— autumn, dreams, memories, pearls, perfume —

Things remembered…

2009/09/14

Fall sparks all kinds of memories for me. It is a time for reflecting and remembering. The things in this photograph are all associated with memories for me… some are happy, some sad.

Take for instance the silver tray… it was a wedding gift and something I will always cherish. It reminds me of one of the happiest days of my life: my wedding day. I know that some people say theirs was a blur, but I remember everything about that day. I remember how I felt, what people said, the smiles of friends and family, the blessing that God gave me in my husband, seeing my parents and my husband’s parents, our grandparents, and everyone witness our happiness and join with us in active participation as we pledged our lives together before God.

Then there are the pearls… the pearls on the left were given to me by my mother. They were given to her by my dad, but they are now divorced (she is happily remarried.) But, for me looking at those brings bittersweet memories. Then there are the single pearl earrings… they were a gift from my husband on our wedding day. And the pearls on the right were a gift from him on our 20th wedding anniversary. What special treasures those are.

Then there are the fragrances… the first time my hubby and I went to EPCOT together, we lingered at the UK pavilion. As we browsed through the shops I was aware of the most wonderful scent. When I finally located it, I had my first encounter with Burberry. I have loved it ever since. The scent in the center is called ….(clears throat)… Giardini di Montecatini VI by Princess Marcella Borghese. I saw the perfume first in Victoria magazine and had to check it out (mostly, I confess, due to its beautiful packaging). But I loved the fragrance, too. And not being one to overuse perfumes, it has been on my vanity for nearly 20 years… and believe it or not still smells wonderful. And then there’s Coco Chanel. With Coco, it’s all about fall. For some reason, I gravitate toward the scent when the temperatures begin to drop at the end of summer.

Then there is the magazine… Victoria was and is the only magazine I have ever really loved. All the others were just time fillers, but Victoria was special. Maybe it was because I was a newlywed when she first came into my life, and I saw the world through rose-colored glasses. Or maybe it was because she simply was the finest magazine ever published. She had articles about historical figures with pictures so rich you could frame them and hang them. She had travel articles, making a yearly tour to France and to England… again giving us such fantastic visuals that you knew someday you simply HAD to get there. There were even beauty layouts… but never the “here today, gone tomorrow” kinds of fashions. Rather, Victoria showed a classic elegance that would carry us through the ins and outs of yearly fashion trends. And then there were articles on women who had followed what came to be known as their “bliss” and actually made a living from doing what they loved. Now those were enough to inspire the meekest of us to reach for our dreams. And since that time, so many of us have seen even the most remarkable dreams come true. It may have taken years and work and prayers and sweat… but we are seeing our fondest dreams realized. For years Nancy Lindemeyer gave vision and direction to the group effort that was Victoria magazine. If you haven’t visited Nancy’s blog, I highly recommend it.

Memories are sparked by so many things. I hope that something here has somehow brought to your mind a bright spot from your past… some little glimmer that still lingers from a wonderful moment that may have occurred even years ago. And I would love it if you would share it with me, if you’d like.

Early Autumn Blessings to All!

18 thoughts on “Things remembered…”

  1. Hi Christi,

    Thank you so much for your encouraging words on my blog. These are indeed hard days for us. We wonder what God purpose is, and yet continue to place our trust in him. Yes, he is near, even when we don't feel him.

    I enjoyed this post about Victoria magazine. I've placed my September issues out on the table for reading, but haven't been able to really enjoy them as I normally do. Too much whirring around in my head.

    blessings,
    Lorrie

  3. After reading your post I can tell that you are a true artist! You are so sentimental and a true romantic. How rich you are to have wonderful memories and have things around you to remind you a those times! Because of my personality, I am not sentimental or a romantic. I wish I were sometimes.

    As I was reading your post I was thinking, "She should be writing for a magazine!" You are a very talented lady.
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

  4. Hi Christi!
    What a great post about fall memories~you and I love lots of the same things (Chanel and pearls!) Victoria was like a calm oasis for me back then. Nothing could compare to it! I couldn't believe Nancy had her own blog ~went and visited a week or two ago and she's still the same. Lovely, lovely lady!
    Lots of Hugs, Bebe 🙂

  5. Love this post. And about 'Victoria'—I'm totally with you on what you said. As a matter of fact, I'm dragging out the reading of the current issue, not wanting to finish it up. Self-torture. 🙂

    And thanks for Nancy L.'s blog address. So cool. Off to look at it.

    Take care.

  9. Beautiful Fall Nesting pics.

    Memories of the past – second time this has come up in my life today. A beautiful quarterly magazine I subscribe to asked the same.

    Here is the one I thought of today and am reminded when I see big ships. A ship full of prisoners of war arrived at the quayside in my home town and thousands went to welcome them home including brass bands. So moving when everyone started singing 'Land of hope and glory'. I was a young child but still remember it like yesterday.

  10. Christi,

    I feel the same way as you about Autumn. Thank you for sharing your memories…they were very touching to read.

    Thanks also for your kind words on my blog recently. They meant so much to me to read.

    I look forward to reading more on your blog! Have a wonderful weekend!

  11. I, too, love Victoria magazine and have all of them — they started about the same time we moved to Linderhof. I was so sad when they ceased publication — but at least there is a new one — not quite the same but better than nothing!

    I love going through the years looking at the fall issues or the Christmas issues or the England ones!

    Your treasures are special . . .

  12. Thanks for the Victoria remembrances.
    You know I too adore that magazine. Nothing compares…I don't even read magazines. Victoria wasn't really a magazine, it was an escape from this old everyday world with all its modern hoopla into a visual romance with grace colored glasses. Sigh!

  14. Such a nice post and you didn't mention food once. Food would be on my things remembered list as I remember all events by the food served. That can't be a good thing. The fragrances you mention make me wish for smell-a-blog or something. Ha!

  15. What a wonderful post…yes, we all have memories and I am sentimental to the point that I have kept all the birthday and Christmas and anniversary and Valentine cards my hubbie has given me over 41 years of marriage…

    Some years, we happened to choose the same card for each other…that's how ell we know each other 🙂

  16. As I read your memories of Victoria magazine my heart grieved. I dearly miss it. I had no idea that Nancy Lindemeyer had a blog. Thank you for sharing this link. I'm off to visit her.

    Nancy

  18. Lovely posting. Lovely to happen upon so many more lovely friends who also adored the Victoria magazine. It really shaped my life as I was entering my thirties.

    What an absolute joy to keep 'meeting' more and more women who LOVED the magazine and what it meant to each one.

    It wasn't just a magazine, it brought us that glimpse of a little 'heaven on earth' with its beauty, grace and gentleness.

    Joy to you,
    Brenda

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