Pages

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Saturday Post on Sunday

(A note added after: blogger was being a pain when I tried to post this on Saturday. After quite a few hours I gave up and went to bed. I may just skip Sunday Scribblings today, and make this my Sunday post instead. Unless I do another post later).

I remember when I was a child, visiting my aunt who would talk about all sorts of people whom I had never heard of - her cousins, half-cousins, and other more or less distant relatives. I couldn't figure out why anyone would find these distant relatives interesting. And then I discovered genealogy - now I find it fascinating to find out how many people I am connected to, even if I have to go back two or three hundred years to find the connection!

I just spent a very pleasant couple of hours meeting my third cousin once removed, Alison, and her new husband Jude. They are visiting New Zealand on their honeymoon, having married in Scotland. Fortunately Ali and Jude seem to think that finding out where all the branches of the family came from and went to is as fascinating as I find it! We are hoping to meet again in Scotland next year. Ali's greatgreatgrandfather and my greatgrandfather were brothers. Thomas stayed in Scotland whereas John went bankrupt, and ran away to New Zealand, avoiding the bailiffs, where he went bankrupt again. Funnily enough he seems to have been successful in at least one endeavour which was breeding descendants - there seem to be far more of us now in New Zealand than there are back in Scotland.

Not a very flattering photograph of me, I'm afraid. I clearly have a wee way to go on my weight loss programme. (I'm sure you can figure out which one is me and which one is the young bride).




After meeting Ali and Jude at the Christchurch Arts Centre, I went into the Great Hall there to see our local quilt group's exhibition. It included a retrospective of prizewinning quilts from the last ten years. I had a chance to revisit my quilt which has been at my brother's for the last ten years (only brought out for honoured guests, I'm told, so it is still in very good condition). I took quite a few photos, but as a sign stated that photographs are for "personal enjoyment only unless permission is sought and given", I'm only showing mine here. There were a large variety from the very traditional to contemporary, bed quilts to wall hangings - some incorporating computer images on fabric and other very modern techniques.



This wee dog and its owner were giving a performance on the street outside.



I didn't go to the exhibition opening on Thursday night - in fact it slipped my mind completely - but during the evening there was a knock on my door, it was one of the quilt group members dropping off a bunch of flowers. All those who had a quilt in the ten year retrospective were given a bouquet. And they were my favourite colour, yellow, too!

9 comments:

carmilevy said...

I wish I knew more about my own family tree. How sad that most folks don't take an interest until it's too late, when all that information has been lost to time.

You look lovely in the picture, BTW. You're much too hard on yourself.

kenju said...

Catherine, my husband has been doing his family geneaology for 4-5 years now, and it has turned into a fascinating hobby for him, plus he has learned some family secrets that make it even more fun!

Your quilt is beautiful! How many have you made?

I like the nice photo of you and your cousin, and you both look lovely.

Michele sent me.

Anonymous said...

Don't be so hard on yourself...you look very nice to me.

I love the quilt and the dog and the pretty photo....

First visit and it seems to be a very nice place...Michele sent me tonight. All best to you.

srp said...

Here from Michele.
This is unusual. My brother is the geneologist in the family. He has traced my dad's side back to the 1200's in England and found the ancestor who came from England just a few years after the Mayflower.... And the names and the number of kids.... Wow!

Deb R said...

Glad to see Blogger is finally cooperating with you. (It was behaving fine for me yesterday - knock wood!) I love the photos, especially the one of you. I think you look nice!

I loved your Sunday Scribblings story too. (Doubling up on comments so I only have to type one verification word.)

Tia said...

Catherine,it's nice to catch up with you again a bit. The photo of both you is very nice!

Also, a HUGE thank you for all the feedback on my blog! I was happy to just post and "vent" - and it turns out I'm actually getting some very useful information out of it. I will keep you posted on how I do. Thank you again!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Beautiful quilt, Catherine...I'd love to see more pictures of it...!

And Beautiful flowers, too!

In my family it is my sister who is the geniologist and has done a phenomonel job of discovering relatives all over the world...!

Here from Michel's this early A.M.

paris parfait said...

What a joy to spend time with your relatives. The quilt and the flowers are gorgeous - all the photos are lovely.

Tongue in Cheek Antiques said...

Such a warm and lovely post!

I cannot stop laughing at the dog on wheels! It struck my funny bone!