Going Home: a photo essay

Photo Essay Contest

This is my childhood teddybear, named Honey. Actually, he was my mother's bear before he was mine, so she kept him all these years. When I went home for a visit for Mother's Day, I decided to snap a shot of him. Memories of my childhood bed flooded to mind.  While Honey always had a  place of honor, he was always surrounded by a gazillion other stuffed animals!  

That was just the start of my love for animals, I guess. My mother's the same way. Last year she lost her beloved collie, and recently found a new companion - a Welsh Corgi named Trixie. 

Trixie accompanied us on all of our morning walks. Here she is peeking out of the dust ruffle on my mother's bed. 

The house is full of memories, and even though it's not my childhood home, it's packed with treasures that bring back my family. This was a lamp my grandfather used to show me every time I visited. I am currently in a mind warp here and can't remember the name of this style translucent panel, but I wanted to show you anyway. Each side has its own unique design.

This music box plays old "records." There are dozens of them stored in the cabinet, and I remember so clearly my grandfather playing them to my rapt attention. Isnt' the wood just gorgeous?

My grandfather had a magnolia tree that  he frequently photographed. By the way, he's the inspiration for my own photography and my character "Oscar Stone" is based on him in the LeGarde mystery series. ;o) This was a tree my mom planted in his memory.

On two mornings, we took Trixie to the Ted Williams park, where they have walking trails. I loved the way the sun lit up these fiddleheads. 

A patch of bark covered with lichen lay on our path. The colors were so gorgeous I had to kneel down to take its photo. This reminds me a little of Tonia's robin eggs colors in her photo essay featured on Gather today!

This little fella let me get really close. His wingtips seemed a bit worn. I wonder if he was a senior butterfly? Does anyone know what type he is?

Another interesting bit of very colorful lichen.  

This uniquely colored violet grew in the dappled sunlight. I've never seen this color with the stripes below. Isn't she cute? ;o)

Thanks for coming along on my tour. Soon I'll post more photos of the home gardens and planting progress.