Sunday, December 8, 2013

My Mother's House, Revisited




Dear Friends,
My Mom passed away on Sunday, November 24th, 2013
after a long battle with dementia.

I am re-posting this
because I think it's a nice way to remember her
and how beautiful she truly was.
And to help explain where I've been for the past month...

So here goes.



(Originally posted in July, 2012)

I am going home soon, to New Jersey, to visit my Mom.
I hope she still remembers me.

She has dementia now
and
her world has been made very small by her disease.  

But once upon a time,
it was full of style and color and whimsy.

It's what I try to remember about her.

Let me show you.



Mom's house, on an early fall day. 
Kind of understated and elegant on the outside.



 Come inside, though, and see what she was really into...




Mom's house was always a riot of color and fabric and collections.




 The turquoise floral print was her inspiration for the entire first floor.



She used Cranberry glass used as an accent everywhere.




She collected Edna Hibbel prints.




 I think she really liked the breezy, free and colorful style of her work.




And she displayed things with a whimsical touch.




She collected crystal and silver and anything else she liked.
The dining room was her showcase.
She painted it red way before it was trendy.
And yes, the hallway is pink...
I loved that crystal chandelier, but she loved the one in the dining room more. 
It was a family heirloom and she treasured it.



Interesting silver pieces - chocolate pots, teapots, serving pieces galore.





She liked a little drama.


 and a lot of stuff...




 Maybe a little too much stuff...
but always interesting and beautiful.




And in the kitchen, she felt even freer to display things she thought were "Kind of Fun"...
Ice cream cones and Scotties and clowns and lobsters and more.
We spent a lot of time at this table, plotting our adventures together.
I really miss going home to visit her here.




 This is my favorite picture of her.  
She was still well and stylish and I wanted that necklace sooo much.  
She took me to the shop where she got it, but alas, they had no more.  

Never mind.  I have it now.  

I wear it often, especially when I am going someplace I know she would have enjoyed.  
It's kind of like bringing her with me. 

I wish.









Rest in Peace, Mom.
I love you.

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10 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry for your loss. I love your blog, and I have never commented until now. I just wanted you to know that someone in Texas is saying a prayer for you and your family.

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  2. Erin, I am so sorry for your loss. I'm so glad you have all these photos of her home to keep and cherish. The necklace will always make you feel close to her.

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  3. Oh erin. I remember reading this sweet post when you orginally shared it. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

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  4. I too lost my Mom to dementia so just reading your words makes me feel your pain and understand everything you have been through. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

    Zoe

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  5. Oh Erin . . . so tender and rich you memorialize your mom . . . I am sad for you for the loss of her. Such a spirit of her . . . in you . . . she carries on . . .

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  6. Erin, I'm so very sorry that you've lost your dear mother. May peace be with you and your family this holiday season, and forever.

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  7. Erin, I'm also so sorry for your lose of your Mom. I can so relate, my Mom passed near 17 years ago, and time has healed the deep wounds of loss of their physical closeness, I still can feel close to her like through memories, photos, doing things she loved to do. Whenever I sew or knit It is as if we are sitting close together once again. Your Mom looks so pretty in that aqua top. The necklace is so pretty and so happy you wear it, so she is still very close in your heart, and after all that is where love lives.

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  8. Erin, I am new to your blog and was so touched by this post.......your mom's home reminded so much of my childhood home and my own mom......she too collected many things, enjoyed color, her collections, home and family....life......my mom has also passed, and your post brought back many warm memories.....thank you for that and I am so sorry for your loss......

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  9. Oh Erin, I am so very sorry for your loss. I remember this beautiful post the first time you shared it. So full of loving memories and happy times. I am so glad you decided to re-share this. Heartfelt condolences.

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  10. Erin, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your beautiful mother. Dimentia is a terrible thing and takes our loved ones way too soon.

    My thought and prayers are with you and your mom,

    elizabeth

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