My great grandmother always looked stern to me. Of course we know why people in those days didn't smile much––to hide their not-so-pretty teeth. I've often heard what a hard life my great grandmother had. She lost her husband early and raised a large family on her own. Her grandsons held her in highest esteem. I wish I had known her! I find this photo fascinating. Look at her shoes. Her hat, dress, etc. My take on it is that she is getting some rays (though not that much of her body is exposed) while her grandson, my uncle, sits on the porch and reads. All her grandsons read a lot. The other idea is that its a Sunday morning and they are waiting to go to church, since she's a bit dressed up and he is in a suit. I just love this little slice of life!
I read once that if elderly people spent 15-20 minutes in the sun three times a week it would reduce the number of fractured hips by 75%. Maybe she knew what she was doing, as to the best of my knowledge she never broke a bone!
What a great photo! One can surmise a lot of things from this photo but I like the idea that she's just enjoying the sun on her weary bones, just like I do! I love the old rocking chair too. Have a wonderful day! Hugs, Pamela
ReplyDeleteThis is a fascinating picture. I love that it captured your uncle in the background.
ReplyDeleteI have a picture of my great grandmother that would put the fear of God in you! She looks like a witch! All in black, very stern... but with a handful of rosery beads! YIKES! Great picture!
That is such a great picture. Love your possible stories to go along with it.
ReplyDeleteShe's wearing a little grin and a very pretty dress. Interesting about getting some rays.
ReplyDeleteShe IS wearing a little grin :) A beautiful photo of this much-loved lady.
ReplyDeleteLucky you to have such a great photo! The only photos of my great grandparents show very stern, unsmiling, black-clad elderly men and women. In actual fact, none of them lived to be very old - just old before their time.
ReplyDeleteA delightful photograph! I have several of my great grandmother and grandmother and no smiles. Even photos of children from that era show a very stoic countenance. I suppose photographers had not learned the "say cheese" effect.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
Interesting that you should post this today, as I am going through old photos this very day to find some of my dear Grandma, whom we call Nana. She is 98 years young today! We are blessed with longevity in my family, on my mother's side. Nana's Mama, Grandma, died in her late nineties, and I remember both she and Grandpa well. They were both near 100. Nana's brother, Uncle Joe, just celebrated his 100th birthday in November! I too find it fascinating to sit and pore over these old time photos, and wonder.....what was their life like in those days. So hard, I am sure.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Kris
I am like you.I always wonder about the people in our old family photos
ReplyDeleteespecially my dad . He died in World War II before I was born.
I love looking at his picture . He looks strong and beautiful. I look like him and my Mom tells me I have his ways. At lease I have many pictures of him and I am thankful.
Smiles, Dottie
I love old photos too and I think you could be right about them waiting to go somewhere - church or visiting.
ReplyDeleteImagine dressing in long sleeves and heavy shoes in the heat of summer!
Judith
Podso,
ReplyDeleteThis is precious! She IS smiling!!! I picture her as a refined lady enjoying her Sunday afternoon on the porch!!! . . .and yes, I , too, wish I had known more of my ancestors! Thanks for sharing!!!
Fondly,
Pat
Before or after church was the first impression I got of this image... Her dress is beautiful, the hat, the suit... Sunday... probably the only day she could sit awhile... I can't even begin to imagine how hard it must have been for a woman to raise her children alone in that era. She amazes me. She is a woman I would have enjoyed knowing, too, Dotsie.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting about the sunshine! blessings ~ tanna
What a great photo of your grandmother. I like the idea of her catching a few rays.
ReplyDeleteI love the advice given - we are all so sun scared these days with our ultra strong sunscreen. We certainly do need some sunshine!
What a wonderful photograph, a slice of life from early 1900's. I wish I had a photo of my great grandma.
ReplyDeleteI had not heard that about the elderly, my goodness, you would think that would be widely known, wouldn't you?
Hugs, Cindy
Podso, I love genealogy. I have always been so fascinated by it. I just love old photos like that. It just makes you stop and wonder what they were thinking at the time and what their lives were all about. Besides God, lol they are the ones who make up for who we are today. Generation after generation. Love it. Thanks for posting and have a wonderful day!
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