In her garden it’s the sweet perfume that I remember. Her little bed of roses.
She broke her back in a car accident in the 1930’s and was bent over and frail. We used to laugh saying she was so wrinkled that her wrinkles had wrinkles. She was strict and made us eat things we didn’t like, but always only one or two bites. Because of her I will try anything once……
Because of her I love the fading grandeur of roses, of crumpled faces and the curled up edges of smiling eyes. In a world paranoid about aging I still love the beauty of autumn leaves, vulnerable yet eye catching as any bud in spring.
The gravelly voice, would repeat her favourite rhyme, “her foot slipped, down she fell and broke her alikaboozalam” I never tired of hearing it or of gazing into that puckered up old face full of joy.
PS Updated portfolio based on the seasons here
Catherine each post of you I wondering if you are a professional writer. I can't tell you how many times people are telling me to use make-up to show younger and more beautiful. But I have the meaning the beauty is coming from inside despite the wrinkles or age. Lovely photo's you have made from the roses.
Have a wonderful sunday.
I must say I'm enjoying the fantasy of being a professional writer as you have described!! I wish. And yes beauty comes from the inside but the world doesn't seem to buy into that concept too much:~)
How beautiful, to age gracefully and be treasured .
I think many old ladies are exactly that, treasured!!
The first and last pics blow me away – as they say.. I wrote a poem about an autumn rose, I shall try and dig it out.
Cait it's rose season for sure, would love to see it:~)
Beautiful, words and photos. 'the fading grandeur' of roses struck a chord with me.
Sounds like a very fascinating woman in your life 🙂
xx Jazzy
Thanks, I have always admired that older generation:~))
Even in aging and decay there's beauty….love the little rhyme!
Thanks Kerry, haha, yes her version of very naughty:~))
Beautiful pictures and memories.
Sarah x
Thank you !!
Valuable advice to appreciate the beauty in growing old and a lovely tribute to someone special in your life.
I hope I remember to take my own advice Mairead:~)
Gorgeous photos and text… thanks for the reminder, living in this society makes not easy to find the beauty in ageing gracefully
How true Zena,we better keep reminding ourselves!
Wonderful words and pictures as ever. It's odd that somehow I mind the greying hair less than the wrinkles. I think I need to concentrate on your rose images a little more. Philippa xx
I agree the wrinkles are hard to admire, but I always do on OTHER people!!!
My very favourite of all your posts and that's really saying something!
Thank you Jean, you are always too kind altogether!
So much imagination and passion…love, love, love! And really loving your "about" photo!
Ah sweet Gotham Girl, we must decide to grow old gracefully and with all your dynamism thrown in to the mix:~))
These are beautiful!! and what a sweet remembrance!
PS – I've added this to StumbleUpon – and also to my "flowers" list on SU here –http://www.stumbleupon.com/lists/543071332966090896/flowers
Thank you so much Kerri, you must give me a Stumble lesson some day…..it goes right over my head:~))
Incredible images of a gorgeous apricot rose…a favorite color but I do not have one yet in my garden…I must remedy that. What lovely memories too…I can see those "crumpled faces and the curled up edges of smiling eyes" in the images of the roses here!!
You must get an apricot rose Donna, as a reminder of the beauty of wrinkles:~))
Roses look so good as they fade, not all flowers fare so well. Beautiful images and sentiments as always Catherine 🙂
True Annie, wouldn't exactly identify with a fading daisy in quite the same way!!!
A rose by any name….