The Regency Era has always been one I have found interesting and romantic.
Jane Austen's novels delight me and the films made from the novels are wonderful so when I found this lovely series entitled Regency House Party, I was intrigued.
While not new, I did not have the opportunity to see the series through until the end the first time around but it is now available again and I have just completed it.
I watched a few of the other programs that centered on living in other eras as well. They faced some problems they could not figure out. I was surprised at the Edwardian lady in the 1900 House who could not figure out and was exasperated by constant dust in her home.
When you heat a home with coal, dust is a problem or can be. She seems never to have heard of damp mopping and I was amused at her sweeping dust around from place to place with a broom. Damp mopping was well known in those eras as well.
They also were stymied by how to wash their hair with soap.
My grandmother told me how they washed their hair with castile soap and finished off with a rinse of vinegar water which removes every trace of soap from the hair and leaves it shining and soft.
I know that a cup of vinegar was often used in washing machines years ago to clear out soap residue. That's back when we used such things as Ivory Snow , pure soap, to wash baby clothes.
I hope you enjoy this snippet from the very first episode. If you watch the series, let me know what you think. I would love to discuss the series with someone.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Friday, April 19, 2013
A Family Tale....
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Meadows sisters |
He was married long before my mother was even in high school.
He married a woman who didn't much like children.
They had a dog who fit my aunt perfectly as he also didn't have much use for kids. But they were an interesting couple and made for a never ending supply of stories and adventures for a little girl.
My elderly aunt was a great fan of the Meadows sisters, Audrey and Jayne. Audrey Meadows had played the part of Alice Cramden on the show The Honeymooners but both ladies were movie stars.
Jayne Meadows was in many movies and starred on I've Got a Secret for many years. She was married to composer Steve Allen.
The girls were the children of Episcopalian missionaries who served in China and Audrey was born in Wu'chang China.
On one visit, my mother decided to take my aunt to Stengl Glass and Pottery which was out in the Jersey countryside at the time. I loved going there as a child.
They had real glass marbles after all--bins full of them.
They were just one of several pottery factories in the US. My mother loved their dishes.
The trips were thrilling because they might include lunch out and maybe, if I was lucky, ice cream on the way home. It was a great day for a little kid.
We had just about completed a day of long distance trekking through the factory and my mother was loaded down with stuff she was buying. She was trying to corral me as I was probably all over the place with my hands on everything.
I was a third grader who marched to my own drummer.
"Stay put" she said, "we're leaving as soon as your aunt is done here."
"And whatever you do, don't tell your aunt that the Meadows sisters are here, she'll embarrass us all."
The Meadows were not people I would have recognized by any means but my mother had seen them on the floor and was desperate to get my aunt out of there before a scene ensued.
I really don't know why I did that except that maybe I considered it a good deed of some sort. I didnt know them from a hole in the ground but, for some reason it seemed the thing to do at the time.
I regretted telling her the moment the words had left my big mouth.
It wasn't just the horrified look on my mothers face as she got a grand view of the entire scene.. no. It was my aunt who made me regret it.
She was almost hyperventilating from excitement and she kept yelling their names over and over. I was afraid she would pass out.
I can vividly remember thinking "I guess those are the Meadows sisters alright," as I crawled under the display table until things blew over.
My aunt was just building up steam for the final assault, however. After bellowing out their names a few more times , she barreled over to them and nearly knocked them to the floor. Now my aunt was a tiny woman and the Meadows sisters were tall and model-like but she barreled into them like a mini locomotive.
My mother was muttering beneath her breath, "Oh no, oh no, oh no. We'll never make it out of here alive."
I just stared from under the display table my mouth and eyes wide open in shock. I'd never seen anything like that.
We did make it out alive probably due to the Meadows sisters who, despite being accosted by a wild woman were absolutely lovely and handled the situation like seasoned diplomats.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Spring is Coming
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
The Finished Afghan
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click to enlarge any photo |
She likes green and hot pink and I think these colors go nicely together.
I tied it up with more ribbon like a package and will surprise her with it that way.
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They said it would be 90° F today but it was no where near that. There was actually a bit of a chill in the breeze and rain is expected tonight. The barometer is falling and I am keeping an eye out to see if that causes more pain in my lumbar spine etc. I suspect a falling barometer might have a lot to do with how a person feels.
There is still some yarn left over and I might see what I can turn that into until I am able to get to the store for the little's pale baby pink yarn. Do you have any projects you are doing right now?
I would love to hear about them.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
A Date is Set
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Balmy breezes are blowing.
I got a date today for my surgery. May 14th will be the day. Until then I am wheelchair bound but, coping.
Without the surgery I won't walk anymore as the nerves are impinged too badly to remain as they are. Physical therapy would be harmful and useless at this point.
A three day hospital stay and a 10 day stay in a rehab facility. Not something I am looking forward to.
I would have physical therapy 3 to 5 times a day that way. Ouch but, I want to stand upright a bit.
Right now I have lost 80 percent of my mobility so the surgery option is something that must be done for basic quality of life.
The big gull is enjoying the warm weather too! I took the photo last year I believe, but either he/she or another gull is always standing or sitting on the dock.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Just a Quick Note...
Just a quick post as I am getting ready for my afternoon appointment...
I was reading a lovely blog this morning, just now in fact and the post was describing how the house had been photographed for a national magazine and the process involved.
Just not interested |
One of the pictures was a religious picture of a saint and the photographer removed it from the woman's dresser and replaced it with something else because of it's 'religious conotations".
Huh? This is a private home. People have personal items in their own homes.
I found this upsetting to say the least that today, even in one's own home, a person has to pander and cater to supposed sensitivities of some potentially offended people.
Generic homes, generic people without interests, beliefs or personal views.. all the human interest is gone from such stories!
Nothing generic about that lady's home though.. just beautiful.
Anyway, I had to rant about it, so I came here since the cat is not interested.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Middle of the Week
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SKa4D4dnS20/UVxsUFKCOEI/AAAAAAAAFGY/OhmiBRd5xJE/s200/Spring-Flowers.jpg)
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