joyful2beeblogs

This is an iron corner shelf system with ceramic tile shelves. I think I bought this after 2009 when I was decorating my home. At first I kept African violets or knick-knacks on it. Now the shelf holds memories for me to see and to remember the people I knew who gave me some of them and the gifts given to me by family members who love me and thought I might enjoy their gifts.(Which I did/do enjoy.) Some of the things were from nature.

The bottom shelf holds two carved cork Asian, scenes enclosed in glass. These were given to me by my second son and his wife. They knew I had been enjoying movies about “The Last Emperor of China,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” and liked the peaceful nature of the homes in the movies. So these, as well as the small, four drawer chest, were given to me over time. I still enjoy looking at them and marveling over their intricate detailed carvings.

The middle shelf also holds a square box, woven with bamboo slats, I think. In it I have placed the thermometer cover my mother used when she was in nursing school, many years ago. There is a small metal cross that says, “Jesus Christ is Lord.”

There is a Christmas pendant with a dove holding a small olive branch in its beak, symbolizing peace.” A friend of mine sent it to me for Christmas many years ago. She passed away about over twenty years ago, but I like to think of her when I see this. The same friend gave me the round pendant with a lion and lamb lying down together. That brings to my mind the peace we will have someday when we have passed on to the next life or the end of the world.

There are three small samples of wood or leaves whose smoke was used by different countries and cultures to purify or cleanse a room, a person or an object with the smoke from them. A Rosemary Stick is a bundle of Rosemary stems used first in the southern European and Mediterranean Asian regions. I had to look this one up. But according to folk medicine, they can help spasms, mild pain relief, headaches, insomnia, depression and emotional upset. (I never looked these up before so I don’t know how effective it is but it was used for those who might be helped by it.)

I have a small bundle of sage leaves. I like to think of the Native Americans and its use as a purifying agent. Scientists are studying sage’s antibacterial effects, as well as their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and many other properties. (That’s a new one on me.) But some of them were used by our Native American people, whom I hold in high regard and admiration.

I also have a Palosanto stick which was used in South America for its sweet smoke. It was used to purify and cleanse a person (or place) of any negative energy. I really don’t need it but the smell of the wood was pleasant. I never lit any of these in my condominium for fear of setting off a smoke alarm. But they bring pleasant memories to me.

The top shelf is a little mixture of memories. One is the box my daughter in law gave me with the statement: “You Make the World a Better Place.” The big feathers were either bought in the mountains or found on the ground. Because of my interest in Native American cultures, I attended a Pow-Wow at North Carolina State University, years ago. I watched the dancers twirl and dance to the beat of a circle of men who drummed the beat and made the music as the chanters gave their words and music to the dancers.

I wanted a memento of that Pow-wow because it was the first one I had ever seen. There were dancers of all ages, male and female, children and adults. I found the goat-skin drum for $10, I think, because I wanted a memento from that day. I also learned not to say the dancers were wearing “costumes.” I was politely corrected to say that they wore “regalia.” They were kind in their correction of me and out of respect for the ages of the dancers and the music and the dancing, I will never again say they wore costumes.

Another Native American from South America made the flute, which I can not play but it gives me pleasure to know it is there. I bought it at a South American Festival also years ago.

The round, colorful metal piece behind the flute was made in Greece. My father’s father, (my grandfather), came from Greece close to where the plaque was created.

These are little things that make me happy when I look at them and remember the memories behind them. Have you ever thought of having a place for mementos to bring back memories of friends and events?