Sunday, October 2, 2011

gathering keepsakes for remembering


When my mother died eleven years ago, she had a beautiful Philodendran plant.
A cutting from that still living Philodendran is the first thing
I chose to put into my dia de los muertos shrine.


She canned many fruits and vegetables through the years.
The plant is put into a ball jar to represent that wonderful home making ability she had.
She collected owls. One of her owl necklaces is wrapped around the jar.
Thus my dia de los muertos shrine has begun.

Linked to dia de los muertos
Thank you rebecca and Stephanie.
xx
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15 comments:

  1. rebeccaOctober 2, 2011 at 1:21 PM

    oh gemma this is what dia de los muertos is all about, the intimacy of honoring. i love that i now know a few wonderful things about your mother. that she collecting owls, that she was a woman who canned delicious fruits and vegetables, that she loved plants, and her family.
    thank you for beginning your cherished shrine with all of us.

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  2. GlorV1October 2, 2011 at 1:25 PM

    Glad you are joining us this year Gemma. It's a wonderful tradition. I love the plant and the jar and owl and how it symbolizes your mom.

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  3. Miss RobynOctober 2, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    you inspire me to take part. this is beautiful.. love, love it!!

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  4. susannaOctober 2, 2011 at 5:15 PM

    Ohhh, what a meaningful piece. Rebecca is right - this is what dia de los muertos is all about.

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  5. susannaOctober 2, 2011 at 5:16 PM

    PS: You've inspired me to create a piece about my father - something for Dia de Bloglandia but also something that I can display year 'round. Thank you for that.

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  6. Janet GhioOctober 2, 2011 at 6:27 PM

    I love the beginnings of your shrine for your mother.

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  7. yoboroboOctober 2, 2011 at 6:50 PM

    I love getting to know your mom a little bit. What a wonderful thing you have done, to keep that plant as a remembrance, and a reminder of life. Thank you for sharing this!

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  8. AnonymousOctober 2, 2011 at 8:25 PM

    Gemma, yes YES!! these little personal tributes are what it is all about.

    thank you so much for joining us!

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  9. Fran aka RedondowriterOctober 2, 2011 at 8:41 PM

    I love how you have shown us how we can honor our loved ones. We never ever get over our losses; we just learn how to continue living. Death does not end a relationship--"I Never Sang For My Father."

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  10. Dawn ElliottOctober 2, 2011 at 10:16 PM

    Such a touching and heartfelt beginning it is! Beautiful!

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  11. Priti LisaOctober 3, 2011 at 9:37 AM

    You have created a wonderful beginning...already a full circle.
    I love when every piece of a puzzle has a purpose and a meaning.
    PS: I have the same plant of my grandmother's...it is crawling from room to room...♥♥♥

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  12. CherylOctober 3, 2011 at 9:46 PM

    Very pretty beginning!

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  13. SpadomanOctober 4, 2011 at 4:39 AM

    I posted my Los Dias article from the road and didn't get much time for visiting others until this morning. I love your remembrances. They are all there, created into a beautiful piece. When my daughter passed in 1991, we went to her apartment and cleaned it out with the help of friends. The friends took the small potted plant.
    They brought it to nus 15 years later and it was still alive, but its growth somewhat stunted, also in the same little pot.
    We repotted it and it now stands 4 feet tall and many cuttings have gone to others including her sisters, to adorn their homes.
    Love the idea that you have something physical and alive to hold on to. Thank you for sharing.

    peace

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  14. J COctober 6, 2011 at 6:32 AM

    Beautiful and heartfelt Gemma. Thanks for sharing. xoxo

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  15. Serena LewisOctober 9, 2011 at 3:18 AM

    A beautiful tribute to your mother, Gemma. xo

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