Another beautiful spring morning here in Central Kentucky. The sun is shining and the temperatures are finally rising! My morning stroll in the garden brought a few more pictures. The darling little English Wood Hyacinths are among my favorites. They're so dainty and small yet they command a definite pause on the garden path.



Here's a view of our porch from my garden gate. The rose in the background came from my great aunt's garden. It's a soft pink, almost white, heirloom. The bearded iris in front of it is starting to spring to life. I noticed the large buds peering out from the blades just two days ago. The gate came with our house. The house was built between 1896 and 1898 so I have no idea how long the gate and a wrought iron arch have been here. I'll post pictures of the arch when my climbing blaze rose blooms in a month or so...

THIS MORNING IN THE GARDEN

I snapped a few pictures this morning of my spring favorites. I had to wait until the fog lifted but when it did I strolled out to the dew sprinkled garden and took a few pictures to share. Due to the position of the sun,I had to wait until the afternoon to get one of my old fashioned lilac. This lilac originally came from one that my Grandmother had. I took a 5 or 6 inch cutting and transplanted that about 3 or 4 years ago. Now, the lilac has reached around 7 feet tall. Tomorrow, I must get a photo of my wood hyacinths.

A TRIBUTE TO MOLLY BROWN



Molly presenting a Titanic Rescue Award


After posting such a sad post about the Carter House I was hesitant to post any other tragic historical events but I simply could not ignore that today is the anniversary of the sinking of the ill-fated Titanic. However, one survivor that made such a mark in all our hearts was the larger than life Mrs. JJ Brown, otherwise known as " The Unsinkable Molly Brown." I thought it would be nice to pay tribute to Titanic through the life of this courageous woman.

The Victorian era spawned much new wealth in industrialized America, and a popular way the nouveau rich spent their money was to take the "Grand Tour" of Europe often extending the trip to more exotic destinations such as Egypt and Japan. Without the speed of today's airplanes, these trips usually took three months or more to complete. (Such a trip was satirized in Mark Twain's book Innocents Abroad.) In the early months of 1912, Molly and her daughter Helen, who had been attending the Sorbonne in Paris, were taking such a tour with John Jacob Astor and his second wife, 19 year old Madeline (after a rather scandalous divorce.)


Molly had been writing her sister Katie back in Hannibal, that she intended to come for a few weeks' visit that spring. But then she received a telegram from her son Larry that her five-month-old first grandchild was ill. She decided to book passage at the last minute on board Titanic. Daughter Helen decided to stay in Paris for a few more parties. So Molly was traveling without family, but she was joining her friends the Astors.


The cost of the most expensive first-class accommodations was $4350 for the six-day voyage. Other celebrities, who were part of this social event of 1912, included millionaire Benjamin Guggenheim; Charles Hayes, president of the Grand Trunk Railway; Mr. & Mrs. Isadore Straus, owners of Macy's Department Store; and J. Bruce Ismay, co-owner of the White Star Line which had built Titanic. The April 10, 1912 Hannibal Courier Post front page reported the embarkment of Titanic from South Hampton, England. Molly and the Astors boarded at the Cherbourg, France stopover. It was the largest ship ever made--four city blocks long and reaching as high as an eleven -story building. Built with 16 watertight compartments that could stay afloat even if four were flooded, publications of the day referred to Titanic as "unsinkable."


The degree of luxury for passengers like Mrs. J.J. Brown was unsurpassed. Some staterooms had four poster beds and coal-burning fireplaces. The public rooms included palm verandas, a gymnasium, Turkish bath, swimming pool and library. We do not know the exact cabin number for Molly because she booked her passage at the last minute, she was not on the printed roster of passengers. But we know she was on the forward right side of Deck B--the first class deck.


Molly was in bed reading a book, when at 11:40 p.m., April 14, 1912, the lookout, Frederick Fleet, in Titanic's crow's nest phoned the bridge, "Iceberg right ahead!" The impact threw Molly to the floor. Most passengers were unaware of the collision until they noticed the hum of engines had stopped. By 12:15 a.m., the ship was preparing the lifeboats. Molly wisely put on six pairs of wool stockings, a wool suit, fur coat, hat and muff. She put $500 cash in one pocket, and a good luck amulet she had purchased recently on her Egyptian tour in her other pocket.


After helping other women, Molly found herself thrown into Lifeboat No. 6 by two American merchants who said, "You are going, too." The boat with capacity for 65 held fewer than 30 when it was lowered to the water, including lookout Fleet and Quartermaster Hichens who had been at the pilot wheel upon impact.


