Saturday, January 19, 2008

Childhood memories.....

Do you have early childhood memories? How far back is your first recollection of something that happened to you as a child?

I shared one of my first recollections in a previous post. At four years old, I remember very vividly ringing the doorbell over and over to play the "Little Red Riding Hood game" I invented. I remember also going to a nursery school where there was a huge pecan tree in the yard that I did not like the nuts to eat but loved picking them up. We took our rest time naps on rag rugs.


I have this box of memories which contains some of my clothes from my childhood. There are a number of my baby dresses, my first patent leather shoes, little canvas tennis shoes and two dresses from my time in England.

I was asked by my dear friend Mary about living in England. I had not told her I had lived there and she is originally from there but living in America. I lived there with my family while my father was stationed at an Air Force base. We did not live on the base. I still recall the house we lived in and was able to point out which it was when we returned once.


I attended the English Yateley Infant school. I was 5 years old and they decided to place me in first grade instead of kindergarten. I remember walking with my mother from our house to this school. I remember going out the double doors in the classroom to play outside. I remember we got a school patch to wear on our uniform the next year. I never got to wear it as we had to return to America.

This is a little knit dress that my mother bought for me then. It has always been saved in that special box.


My mother also bought me this little kilt which I see from the tag is Marks & Spencers. It should have a kilt pin in it. I remember what happened to that pin...

Years later, when I was 16 years old, my mother took my brother and I back to England to visit my English mum and dad. That became a trip we will all three never forget! The memories we made there are still extremely vivid for us. My mother and I laugh about many of the things we did on the trip regularly. One of the places we visited was Edinburgh. We went to a tartan shop and I was allowed to pick out an authentic Scottish kilt. I remember the kilt well as I picked the brown plaid. We looked up the Smith clan tartan but I did not want the bright blue pattern after having fallen in love with this brown one. The kilt did not have a kilt pin and I knew I had one in this little kilt from my childhood. I took it off and used it on my new kilt but it has disappeared sadly with that kilt.

My mother passed along her love of England to me Mary. Living in Holland, I took advantage of being close and made many visits there. I have also added to those memories returning with my mother a number of times since. We love it there and always seem to have very special times when there.

I have seen so many beautiful things and have had the advantage of being able to experience Yorkshire in a special way because of our special friends (well we consider them more family). I keep saying I want to be taken and buried in Haworth when I leave this world. Just one of my favorite places in Beautiful England!

18 comments:

Carolien said...

These are some nice memories, Heidi! I love kilts. I don't have one but I love to see them.

Have a nice day!

Hugs, Carolien

P.S. You really couldn't sleep, could you?!

Nancy said...

Oh I cannot believe you have all those things still. That dress looks like it did when I bought it at Marks and Spencers. I have to look to see if I have one of those pins. I soooo want to go back to England. Next year we have to do that. I have pictures of you in the baby dresses and maybe also that dress.

Fete et Fleur said...

What beautiful reminiscing. It must be such a blessing to have such lovely memories! Thank you for sharing them with us. It was beautiful to read.

Nancy

Joyce said...

I can't believe you have all those wonderful clothes saved! What great memories. I love Kilts too, I have one....I used to wear it at Christmas but haven't for a few years. HA! I too can remember back to when I was 4...I was in the hospital to have my tonsils removed, my Great Aunt who was a Nun working at the hospital brought me a toy to play with....one of those "pull string Pluto dogs" that you pull the string and then the legs move and it walks. I had on a pair of "periwinkle blue" pajama's with gold stars and moons on them. Odd how we remember such things.
Be blessed,
Joyce

Betty said...

Heidi,
Your childhood clothes are classic and will never be out of style....
Great posting....Betty

Betty said...

Heidi,
Your childhood clothes are classic and will never be out of style....

Great posting....Betty

Anonymous said...

Hi Heidi,
I can still picture you as you were when you wore that dress! And I remember you sitting at the table with your fork and knife sticking up in your two hands at the "ready position". Maybe that's why you are adept in the kitchen! Ha! Ha!
Love,
Bull

Mary said...

Oh how precious! It's wonderful that you have those pieces of your childhood -- so sweet and laden with memories.
xoxo,
Mary

Mary said...

Another thing we have in common - wearing Marks & Spencer dresses! Of course every child in England grew up in them and they still have great clothes - I bought some there in Oct. despite the horrific exchange rate!

Amazing Heidi that you still have these things tucked away - and thanks for sharing the memories of your time spent in my lovely country. I hope you can have another visit there one of these days - at least you can go by ferry boat.

Glad to hear Mom got a flight for April - know you'll have a great time.

Rhondi said...

Hi Heidi I love England too. We been there 6 or 7 times over the years, got to stay with people we knew which is so much better than in a hotel. I love the beautiful countryside, the quaint villages, the gardens and the Devon cream tea.
You're lucky to have some things from your childhood. My mother was a great one to give things away when we didn't need them anymore and unfortunately I got that from her, so I didn't save any of the things from our children's young lives either!
Lucky you to have the memories plus some mementos.
Yes my sitting area is in a corner of my studio. Rhondi xo

Reginas Cottage said...

Dear Heidi
Wonderful childhood memories.The kilts is so beautiful.

I have a Award for you

Have a nice day.
Hugs,Regina

the tattered nest said...

Heidi you are such a lucky girl, to have some of your childhood clothing! I wish my Mom would of saved our baby clothes, but with six children and a small house it just wasn't easy. You are also blessed with a great memory...I am not so blessed. My first memory is kindergarten..my sister on the other hand remembers everything and that is a blessing to all of our siblings! Enjoy winter...stay warm.

Anonymous said...

It's so nice that you still have dresses from your childhood, Heidi! They're wonderful keepsakes. Someday I hope to visit England. ~ hugs, Lynda xo

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

What wonderful memories! I grew up on a lake in Michigan and remember fishing, climbing trees, catching frogs and toads...I was a real tomboy!
Hugs,
Penny

The Feathered Nest said...

What a beautiful post! I love that you have your own little clothes ~ and how each one is so special and has it's own memory. They look so new too! You have been many places dear Heidi ~ xxoo, Dawn

Shop girl said...

I have a few things from my babyhood. I should post them soon.
Wonderful to see yours...Memories are Our gifts.
My first memory is at two years old. I was living with my Grandparents in the Valley of California. I was on a high bed, awear that I could fall. I was laying under my Grandmommy's fur coat. I felt warm and I could hear the voices from the kitchen. I felt happy.
I can remember other things to, but it could be a book!
I enjoyed your blog.
Mary

the tattered nest said...

Hi Heidi! thanks for you nice comments on my bedroom decor. My headboard was made by my husband out of a old door and by adding a few embellishments...good eye on you! The bucket is an old wooden one with old paint and it is called a Firkin or sugar bucket. It was used to store sugar...that is your history lesson for today. tee hee..

Anonymous said...

Oh Heidi, I wore very similar clothes when I was little. I had a knitted dress in red and blue and a kilt with a pin!

My earliest memory is of being outside playing with friends when one of them threw my hair ribbon downstairs (we lived in a maisonette above some shops). I thought that I would get into trouble for losing it, so went down to retrieve it (I was about 3 at the time) ~ instead, I got into trouble for going to get it!

Haworth ~ one of my favourite places and that parsonage and churchyard are so peaceful. One of these days we are going to have to meet up in Yorkshire!

Marie x