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  • Welcome to the Gigi Blog!

    Mother to six Little Women and Two Little Men. Married to a Happy Mortician. Caretaker to goats, chickens and many, MANY bunnies. Photographer. Homeschooler. Lover of Jesus, coffee & tea and all things pink & vintage.

The Rescued Pump Organ: The Parlour {Part 1}

Beauty is as necessary to the spirit as food and clothing are to the body.
Fortunately, beauty is easy to invite into any home, for beauty has many faces.

What is beautiful to you? What makes you smile or your spirit soar?
That is the beauty that should surround you in your home,
and it will be shared with all who come to visit.
Seek out beauty in whatever form it speaks to you.

Surround yourself with beauty.
In the process, you will be creating something truly beautiful as well:
a lovely home graced with a happy, welcoming spirit.

 ~Emilie Barnes

 

 

 

 

I’m not sure how it happened, but somehow I convinced my husband to pick up a 150 year old pump organ for our parlour. This particular ancient  organ had been listed online  for free for a while; I had eyed it and thought about how lovely it would be to have in our old home – but I could not justify driving the distance and somehow managing to persuade my husband, who would be doing the heavy lifting, that this was a necessary item for our old fashioned life.
But somehow — wonders upon wonders — he agreed, as it turns out he was heading that particular direction for another errand. God bless husbands everywhere who pick up antiques and suffer back aches for their wives! What a good man.

“Okay, so it’s here – but how will I get it into the house,” my husband said, throwing open the van back doors and revealing a very dusty and grimy organ, which had been stored in a barn for obviously quite a long time. Right as my husband was eyeing up the ridiculous task ahead of it, a friend dropped by the house to pick something up. Perfect timing, I suggested, and nodded my head towards the friend in the driveway. I smiled and quickly ran to open the front door. It was raining, it was cold, but somehow the two men managed to carry the organ up the stairs and into the front parlour of our house — without complaining.

(photo from the ad)

Entranced with the relic of an organ, two excited little girls helped me brush off inches of dirt and grime; we worked together to do the best we could at cleaning this lovely little lady.

As soon as our task was completed and we had properly oiled and cleaned to our heart’s content, the girls were so excited to try it out. It did not take long before our parlour was singing away with the happy tunes of “Sweet Hour of Prayer” and many other sweet hymns.  What a precious sound to my ears!

{I wish I could figure out how to upload a video here – it was so fun to watch this young daughter play out her hymn!}

 

“No family can afford to do without music.
It is a luxury and an economy; an alleviator of sorrow, and a spring of enjoyment;
a protection against vice and an incitement to virtue. When rightly used, its effects physical, intellectual and moral, are good, very good and only good. Make home attractive; music affords a means of doing this. Contribute kindly feeling, love. Music will help in this work. Keep out angry feeling. ‘Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast.
‘ Show us the family where good music is cultivated, where the parents and children are accustomed often to mingle their voices together in song, and we will show you one where peace, harmony and love prevail,
and where the great vices have no abiding place.”

It’s true – my family is not very good at sports, but we certainly love to make music. We have a guitar player, piano players, cello players, a harpist, fiddle, flute, piano players and now … a 140 year old pump organ has been added to our parlour. And while the value of a pump organ is very low in the world’s eyes, it has brought some musical fun to our day.

Left alone in a barn for many years, I am surprised this organ can actually play- but it does and we have enjoyed a few hymn sings so far around this lovely piece of history. It turns out that pump organs are just not desired by many people in our current world and as such, are not even valuable in a financial way – but in our home, we see the incredible beauty and musical value in such an old and outdated — but  lovely– instrument.

“But the world needs music — the touching domestic song that tells in few words the loves,
the trials or the blisses of life —
the more sacred music that leads to the soul to communion with God —
it needs music —
it’s poor cry aloud for music;
they are tired of the inharmonious din of toil,
and a few sweet notes bring with them hours of pleasure to the weary and world-forsaken.”

 

 

 

 

 

{I love that this lovely old organ came from the town my husband grew up in Ontario.
My grandmother also has family connections to this city of Guelph.}

 

{What beautiful floral paintings on the panels…}

 

P.S. Now that I have shown you a part of the parlour in our little cottage farmhouse, the next post will also show parlour photos.
I will see you next time, dear friends.

