Thursday, September 27, 2007

An Album from the Past

Gussi is a 99-year-old lady who lives in the same assisted living facility as my mother. Born in Germany, she lived 30 years in Ash Fork; today her hands are crippled with arthritis. Last week, Gussi showed me some of the pressed flower arrangements she created during the 90s. I only wish that my photographs could do her lovely little pictures justice.

Many of her flowers were actually pieced together from individual petals.

What look like leaves are, in most cases, seed stalks from different grasses.

Many were made into cards for friends and family.

When I am privileged to catch a small glimpse of the accomplishments of Mom's fellow residents, I am awed and I am saddened. These are people who have led active lives, who have worked, created, lived and loved. Yet their time is short and today few beyond their families are aware of how much they have achieved.

Hello! to vistors from the Pressed Flower Guild over at Yahoo. And welcome. I am glad you had this chance to enjoy Gussi's handwork. Do come by again!

16 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:30 AM

    I trust that I'll meet Gussi come November--tickets are booked and boughten.

    Hermano

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  2. Stunningly beautiful -- thanks for sharing these.

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  3. Anonymous4:27 AM

    Gussi has a talent. Sorry that she is unable to do the wonders with the flowers that she once did. Give her my regards from Germany. Thank her, for me, for sharing. Truely wonderful.

    And thank you for posting the pictures.

    Steve

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  4. Anonymous4:48 AM

    Thank you for showing Gussi's beautiful flower arrangements. I used to dry flowers, too, and paste them on cards, when I was a teenager. In Germany girls used to keep a socalled "Poesiealbum". They would hand it around to their best friends. Every girl would write a verse and ornate it with dried flowers. It's a shame I lost mine!

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  5. What beautiful work! My Granddaughter Mu is very interested in dried flower arrangements. She'll love these.

    Gussie's last name doesn't happen to start with a W does it?

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  6. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing these things with us. You have thus, helped wipe out some of what you lamented about.... These once-active people, now having their accomplishments forgotten.

    Hugs,
    Mari-Nanci

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  7. Anonymous9:27 AM

    Tell Gussi I think those are just gorgeous!

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  8. Bro --Indeed you will meet her. What are your dates?

    Lori -- aren't they, tho. I just wish I had taken more time with the photos.

    Steve -- It would be nice to see more of Gussi's work! And I'll pass along your greeting, too.

    Olivia -- too bad to lose such a wonderful memento, but then when people are young, they don't know what to keep and what to toss.

    Brain -- No, no relationship except as a friend.

    SnS -- Las Fuentes once had a show of works by its residents; Mom displayed a couple of books she made for her great
    grandchillen -- verse and pictures. Maybe it's time for another, perhaps for the AL residents.

    Dotter -- if you make it for Mom's 104th birthday bash, you can tell her yourself!

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  9. Anonymous11:03 AM

    You are so right, Julie.
    There are many things I have tossed when I was young only to regret it with age.

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  10. Ah, Olivia, we are too soon old and too late wise....

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  11. Anonymous6:20 PM

    What a beautiful example of an almost lost art. Tell Gussi her work will always be appreciated and loved. Thank her for sharing something so beautiful.

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  12. Thank you, Loretta, for visiting again. I will certainly pass your comment along to Gussi. I know she will appreciate hearing it -- she's actually a very shy little lady!

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  13. What a lovely post Granny! Thanks for giving us the chance to see her beautiful work.
    It is sad, to reflect that all things pass.

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  14. Meggie -- and, yes, the flowers, too are fragile!

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  15. Anonymous1:02 PM

    Gussi was a volunteer in our library in Ash Fork. She has been missed since she moved to Prescott. Tell her hello from her fellow Germans, Ray and Marion in Ash Fork.

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  16. Thank you for visiting, Ray & Marion -- it has been a month or so since I've been over at las Fuentes. Next time I go, I'll say "hello" for you.

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