Frightened Hichens warned the lifeboat would be sucked down when Titanic sank. Molly took charge and grabbed the oars and ordered the women to row toward the light on

the horizon, which they hoped was a rescue ship. Adrift on the cold Atlantic, Molly shared her extra pairs of stockings, and kept the women warm by having them take turns rowing. They watched in horror as the steamer sank at 2:20 a.m., April 15th. She was appalled that Hichens refused to turn the lifeboat back to pick up more survivors.


After almost 6 hours of terror, the ship Carpathia answered the distress call. Once on board, Molly helped organize relief efforts. Her knowledge of foreign languages enabled her to aid the frightened immigrants who had lost everything, including their husbands. Molly voiced her opinion that the "women and children first" policy was tragically immoral. "Women demand equal rights on land--why not on sea?" she asked.


Even when the Carpathia arrived in New York, Molly stayed on board to reassure the terrified foreign women. Since the White Star Line provided no relief to these widows and orphans, nor for the families of the dead crewmembers, Molly raised $10,000 of private money from the wealthy passengers, including the $500 cash she donated, to aid these poor victims. Molly returned to New York on May 29, 1912 to present Captain A.H. Rostron a token of esteem of the Titanic survivors. She also had a medal struck for each of the crew of Carpathia, which depicted a ship plowing through icebergs toward a tossing lifeboat. The story circulated that when first interviewed by reporters in New York, they asked to what she attributed her survival. "Typical Brown luck," she supposedly said, "We're unsinkable." The label stuck, and she became a national celebrity. Even back in Denver, Mrs. Crawford Hill deigned to host a luncheon in her honor.


Molly had to postpone her trip to visit her sister, Katie Becker, in Hannibal. It was reported in the December 18, 1915 Hannibal Courier Post that Molly came to spend the winter with Katie to improve her health as she had been suffering from nervous trouble since she had witnessed the horrible scene of Titanic sinking. It was also reported that Molly finally settled her claim against the White Star Line after almost four years for the sum of $10,000 for the loss of her jewelry, clothes, etc. Titanic turned Molly into a political figure. She spoke out for maritime reform, women's right to vote, and improved conditions for miners. In 1914 she ran for the U.S. Senate on the Democratic-Progressive ticket in the state of Colorado, albeit unsuccessfully.


During the Mexican War, she advocated a military regiment for women, but was dismissed as eccentric. During WWI, Molly went back to France on her own to volunteer at the American Hospital in Paris, working with wounded soldiers. She helped raise money with Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt to import ambulances to France for the war effort. She also entertained the troops, specializing in Sarah Bernhardt roles. For these services, she was named to the French Legion of Honor.


Molly continued to be active, surviving two more ship disasters, and a hotel fire at the Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida. She spent much of her later years in New York where she stayed at the Barbizon Hotel…a place where actresses often roomed. That is where she died on October 25, 1932 at age 65. Her fortune had dwindled to $1500 and her house in Denver, which sold the next year for only $5000. In her last act of charity, she wanted the poor mining children of Leadville, Colorado to have Christmas presents of woolen mittens and boots. She did not live to see her wish carried out by her nephew who distributed the gifts.
From the Molly Brown Museum

THE LOVELY ARTWORK OF HARRISON FISHER





American Artist, Harrison Fisher (1875-1934), is known as “The Father of A Thousand Girls". He showed a profound interest in drawing at the young age of six and his art instruction came by way of his father, Hugh Antoine Fisher, a landscape painter. When Fisher’s family moved from Brooklyn to San Francisco, he studied at the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art. By the time he was sixteen, Fisher’s drawings had been used for the San Francisco Call and later for The Examiner.

Soon after returning to New York, Fisher sold two of his sketches to Puck Magazine where he was subsequently hired as a staff artist. His claim to fame was a result of his skillful drawing of beautiful women. His “Fisher Girls” even became rivals to those of Gibson and Christy. The American Girl was a favorite theme and Fisher did many cover illustrations at the time. After working for many years under an exclusive contract to do covers for Cosmopolitan, Fisher eventually painted portraits exclusively. Many actresses and theatrical personalities were counted amongst his portfolio of models.

CARTER HOUSE AND THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN


A view of the back of the house riddled with bullet holes
My lovely Mother-in-law, Darleen, on the back steps of Carter House


The tragedy that took place at this historic site is horrific. I've been on the grounds at Carter House twice now and both times I've felt the shiver of agonizing loss and profound sadness. It can be felt in the grass,trees,the mortar and bricks of the home, and in every bit of soil that surrounds it. I felt the past so strongly when walking on the grounds on a quiet Sunday morning before the 1PM siege of chatter was due to arrive from buses of eager tourists and history buffs. I preferred that quietness yet the silence was deafening. It was then that I was able to fully appreciate the impact that the souls of the dead have had on this place. May God have mercy on those souls.

