Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Heirloom Party

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Welcome to everyone participating in the Heirloom Party and to all my readers! If you want to see who is participating, please go to Marie’s Blog, with the great name of Emmacallsmemama and have fun.

For the purposes of this party, I decided to define ‘heirloom’ as something passed down from a family member. I have other things that could be called heirlooms, but today I will concentrate on those things that have a little story.

This is my Mom’s Shirley Temple doll. Yes, her hair needs a bit of work and its on my To Do list. My Mom (who turns 82 today!) got her when she was a little girl. And…my Mom’s name is Shirley. Mom told me she was disappointed that her Shirley Temple doll wasn’t the one made by Ideal, but was a Canadian design. My Grandmother was Canadian, and my Mom was born in Canada, so I guess Grandma went for her native country’s version. I bought a new dress for her a few years back. I love her.


Those of you who read my blog regularly might remember a post I did about this tea chest. This has been in my Mom’s family for many years – I know it goes back to my great-grandmother, at the very least. Tea was a valuable commodity, so it was stored in a chest that was locked. By the time I knew this piece, it was on a shelf at my Grandma’s. It holds letters, the death notices of her two sisters, Maggie and Rhoda, who died in the 1918 flu epidemic, a lock of her youngest sister Rhoda’s hair, a copy of my Great-Grandfather’s estate. Precious, private things. I keep it just the way she kept it.

This was my Grandmother’s baby shoe. I only have one.

These two books are kept in protective bags. The one on the left, “Alices Adventures in Wonderland” was given by my Grandma to her sister Rhoda on Christmas in 1912. Grandma kept it after Rhoda died at the age of 15. Now I have it. The other, “Little Greycoat” was given to my Grandmother in 1904 as a prize for memorizing the second largest amount of Scripture verses in her class. The inscription is too faint to show you, but the handwriting is absolutely beautiful.

This was my great-grandmother’s syrup pitcher. I’ve always loved it. The lid is made of pewter.

My piano. First it was Grandma’s, then it moved to our home so we could all take piano lessons, then my Aunt held onto it for me until I settled down, then I had it shipped to San Diego (where I lived at the time) and then it eventually moved to Mockingbird Hill Cottage. When I was growing up, our piano tuner used to ask if he could buy it, because it has such a beautiful sound. Many of my loved ones have played this piano – I will never part with it.


Finally, my Dad’s toys. This Model T was his toy as a very young boy and Dad will be 86 this September. I don’t have many of his things, so this is doubly precious to me. He made the train car himself as a youngster. I keep these two together on a shelf on my sideboard.

Thanks for stopping by! I have to add this: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!! I love you!

Comments

  2. The toys are adorable, but I especially like your antique books, the artwork is always so beautiful and intricate in older books.

  6. Happy birthday to you, Claudia’s Mom! Claudia, you have so many beautiful heirlooms… How wonderful that you are surrounded by the memories of so many loved ones… Donna

  7. Happy B-day for Mamma from me too. So strong feelings and memories today. Loved what you shared Claudia. I had to translate my post tonight so my mamma can read it too. Ciao e Buona Notte

  8. Hello Claudia – thank you for joining the party! I just love that Shirley Temple doll. Even if it is a Canadian version – she’s precious! Your tea box is beautiful. How special to have those documents and other things from your family. Love the sweet little shoe and children’s books.

    Blessings,
    Marie
    http://emmacallsmemama.com

  9. Such wonderful sentimental treasures you have! Happy Birthday to your MOM!!!!!! I wanted to cry when I saw your Dad’s toys. The fact that he made the train car himself just did me in! It reminded me of my Dad and how much I miss him.

  12. My oh my! You have some very special things. The tea chest, the books, the shoe, the toy trucks. They are all wonderful. I think that those of us that have things passed down to us are very lucky. Not everyone has that. Thank you for sharing your gems. They are magnificant!

  14. What a wonderful post! I love all your pretty things, especially the Shirley Temple doll and the tea chest. The piano is fantastic. I have my mother’s piano and wouldn’t part with it either.

    Jane

  17. Happy Birthday to your mom!

    Your family pieces are wonderful! I especially love the story about the tea chest. How heartbreaking, but beautiful.

    BTW, I love your glasses :)

    rue

  20. Claudia,
    I love all your treasured heirlooms! I especially love your grandmother’s little shoe. All of your things are precious and I enjoyed reading the history behind them!

    Nancy

  22. Claudia, thank you for stopping by my blog.

    I have to tell you that you are so blessed! Not only are the pieces absolutely beautiful, but the stories behind them, and the loved ones who owned them are so precious.

    Your blog is just gorgeous also.

    Have a wonderful Friday!!

    Hugs,
    Jenny

  23. Claudia, what wonderful family treasures! The Shirley Temple doll is adorable! I love her hair just the way it is and I love the syrup pitcher, it’s very unique. Great treasures!

    Cathy ♥

  25. claudia…this is so sweet. so many wonderful memories with your treasures. that tea box and it’s contents really touched my heart.
    thanks for sharing your goodies today~
    chasity

  27. Hi, Claudia, thank you visiting my blog! :O) I love your blog, so I just now started following it. I love your family heirlooms. My grandmother was an antique dealer and she used to have quite a few Shirley Temple dolls at her house (the Ideal ones) in the 60’s and 70’s. She even let me play with them sometimes if I was careful. I also love your blue pottery in your header. It looks like you love the color blue as do I. :O)

  31. Claudia I didn’t know your mom and grandma were Canadian? You never told me? From where?
    I love the baby bootie.
    You have some wonderful treasures from your lovely family.
    Congrat’s on winning Linda’s gifts. They suite you to a “T”.
    Our new rescues, especially Lucky, is also very terrified of thunder storms. I’ve never had a dog that was frightened like that. He shakes and pants uncontrollable. I’m thinking of giving him a benedryl tablet next time. What do you think?
    Happy weekend
    Love Claudie
    xox

  33. I have really enjoyed looking at your heirlooms. Gosh that flu was awful back in 1918..my grandfather had 2 sisters that died then. But the little car brings back memories. My uncle had one when he was a child. He went down in a destroyer off the coast of Italy in WW11…Thanks for showing your heirlooms. Sally

  34. Happy Heirloom Party Claudia! I am running late for the party but I am so glad to be here now. I love your party post and the stories. So sweet and touching! Have a wonderful week. ~ Lynn

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