November 7, 2023 - 8:28 pm

Laura Jeanne Oh, my goodness! I cannot put into words how much I love this. What a blessing directly from God that someone was giving this precious instrument away and that your husband was able to pick it up for you! And what a blessing that you had room for it in your home. What a beautiful touch it adds to your parlour.

I too, would love so much to be able to hear what it sounds like. Think how many hymns have been played on that – it may even have been used in a church.

The first thing I thought when I saw the photos was that it looks like the organ that Laura Ingalls helped buy for Mary with the money she earned as a teacher in the book, These Happy Golden Years. This was in the 1880s, so it may indeed have been the same kind of organ.

November 3, 2023 - 10:14 am

Gigi Yes, so fun!!

November 3, 2023 - 8:04 am

Monica Aw, I have a picture of that organ from our trip there this summer! I had to go back and look at it. 🙂

November 2, 2023 - 7:17 pm

Gigi You are correct – L.M. Montomgery did indeed have a pump organ; you can view it here at her museum near us:https://bidefordparsonagemuseum.com/?fbclid=IwAR0cQ7rsxzKM9_9RPRnBtB6dQ7sRlJ69PE_bicshHkR4RQJLtffjA8HCu9k
It’s the best place, I think, for L.M. fans to visit, if they visit this “fair island.”

November 2, 2023 - 4:20 pm

Annie What a lovely blessing to read about! Thank you for sharing with us. My favorite books are the series of Anne of Green Gables – it makes me smile to think that Maud Montgomery (and Anne, were she real) would have seen perhaps this same type of organ!

October 31, 2023 - 6:27 pm

Gigi Really? That is interesting!! I have read they are not worth anything, except to people like us – 🙂

October 31, 2023 - 1:42 pm

Monica Truly it is a beautiful sight. It just fits in with your house so nicely. By the way, I’ve found two of these, almost just like yours, on our Facebook marketplace for $300 and $350. You have been so blessed! And God bless our husbands! 🙂

October 31, 2023 - 12:13 pm

Gigi Kesley, you are blessed (as I am!) to have a loving husband, willing to fetch our antiques. 🙂 I’m in the same boat – whatever would I do without him?! 😀

October 31, 2023 - 10:31 am

Kelsey What a beautiful instrument! I imagine your home to be so full of music, laughter, and the beauty of a loving family. I look forward to seeing the rest of your parlor.
And I do agree about those blessed husbands who selflessly travel to fetch and haul our antiques for us! Most of my home is furnished with used items found on Craigslist, and none of it would be possible without my dear husband.

October 31, 2023 - 4:06 am

Gigi Thank you, mom! xo

October 31, 2023 - 4:06 am

Gigi Mrs. White, I will try to figure out the video. I love to think of who may have played the organ in the past. I am trying to find out some history on it, but so far just know that the former owner’s grandmother played it for him in her home.

October 31, 2023 - 4:05 am

Gigi Rebecca, thank you! I agree – I think she’s a pretty organ!

October 31, 2023 - 4:04 am

Gigi Ana, I agree with your thoughts on the loud music in churches … we very much appreciate older hymns and an older style of worship for our family.
Maybe I can figure out how to upload a video – I will do my best!

October 31, 2023 - 4:03 am

Gigi WOW GIGI WHAT A BEAUTIFUL ORGAN FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, A TOTAL BEAUTY. HOW NICE IT IS TO SEE YOUR DAUGHTER SINGING OLD CHRISTIAN HYMNS, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO BE ABLE TO HEAR IT, MAYBE AT SOME TIME. TODAY IN MANY CHURCHES CALLED CHRISTIAN, THE MUSIC HAS BECOME A VERY LOUD NOISE, WITH MANY SPEAKERS, ELECTRIC GUITARS, DRUMS, AND THEY MAKE VERY WORLDLY MUSIC TO BE HEARD INSIDE A CHURCH, THE HYMNS ARE ALMOST NOT SING , THEY ARE INVADED WITH WORLDLY STYLE MUSIC, INAPPROPRIATE RHYTHMS TO PRAISE THE LORD. THIS ORGAN WILL BRING YOU MORE BLESSINGS ON THE LIFE OF ALL OF YOU. BLESSINGS FROM A DISTANCE.

