Monday, 23 July 2018

Family Tree



FOR A.W. (1920 - 2018) 




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A mother bird 

falls from her perch

Lands in her family tree 

*

One of mum's favourite hobbies was researching her family tree. Another hobby was painting. It was something she started doing at the age of 80. She often painted her own greeting cards. Mostly they were small aquarelles - pictures of flowers she'd happen to have in the house. Sometimes she'd paint a bird, maybe a robin seen through the garden window. She had a delicate and fine style. Inspired by her cards I painted the above picture some time ago but deliberately left it unfinished. This morning I painted the sky with black ink to bring out the vibrancy of the colours. Now it's finished. The family tree. What odd birds we all are.



25 comments:

  1. I imagine you are the bright green one at the top?

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  2. Is the red bird a Dodo? Think I would like to be free like a bird and fly where ever I wanted. Great painting.

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    1. The red one is my brother.

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    2. He like Man U so I don't know if that makes him a dodo. ;-)

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    3. Thanks Dave, I'll pass it on ;-)

      As for me, last time I was at Old Trafford George Best was playing . . .

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  3. I like the colourful painting. I wonder what the birds are looking at to the left of the picture. You all like very wise birds in your family tree, I was trying to single out the wisest, but you all look very wise.

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    1. It reminds me of Joan Miro.

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    2. Thanks Rachel. I think the 0wl is the wisest. But I don't really know how to judge wisdom. So I could be wrong.

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    3. Has you mother recently passes away?

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    4. I am sorry to hear that. I wondered recently about you. I hope you are alright. I miss my mother a lot. x

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    5. My mother was also born in 1920.

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    6. In that case 1920 was a very good year. I have some beautiful memories to sustain me.

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    7. I'd also asked but then deleted my comment, because I don’t know the etiquette, and asked you of your siblings instead. I am sorry, my condolences to you and your family. x

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    8. Grazie Maria, you are very kind. I had originally put 'In Memoriam' at the top but I thought it was too heavy, too serious if you like. When my sister died nobody was allowed to wear black at the funeral. And everybody was given a daffodil to wear. We are a little crazy, but I hope in a nice way. Ciao, G.

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  4. __ We, the small pieces. _m

    from the oven
    moms are that cakes frosting
    small pieces

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    1. Thanks Magyar. Mum sometimes said as she got on in years that she was looking forward to the next great adventure. She'll contact me from the other side if it's possible. Or maybe one of the others. I await communication!

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  5. Replies
    1. Thanks Crafty! Police were called to a street in Vienna where crows were viciously attacking passers by. Some people were injured. On investigation it was discovered that a baby crow had fallen from the nest. He was taken to a bird sanctuary and there was no more trouble from the parents! Hope the Ravens up north are all behaving themselves.

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  6. I like the painting! How many siblings are there in your family, Gwil?
    Greetings Maria x

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    1. Ciao Maria, I'm glad you like it. We are four siblings. Mum was the eldest of seven, but one child who was called William died very young. People said that I was him when I was born.

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  7. Nice job. The black brings it all together. My own mother's favourite pastimes were dam building on small streams, and tree climbing.

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    1. Tree climbers? They shall nest in peace! Thanks Cro.

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