my mother-in-law
my husband’s parents arrived yesterday for a long weekend visit. last night meine schwiegermutter (mother-in-law) brought a beautiful, peach colored box into the kitchen and said “i don’t know if you would want these but….” my heart stood still. i couldn’t believe, i thought, i was getting something handed down to me. it was such an honor. well, i now as i write, remember the time she gave me her daughter’s first gold earings for my daughter (i couldn’t believe my sister-in-law did not want them) but i did not remember the earrings in that moment. i saw the shiny gold parts shimmer under the kitchen light and i could tell this was special. it got better than that. as a young woman in the early 1960s, my mother-in-law was a porzellanmaler or a china painter. i don’t know why i always forget this. it’s perhaps i met her later as an art restorer and during our first years of getting to know each other, she took me all over the region where they live (to museums, churches, and castles) and showed me art that she had restored. the pieces ranged in age from the middle ages to the renaissance period. i will never forget the pride i saw in her face everytime she showed me a painting that she restored as she pointed out each blemish or deterioration from age (that one would never know about or notice) that she repaired. to me the paintings appeared flawless. i felt always as if i had a secret with me with her as my personal guide whispering in my ear what all had been restored.
i still translate in my brain german to english and then process it so i did not realize what she was saying as i carefully took them out one at a time from the box. i was slowly reminded that she started her career as a porzellanmaler when she took one of the cups, turned it over, pointed, and said ” that was my number, 14″ (her id number is stamped or burned on the bottom). she had painted them herself! what a thrill!
she went on to explain gold painting on china and the difference between two different processes that exist. i have to ask her again tomorrow what all she said about that because i was just astounded and was busy feeling honored. look at her exquisite handwork
here she is, my gem of a schwiegermutter
eb http://www.elizabethbunsen.typepad.com
July 7th, 2007 at 1:34 amoh - Elsa - I got goosebumps reading this - they are beautiful - what a wonderful treasure - such a very interesting post - have a lovely time with your schwiegermutter
xox - eb.
Amy http://petticoatlane.wordpress.com
July 7th, 2007 at 2:31 amoooh those are a lovely set! And your mil sounds like a gem
Caroline Potato http://potatoprints.typepad.com/potato_prints/
July 7th, 2007 at 11:08 amHi rekindled spirit,
I’m visiting you from EB’s blog. I live in Wisconsin, kind of in the center of the United States. You have a lovely space here. It is so upbeat and colorful.
I celebrate your good relationship with a wonderful mother-in-law. I like the way the French say it: belle-mere. “Beautiful mother.” My husbands parents died a long time ago, so I have not had the good fortune to explore that relationship.
She sounds like a real gem, as you say. The porcelaine is so beautiful.
super”k”west
July 8th, 2007 at 3:05 pmElsa, do you think she would adopt me as a person-with-no-mother-in-law-orphan?
Seriously, to all who have seen Elsa’s postings, and have commented about her Schones Schwiegermutter, what Elsa writes is so very true. Having met this beautiful person a few years ago, I can say, I will never forget her!
e@elsaaraya.com http://elsaaraya.com
July 9th, 2007 at 10:13 pmi love you kristin!
rochambeau http://rochambeau.typepad.com
July 9th, 2007 at 10:51 pmPlease tell your Schwiegermutter that her work brings tears to my eyes, and that her gift to you is so heartfelt and generous. I’m so glad you shared this Elsa. She is a master!