More Stuff

I pulled out my Mama's sewing box, looking for something.

It is not the box from my childhood, 

it's a replacement of hers from my adult years.

I hold no attachment to this box.

I thought I didn't have a connection to what was inside either.

Then I opened it and my Mama's scent drifted out to greet me.

October will be 9 years since she died and yet, her scent still 

permeates everything she owned.

The material belongings her family now owns.

We all say this.

Open a drawer, a box...unfold a letter and there she is by your side.

Her scent so light, soft and familiar

 that you can almost feel her touch as well.  

You can easily bring up the feel of her soft, veined hands.

Her ways and words rush back to you.

Her love circles you telling you that she has been there all along.

I thought I'd just be saving the wooden spools.

But it now seems there are other things to consider deep within this box.

There is a lot I won't hang onto.

Three thimbles, in varying sizes.  I've never used a thimble.  Ever.

I have no need for all of this thread.  I have my own.

Are these bobbins the same as mine?   Mmmm...

I can check, don't know that I need them though.

 Then I noticed the pink pin box and the 'made by Mom' tags.

Uh-Oh...here come the memories.

And, wait...that gold thread...

is that from my 7th grade Pheasant blouse from my Jr. High sewing class.

OK ~ Set that layer aside...

 Legitimate tools: useful or vintage.

Look at the prices there.

 The third layer down holds a box of every extra button that ever came on an article of clothing my mom bought (well that's how it feels, there's a lot!)

Buttons can be useful.

How many buttons does one need?

 And a hand-drawn diagram of how to thread my machine...

in the hand of young 20 year old, 

newly married and 8 months pregnant me.

I've got that memorized now.

My machine, purchased on lay-away in Reno, NV.

It cost $75.00 and took me three trips to town 

before I could afford to bring it home.  

I was so proud. 

A new sewing machine and my own JC Penney's charge card (a first too).

Cancelled that card last year or so 

when I was frustrated with the way they were handling something.  

I threatened to take my charge business elsewhere.

Employee said OK.

Long gone are the days when the customer came first! lol

I'm really fine with this.

But, you can see how one slip of scribbled on paper 

can erupt a volcano of old memories.

So, do I need most of this stuff?

Where does it go from here?

How do stop wondering if the new owner will embrace

my mama's scent as something wonderful.

 (((sigh)))

Not plastic-coated!

Removed from something at some time

My old tags

"Mom" tag!

Vintage price

Now what?

Anybody want or need anything? ☺

I just closed up Pandora's Box 

and walked out of the room.

May your own memories be sweet 

and your belongings be just right for what you want/need...for who You are.

xoNancy

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2017

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Letting Go

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2012

For days now...maybe even longer, I've been thinking of letting go.

This often happens for me at this time of year.  I'm confident I am not alone in this type of reflection during the New Year season.

Some of that letting go is a reflection on 'stuff' as I have mentioned in the past.  Some of that letting go is of feelings, attitudes or memories that no longer work for me.

Even though it can be hard sometimes, stuff is a lot easier to let go of!

I was reading over at Roz's blogplace tonight.  Her beautiful post inspired me to put something down here to depict what I am feeling, thinking, and doing.

The picture above represents that to me.  It is both 'stuff' and feelings.  I have taken action to let it go.  I have listed these vintage late 1960's wall art for sale on a local FaceBook page.  

I will welcome the few dollars it will bring in, but more importantly, 

I will embrace its absence.

These two wall plaques were sent to me by someone who should have been important to me, but never really earned that place.  I was a child, maybe 10 or 11 years old.  Now when I look at them, I think that this was an odd gift for a child.  My sister received the 'cool' ones with designs of peace or love or something.  I wanted the cool ones...I was old enough - I understood those symbols.  These made no sense to me.  They confused and unsettled me.  But this person didn't really know me, so this is what I got.  They hung in my childhood bedroom because they were mine.  They were the set that this sister got.  So I hung them.  For years.

However, I never liked them.  But I kept them.

I kept them because there was so little connection with this person who should have been important.  I kept them because I thought the few 'things' sent to me showed how this person cared.  I'm not so sure about that anymore.  I'm not sure how or how much that person cared.  It's unimportant now.  It's time to let it go.

Maybe not all of it, all at once.

But, I'm starting with this.

Finding these in a tub in the storage shed confirmed just how ridiculous some of our habits and hanging-on's can be.

Now...what else no longer serves me?

'Rock the Rhythm, Beat the Odds'

Here is a taste of the Rock the Rhythm, Beat the Odds event.  

It was so wonderful to see all of the buses pull up and the kids in their colored t-shirts streaming in.  Two years in the making, I felt proud to see the community come together to promote/support the arts in education, especially during these financially difficult times.

                                         

College of the Canyons, Remo of Remo drums and the local K-12 Arts Education Outreach 

and local school districts came together to put on this great event.  

We are so lucky to have these organizations and companies right here in our valley.  This event was filled with the generosity of Remo Belli (aren't the 'sound shapes' he donated way cool?) and many stars in the music industry donating their time and talent.

Here are some of them:

Mickey Hart - The Grateful Dead, The Mickey Hart Band
John Densmore - The Doors
Rikki Rockett - Poison, Rockett Drum Works
Poncho Sanchez - "the king of conguero"
Gorden Campbell - Jessica Simpson, George Duke
Eric "E-Panda" Hernandez - Bruno Mars, Taio Cruz
Mike Phillips - Janelle Monáe 

HOW COOL IS THAT????

To see a bit more, there are some nice photos at the  

College of the Canyons Cougar online news source.

They really give a feel of what it was like being there.

They have also posted a video.

I personally love drum circles.  I've been to a couple others in years past.  They were a much, much, much smaller gathering being used as a fundraiser for a school I used to work for.  

Yep, even me who shies away from crowds on a regular basis...even me who generally cannot make music on her own, even me who doesn't always hold the beat real well!

If you have never attended a drum circle, I highly recommend it.

There is something magical about a group of people coming together for the first time and being able to create music together!  If you can follow directions...you can participate in a drum circle!  

I particularly like the part where we all end at once!  

BOOM!!!  Silence.

These 2 young women were signing the whole event for the deaf & hard of hearing participants.  I could kind of tell how they were demonstrating the drum patterns.  In this picture they are signing "applause".  That sign I know!

Imagine how it must have FELT to be in the stands surrounded by so much vibration!

There are so many positive benefits that come from drumming together.

Remo does a lot of work with the connection of health and drumming.

If you check out their Health Rhythms page and associated links, 

I'm sure you will find it interesting and inspiring too!

While we may not know for a few weeks if the record was broken according to Guinness's standards, the enjoyment and celebration by all who participated was a definite success!

Now, I think I'll go bang a drum!

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2012

KONY 2012

                                         If you haven't seen this yet, you may be interested.  I haven't had time to do very deep research, so if you learn something related, please share.