Good Health and Long Life

  Darling Daughter and her hubby just got back from a dream vacation. Ten days in Greece seemed to agree with the two of them as they both looked happy and hale.  Their visit to the Little Bayou House made me happy as well.  I was eager to hear all about their trip and to see pictures and souvenirs that they had brought back with them.  I was truly fascinated as I never travel much.  As they chattered about the different places they went and the different sights they saw, I flipped through several picture books of the area.  Wow!  Greece must be a remarkably beautiful place!  With each photograph, I received their own experiences about being there. It was amazing that I could travel through their words. 

  While in Greece, they purchased two items that were for me.  One is a perfectly lovely little vase that was handmade at one of their stops. Elizabeth explained to me how the vase was made, fired and then decorated with different colored clay and fired again.  There were no glazes applied to this piece.  All of the decorations were done with clay. The other piece is a small bowl which came from another stop on their journey.  This, too, was handmade but with a different technique.  It is highly glazed and very detailed.  One thing that the two pieces have in common is the decorative scroll border.  While they are a bit different in style they both have a similar meaning.  When the borders are seen on a piece, it means "Good health and long life".  Elizabeth told me that was the reason she bought these for me.  Aww, sweet!  

   The "good health and long life" symbol is a beautiful thought. Occasionally, I have used this same  border on ceramic or gourd pieces that I created.  At the time, I did not know the symbolic meaning behind the border but it is almost as if I was unknowingly bestowing a blessing upon those receiving the art pieces.  I do believe I will now include the tiny border somewhere on each future piece I create.  

  The idea behind the small design is intriguing and I did notice that I felt much better today than I have in a long time.  To my way of thinking, that had nothing to do with the scrollwork but everything to do with Elizabeth and Robbie coming to visit.  There is nothing like family being around to make everything right.  So, Good health and long life to all!