Monday, January 24, 2011

Mushroom Picking


On the first Sunday of my married life, my husband took me to meet his beloved Uncle Roy and Aunt Dorothy and their large brood of children and their childrens children after morning church. Dressed in my Wedding Going Away Dress, a shirt waist dress with a full skirt and raw silk shoes, the best impression wanting to be made.


I wasn't at all prepared for the large group of people all related to each other and now to me dressed in their scruffiest of clothes. Aunt Dorthy enveloping me in her bosomy embrace greeted me, "Well you can't pick mushrooms in high heels!"


I was quickly swooped away by daughter-in-law #1, hanging on to her reassurance that something easily could be found for me to wear. It didn't seem to occur to her she was at least a foot shorter than I was. "Here, these pants are stretchy and this sweater is from when I was last pregnant. I've got shoes someone gave to me around here somewhere that will just do the trick."


It took all the courage I could muster to appear before the large crowd waiting to pick mushrooms in pants that didn't cover my calves, a sweater barely reaching my elbows, and red clodhopper shoes I can't imagine anyone ever having worn.


I will forever recall this day as the one I learned mushrooms didn't just come from the grocery store and could be as wrinkly and as unattractive as could be and that a family would wait an entire year for just the right moment to descend up the floor of the forest in search of this elusive fungus. It was also the first day of my life to be embraced by a family I now call my own and who love me with all their hearts.




27 comments:

My Vintage Mending said...

Now Miss E. you must be thinking along with me. I just finished a sweet little gnome pillow. I will be posting later this week. Thanks for words of kindness. Once again your stitches amaze me. Boy does your story sound like something I have been through before. Can I just say its more fun to play in the dirt!

sassypackrat said...

Adorable Gnome!

Unknown said...

E,
LOL...I saw the gnomes and had to laugh......so so cute and I can just about imagine what that was like for you that day! :):)

NanE said...

E, I can just see you plodding through the trees and brush, trying to keep up with this surely, rowdy pack. Pulling down on those legs and sleeves as you picked away. Loved this story and these adorable gnomes! xxoo Nan

FourSistersInACottage said...

OKAY YOU NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME!!!
I wish I could do this, I've tried to cut felt and well, lets say it all ended up in the round filing bin (the garbage can) LOL
These are just adorable!!!
Keep up the great work!
Amy (Mom to the Four Sisters)

kim c said...

adorable!!!

ArtzeeChris said...

I just love reading your stories, you are such an excellent storyteller, I always have the perfect visual in my mind as I read your descriptions.

That little gnome is the cutest! It reminds me of the new movie getting ready to come out called gnomeo and juliet. It looks so cute, I can hard wait to take the kids to see it.

Mary said...

Oh Elizabeth, I giggled as I read your story. You do make the pictures come alive as one reads. What a wonderful family. The little gnme is adorable. Darling granddaughter and I made two pink poodles on Saturday. Sadly, they are not nearly as adorable as those from your talented hands. I will post a picture soon. Maybe practice will make perfect. Your adorable creations are so addicting, I want to try making them all. I love working with felt.

Pearl said...

I enjoyed this story and your little Gnomes are adorable. Such talent you have!

Twyla and Lindsey said...

Oh, Elizabeth! This little guy put such a smile on my face:) I love mushrooms and look for morels every year, but you have to not think about where they come from. Thanks for putting the 'cute' in my day! Twyla

Scrap for Joy said...

I closed my eyes to imagine you in your mushroom expedition outfit and I did chuckle when I envisioned you. I much prefer getting mine from the grocery store or farmer's market. I love the picture of your gnomes in front of your painted cabinet...could they be any more Swedish looking???
Cute!
xoxo
Joyce

Sunny Simple Life said...

What can't you make? You male gnomes which are cute anyway, even cuter.

Kateyed said...

Oh funny E!!! This reminds me of visiting our exchange student in Venezuela. We could not leave the country as Katie's passport had expired but all of our suitcases had gone. Katie, of course, had darling little Venezuelan teenager clothes to wear. The only clothes they could find for Jud and I were maternity clothes and men's clothes! Oh, we looked so funny! We had to travel to Caracas to the consulate in our funny clothes. We actually have pictures of us something.

I love your gnomes! I love everything you do!
Love,
Suz

vivian said...

what a cute story! I can picture you in that outfit! too sweet you are. LOVE your little gnomes.. as sweet as you theirselves!
have a great week Elizabeth!
hugs
vivian

Pieceful Bits said...

Oh the way you can tell a story--makes one feel like they are there! Cute as can be Gnomes and the bluebird and tiny mushrooms are tops!
(~~)
Julie

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

I love gnomes, Elizabeth! I'm actually looking forward to the new animated movie coming out with gnomes as the main characters. Yours are just lovely!

Debby said...

Those sweet gnomes have the cutest little faces. You are always thinking of others. Love the story. My hubsnad's mother always went mushroom hunting. Mmmmmmmm were they good fried in all that healthy butter. Once a year we would have a feast.

Brooks Ann at Fossil Hill said...

Another precious gnome project and a delightful story as well! Over the weekend I bought supplies and began work on your gnome along garland. I am also going to make the gnome penny rug. I am a gnome fan; so much so that my DH bought me large version of the Roaming Gnome and he hold a place of honor in our living room on an antique Arts and Crafts fern stand. Just love your site and your crafts. You are so talented and incredibly sweet to share. A heartfelt thank you!

manda said...

Oh my, what a wonderful story! The mushroom picking reminds me of a story of my Dad's when he was a boy. He was out picking mushrooms and wandered into a paddock, and was chased by a bull! lol!
Thankyou for your wonderful comment the other day, it really made me feel better. To hear of such courage from your aunt and uncle - just wonderful. I remember you telling a story of them once before...?
Rest assured we are all safe here, the water has gone down and the cleanup has begun. Unfortunately we have more rain and cyclones on the way. The state is also grieving for the people lost in our inland tsunami. A wave of water 8 meters tall raced through a valley, destroying towns and devastating families. I cried at the news the other night. A mother and son lost, the youngest son saved by them insisting that he be rescued first. The saved boy carried in his mothers and older brothers coffins - his father beyond shocked, bravely talking at the funeral. So, so sad, the whole of Australia cried with them. More funerals to come. It is another dark time in our history. Keep us in your prayers!

Nan said...

Oh goodness what comes out of your head !! Look at the sweet gnome with what's on that branch, those little mushrooms and the bird just too cute it is. I love the story from that marvelous memory of yours!!

Anonymous said...

Your stories always bring life to your critters! Love the word "clodhopper". I haven't heard it in ages.Thank you for bringing sunshine into my creative life with your blog.

Linda said...

Precious story... adorable gnomes! Thanks for making me smile, Elizabeth!

Linda said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ImagiMeri said...

Hi dearest E,

OMG who wouldn't love you????? I have yet to meet you personally, but through email and phone I have grown to love you as a sister misplaced (yes, that's right....you're in the wrong place....LOL). Your stories bring so much joy, laughter and warm fuzzies, I'd just be huggin' you all the time!

Love ya'
Meri

Folksie Linda said...

Loved your story E.. that must of been so much fun.. nothing more important than having a loving family!

Camille said...

Your work is impeccable. It looks like these little elves magically appeared. They are so perfect. I love you mushroom story too. I love reading your posts.

Unknown said...

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