Thursday, August 25, 2011

Treasure Chest Thursday - Granny Had An Owl (or Two!)

Granny was born Irene Caroline Banet on 24 May 1906 in Indiana to Francis Isidore Banet  and  Adeline Josephine Eve.

Granny married Grandpa, Henry Condar Dreher, Jr. [1902-1977] on 12 Dec 1923 in Indiana.

The couple had five children: Ethel, Art, Marion, Billy, and Lois.

Sadly, Grandpa died in 1977. A year later Granny came to live with our family in West Virginia. She moved into a small house trailer that my [first] husband and I had bought when we were married in 1975. A tiny home, but Granny made it seem warm and inviting, and often entertained guests, even out of town guests! How I've yet to figure out, but Granny was talented that way!

As she was getting older, her eyesight began to fade from cataracts. Mom tried to interest her in something small to collect, as it was getting more and more difficult for her to see to do the needlework she'd always done. Somehow, an owl collection began. When Granny passed away in 1989, she left behind hundreds, if not thousands, of tiny little owls statuettes. Each family member was given one.

I chose a very simple one that came from Mexico.


This diminutive fellow stands a mere 1-1/2 inches tall. His eyes are mere dots of black onyx! He sits patiently watching my family's going to and fro from a shelf on the china hutch, amongst a forest of crystal goblets.

Each time I see this wise sage, I am reminded of the love we shared with Granny. A simple country woman that wise in oh so many ways!

1 comment:

Heather Kuhn Roelker said...

Very sweet owl! Aren't grandmothers amazing?