October 30, 2023 - 9:11 pm

Ana WOW GIGI QUE HERMOSO ORGANO POR EL AMOR DE DIOS, UNA BELLEZA TOTAL. QUE LINDO ES VER A TU HIJA ENTONANDO VIEJOS HIMNOS CRISTIANOS, ME GUSTARIA TAMBIEN PODER ESCUCHARLO, TAL VEZ EN ALGUN MOMENTO. HOY EN DIA EN MUCHAS IGLESIAS LLAMADAS CRISTIANAS, LA MUSICA SE HA CONVERTIDO EN UN RUIDO MUY FUERTE, CON MUCHOS PARLANTES, GUITARRAS ELECTRICAS, BATERIAS, Y HACEN UNA MUSICA MUY MUNDANA PARA QUE SE ESCUCHE DENTRO DE UNA IGLESIA, LOS HIMNOS CASI NO SE CANTAN, ESTAN INVADIDAS CON MUSICA DE ESTILO MUNDANO, RITMOS INAPROPIADOS PARA ALABAR AL SEÑOR. ESTE ORGANO TE TRAERA MAS BENDICIONES SOBRE LA VIDA DE TODOS USTEDES. BENDICIONES A LA DISTANCIA.

October 30, 2023 - 5:12 pm

Rebecca AHHHHHH!!!! That is so amazing!!!!!! What a find! It’s gorgeous!!!

October 30, 2023 - 4:39 pm

Mrs. White This is an incredible blessing for your home. I too would love to hear your daughter playing the hymns on a video. You have done an amazing job cleaning up the organ and setting it up so beautifully in your home. It will provide you all with so much joy, I am sure.

October 30, 2023 - 3:32 pm

Mom (Gigi’s Momma) Wow! What a wonderful find!!! I LOVE IT xo
Looks like Lavender loves it too …
Can’t wait to hear it being played on the next visit.
Thank you Darling Husband for picking this up for the parlour and the household.
xoxo

A Great Work

          “Your children are the greatest gift God will give you and
their souls the heaviest responsibility he will place in your hands.
Take time with them,
and teach them to have faith in God.
Be a person in whom they can have faith.
When you are old, nothing else you’ve done will have mattered as much.”
 ~ L. Wingate

 

If you would have told me twenty years ago, that my husband and I would have ten children, I would have laughed! Not out of disbelief, but out of joy … to think that the Lord has given us 10 opportunities to raise children for the Kingdom of Heaven humbles me and brings tears to my eyes. I cannot say that parenthood is an easy career – for it is certainly a career – a career for the King. However,  knowing the ultimate goal is to raise little ones that will love and serve the Lord assists in creating a clear, daily vision.

One thing I will never ever regret is having my children — and staying home with each and every one of them.
I love each and every child that the Lord has given me with my entire heart.

There was a short season where I was driven for another career or worldly aspirations – but the Lord quickly worked in my life through older mentors and Biblical teaching. It was not long before I realized my Biblical place and calling was with my children and in the home. I do not regret leaving the world behind for a single moment. Young ladies everywhere – Christian ladies, in particular, need to be taught that the Lord will use them if only they will accept – in their role as future mothers. There is something so significant in being a mother, raising children for the Kingdom of Heaven!

 

“And then she realized she was replaceable in every area of her life except her home.
So she invested her time, her energy and her wisely”
Jillian Benefield

Let the world’s enticements fall away, let your daily vision be Heaven set, let your content heart be centred on what is good and true and kind … let motherhood be the journey you never regret and fully enjoy.

 

 

The most implant work you and I will ever do will be within the walls of our own homes.
– Harold B Lee

{These photos were done this summer, as my daughters and I worked on photography project we hope to turn into a little book. I will share more photos over time … we had such fun working together… this beach, in particular, is just down our road. I feel so blessed to live on this beautiful island!}

October 25, 2023 - 4:27 am

Gigi Rachel, thank you for your encouragement. Yes, in these dark times, we all need to shine brighter for God!

October 24, 2023 - 10:32 pm

Rachel Thank you for being a light in the darkness to remind us of the important things in life – in this very distractible world we live in. Investing in eternity is the best expenditure of time.