The small town of Franklin, Tennessee had been a Federal (Union) military post since the fall of Nashville in early 1862. Late in the summer of 1864, Confederate President Jefferson Davis replaced commander Joseph E. Johnston with John Bell Hood. General Hood, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and known for his superb record with his "Texas Brigade," suffered from a withered arm and amputated leg. Hood begins to formulate his "Tennessee Campaign of 1864" with the main objective to drive Sherman away from Atlanta and Robert E. Lee's forces.


Under Hood's command, The Army of Tennessee moved up through Georgia, Alabama, crossed the Tennessee River, and then entered Tennessee. November 30, 1864 had been a beautiful Indian summer day. At dawn, the Confederacy marched north from Spring Hill, Tennessee in pursuit of fleeing Federal forces. General Hood was determined to destroy the Union Army before it reached Nashville.

The Battle of Franklin has been called "the bloodiest hours of the American Civil War."
"(Franklin) is the blackest page in the history of the War of the Lost Cause. It was the bloodiest battle of modern times in any war. It was the finishing stroke to the Independence of the Southern Confederacy. I was there. I saw it." --Sam Watkins, 1st Tennessee Infantry

Called "The Gettysburg of the West," Franklin was one of the few night battles in the Civil War. It was also one of the smallest battlefields of the war (only 2 miles long and 1 1/2 miles wide). The main battle began around 4:00 pm and wound down around 9:00 pm.

The Federal Army had arrived in Franklin around 1:00 that morning. Brigadier General Jacob Dolson Cox led the operation and woke up the Carter family, commandeering their home as his headquarters. At that time, the Carter Farm consisted of 288 acres on the south edge of town bordering the Columbia Pike. Their cotton gin was located 100 yards from the house where eventually the main line of Federal breastworks were constructed. The Federal line commander was Cox who supervised his army in a defensive position surrounding the southern edge of town. He used the existing breastworks built in 1863 and constructed others on the west side of Columbia Pike. About 60 feet from the Carter House, near their farm office and smokehouse, were the inner breastworks.

S.D. Lee's Corps arrived late with only 1 division participating in the battle.) By 2:00 pm Hood had made plans for a frontal assault. By 2:30 pm a conference was held at the Harrison House. Strong objections were voiced from Hood's commanders. General Cheatham said, "I don't like the looks of this fight, as the enemy has a good position and is well fortified." Generals Cleburne and Forrest (cavalry) knew they would be flirting with disaster. But Hood would not be dissuaded. As Cleburne mounted his horse to leave, Hood gave strict orders for the assault. Cleburne responded, "We will take the works or fall in the attempt." The Army of Tennessee knew this assault on the town of Franklin would be suicidal. They bravely advanced toward the Carter House with their heads held high.

The fighting soon became brutal and fiendishly savage, with men bayoneted and clubbed to death in the Carter yard. A Confederate soldier was bayoneted on the front steps of the Carter House. Men were clubbing, clawing, punching, stabbing and choking each other. The smoke from the canons and guns was so thick that you could not tell friend from foe.

During the five hours of fighting, the Carter Family took refuge in their basement. 23 men, women and children (many under the age of 12) were safely protected while the horrible cries of war rang out above them. The head of the family, Fountain Branch Carter, a 67-year old widower, had seen 3 of his sons fight for the Confederacy. One son, Theodrick (Tod), was serving as an aid for General T.B. Smith on the battlefield and saw his home for the first time in 3 years. Crying out, "Follow me boys, I'm almost home," Captain Tod Carter was mortally wounded and died 2 days later at the Carter House.

After the battle, like so many homes in Franklin, the parlor of the Carter House was converted into a Confederate field hospital and witnessed many surgeries and amputations.

Around midnight, the Federal Army retreated to Nashville to join the forces of General George Thomas.


Federal Casualties - 2,500 men
The 23rd Corps lost 958, and the 4th Corps lost 1,368. 189 men were killed, 1,033 were wounded, 1,104 captured and 287 cavalry casualties. Only 1 Federal General was wounded (Major General David Stanley, Corps Commander).

Confederate Casualties - 7,000 men
More than 1,750 men were killed outright or died of mortal wounds, 3,800 seriously wounded and 702 captured (not including cavalry casualties). 15 out of 28 Confederate Generals were casualties. 65 field grade officers were lost. Some infantry regiments lost 64 % of their strength at Franklin. There were more men killed in the Confederate Army of Tennessee in the 5- hour battle than in the 2-day Battle of Shiloh and the 3-day Battle of Stones River.

In the spring of 1866, the McGavock Family of Franklin donated 2 acres near their home, Carnton, to establish a Confederate Cemetery where 1,481 soldiers are laid to rest.

