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Sunday 9 December 2012

The Keeper & The Fix Me Angel

A week or two ago when I posted this evocative picture of an old couple,
it touched a few hearts.
Quite soon after,
I received a large envelope in the mail.
When I opened it,
I found a pile of precious & lovely things.
Dear, kind Julie from My Threadbear Life had included a copy of this story, The Keeper, for me.
The very first thing I did, was to share it with my Monday phone news listeners..our local phone news service for the blind.
I'd also love to share it with you.

The Keeper

"I grew up in the fifties with practical parents~ a mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had a name for it.
A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed rather than buying new ones.
Their marriage was good, their dreams focussed. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, shirt & a hat & Mum in her house dress, lawn mower inn one hand, dishcloth in the other.
It was the time for fixing things~ a curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, oven door, the hem on a dress. Things we keep. It was a way of life & sometimes it made me crazy. All that fixing, re-heating, renewing.. I wanted just once to be wasteful! Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more. But then my mother died, & on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any "more".
Sometimes what we care about most gets all used up & goes away, never to return. So while we have it~ it's best we love it~ & care for it~ & fix it when it's broken~ & heal it when it's sick.
This is true for marriage~ & old cars~& children with bad report cards~ & dogs with bad hips~ & aging parents~ & grandparents. We keep them because they're worth it~ because we're worth it.
Some things we keep. A best friend that moved away or a classmate that we grew up with. There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special~ & so we keep them close!
Good friends are like the stars....you don't always see them, but you know they are always there."

A little while later I came across this tiny purse.

Inside it I found a card with these words written on it.


Contains beautiful, recycling, valuable lost now found,
 old boxes damp papers, unread books, broken things,
 loft finds, inheritances, gifts, treasures,
 breathing new life into old things.
 Making the unwanted wanted once more.
 Telling a whole new story..look again Nicky Snow.

Just look at her...she's the "Fix Me Angel" isn't she cute?


I guess that's what so many of us have been looking for...a Fix Me Angel.
Which is kind of why there is a story about a baby that has been told & re-told for over 2000 years.
It turns out, we were in need of a little help.
You know, this week..
 I have felt the graze of nastiness,
 the heat of sharp words & the rub of immovable attitudes.
 I have encountered haughtiness & arrogance & people who think they are more important than everyone else
 & it has made me agitated & cross
 but then,
 with relief I have run...
run home...
 to my child-like ways & simple celebrations of gratitude & honour..  
 Silly?...yip!!
 I have been..playing a drum that I found in the Salvation Army.
While it waits for the boys to arrive.
 I have retrieved my violin from the back of the wardrobe, returned it to it's original case..
 sold the other interesting option (someone's getting a startling surprise this Christmas!)
And spent 10 minutes at a time practicing a little old piece of music called Violets.
I would play it for you but I assure you this is music for my ears alone.
 I have hung a short festive bunting
 & tested a little fruit mince...quite often really.
And then,
 I thought of you & my heart went phew..
my kind, sweet visitors & friends...you are so lovely!
This darling old postcard is kindly offered for our use by The Graphics Fairy.
Do you know Floss?
She lives in France & is such an interesting person.
If you like, thanks to Floss, you can pop in here & visit with others sharing some thoughts in this time leading up to Christmas.

MUCH 
 ♥♥♥♥♥

22 comments:

  1. A lovely post as always Catherine.
    That purse is just the cutest.
    I love the keeper story.

    It is something I think of often. How wasteful we are. how little we appreciate what we have. I am trying to learn to live with less. To spend money a little wisely. And when we are done with things find them a nice new home. But as i prepare for Christmas and for us finding a new home.. I look around and see in fact we have far far to much that we do not need... time to sort through all that we own and make some big choices. :)

    Much love
    Alisa

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    1. Hello dear Alisa. I am glad that you like the story. Of course the thing that thrills me the most is that there are wonderful young mothers out there like you who are even contemplating these challenges & actually making the big decisions about "stuff" & guiding your children in to new & healthy thinking. Isn't it great too that you can give away & help others with that which you don't need & buy economically the things that you find that you do need (when you move) mostly through op-shops & the like & through it all still float. Good luck with the changes for next year x0x0x

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  2. Perusing through Pinterest and found your beautiful boards. Now, here I am at your beautiful blog. Oh, what a treat for me tonight!

