This post is dedicated to my Mom, Marion Kennedy, who passed at ninety five this summer. Being a good Yankee, she saved everything and taught us to think of uses for things (such as odd socks) that otherwise might get tossed. One of the reasons that lessons have been so infrequent is that we have been going through all of those saved things here in Vermont. I’ll be back in CO in a few days, and the Weekly Art Lesson will hopefully become more true to it’s name.
Mom taught in primary school. Small Elf, whom you’ll meet in the video, used to sit on a different student’s desk each day with a poem written especially for that child.
Enjoy the video!
What a delight and a joy to “see” you in the beautiful Vermont autumn! …and when I saw “small elf” it brought back memories of one of his cousins who used to come to our house in the Christmas season when I was a child.
That’s a good idea about clipping the toes and a thumb space out of an odd sock to help keep one’s hands warm while plein air painting in the cold. I have actually cut out the finger tips–and I do mean the tips only–of some soft gloves for painting out in low temps. I cut off just enough to be able to hold the paintbrush. It does help to keep those fingers warm! I bet even photographers could use that idea! My hands got so cold taking pictures last week in Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park that I could hardly bend my fingers. They felt truly frozen and made the rest of me cold. Now, I know to bring my painting gloves along… Thank you!
I was admiring your hat even before I knew your sister made it for your mom. Now, I like it even more! Your dad’s pottery reminded me of my favorite mug made in a kiln where I went to college. It’s my “go-to” mug when I need some soothing. Plus, I can’t count how many times I have been warmed by the work of Jean’s hands in your studio. Those neck warmers really DO warm one physically and mentally. I loved this video that was lovingly made about things used to show love for people that were and are loved. What a wonderful tribute to not only your mom, but your family as well.
Oh Margaret, Thanks so much for your thoughts! We have finished with the house in Vergennes for this trip and today I’m continuing to close the lake house. At the moment, I’m looking out the window at the view at the end of the video and the water is again filled with diamonds. I’ll be in CO on Tues. This morning it was thirty degrees here – and I still kept warm with hats and heating pads and loved the experience. I guess I miss some aspects of real camping and this is close enough for now. xo
I love seeing you at your Vermont lake. It’s cold at our house in Gold Hill, CO today also. I’m digging out the odd socks to make hand warmers right now (ever the optimist, I always think the other one will show up one day) and so glad you reminded me to pop my neck warmer in the microwave. I miss you and look forward to resuming life lessons with you (though you call them painting classes).
Very touching, LIL. A tribute your mom would be truly proud of.
Love love and we return to Boulder on Tuesday as well…in the afternoon. Maybe we will run int each other at the airport.
One of the best weekly art lessons — all about love and memory, what really matters in life.
Just got home from hiking in Utah desert country (where it rained quite a bit) and warmed to tales of family resourcefulness with elves and odd socks. Loved you in that hat. Mom would too. XXX Ann
Lil, I was, as well as all of my siblings(4 of us all tolled), students of Mrs. Kennedy at Vergennes Elementary School in Vergennes, VT. She was in fact my very favorite teacher. Seeing Mr. Elf brought back a memory of third grade. He was in fact placed on the desk of a special “babysitter” to keep him out of mischief. It was, I’m sure, an attempt to keep the recipient out of mischief. It was for comfort as well, for I remember a tragic event where one of our class mates lost her very best friend in a house fire in Panton, Vt. She kept it for some time until she thought she was ready to give it up to the next babysitter. Your mother was so kind and tender but also stern when needed, but in just the right amounts. She always remembered me. Maybe because I was difficult and strong willed and outspoken. But I felt like she always let me “Have my say”. It was good for everyone to have our say and she gave us little ones that chance to be heard. Everyday if anyone had anything special to talk about we would start the morning out with sharing those special events. It helped to settle the class so we could move on to the tasks of the day. I have since grown up and find myself in the employment of the Postal Service as a clerk at two of the local offices in the communities where your mother resided, both Vergennes and Charlotte, Vt. It was always a pleasure to speak with her and catch up with her. She was truly an amazing teacher and I’m sure I speak for all of her students: She was the best teacher EVER!
Former student and biggest fan,
Elizabeth Anne (Myers) Price
What a wonderful lesson and delightful video! Thank you for sharing!
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