Norah
Norah was the third of eight children and she bounced into this world on this day in 1884.
Carefree and full of dreams, Norah in 1908.
A year later she married my grandfather and together they had seven children, my mother being the third. My grandfather died when the youngest was sixteen and granny lived on for another twenty six years.
Granny in 1953
I wonder which toy she is hiding under her cardigan?
That was granny to a tee,
She was full of fun and laughter
She passed it all on to me.
Always ready to play and tease,
She lead the band around the trees
Saucepan lids played like cymbals
Pot base beaten in time with wooden spoons
While penny whistles carried the tunes.
Not a day goes by that I do not think of her
Today I’ll raise a glass of thanks
Special wishes wing their way
On what would be her
127th Birthday
kenju said,
February 9, 2011 at 1:30 pm
I love the early photo of her. Too bad her husband died so young.
Anil said,
February 9, 2011 at 2:56 pm
What a wonderful tribute to your granny. The older photo reminds so much character of an earlier age. Entirely apt.
Grannymar said,
February 9, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Judy - I love these old photos. They are family, fashion and social history.
Anil - You can almost feel the slower pace of life in the photos from that era.
nick said,
February 9, 2011 at 4:44 pm
I’m sure she would be delighted that you’re still thinking of her so fondly on her 127th birthday!
Brighid said,
February 9, 2011 at 5:25 pm
There is an old picture of my Gran in her prime with a flowered dress and ever present apron setting on one of Grandpa’s pack mules. It’s one of my favorites. She was spunky, too.
Baino said,
February 9, 2011 at 6:13 pm
There’s definitely a family resemblance. Love the sepia photo, very beautiful woman in her day.
Kay Dennison said,
February 9, 2011 at 6:35 pm
How lovely she was!!! And your poem os really lovely, too!
Grannymar said,
February 9, 2011 at 9:48 pm
Nick - She was a fun person to be around.
Grannymar said,
February 9, 2011 at 9:53 pm
Brighid - I would love to see that photo of your Gran some day. Maybe you will write about her.
Baino - I can see some of my cousins in that old photo.
Kay - Thank you.
Mayo said,
February 9, 2011 at 10:22 pm
If my parents would be living ,they would be 111 and 110 this year. I had to force my sister to give up some of her pictures of them. I love her, but she can be a real bit– sometimes.
Grannymar said,
February 9, 2011 at 10:42 pm
Mayo - Don’t mess with those pictures!!
wisewebwoman said,
February 9, 2011 at 11:01 pm
Lovely memories GM, some of our loved ones live on in our hearts forever, my maternal Granny does too.
You bear a strong resemblance to her, very dominant genes!
XO
WWW
wisewebwoman said,
February 9, 2011 at 11:02 pm
Oh GM:
And I forgot to say my Granny’s name was Norah too, though the family always called her “Sissy”.
XO
WWW
Maria said,
February 10, 2011 at 12:50 am
So much fun after spending my day on Ancerstor.com, to turn to your blog and find this deligthful tribute to your Granny. Today, I traced one side of Bob’s family back to Ireland. It was absolutely thrilling.
Grannymar said,
February 10, 2011 at 11:06 am
WWW - Did your granny like her name? Mine did not!
Maria - I think at the end of the day everyone is Irish!
rummuser said,
February 10, 2011 at 1:13 pm
There is a remarkable resemblance there Grannymar! To me it looks as if she is carrying a hidden machine gun!
Grannymar said,
February 10, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Ramana - A hidden machine gun! That sounds just like my granny!
Big John said,
February 10, 2011 at 2:44 pm
Lovely …. That’s everyone’s Granny.
Grannymar said,
February 10, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Big John - Everyone should have a granny like mine!
bikehikebabe said,
February 10, 2011 at 9:32 pm
I’m wondering if in 1884 women traipsed around in gorgeous dresses with their hair done beautifully. Or was that for the picture, the usual dress being a plain old thing with hair knotted in a ball.
Grannymar said,
February 10, 2011 at 9:48 pm
BHB - The long dresses were the norm back then. I posted about granny in another post showing an earlier photo from 1904
bikehikebabe said,
February 10, 2011 at 9:57 pm
We know that they wore long dresses, but such elegance?
We wear jeans, old t-shirts & hair a mess until we go out.
Then we put on something better- - - or not.
Grannymar said,
February 10, 2011 at 10:08 pm
I have many photos from that time from both sides of my family and from Jack’s ancestors. They all look very similar.
bikehikebabe said,
February 11, 2011 at 9:52 pm
A tidbit about me.
I wear old comfortable clothes at home all week. Monday nights for the last 40 years we dress up for Scottish Country Dancing. Skirts required, men & women. Nowadays some of the youngsters wear slacks & we don’t say anything.
Grannymar said,
February 11, 2011 at 10:10 pm
BHB - Do you wear traditional kilts? most youngsters wear jeans or casual trousers these days.
bikehikebabe said,
February 11, 2011 at 10:15 pm
The men wear kilts. We women get to dress up which I love. We can never quit this group because I’ve got a big inventory of dresses & skirts.
Grannymar said,
February 11, 2011 at 10:19 pm
BHB - I would love to mooch through your wardrobe at all those wonderful dresses.