A book might be coming?!?!?! Thank you and will watch for information regarding that.
Blessings!

October 24, 2023 - 3:57 pm

Michelle Hello Gigi!! I am ALWAYS inspired and encouraged when I read your posts! Thank you so much for sharing what you share! It is encouraging to me as a wife, mother, keeper of my home and home school teacher. I would love to live a more “simpler” life!
Thank you!!

October 23, 2023 - 4:25 am

Gigi Anna, it sounds like you are a very blessed lady … what a heritage you have with so many grand children — and soon, great grandchildren! God bless you! Thank you for taking the time to send me a note. 🙂

October 23, 2023 - 4:24 am

Gigi HELLO GIGI: WHAT BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS AND YOUR LITTLE LITTLE GIRL IS GROWING UP VERY FAST, HOW TIME FALLS!!! IT HAPPENS TO ME WITH MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SOME OF THEM ARE ALREADY MARRIED, THEY HAVE CHILDREN, I AM A GRANDMOTHER OF 14 GRANDCHILDREN AND I WILL BE A GREAT GRANDMOTHER FOR THE FIRST NEXT YEAR, IT SEEMS A LIE THAT MY FIRST GRANDSON IS GOING TO BE A DAD, THIS IS LIFE, WE MUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY MOMENT WITH THE FAMILY WITH THE LOVED ONES, DEDICATE TIME TO RAISING THE CHILDREN AND ALSO HELP A LITTLE WITH THE PARENTING OF THE GRANDCHILDREN, I LOVE THE PLACE THAT GOD GAVE ME AND I WOULD NOT CHANGE IT FOR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD, I AM 63 YEARS OLD AND GOD BLESSED ME WITH MANY BIOLOGICAL AND HEART CHILDREN, MY LIFE IS MY HOME AND MY FAMILY, I AM ALWAYS THERE FOR WHAT THAT THEY NEED ME. I REALLY LIKE YOUR BLOG AND WATCHING YOUR SWEET FAMILY GROW, BLESSINGS TO YOU AND YOURS GIGI.

October 23, 2023 - 4:23 am

Gigi Hello Amy, some of them are working for some local businesses, taking some further educational courses and pursuing their music aspirations. Life in our little home is always busy and there is never any dull moments for anyone. 🙂 We shall see what the Lord has planned for their future.

October 22, 2023 - 9:21 pm

Ana HOLA GIGI: QUE HERMOSAS FOTOS Y TU PEQUEÑITA ESTA CRECIENDO MUY RAPIDO, COMO PASA EL TIEMPO¡¡¡¡ A MI ME PASA CON MIS HIJOS E HIJAS, YA ALGUNOS ESTAN CASADOS, TIENEN HIJOS, SOY ABUELA DE 14 NIETOS Y SERE BISABUELA POR PRIMERA VEZ EL AÑO QUE VIENE, PARECE MENTIRA QUE MI PRIMER NIETO VA A SER PAPA, ASI ES LA VIDA, DEBEMOS APROVECHAR CADA MOMENTO CON LA FAMILIA CON LOS SERES AMADOS, DEDICARLE TIEMPO A LA CRIANZA DE LOS HIJOS Y AYUDAR TAMBIEN UN POCO EN LA CRIANZA DE LOS NIETOS, AMO EL LUGAR QUE DIOS ME DIO Y NO LO CAMBIARIA POR NADA EN EL MUNDO, TENGO 63 AÑOS Y DIOS ME BENDIJO CON MUCHOS HIJOS BIOLOGICOS Y DEL CORAZON, MI VIDA ES MI HOGAR Y MI FAMILIA, SIEMPRE ESTOY AHI PARA LO QUE ME NECESITEN. ME GUSTA MUCHO TU BLOG Y VER CRECER A TU DULCE FAMILIA, BENDICIONES PARA TI Y LOS TUYOS GIGI.

October 22, 2023 - 7:23 pm

Amy What are your older girl’s plans since they are finishing homeschooling? Are they looking at Bible school? College?

October 22, 2023 - 6:43 am

Mrs. White The photographs are so beautiful and peaceful. Your words of wisdom and gratefulness are lovely to read. God bless you and your family!