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  3. Hello Betty!! So glad you came to visit...do hope we'll see you again sometime X

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  4. I loved your post today Catherine - it made me think that life does not have to be complicated, we make it so. I am enjoying some of the simple things in life today and hope to make my home a little more welcoming to the Holy Spirit, Betty (the wood fairy)

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    1. Oh Betty...you are so good at enjoying & seeing the simple things. I like seeing through your eyes. I quite often mention you in chatting with Rob & I always say "Betty.. Betty the wood fairy" & then he knows exactly who I mean & it always makes me smile. Hope your week is full of good simple things. x0x0x

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  5. so much here to read and think about - thanks Catherine. I'm unwell this morning and able to go to Church, so I appreciate the Advent Pauses I can read instead! blessings x

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    1. Hello Angela..I do hope you're feeling better now or at least on the mend. That was a nice gentle thing to be doing on your Sunday morning...reading through all the "pauses" while resting. Lovely to see you x0x0x

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  6. That little "fix me" angel is so appropriate. We all need fixing a bit. Sweet post and good pictures. Will look into your minced fruit; it looks luscious.

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    1. Hello Nancy..thanks for visiting & your nice comments. Indeed I agree that we all need fixing a bit & sometimes we need one another to be the fix me angel. I am giving the little purse as a gift & have popped in to it some rescue remedy lozenges..I think they'll be perfect. Have a good week x0x0x

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  7. Catherine, there's a fine line...and I fall off with great regularity!...in keeping and not keeping. As soon as I give or throw away, I find it was *exactly* what I needed for xxxxx. Our old farmhouse is stuffed to the rafters of a 100 years of living and life...it's so difficult to know what to do.
    This was a wonderful post...poignant and memorable. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

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    1. Ah yes, Sandra...ever the pragmatist. I think that these reflections are more in context of the throw away society than the 100 year accumulation! I am learning to make labels...so that I can remember what I put where & trying to practice some commonsense along with that. Merry Christmas to you to it's been such a delight to journey with you through this past eventful year x0x0x

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  8. Your post is beautiful, both visually and spiritually. Thank you so much for sharing the story and the photos of your lovely home. God bless.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind & encouraging comments...so sweet of you. God Bless you too. x0x0x

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  9. You too are an interesting person. Oh I do love coming to your house! Is there any fruit mince left? I think I prefer the summer coloured New Zealand version!

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    1. Isn't that the lovely thing about blogging Mags...there are so many interesting people out "there" to meet & share this particular journey with. I haven't quite polished off the fruit mince yet, although with everything plumping up so much it doesn't look particularly mincey. Yes, I quite like the blond version myself. Never know, it may yet become a cake! I'll pop the kettle on shall I? Much love x0x0x

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  10. I love the picture at the beginning. It speaks volumes. Thank you.

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    1. Hello, thanks for popping in. Yes it's a keeper all by itself, I reckon. Just that picture alone sums it all up really : )

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  11. Hello Catherine, a lovely heartwarming post - 2 things, firstly the verse, I remember my Mum washing/re-using tinfoil & it drove me crazy too!! Secondly when I see Mr Wolf with his sore joints & his jippy hips I think of this verse & I be Extra specially kind to him. Hes an old dog now.

    Secondly, regards the lady (or person) that was nasty to you . . .I have had the same experience last week with a lady in the cottage who broke something & was so awful to me over it - I too ran "home" to lick my wounds. Are we silly?? No I dont think so -we certainly wouldnt treat anyone like that.
    I Love your fruit mince & wish I could reach right into my screen & taste it!!!! Have a great week dear friend, Big Hugs, Julie Xox
    (ps. adore that bunting also)

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    1. Oh that's funny Julie...& especially because tinfoil goes all odd & wrinkly if you even once try to reuse it..yuk! Just imagine tin foil hanging on the line amidst the washing lol!! Ah yes, Mr Wolf is the perfect example of the meaning of the story..old & endearing & time is running out.
      Thank goodness you get the other bit & no we are not silly..soft hearts are just more vulnerable...silly cow breaking your stuff & not caring!
      Mm the fruit stuff is truly delicious, however, not sure what it should now become. I haven't put the grated apple into it yet. Maybe it might end up a cake : ) Big hug to you too. I'd really like some rain...got any to spare? Catherine x0x0x

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  12. Oh, your decor is so pink and festive, so YOU!
    I love your thinking, good friend!

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  13. Lovely post and beautiful how it all fits together!

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So lovely of you to leave a comment. Thank you!! So sorry if you've tried to leave one & it hasn't worked. You are welcome to email me at catherine@sunshinevintage.nz instead, if you'd like to, much love Catherine♥

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