Both of my sisters, one older than me and one younger, now live in California. Jane transplanted after living much of her life in Portland, OR. Teri lived for many years in New York before relocating to San Francisco. Through the moves, they still have their art given to them by our mother shortly after she was diagnosed with cancer.

I recently acquired a print of the painting Poppies painted by our great-grandfather, Hubert Lewis. I remembered seeing that painting at some relative’s home, but I just couldn’t quite remember whose. Then my sister Jane sent me emails yesterday with her pieces from H. R. Lewis and, lo and behold, there was the painting of the Poppies! I’m not sure how I forgot that I grew up with it, especially since I like it so much.

Poppies

The other piece, a landscape with a crisp lake in the foreground and a snowy mountain in the background is signed H. R. Lewis, as is the Poppies painting.

Snowy Mountain Landscape

Teri sent me her photos, as well. She received the chalk of our grandparents, Hazel and Alexander P. Rogers. It looks so much like a photo with it’s detail that one way to know it’s a chalk is because it’s in color, whereas photos back then were only in black and white. I estimate it was done in the early 1920’s because they were married in September of 1924. I don’t know if it was taken before or after they married. Grandma would have been in her early 20’s to mid-20’s since she was born in 1900, and Grandpa was probably in his late 20’s or early 30’s since he was born in 1895.

Chalk of Grandpa and Grandma Rogers

Teri’s other painting she called “Fruity Lewis” is a basket bursting with strawberries and bananas are next to the basket on a plate on the table.

Basket Bursting with Strawberries