October 20, 2023 - 1:43 pm

Gigi Thanks, mom. Yes, a lovely beach!

October 20, 2023 - 11:32 am

Mom (Gigi’s Momma) Beautiful, as always. I recognize that beach xoxo

Autumn’s Smile

“Oh, Marilla,” she exclaimed one Saturday morning,
coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs,
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.
It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn’t it?
Look at these maple branches. Don’t they give you a thrill—several thrills?
I’m going to decorate my room with them.”
-Anne of Green Gables

 

 

Autumn has slowly changed our daily routines and lifestyle into a new season… this, my friends, is my favourite time of year … Autumn. The hard work of summer is nearly over – we still are harvesting form the garden, but the end is in sight. The air is cooler, the skies are clear and azure blue one day and cloudy and moody the next …  and the Autumn breeze seems so fresh and clear from the seashore.

Recently, our family went to the most beautiful orchard in the hills of our little island to pick apples for winter eating. It has become a tradition to go apple picking every year. Last year, we picked apples within a few hours of the threatening hurricane – and that was a rush job to get the apples picked and home before we all battened up the hatches, so to speak. This year, it was much more relaxing.

Baby Lariah, who is growing ever so quickly with all the fresh air and sunshine, just loved exploring the orchard with her big sisters.

 

 

It is a joy to work together as a family and appreciate each season, gather the fruits of the month and enjoy what the Good Lord has given us. We, of course, read all the Jonny Appleseed books we have in our library and eat as many apples as we can in a day! 

At the end of our work, there is always a reward .. apple pies!

The little girls were so happy to don an apron and  be in our warm kitchen to make a pie for their daddy.

The pie was enjoyed so quickly that we did not get a finished product picture … proof that the pie was just as delicious as we anticipated!

What Autumn traditions do you and your family have? I’m so glad that on my journey of motherhood, some of our every day, regular routines have turned into traditions — such as picking apples together. Something so simple can create such beautiful memories.

 

“Autumn… the year’s last, loveliest smile.” 
~ William Cullen Bryant
October 16, 2023 - 11:53 am

Gigi Monica, can you believe we found them at Walmart? They are Canadian sweaters. We love them.

October 16, 2023 - 11:53 am

Gigi Mrs. White, I agree!

October 16, 2023 - 11:45 am

Mrs. White Such beautiful scenery. The children look so precious. Homemaking with children all around is an incredible blessing. God bless you!

October 16, 2023 - 8:32 am

Monica I love every photo. I love these Little Women and Men. 🙂 Autumn is truly a treat from the Lord. God is sooo good to us! PS. I love the girls’ sweaters!

October 16, 2023 - 4:41 am

Gigi Ana, thank you for your sweet comment … yes, all those things you described are my reasons for loving the colder seasons, as well. ((hugs))

October 16, 2023 - 4:40 am

Gigi HELLO GIGI, HOW BEAUTIFUL YOUR CHILDREN ARE GROWING UP, AND WHAT HELPS THEY ARE, YOU HAVE MANY HANDS TO HELP YOU AT HOME! MY FAVORITE SEASON IS WINTER, I LOVE THE COLD, KNITTING NEAR THE WOOD-BURNING STOVE, MAKING APPLE CAKE WHICH ARE MY FAVORITE AND MY FAMILY LOVES IT, DRINK HOT CHOCOLATE, MAKE DELICIOUS SOUPS AND STEWS, A DELIGHT. WE ARE IN SPRING AND SUMMER IS INEXORABLY CLOSING, I TRY TO TAKE IT EASY SINCE I DO NOT LIKE THE HEAT AT ALL AND HERE IN BUENOS AIRES, THERE IS A LOT OF HUMIDITY AND THE HEAT IS FELT A LOT FROM MID-NOVEMBER TO APRIL, WITH TEMPERATURES THAT VARY FROM 32 TO 42 CENTIGRADES CELSIUS, AN OVEN! WE MELTED, BUT GOD CREATED EITHER AND THE OTHER, SO WE TRY TO HAVE THE BEST TIME WE CAN. I SEND YOU A HUG FROM A DISTANCE AND MAY GOD CONTINUE BLESSING YOU.

