Paper paper everywhere...

It only took 3 tries to get this layout right. Talk about frustrating! I've wanted to scrap this photo for a while and finally got around to scanning and copying it. Thumbing through the MME Wild Asparagus Stack, I knew there had to be a piece of paper in there---somewhere---to go with this photo. I ended up pulling out 3 sheets, all vintage-y, but totally different in color, pattern, warmth. I decided to go with the last paper. It was more feminine than the others but still had the antique-y quality I was looking for. I like keeping the heritage LOs simple and light so I try not to "overdo-it" with tons of embellishments. Anyhoo, here t'is:

These "vintage babes" are my grandmother, Geneva (in the carriage) and her aunt Irene, who was all of 8 yrs old at the time. I'm not sure if my great great-grandparents planned on having a fifth child, but I'm sure they saw her as a blessing. Irene's mother, Mary, was 43 when she gave birth in 1901 and her last child, Lena, had been born in 1888. Sadly, Lena died in 1907 at the age of 19 from influenza. Even though they were aunt and niece, I think my grandmother and Irene enjoyed a big sister/little sister type of relationship. Meme talked often of Irene and always looked forward to her visits. Hard to imagine, but these two lived to be old ladies! Irene died in 1986 and my grandmother in 1993.

I love everything about this picture: the plank sidewalk, the rocking chair in the background, Irene's hairstyle and bow, my grandmother's sweet little face, the crocheted trim on the pillow that propped her up, their dresses, and Irene's sort-of half-smile. It's a just glimpse of an uncomplicated, simple time!