This is Eva's blankie. It is in tatters. It isn't even really pink anymore, despite many many washings. It gets dragged everywhere, Linus-style, picking up dirt and dog hair along the way. Eva formed her attachment to this blankie at about 10 months of age, at which point I immediately went and bought a back-up to establish a using/washing rotation. Of course, she wouldn't have anything to do with the back-up, even though at the time they were indistinguishable from each other. (Now the back-up mocks me by providing a frightening contrast to the original, showing us just how much blankie has deteriorated.) It is well-loved, and always on my radar, as we must always, always know its precise location.
Our old upright piano, also well-loved. We inherited it from a dying woman in Seattle, and it was already aged. It is scratched, it is missing a caster, and it is badly in need of a good tuning (although not as badly in need as some of the church pianos!). But it has real ivory keys, and it has served us well. It enables me to teach lessons, providing a much-needed boost to the family budget. I am also teaching my boys to play, even though their practices and lessons are sporadic in nature. Best of all, it is always there, at the ready, for me when I need a little stress release.
I inherited this little baby when Marc upgraded his camera (this one is now his back-up). I got the 50mm lens for my birthday, and my dad surprised me with a zoom lens for Christmas! I can't wait to get experimenting with that one. Marc tracked down the missing battery door on ebay for me, so I could finally dispense with the large, heavy, intimidating, battery grip addition. Woohoo! It's so much lighter and easier for me to use now. This is something that I can turn to every day -- something just for me -- and in as little as 5 minutes, it can give me something happy or creative to lift my spirits.So while I don't know that this really qualifies as a self-portrait, it did get me thinking. Thanks, as usual, for the challenge, Lelly!
14 comments:
Michelle, it does make me feel better to know that you share my pain.
I wonder if Eva will carry a piece of her blanket in her pocket when she is older. That might be all that will be left of it some day.
I used to teach piano for money, but now I just teach my younger 3 children and it is not going well. My younger 2 children are so suffering from a burnt out mom on this one.
My camera sure gets a lot more attention now that I'm a blogger!
These are all interesting items, and I must admit I thought of you when I read Barb's SPT.
I think this was a hard challenge, but has definitely made me look at things around here differently, it sounds like you're feeling the same way.
I love the story of Eva's blankie. Only one of my kids has formed an attachment like that, but surprisingly it still looks like it did when new. Except for a few spots here and there.
I think it is great that you have a talent to play the piano and also be able to teach lessons to earn extra cash. I wish I were that talented.
I wish I had a camera as nice as yours! You are one lucky girl! :)
My now 16 year old son had a blankie he called it ba ba. He finally stopped carrying it around I don't remember when - but slept with it under his pillow, then under his bed for a long time. I never thought he would stop & regretfully I have very few pictures of him with it. I truly don't know how that happened. It makes me so sad because it was such a huge part of him when he was little.
So, take lots of pictures with her and her blankie- this too shall pass.
So glad you get so much joy from your camera- blogging has made me so much more aware of my picture taking.
My sons blanket is in absolute tatters as well...I made him a new one for Christmas, washed it over and over, but to no avail...it just sits folded on his bed. Clever of you to buy another one at the very beginning...even more clever of her to be able to tell the difference!
Mya has a blanket as well and it is still pretty sturdy, but starting to get the holes etc. I don't think I have a lot of pictures of it though...this is a great reminder.
Your piano is so cool- your whole house is though :)
And it is really cool that you got that camera and a new lens! I didn't even think to take a picture of my camera...
These are the things that I think it will be cool to have documented in the future. How would anyone ever know the history of your piano.
That camera is an awesome hand-me-down.
Loved reading this, Michelle--I am constantly wishing as I read blogs that you and Jill lived on my street :) You seem like such a great person!
By the way, ever since I read your post all I can think is, "How did she take a picture of her camera?" :) Obviously, you must have another camera! Anway, good SPT...
Oh! Becky's clever. How DID you photograph your camera? Becky's more awake than me!
Erin's got 2 absolutely rotten, decrepit furry kittens. One was meant to be the back-up but he was found and has grown equally rancid. I think they have played a major part in building up Erin's generally excellent immune system!
your ivories are in waaaay better condition than mine!!
jack never had a blanket, but we have an issue with a pillow. his head is practically bigger than this pillow now, but he refuses to *upgrade*. (i'm secretly hoping it won't survive these two weeks of intensvie laundering...)
Oh, it is so nice to know that other mother's share the "blankie" phenomenon. I love the book "Owen" by Kevin Henkes. I think that will be my little Haleigh for sure. Teaching piano is very rewarding...tho I've found my own children would probably benefit more from a different teacher. It's too easy to whine when it's your mom. I'm having a little camera envy, now! You'll be taking some pretty amazing pics with your new stuff. What a great SPT post!
i think i really *missed* the point of this spt but i was happy with mine. sort of.
ellie and cass both had blankies and both are grey messes full of holes and loved to bits.
we tried the "rotation" and it did not fly.
we have also tried the owen book. that did not fly either. ellie's response was I would NEVER cut lele (blanket)
oh lala...the photo of the piano made me smile. I miss my piano. it was such a nice outlet of stress...imagination...energy releaser...comforter...etc., etc., I have been without one really since I left to go to College...embarrassing so...its been over 20 years...I dreamt of my baby grand for my 40th, and was even willing to go in debt for it...a modest new one...but I have no room...literally I would have to pack the dinning room away to fit it in...I miss playing it. from the 10 memorized repertoire, I am down to 2 or 3 ...sad. Thanks for the photo. It made me reminisen of old times...my spelling is horrid, it is soo cold, I can't think properly.
ciao darling
Your SPT inspired mine. Sorry for being a copy cat! I just decided to start SPT on Wednesday and decided to do the last two. I also just started blogging. So thank you for the inspiration to get me caught up this year!
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