October 15, 2023 - 9:19 pm

Ana HOLA GIGI, QUE HERMOSOS ESTAN CRECIENDO TUS HIJOS, Y QUE AYUDANTES SON, TIENES MUCHAS MANOS QUE AYUDARTE EN EL HOGAR¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ MI ESTACION FAVORITA ES EL INVIERNO, AMO EL FRIO, TEJER CERCA DE LA ESTUFA A LEÑA, HACER TARTA DE MANZANA QUE SON MIS PREFERIDAS Y A MI FAMILIA LES ENCANTA, TOMAR CHOCOLATE CALIENTE, HACER RICAS SOPAS Y GUISOS BIEN SUSTANCIOSOS, UNA DELICIA. ESTAMOS EN PRIMAVERA Y EL VERANO SE ACERCA INEXORABLEMENTE, TRATO DE TOMARLO CON CALMA YA QUE NO ME GUSTA PARA NADA EL CALOR Y AQUI EN BUENOS AIRES, HAY MUCHA HUMEDAD Y EL CALOR SE SIENTE MUCHISIMO DESDE MEDIADOS DE NOVIEMBRE HASTA ABRIL, CON TEMPERATURAS QUE VAN DESDE LOS 32 HASTA LOS 42 CENTIGRADOS CELSIUS, UN HORNO¡¡¡ NOS DERRETIMOS, PERO DIOS CREO LO UNO Y LO OTRO, ASI QUE TRATAMOS DE PASARLO LO MEJOR QUE PODEMOS. TE ENVIO UN ABRAZO A LA DISTANCIA Y QUE DIOS LOS SIGA BENDICIENDO.

Beauty of the Soul

“A desire to be beautiful is not unwomanly.
A woman who is not beautiful cannot properly fill her place.
But, mark you, true beauty is not of the face,
but of the soul.
There is a beauty so deep and lasting that it will shine out of the homeliest face and make it comely. 

This is the beauty to be first sought and admired.
It is a quality of the mind and heart and is manifested in word and deed.

 

 

 

 

No character is built good and true if the builder has not in her mind a picture of the woman she wants to be.
And the pattern for a good character must be chosen carefully.
The carpenter will not undertake a pretty cottage from the print of a barn, nor can a girl build a good,
true character if she patterns after those whose lives are not good and true.

 

 

 

 

She who has an ideal character is first of all pure and true, then earnest and sincere, patient and gentle,
and more ready to serve than to be served. It is easier to build a bad than a good character.
One can always go downhill with less difficulty than up, and glide with the current than row against it,
and it is easier to drift with the crowd than to stand for the right.”


– Beautiful Girlhood, Mabel Hale

September 28, 2023 - 5:11 pm

Lynnea Such a lovely graceful young lady seated with her harp and holding her horses. It’s a blessing to see…and these words are food for the heart and soul. Thank you!

September 25, 2023 - 9:09 pm

Mom (Gigi’s Momma) Oh Lacey!! I love you so much, you are such a beautiful woman who exudes the grace and love of Jesus. xoxoxo

A Boy & His Dog

A boy and his dog make a glorious pair:
No better friendship is found anywhere,
For they talk and they walk and they run and they play,
And they have their deep secrets for many a day;
And that boy has a comrade who thinks and who feels,
Who walks down the road with a dog at his heels.

He may go where he will and his dog will be there,
May revel in mud and his dog will not care;
Faithful he’ll stay for the slightest command
And bark with delight at the touch of his hand;
Oh, he owns a treasure which nobody steals,
Who walks down the road with a dog at his heels.

No other can lure him away from his side;
He’s proof against riches and station and pride;
Fine dress does not charm him, and flattery’s breath
Is lost on the dog, for he’s faithful to death;
He sees the great soul which the body conceals—
Oh, it’s great to be young with a dog at your heels!
-Edgar A. Guest

       

August 24, 2023 - 7:22 pm

Regina Shea Oh what a precious photo! It warms my heart!

August 24, 2023 - 3:05 pm

Gigi Monica, yes, you were so sweet to Luther! He is still talking about you! xoxoxoxox

August 24, 2023 - 8:08 am

Monica The boy AND the dog stole our hearts! ❤️