Tuesday, June 4, 2013

* Grandpa Had a Perpetual Calendar *

Grandpa had a shiny, brass perpetual calendar. He kept it on top of the ornate, built-in wooden cabinet that separated the living room from the dining room. (It was similar to the one below.) As a young child it intrigued me because it was something I didn't see in anyone else's house. I always looked forward to getting up in those summer mornings....to go outside and play, of course....but also because grandpa would let me turn the little knobs and make the correct day and number appear. How fun it was!


(And how cool is this that I found one with yesterday's date??)


The only calendars I knew about were the paper kind you hung on the kitchen wall, above the bright red step-stool chair. (Like the one below.) Ours was probably the free one that our church handed out after Mass. It had all the holidays and Holy Days already on it, so families wouldn't forget when they had to go to a Mass that wasn't on a Sunday. 



Many years ago, a wonderful friend gave me a perpetual calendar as a gift. It was either for Christmas or my birthday; I don't remember which, since they're only 12 days apart! ☺ We met when we had young sons in the same school, and attended the same church. We both sang alto in our church choir and those practices were both solemn and loads of fun. I'm sorry to say that as our boys grew up, we drifted apart as happens quite often, but we still send Christmas cards to each other every year. 

photo by Becky

I'm happy to say that I still have this darling little calendar. It's in my kitchen and every time I even glance at it, I think of her and of my grandpa. 





"Elephants and grandchildren never forget." -- Andy Rooney

45 comments:

  1. I love the perpetual calender you still have and can imagine how fascinating your granddad's was to an inquiring young mind. Thanks for a lovely post, Becky. Jo

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    1. Hi Jo! How lovely to hear from you! Thanks much, and yes I did have an enquiring mind...and still do! :)

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  2. It's nice to have items that remind us of loved ones, Becky. Glad you have Grandpa's calendar. Susan

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    1. Hi Susan! Thanks for stopping and commenting!

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  3. Lovely memories. My gran had one of these step stools...that was my perch when I went to visit.

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    1. Hi Delores! I'm so glad this brought back some fond memories to you, too! We really did have a red step stool like that one. My grandma had a smaller version that was white.

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  4. I love perpetual calendars. I have something called a "day book," that you can list important dates, events in that occur each year. Helps me not forget things.

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    1. Hi Dayle! What a wonderful surprise to see you here! Thank you so much for stopping and commenting!

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  5. Fun post, Becky. Perpetual calendars are cool. I'm used to the paper ones hanging on the wall too.

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    1. Hi Daisy! Thanks! I'll have to do some searching and see if anyone sells "new" perpetual calendars any more. I was only looking for vintage.

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  6. I have a perpetual calendar too. That red step stoll brought back memories!

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    1. Hi Linda! That's cool that you have a perpetual calendar, too! And always happy to provide happy memories!

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  7. I like the idea of a perpetual calendar, but always forget to change the date.

    Pat
    Critter Alley

    P.S. Love your new shades of pink blog colors!

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    1. Hi Pat! Thanks! Yes, sometimes I have to admit that I'm a day or two behind! :)
      Glad you like my new background!

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  8. I have, not a perpetual calendar but a twenty-five year one which I picked up at a street stall in India. And I love it. And admire the cleverness with which it was thunked up and made...

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    1. Hey EC! That is so cool! I've never heard of a 25 YEAR calendar!! Wow! Yes, talk about cleverness for thinking that up! :)

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  9. Oh wow, I haven't seen one of those perpetual calendars like your grandfather had in ages. To tell the truth, I'd forgotten all about them.

    Hmmm, twelve days between your birthday and Christmas, huh? Small world. Me, too.

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    1. Hi Susan! Glad I brought back some memories for you! And if I counted the days correctly....is your birthday also Jan 6th?
      I read not too long ago, that the 6th is the last date in The Twelve Days of Christmas song.....because it's also the Feast of the Ephiphany, when the Three Wise Men finally got there!

