Yeah it’s me again, using all the Throwback Mercury mojo to bring you more blasts from the past. Libra is stirring me back to art again, with the help of my mother this time. My mother is a talented musician who always loved history and culture. She can play piano beautifully and can do so by ear, a trait she inherited from her father. She also sings very well. She adored school and was an excellent student, but was not permitted to go to college. Her brother was sent instead while she worked to help support her parents’ household. She still talks about this disappointment to this day. My mother has lived a very traditional life , going from her family home straight to marriage and children. While she did work off and on, she never had a career. Both of her children – daughters, have advanced degrees and careers. Both of her grandchildren – girls, are clever, bright, inquisitive, and determined. One of them has been recognized for both her writing and her artistic projects! My mom once dreamed of being a fashion designer. She loved to sketch, yet she has not drawn anything ( that I am aware of ) in ages.
While introducing both myself and my sister to the piano proved futile, her artistic passion carries on in me. It was her aunt and uncle who indulged me with art supplies and made me feel less alone in the world. My mother’s love of history and art came together in this coloring book she gave to me. I believe we both colored different dolls in the book. It was something we could do together.
While I have not seen the book since early childhood, I found it on the internet. This was not easy, since I did not recall the title or author. But clearly my tenacity paid off:
Which doll is your favorite?
I am so excited that I was able to bring this book brimming with joyful memories back to life. I often imagined myself wearing the exquisite period outfits. Some of my readers will chuckle to notice that the book included a native american doll as well!
My mother and I have little in common and she would wholeheartedly agree with me. (Her chart is predominantly fire and earth , featuring 4 planets in Aries and a Sun Mars Uranus Aries stellium.) What we do share is creativity, addiction to books, a strong spirit and a kind heart. She also had the same complicated relationship with her own mother, who was more of a non-conformist. My grandmother, who may not have finished school, was also a voracious reader! Her North Node in Gemini lands precisely on my moon and she used it well. She was such a whiz with cards and played a mean scrabble too.
I also honor the various roles women have enacted throughout history. Our diversity is our strength but our sisterhood is our birthright. We as women can do so much more united than divided.
Let’s care for one another.
I am so grateful that the love of art is alive in me and my niece. I cannot wait to see how my nieces grow and develop into young women. They mean the world to me. Please cherish the little girls in your life. They often grow up to become women who will birth others ( children, animals, ideas) into being.
Please listen to this soulful tune by Libra John Mayer. He may be singing about you. He clearly was singing about me …
litebeing chronicles 
Linda How wonderful that you found this book again on the net.. And the memories it must have evoked within you must have brought back some magical times as you coloured those pretty girls in.. My favourite has to be the little Native American Indian with Fawn… Loved that and this post.. Thank you
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You could download it 😉 I am amazed they even included native americans in that ” ancient” book, lol! Thanks for your appreciation of my love of nostalgia and the wonder of artistry.
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I also pick the girl with the birds. My mom bought me paper dolls, they were my favorites growing up. MR is working my nerves, lol
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These days I am the girl with the birds,lol! I sent my mom a picture of the coloring book last night and she does not remember it, but said the picture was too small to view on her kindle. another MR moment! I look to find the happy memories that helped shape me. Glad it triggered happy ones for you too!
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What a beautiful memory to share with your mother. I love the costumes. As a novice sewist, I briefly studied fashion design with dreams of being a costumer. I am digging all the art posts. Cheers!
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You are a renaissance woman with so many talents! Seems like you forwarded my mother’s dream yourself. Glad you are diggin’ the art too!
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Aw, thank you. I am digging the art, yessiree!
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wow the internet is so amazing…love that you found the book. my mother also gave up a lot of her dreams because of the cultural expectations of those around her. i sometimes feel such expectations but it’s nothing like what so many women have had to go through.
and now, being in a class where there’s an 18 year old (!!!) who has so much confidence and spark, and knows what she wants (and is doing what she needs to do to have it), well – it’s pretty wild how things have changed. ❤
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Things do continue to change for women, but not fast enough for me. The internet has allowed me to retrieve people and objects and memories from long ago. It can be life changing. We are all learning how to incorporate this technology into our lives.
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it is a huge evolutionary adjustment…
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I love the coloring book Linda, and also hearing about your relationship with your mother, sister and nieces.
The pictures look amazingly familiar to me, but I’m not sure why. I really like the one with the girl and the birds. 🙂 Although I am not a girly girl, I do appreciate support and admiration for the women in our lives. I have a number of very strong-willed women on both sides of the family, although, with the exception of my Aunt Bunny, none who have much in the way of artistic or literary interests.
My grandfather was the only one in my immediate family who supported my musical interests, and when you said “tenacity,” I definitely recognized that trait in myself 🙂 It can be done, right? …and so you found the coloring book! Love it.
Nieces are special. I only have one which makes more special, but she is the apple of my eye.
I wonder if kids still color? I’m not around that many of them, but I sure hope they do. I have great memories of coloring with my sister and neighbor friend Regina. Seems like we could do this for hours, laughing and arguing over the crayons and our artistic ability or lack thereof.
Much love,
Debra
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maybe you have seen this book when you were a child. I am not a girly girl either. Both my mom and sister are, yet mom has so much Aries and my sister loves sports and working out, lol! While I was not a girly girl, I did like dolls and had quite a few. And I do enjoy fashion, but mostly though fashion shows and magazines. My own style is truly unique and untrendy. Kids so still color and the proof is hanging up in my home. I hope it never goes away I love my crayons and use them still. Less expensive than paint and come with such whimsical names 🙂
thanks for commenting here on this post. You are old enough to appreciate how much has changed since we were raised. xxxx Linda
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