Laura

My grandmother Margaret was the second youngest of eleven children, the breakdown of which was seven boys and four girls. Her eldest sister Laura, born "Mary Loretta” was the eldest child of Roddie and Josephine (MacAulay) Steele. Laura was the first to leave home and head to the States – a path that many of her siblings would also follow.

Laura Steele

My grandmother talked about her siblings a lot and the majority of them I never met. Her stories and the odd photograph were the only connection I had to these people. In the past few years, we’ve been fortunate enough to get to know Laura’s granddaughter Cheryl. She has in fact become one of my favourite cousins. Cheryl and her husband David purchased my Grandmother’s home on PEI after she died. This has led to many treasured family get-togethers in the summer when they are ‘home.’

This past summer they came to the Island to par take in my parent’s 45^th wedding anniversary. A few days after the party they came to the farm and spent an afternoon and evening with us. Cheryl brought with her a box of her Grandmother Laura’s photographs she had found. Mom, Cheryl and I spent the entire afternoon going through these photographs, Mom was able to identify many of the relatives in the photographs. We saw many images of my Grandmother’s siblings that we had never seen before. These photographs provided us with a glimpse into their lives. I knew these siblings all lives in the ‘States’ but what I did not have was a sense that they were all there “together.” Laura had many snapshots and some studio portraits of her, Philip, Joseph, Bernard, Cyriene, and Sadie. Here are a few highlights from Laura’s collection:

M. Joseph Steele

 

 



L to R: Laura (Steele) Raymond, Cryiene & Mildred Steele

Philip F. Steele

Laura (second from left)

Joseph (third from left)

Bernard (far right)

 

 Sadie (Steele) & Walter Halforth (sp?)

 

 

Sadie Steele

Of all the photographs we saw, this one surprised me the most. I’ve always known how much I resemble my Dad and the Rossiter side of my family. Yet, people have always felt there was a resemblance between myself and my cousin Louise, Mary Anne’s granddaughter. I certainly saw a resemblance between Louise and the photograph of Sadie above. But when I looked at the photograph below, I was shocked at how much I resembled Sadie – especially around the eyes. Unfortunately, I also grew up hearing Sadie always referred to as “the crazy one.”

Sadie Steele

On a previous trip to Cheryl’s home in New Hampshire, I was delighted to discover a slate that Laura had saved from her childhood. The Steele children who had used this slate when attending school had engraved their initials into the slate. Words cannot express the excitement I felt when I saw this slate. Cheryl said the slate had been found in Laura’s hope chest.

I never met Laura, but I am so grateful to her. I am grateful that she saved the slate, that she documented many aspects of her and her siblings lives via photographs, and that she saved these photographs. All of these items, today, offer our family a glimpse of the story of the lives of those who came before us.

October Strawberries

I saw a U-Haul van last week and it stopped me in my tracks. As I stood there, I was reminded that I had hoped that would be my reality this Fall. It was not meant to be. Fate has decided it best that I remain in Toronto for the time being. I gave myself a few days to be sad about it and then I picked myself up – determined to make the best of my life here in T-dot for however longer that shall be.

I’ve always firmly believed that you are where you are meant to be. It is sometimes difficult to figure out, however, why we are here. What lessons are we to learn? What part of me is to benefit and grow? What can I bring? I am, however, as impatient as ever when answers are not readily clear.

The day after getting my disappointing news, I had lunch with someone who has become a cherished friend. He always brings laughter and clarity to my life. I have come to rely on him for advice and guidance in many aspects of my life. We are alike in so many ways. The most common denominator – we are country bumpkins at heart and offer no apology for it. In an effort to boost my spirits he produced a wee box after we finished lunch. In it, were earrings to match the pendant he gave me for my birthday – “Strawberries” by Michael Michaud.

I was not familiar with Michaud’s jewellery but am now fascinated by it. Inspired by nature, this jewellery is incredibly beautiful and unique. His silver seasons collection features “elements cast in silver and bronze and accented with pearls and gemstones.”