Warm autumn tones and one of my precious photos

I have autumn colors on the brain. The temperature here is starting to turn a little cooler and on our hiking trip yesterday, we noticed some leaves turning their colors in higher elevations. Now that September is here and school is starting, my thoughts are turning to the colors of falling leaves. Browns, greens, rich reds and oranges.

Autumn is kind of bitter sweet for me. I love the not-so-hot days and I love the colors. But I know that it's the advent of the harsh winters of the northeast. It's almost as if God gave us autumn here as a peace offering for the cold winter that's soon to come.

Not long after I became a Stampin' Up demonstrator, I went to a big training event that one of my uplines held. It was in September, right after 9/11 happened. I remember getting a card swap from a demonstrator that was absolutely stunning. I don't remember what her name was or I would definitely give her credit. The card was done with More Mustard cardstock and it was stamped with the Filigree background (which is now retired). The Filigree was stamped with Ruby Red ink and the More Mustard cardstock was sponged around the edges with Ruby Red ink. Those two colors together were magic for me. They seemed made for each other.....so warm and soft. They reminded me of a toasty fire and a mug of hot apple cider. Since then, I've loved using these two colors together....but especially the sponged look of the Ruby Red on the More Mustard cardstock.

I used the new True Friend set from the brand new Holiday Mini Catalog, along with the new Apple Cider double-sided paper from the same catalog (it's the brown that I used on the chipboard). The designs in this set are some of my favorite designs since the Wonderful Wings set was retired a few years ago.

I covered a piece of chipboard with one of the brown patterns of paper in the Apple Cider pack then added a strip of Old Olive cardstock that I had stamped with the greeting. Some Always Artichoke grosgrain ribbon finished the card off.

I wanted to share one of my most precious photos with you.

This picture was taken in August of 1985. I was 8 years old....right about the same age that my son is now. It wasn't long after this picture was taken that my family moved from our apartment underneath my Oma and Opa's house in Rhode Island to our "new" house in New Hampshire.

I'm standing here with my Opa (German for grandfather). His birthday was July 31st and we were celebrating his birthday. He was given this lounge chair as one of his gifts. My Opa would humor us kids and let us stand next to him while he opened his gifts....I actually have another picture of me standing next to him opening a massive salami that was given to him as a gift....but I'm having trouble finding that picture. It would fascinate me to see him open a gift with his favorite knife, oh so carefully, making sure not to rip the paper. The paper would be folded very carefully and put away in a box in his work room downstairs and at birthday times and Christmas times, the paper would re-emerge on one of our gifts.

My Opa passed away not long after I turned 13. I inherited my love of writing from my Opa. I would sit next to him while he wrote letters to his relatives in Germany and he would give me pointers on handwriting and how to best fold a letter so that it fit inside an envelope. He provided me with my first pen-pal.....my dad's cousin, Tanja, who lived in Germany. He thought it was very important for me to learn and write and I soaked as much of that in as I could.  He would tell stories of his time in the war and made sure that I knew how to properly sharpen a pencil. Who knew there was a special technique to this? His desk was always organized and neat and I knew right where his fancy letter opener was kept.

About a month after I got married, my Oma told me that I could have some of her furniture. My Opa's desk was the thing I wanted most. Davy and I took a trip to Rhode Island (we were living in PA at the time) and brought Opa's desk back with us. This was a time when I didn't own a computer so letter writing was something I did a lot of back then. I sat at this desk and wrote letters, cards and shopping lists. I scrapbooked our honeymoon and vacation pictures at this desk.

This desk now sits in our bedroom here in Vermont, as a side table next to our bed. It doesn't get used as much as it used to, but that's mostly because I didn't want it to become "craft central" like my craft desk has become. When we finally have a house of our own, I'd like for that desk to have a place in a nice little room that can be made into an office. Every once in a while, I like to jiggle the little handles on the desk, just to hear the sound the handles make as they clank against the metal plates they're anchored onto. It brings me back to my early childhood when I would sit next to my Opa and write letters with him.

