On the small wooden corner shelf in my kitchen you'll find my wooden gnomes. (The other items are there all year round.) The shelf itself belonged to my paternal grandmother, and once upon a time used to sit in her kitchen.
The wooden house (a model of a kind of storehouse that used to be common in the north of Sweden) comes from my mum's side of the family (my maternal grandfather was from "up north") - and so does the little carved dog. The boat-like thing next to the house is a souvenir bought on a family trip up north in my early teens - a wooden cup, a traditional Sami kind of item. The little ceramic deer and the "nutty" squirrel were presents from friends some time in the past; and the little grey gnome I think was originally part of some Christmas flower arrangement.
The two gnomes to the left on the middle shelf I remember buying when visiting a Christmas market in a friend's church back in my upper teens. And the grey one on the same shelf was a Christmas gift from a Swedish penfriend some 20+ years ago.
A random collection of things, but with one thing in common:
They're all bearers of memories of family and friends.
my favorite gnomes are the two wooden ones on top right shelf with red on their heads. they are all cute and its good to remember friends and family
ReplyDeleteSandra, I agree. That pair are my favourites of "their kind" too - hand made and more than 50 years old now!
DeleteSo sweet they all are, especially when you could tell the memories associated with them! I looked up Gnomes, and found European ones aren't always the little short bearded ones with pointy hats, but sometimes look like the elves with pointed hats which are different from my experience. And yet here you've got the short bearded pointy hatted guys! So do yours live underground, and become yard art, gracing various gardens?
ReplyDeleteBarbara, these days traditions from various corners of the worlds are all mixed up here. I don't think garden gnomes are as common here as in the US, but since I live in a district of mostly apartment buildings I'm not sure even about that! Historically (like 19th/early 20th century, and "who knows" how far back) I think our "tomte" was a small creature living in a barn or stable on a farm, and dressed in grey rather than red. You'd better treat him well or he could cause trouble; but he could also be helpful. One tradition was to put out a bowl of porridge for him on Christmas Eve. (In the old days it also wasn't a "tomte" / Santa who delivered Christmas presents here, but a Yule Goat.)
DeleteThey are memory shelves for sure! My favorite is the little log cabin.
ReplyDeleteA lovely corner of memories. I especially like the dog.
ReplyDeleteI love the dog, and the little deer is adorable.
ReplyDeleteYour kitchen shelf is a beautiful tapestry of memory, where each gnome, carved figure, and keepsake quietly carries the warmth of family, friendship, and cherished moments across generations
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful, I love the house.
ReplyDelete