I took this photo yesterday afternoon from one of Mom’s upper bedrooms, which we call the Blue Room. She’d asked me to capture the incredible clouds of blossoms of her enormous Kwanzan cherry tree, which fill the windows with voluminous pink light, and make you feel you could step right out through the casement and bounce along on softness.
I hadn’t even planned to post this image here, but I found myself staring at it for a good long while this morning. It is the kind of picture I like, because it has more to do with memory and emotion than with being a realistic recording of a time or place.
I was taken back to my bedroom in our house in the Oregon countryside, where I lived from age nine to twelve. Like this room, it was tucked under the eaves, with a peaked roof, and had three casement windows, with proper latches, that swung out wide. And like this room, it was blue and white.
A magic hideaway, a poet’s garret.
But the most magical feature of that long ago haven was the large, old apple tree which grew right outside it. In April, blossoms spilled in over the sill, enveloping my springtime daydreams, and in autumn, I could sit on my white iron bed, lost in the wonderful book on my knees, a blue and white quilt tucked across my lap, and, thus ensconced, swing open the paned window to pluck a perfectly ripened apple.
Even at the time, I knew it was an enchanted place.
It was there that I practiced composition with my Brownie camera, and there where I typed the opening chapter of my first novel (a mystery! yet to be finished!) on an already-antique Corona. And also there where I spent too many days of one summer on my belly, my bottom smeared with calamine lotion after sitting in poison oak in the woods.
A much-loved place, where, wriggled under the covers on a rainy Saturday morning, I would hear Mom call up the stairs to me and my brothers next door, that there was no need to rush down, we could stay in bed and read all day if we wanted to.
Alas, that dear room is no more, and the darling red farmhouse it belonged to has been bulldozed to make way for a mega mansion in the now-trendy Portland suburb, which had been rural and peaceful and pastoral in our time there.
But I thought of my sweet sanctuary this morning, and how, while taking that photo yesterday, I had knelt upon the same charming iron bed, still covered with the same blue and white quilt. And all the intervening miles and years were swept away by that simple image. And there I was, face to face with my younger self. A continuity, I realized, of sorts. Precious and impervious to machinery and progress and the march of time.
Captured and held and dearer than gold.
And so, we take photographs.
xo
– g
Hey G, I love that photo with the Shakespeare book. I've always loved shots with a combination of textures and such. It's really lovely. Plus that book is antique, sort of, at least.
Lovely captures, as always, my dear! Have a beautiful weekend.
what a precious post G. I must say the first photo too took me back to my little bedroom in my Granny's home, a beautiful white house with slate roof and too those pretty wooden windows with the latch handle that I too would swing wide open in the morning filling my lungs with the heavenly Dorset fresh air and would see the wild rabbits hopping away off Gran's veg patch!! There are moments when I am transported back there by the sounds of birds, lambs calling, scent of a climbing rose… Thank you for sharing your wonderful memories, so very precious that your Mum now lives in a place that can conjure these feelings again for you. Catherine x
Your blog is absolutely gorgeous, Georgianna! Wow! I'm adding you to my blogroll right now. xo
Hey! Not fair,not only do you take beautiful photographs but you can write too-this is a lovely post.
Carolyn
Oh Georgianna! What a sweet story! You carried me away. Nice memories to share. I love all the images, but the closeup of the vase with the blossom is amazing! :) I just love stopping by your blog.
Yes, and so we take photographs. Small snippets of time gone by in a flash. Your images and words alike are something to behold! Sheer magic.
Brenda
Your post makes me want to close my eyes and dream along with you! What a beautiful house that must have been, sounds like something I would love to live in.
As always, a joy to come visit!
My, what beautiful photography. It is enchanting.
Woven like magic… I am utterly intrigued this beautiful written (+ photographed) childhood memory!
What beautiful photography and words. This post made me think of past homes that I've loved also. I think these special places really never leave us, they become part of us. You've left me with good feelings and inspiration. Thank you for sharing your memories.
Oh what a beautiful post, Georgianna! Many of your images have the feeling of a memory — a truth that we hold in our hearts. Thank you for sharing your lovely memories. :)
Another lovely post full of poetry and beauty, thank you. And also thank you so much for your warm wishes, I really appreciated you message, it helps sooo much sometimes to receive support like this. Thanks, Love from London x
This is such a beautiful post! Everything is so sweet and sentimental! Loving your gorgeous photos lots! Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!
Thank you very much indeed! I love that many of you shared your memories of a special place, too. Like Karen and Mary said, these places never leave us and stay in our hearts. Thank you all for stopping by. love, – g ♥
Thank you for sharing your childhood memories of such a beautiful place! Absolutely gorgeous, dreamy photos too. I love the pink blossoms! :)
i just came across your blog and i am mesmerized your photography. i love the whimsy + beauty + light in these snapshots.
:)
xo Alison
Oh G, how refreshing it is to call back here and read your wonderful words and see what lovely images you've been shooting lately. This is a wonderful post, it's great to read about memories of how your creative identity was formed and nurtured by your childhood surroundings :) Your Mum sounds like a champion, allowing you to stay in bed and read all day! What a lovely way to foster a love of literature in your children. I'm sorry I've been away from here for so long, but you know the usual story! I'm glad I took the time to stop by though. I hope you are well xx
i almost cry when we lose another old home or building.
your post and photos are beautiful.
Such beautiful images and your descriptive words paint such a wonderful picture of your youth in my mind. I love the clouds of pink blossoms…magical in every way. Hope you are well. xoxo, Kristi
and so we take photographs…
Yes. That is it exactly. Exactly!
Hi Georgianna, thank you for your sweet visit to my blog! I am now back here to find an absolutely beautiful post! Oh, blooming trees always fill the heart with joy and sweet memories! I love these soft dreamy colors of the images and that one with a Shakespeare book is amazing!