Even though he passed away when I was only 13, he was a very special man to me. We were very close and I wish that he could have met my children. I wish that he were still here to tell me stories and tell my children those same stories. I wish that I would have had more time with him. But God is kind indeed and knows my wants and every once in a while, we get to visit together when I dream at night. It's like we can pick up right where we left off. Like nothing has changed. Like I'm still his little "schatzi" and we sit at the table grinding coffee beans in the wooden grinder with the little box drawer and eating limburger cheese. Thank God for good dreams.

And with that, I'm off to bed......and hope for sweet dreams. Yes, even of limburger cheese.

Happy Creating!

-Stampin' Mama

Comments

[Tina Suzan]

Erika,
I just love you girl!!! Thanks for sharing the beautiful card AND the picture of your grandpa and the heart warming story!!! You are the bestest!!!

In Peace & Laughter

Tina Suzan
P.S. I already went through a complete package of Apple Cider Paper. I love love love it!!! Thank God for dreams!!

[Pattyjo]

What a beautiful story you have shared about your Grandfather! What wonderful memories he has left with you. Someday you will see him again and never be seperated again. I'm glad you got his desk, so you can pass it on to your children. Good sturdy furniture is hard to come by anymore and you have a beautiful message to pass with it. Thank you for sharing a part of you life. I have really been touched by your words Erika.

[Mary C. Anderson]

First of all I love your card. The color combination that you used is stunning. I read the story of you and your Opa. You have some wonderful memories of this very wonderful man. How awesome for you to have his desk. I'm sure that you will one day pass it down to your daughter. :) Thanks for sharing the story Erika. I enjoyed it very much. :)

Mary

[Cheryl Sims]

Erika, reading this brought tears to my eyes!!
Cheryl Sims

[kimk]

ohh! How sweet and touching. You've brought tears to my eyes this monring. I am so hapy for you to have these wonderful memeories and to have shared such a deep love and passion of writing with your Opa. :}
I am sure he smiles upon you and your chidlren. Hugs K

[Mary R.]

Erika, I love your blog, I subscribe to your tutorial program and I am always inspired by your cards. However, the reason I enjoy your blog so much are the little glimpses into your life and your soul from posts like today's. Your picture and story moved me and made my day. Thank you!

[Alexandra Hobson]

What a great great story Erika - those memories are so precious! Your sharing really hit home for me because my Oma passed away about six years ago and I miss her very much! I did not get to see them very often as they lived in Bremerhaven (my Opa does still and at 82 just remarried to a wonderful woman who keeps him young) but I loved her very much. Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories of YOUR Opa!

Your card is beautiful and uses my favorite set from the holiday mini and I have uses about three packs of the apple cider paper already - LOL!

*STAMPIN HUGS* Alex

[Kathy Kinney]

Wow! That story brought tears to my eyes. I have a similar story with my Grandma who passed away just before I turned 15. I can't tell you how many times I have said that I wished she was still here. To this day, I absolutely adore her. She made me feel special. And as I approach my 35th birthday, I will make myself an Angel Food Cake with pink frosting, sit down with the old pictures, and tell my son all about her. God is good, God is kind. And I am so thankful that she was in my life. Thanks for the story, you're an amazing writer!
Kathy

[Meredith]

What precious memories you have of your Opa. You are truly blessed!
Meredith

[Gail]

I loved the picture of you with your grandfather. I have 5 grandchildren and my birthday is also July 31. I turned 62 this year - old enough for Social Security but still working. Thanks for sharing your family with your stamping family.

[Conny Moody]

Erika,

I was very touched by your story. I too have a German Oma and Opa at whose feet I learned to read, write and speak German. My Opa was my hero. He could do anything with his hands, from fixing an engine to kneading dough for a hefekuchen. I remember with great fondness spending time with Oma and Opa, eating delicious german food and hearing stories about their lives in the German Alps. My children now call my parents Oma and Opa and are learning German from them.

It is a precious gift to have memories such as these. Thanks for sharing a treasured story from the heart.....Conny

[Gina K.]

I love the card and the story. You grandfather must have been a special man. I'm sure you miss him. You look so darn cute in that picture! LOL!
Hugs,
Gina K.