Fun Seekers June 2022
The Fun Seekers chose 'Fond Memories' as our theme for our painting rock exercise and while collectively, the painted rocks and stories build on the theme, they are all different. Our rocks come from different areas, one found on the roadside on the way to the cabin, one from a stone fence line built from rocks individually collected for their uniqueness and some from the edge of a rail line and some collected while on vacation in Nova Scotia. We gathered to begin our painting and story building. And, collectively, we will take our rocks to the WI garden in Dunrobin. Some will remain there for community to find, some of the other rocks will go to places to our special people, for the recipient to find them. Our story is made up of 4 short stories.
Pam Smith-Hlady - Painted rock with log cabin
I painted a log cabin representing the log cabin my parents built on Lot # 117 at Little Cedar Lake Quebec My parents were dairy farmers in the upper Gatineau area of the Outaouais known for its many lakes. Sunday on the farm was the day of relaxation and started with Church and after livestock was tended to, it was picnic time by a lake side. In mid- 50's with 6 children to entertain and motivate, my parents leased a lot form the Crown and started to build a cedar log cabin. Sundays from then on were spent at the lake. We were clearing the lot, cutting trees, or peeling the logs that were already cut and we all had out tasks in helping. We also all had our dreams of what it would eventually look like. it was not all work because we had time for play, swimming, fishing and campfires which were particularly enjoyed when my mom would cook a fresh caught fish for supper. It took the better part of 10 years until the cabin was finished. The timing actually coincided with my parent's decision to leave the farm and move to the city.
While we missed the farm and the area, we always had the cabin to go to. From 1963, weekends and vacations were mostly spent at the cabin. The cabin remains in the family today and we still have opportunity to spend some much coveted relation time there reliving fond memories and making new memories. While going back in time, we are also going forward with the next generation. I painted my rock for my grandson Jack who is 3 years old and already a fan of the cabin and lake. I will place it by the front porch door where he will be able to see it. He may take it home or he may leave it to find again when he returns next time.
Jean Sullivan – 4-H Emblem
The 4-H emblem represents fond memories for me. 4-H was a big part of my life from 12-21, and continues to be a cause I support and where I volunteer! My 4-H leaders in the “homemaking” clubs in our Cowal Community were Women’s Institute members and community leaders in their own right. Head, Heart Hands and Health continue to be the pillars of 4-H and “Learn to do by Doing” is the motto I try to live by today. Friends, laughter, leadership and community – are 4-H fond memories for me. This rock will find its way to a former 4-H leader in our community.
Adele Muldoon – Ladybugs
I loved teaching and I have many fond memories of my students. One project my primary students engaged in was painting a rock to resemble a ladybug. They took them home to present their parents with a door stopper.
Remembering my students, I painted several ladybug rocks and printed a message on the bottom of each: Be happy! Be kind! Help others! Smell the flowers! I took the ladybugs to the Women's Institute garden and placed them around the flowers. My hope is curious children will pick them up and read the messages. I will leave them for them to enjoy and if they choose to take them home, that is fine. If they are still there in the fall I will pick them up and give them to my grandchildren.
Jane Hillary – Nature, Rocks and Streams
I am a gatherer of rocks, along with stones, shells, the odd feather.... As with other treasures, they somehow anchor me to that place in time and space, that I was there, that I existed then, and there, sometimes alone and sometimes with friend(s) or family ... but I'm aware of my connection with that item chosen as if making a friend along the way. I seem to be easily distracted by as well as attracted to Nature's palette. I can become mesmerized by considering the story of where the particular item has come from, where it's going in its travels, who and what will it experience along the way, and in general, the beauty of it and its contribution to my world.
Our task of choosing a rock and painting it allowed me to revisit some of those fond memories of collecting and somehow forming an immediate bond with another being in time and space, a treasure to me of my connection to this beautiful life in this world. I poured a little stream of water on this rock's surface and watched where it flowed and followed those lines with blue paint to represent the rains and snows that fall and gather to fall again further on downstream... to the oceans eventually. The dabs of assorted greens represent the flora as they grow everywhere there is enough air, water, warmth, and earth to sustain them. I left the beauty of the bare rock to show as it does naturally in Nature, as I love to see it, and feel it, honouring its beauty, its warmth or coolness, its strength, its wisdom gathered over its lifetime.
I ran out of time, as usual, or there would be bits of colour here and there to represent those other stunningly beautiful works in Nature's world, those of other living creatures I've connected with along my life downstream, along the rivers of my time...
Fond Memories Bring Us Together
This activity helped us to get to know one another better, as we each described the meaning of our painted rocks. There is nothing like sharing fond memories among friends to help bring folks together and understand a little bit more about each other, what makes us happy, and brings us joy. It is our hope that our rocks bring joy to others in our community.