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  10. I remember a few things at my grandparent's house that, yes, intrigued me precisely because I didn't know of anyone else who had them. My grandma kept an old fashioned alarm clock, the kind you wind, by her bed, and it always fascinated me. Fun post, Becky. :)

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    1. Hi Julie! Thanks, I'm glad you liked this post! Your grandma had a wind-up alarm clock?? Gee, my older sisters had them, too! :)

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  11. Yours is adorable! We have calendars all over the house. I remember the cloth printed calendar for the whole year at my grandmothers and at home! Hugs!

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  12. Hi Diane! I'd forgotten about those cloth calendars! They used to be a regular piece of "decor" in my kitchen in the 70s!

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  13. I remember those brass perpetual calendars, and how I long for simpler times. And... I misread and thought your church handed out red step-stool chairs after Mass! I almost became religious for a minute there. That's such a cool stool!

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    1. Hi Katie! I long for simpler times a lot, too. You made me laugh out loud, thinking about a church handing out red step-stools! :D

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  14. I recall seeing stepping stools like your photo, and how attractive that perpetual calendar is.

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    1. Hi Terra! Thanks so much for stopping by! So glad you enjoyed it!

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  15. What great memories. My grandpa had all of these, too. I wish I still had that red stool!

    =)

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    1. Hi Sue! Thank you! I'm always so happy when my memories also trigger others' memories!

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  16. And with a flood- you brought all the memories back of my own Nan and Grandad's house- they had a wooden one, and I loved it!
    Thanks for stopping by my blog and for the little poem- so lovely to see you
    Laura xxx

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    1. Hi Laura! You are very welcome, and thank YOU for stopping and commenting, too! Glad I brought you happy memories.

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  17. Cute calendar--and it was good to see you the other day! Oh gosh, I had something more profound to say, but just lost it! ACK.

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    1. Hi Lynn! Thanks so much for stopping by. It was great seeing you the other day, too. I wish we could've talked a bit longer. All of a sudden, I realized you were gone! I'm sure you'll remember your profound words you wanted to say! :)

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  18. "Becky Lewellen Povich" has been included in the Sites To See for this week. Be assured that I hope this helps to point many new visitors in your direction.

    http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2013/06/sites-to-see.html

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    1. Jerry, thank you SO much!! I'm honored to be included!

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  19. What a sweet memory. I remember the first time I saw a step stool like that thinking it was the greatest piece of engineering. How cool! It's a chair AND a step ladder. Oh, the possibilities.

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    1. Hi Trish! So glad my post brought sweet memories to you! Thanks much for stopping and letting me know!

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  20. When I was growing up, we always had the Girl Scout calendar. My mom always liked the big block they had for writing in.

    I wanted to thank you for visiting my Audie Murphy post. That post was a labor of love, and I appreciate that you took the time to visit and leave me a comment. Big hugs to you for that.

    By the way, I got your change of address and have updated my book.

    Hugs,
    Patti

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    1. Hi Patti! Thanks much for stopping and commenting! And I really enjoyed your Audie Murphy post, as you already know! :)

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  21. thanks for dropping by my blog. I like the calendar in the first photo. I wish I had one

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    1. Hello beckyp! You're very welcome! I enjoyed looking at all your vintage goodies!

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  22. I'm thinking you could've really messed with your grandpa's head by turning that calendar a day ahead or a day behind :)

    Gotta be nice to the mischievous kids, too, LOL.

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    1. Hi Carol! Awwww, I would've never done that! Or even thought of it! Thanks for stopping by!

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  23. I remember both the calendars and we had one of those red step stools too. I wish that I still did, but I have seen replicas of those around.

    Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

    Kathy M.

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    1. Hi Kathy! There really are some of those vintage step stools around. I've seen them on Etsy, but don't remember the prices. If they were far away and had to be shipped, though....Whoa! Thanks for stopping and hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

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  24. Oh that is a darling calendar! My mom has a perpetual calendar too, she bought it in Europe, and I've always loved it. I love all types of calendars for some reason.

    I also have to say I LOVE your agenda for the day and the picture with Vern! So cute! :)

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I'm still getting quite a few spam comments that are Anonymous, so I'm trying "User with Google Accounts." If anyone tries to comment that I know, and it won't let you, send me an email, okay? Thanks so much.