town of Prince Rupert B.C. Canada during WWII are proof. Grandma was also a very stylish woman always dressing "sharp" as she called it.  I wonder if these instructive magazines, well, and my great-grandma Winifred, instilled that in her, which ever it was we loved her for it.

A gentle look, a softer sigh, a question and a promise. Charm and Romance go hand in hand.  The effortless and sweet way of flirting was a learned art in my grandma's time, no duck-pout pictures, or tiny skirts to be had. Women were to be composed and confident, and were to know their value and strength as women. My grandma was an exceptionally strong woman, opinionated and well spoken, she raised two young boys on her own after her husband died when my dad was a young teenager.

Informality is the greatest test of a woman's breeding.  Though the caption of this photo is a little off putting, the picture is lovely, I really would love to see that dress.

 Raising a daughter is a very complicated and unique experience especially now. I want my daughter to be strong willed, opinionated, and open minded, but I also want her to be sweet , and kind, and to understand the draw I have to things from the past. She has begun to help make bread and she helps a little bit with canning vegetables and making jams. Though she doesn't have the patience to learn yet she sits very close and watches everything I do when I sew and crochet and she often asks if she can learn when she gets older.

My grandma was so proud to have a great-granddaughter, she always wanted a daughter but after my uncle was born my grandfather told her no more kids because he didn't think he would live very long and didn't want to leave her with too many children, Unfortunately he was correct. My grandmother and I had an exceptionally close relationship, spending the night at her house was an almost every weekend event. As a teenager when I wanted to get away it was grandma I called, we would have Chinese food and talk and watch Jeopardy on TV. In the morning we would make pancakes and then go shopping, even if we didn't buy anything it was always fun. When I grew up and started to drive, having dinner and playing cribbage was something we did weekly.  She took me to the theatre, museums and the opera, we saw Baryshnikov, and traveled to Europe together twice. My grandma was my most unique and wonderful friend and I wouldn't be the woman I am now had I not had her, and I miss her every day.

great-grandma Winifred, and grandma Marion Christina Sheppard

grandma

grandma, grandpa, and dad