let me tell you about Florence

for some reason, at various stages on my journey.. things reveal themselves to me... I notice things that remind me of an ancestor... recently it was Laura.. and now the past week, my memories are being stirred once again but this time by my paternal Grandmother - Florence Emily Tester... she died on my 10th birthday.. January 1st 1968... creating another bond.. she was one of those old grandmas.. you know, the ones with the big aprons, crinkly saggy necks, the kind of skin you want to dig your little fingers into and snuggle against.. making you safe. she smelled of lavender, a no nonsense grandma... I can't remember her giving me a cuddle.. but I can remember her soup, her damper and her roast dinners... and I have memories of her home... just lately, she is around me.. I am remembering things and I am seeing reminders of her in my daily life... where is she taking me? I have an idea but nothing I can put words to just yet.

what triggered these memories off was a gorgeous set of words that I discovered on Gemma's blog:

All year round she kept racks full of plants in pots standing on green painted wooden steps. There were rare geraniums, dwarf rose bushes with misty white and pink plumes. ~ Colette
when I read them, I was transported back to the driveway of my grandma's home.. where she grew the most amazing hydrangeas.... they grew along the side of the house in the driveway.. the same driveway that was shaded by a big tree.. the same driveway where my uncles would park their cars when they came home for lunch during their working week.. the house was an old house.. ancient to my little girl self..

at the door was a trusty old mat
and an old cement frog(the exact same one that sat outside my Grandmas door!!..when she owned him, he had a small plant growing out his mouth)..
and up the back in front of the shed was a puddle where I use to catch tadpoles...
when you walked in the door on the right was a set of ricketty steps that took you down into the bathroom where a huge cast iron bath sat..
on the left as you walked in the front door was the kitchen entrance which was a galley shaped one.. on the left the big fuel stove, the sink and benches.. on the right was an old dresser.. at the end was a scrubbed pine table where she use to roll her pastry.. then you turned right and into the dining room..

where there was a gorgeous timber window with a lace curtain that fluttered in the breeze..
the dining room had a huge australian cedar table and chairs with a sideboard to match.. this is where the family sat when we had dinner with at their house.. I remember the plum puddings at christmas time.. I always seemed to get a sixpence !! off the dining room was grandma & grandfathers bedroom...

a big brass & iron bed
and under it was the potty for nightime use..
back outside and on the left of the driveway was the vegie garden.. I remember walking with Grandfather around the patch picking lettuce, spring onions and cucumbers.. there is nothing better than absolutely fresh vegies..
along the front of the house ran a verandah, enclosed with trellis for privacy and an old settee was made up for afternoon naps...
My grandma crocheted too.. she won prizes for her crocheted blankets.. she played the organ.. She was a mother of 7 boys, no girls, she wore hats and on the days she didn't, she always had a hair net on....I can't remember much more.. I have tried tracing her family tree but can't go back very far.. did she love her life or did it just happen to her? is she now making herself known to me, to urge me on in my quest?..

and being inspired by Gemma's trusty map.. I drew a sketch of my grandma's home.