Sept 1-Last Year on the Farm 
Nov 15-Last Year on the Farm
Nov. 15 - Last Year on the FarmLast Year on the Farm___Selections: Nana’s House
Just now we got the phone call that our beloved Nana has passed away. She was the Matriarch of our family’s farm. A beautiful, strong farm woman of 98 1/2 years. Wow….what a life! What a heritage! She was my husband’s maternal grandmother, and I actually had her longer than I had my OWN grandparents.
The paintings above are a few from my “Last Year on the Farm” series of 365 works I did during the year our family had to leave the farm. This was my view from the studio where I lived and worked for nearly 30 years. It is Nana’s house! IT was to the north of us, so the weather seemed to change from that direction: cold fronts, rain systems, and the build-up of summer thunderheads….
There is something special about our grandparents’ homes. They seem safe, and comforting…a REFUGE! Maybe because our earliest memories of grandparents are always filled with love…. and special attention and home cooking! Nana kept a HUGE garden and taught me to can and make jams. She was up before dawn, taking care of Pa who ran the Gault Dairy Farm for over 35 years, milking cows EVERY DAY, TWICE a day(2 am, then 2 pm)without a vacation!
My bedroom window looked out at this same scene, and MANY nights I lay awake, just watching the activity up at Nana’s place. The lights would be on in the kitchen and I would imagine them getting ready for their day. It was a comforting scene.
On New Year’s Day, last week, ALL our families were together again. Nana at the center of our day! She was not a big lady but had a BIG MEAL! My husband asked if she wanted more and she nodded. He brought her “second helpings” of everything on a plate bigger than one he would eat!....she ate every bite….then a plate full of desserts! We all marveled and were so pleased at her apetite! But sometime in the night as she slept, she had a stroke and never woke up….so we have been on watch ever since. Doctors said she would pass on in a day or two, but our Nana stayed for 10 days! What a woman….what a gift from God! Nana’s passing was sweet. She loved Jesus
Just now we got the phone call that our beloved Nana has passed away. She was the Matriarch of our family’s farm. A beautiful, strong farm woman of 98 1/2 years. Wow….what a life! What a heritage! She was my husband’s maternal grandmother, and I actually had her longer than I had my OWN grandparents.
The paintings above are a few from my “Last Year on the Farm” series of 365 works I did during the year our family had to leave the farm. This was my view from the studio where I lived and worked for nearly 30 years. It is Nana’s house! IT was to the north of us, so the weather seemed to change from that direction: cold fronts, rain systems, and the build-up of summer thunderheads….
There is something special about our grandparents’ homes. They seem safe, and comforting…a REFUGE! Maybe because our earliest memories of grandparents are always filled with love…. and special attention and home cooking! Nana kept a HUGE garden and taught me to can and make jams. She was up before dawn, taking care of Pa who ran the Gault Dairy Farm for over 35 years, milking cows EVERY DAY, TWICE a day(2 am, then 2 pm)without a vacation!
My bedroom window looked out at this same scene, and MANY nights I lay awake, just watching the activity up at Nana’s place. The lights would be on in the kitchen and I would imagine them getting ready for their day. It was a comforting scene.
On New Year’s Day, last week, ALL our families were together again. Nana at the center of our day! She was not a big lady but had a BIG MEAL! My husband asked if she wanted more and she nodded. He brought her “second helpings” of everything on a plate bigger than one he would eat!....she ate every bite….then a plate full of desserts! We all marveled and were so pleased at her apetite! But sometime in the night as she slept, she had a stroke and never woke up….so we have been on watch ever since. Doctors said she would pass on in a day or two, but our Nana stayed for 10 days! What a woman….what a gift from God! Nana’s passing was sweet. She loved Jesus
13 comments:
What a beautiful post. You've left me with goosebumps up my arms and tingling up and down my spine. How wonderful that you did a series on the farm! Nana sounds like a real gift form God. You've been blessed to have had her in your life. My condolences to your family...
God Bless her and you all.
You know that I discovered you when you were painting 'Last Year on the Farm' and I always remember the lights being on in Nana's house before dawn.
I could feel every post of that series and still think it's one of the most remarkable achievements!
{{{{V}}}}}****
What beautiful words and paintings of Nana's home. I can so relate, my grandmother also was 98 when she passed and like Nana was the one who looked after everyone as they looked after the dairy farm. Your family will forever have those wonderful memories of Nana. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
A moving post. How wonderful that you were able to have her, have the farm w/her, have the memories of her, and have your paintings. What a lot you have, what a lot she had.
I'm so sorry to hear this, Virginia! This was an amazing tribute to Nana.
What a sweet tribute! I read it twice. Wasn't it great that your family had such a blessing with her on New Years Day? Sweet memories. Blessings - Linda
We don't know each other Virginia but I have been following your blog. Your post today about your Nana was very moving and a fitting tribute to her. I am so sorry for your loss!
What a beautiful tribute to your Nana through the paintings that I am sure she loved and admired that you did of her family farm. So special that you were all together and had that time with her.
Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family-
What a blessing to have known her and been close to her for all those years! Praying for all of you in this time of loss - and rejoicing that she is dancing with Jesus!
What a beautiful portrait you've painted of your Nana! There are tears in my eyes and prayers for you and your family.
ahh, Virginia - your Nana has blessed us through you THANKS!
So sorry to hear about Nana. I know my grandparents were a huge influence on my life, and the house they lived in for 60+ years fortunately is still in our family, for now. I always feel safe and secure there.
I am not sure I THANKED everyone for the nice comments about Nana...getting a new one this week crom CG reminded me that I need to say THANK YOU and God Bless You!!!
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