The Army of Tennessee died at Franklin on November 30, 1864. The Carter House purchased by the State of Tennessee in 1951 and first opened to the public in 1953, today a Registered Historic Landmark, is dedicated to all Americans who fought in this battle.

USEFUL TIPS FOR THE PERFECT CUP OF TEA

1.Use a good quality loose leaf or bagged tea.

2.This must be stored in an air-tight container at room temperature.

3.Always use freshly drawn boiling water.

4.In order to draw the best flavour out of the tea the water must contain oxygen, this is reduced if the water is boiled more than once.

5.Measure the tea carefully.

6.Use 1 tea bag or 1 rounded teaspoon of loose tea for each cup to be served.

7.Allow the tea to brew for the recommended time before pouring
Brewing tea from a bag in a mug? Milk in last is best.

Ladies' Historical Tea Society's favorite tips from the UK Tea Council

I purchased some wonderful Cherry Rose Tea last weekend and enjoyed a wonderful cup this afternoon. The aromatic infusion of cherry and rose petals was heavenly.

MY HOMAGE TO MISS LAVENDER




I found her resting on a hat tree, nestled in the corner of a charming Shabby Chic booth at the Harpeth Antique Mall. She was surrounded with vintage baptismal gowns, linens, and Victorian shoes but make no mistake, she was the "Belle" and stood out among all the others. I carefully picked her up and placed her on my head, turned to a vintage mirror hanging behind me and knew that she had to come home with me. Yet, I wavered and pondered if I should really make the purchase with it being my first day in Franklin and so many shops yet to browse through. So, foolishly, I placed her back on the resting stand and left. Needless to say, I spent the remainder of the evening wringing my hands and worrying that I did not take my own advice and act on instinct. All night I thought of her and the many teas she could attend with me and I regretted passing her up. I had to have her and decided that I would indeed take that plunge and bring her home with me. Mercifully, she was still there the next day. Happily, she's now home where she belongs.

HISTORICAL FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE

(Town square with Unknown Soldier Statue)





Cemetery






Carnton


Carnton


Portrait of Carrie McGavock


Franklin is located about 15 miles away from Nashville and is one of the most charming towns I've ever been to. Like many families during the Civil War, mine sadly epitomized "brother against brother". My mother's family fought for the Union while my father's fought for the Confederacy. For History buffs like myself, Franklin is a dream destination. It is literally peppered with Civil War History from The Carter House to the Battle of Franklin and Carnton Plantation with its good Samaritan, Carrie McGavock, who has become immortalized in the novel, The Widow of the South. My MIL surprised me a couple of years ago with a copy of this book which she had autographed for me by the author, Robert Hicks, at a book signing in Lexington. Due to being overloaded with academic reading, I have yet to read it but plan on starting this weekend. My mother loved it and toured Carnton right after reading the novel. Seeing the cemetery and Carnton, where Carrie McGavock lived, always gives me a chill and the story behind this heroic woman is summarized below, as explained on the Carnton Website:

History

Carnton was built in 1826 by former Nashville mayor Randal McGavock. Throughout the nineteenth century it was frequently visited by those shaping Tennessee and American history, including American Presidents James K. Polk and Andrew Jackson. Randal's son John inherited Carnton upon the elder McGavock's death in 1843. John married Carrie Elizabeth Winder in 1848, who bore him five children, three of whom passed away before 1863 (Martha (1849-1862); Mary Elizabeth (1851-1858); John Randal (1854)).
Battle of Franklin

At 4 o'clock in the afternoon of November 30, 1864, Carnton was witness to one of the bloodiest battles of the entire Civil War. The Confederate Army of Tennessee furiously assaulted Union troops entrenched along the southern edge of Franklin. The Battle of Franklin was the bloodiest five hours of combat during the Civil War, a massive frontal assault larger than Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg. Although it was short in duration, some 9,500 soldiers were killed, wounded, captured or missing. Nearly 7,000 of that number were Confederate. Carnton served as the largest field hospital in the area for hundreds of wounded and dying Confederate soldiers who were brought to the site for surgeries and medical care.

One soldier wrote, "the wounded, in hundreds, were brought to [the house] during the battle, and all the night after. And when the noble old house could hold no more, the yard was appropriated until the wounded and dead filled that...."

On the morning of December 1 the bodies of four Confederate generals killed during the fighting, Patrick Cleburne, Hiram Granbury, John Adams and Otho Strahl lay on the back porch. The floors of the elegantly restored home are still stained with the blood of the men who were treated here.

McGavock Confederate Cemetery

In 1866, John and Carrie McGavock designated two acres of land adjacent to their family cemetery as a final burial place for nearly 1,500 Confederates. John and Carrie McGavock maintained the cemetery at their personal expense until their respective deaths.

Today, the McGavock Confederate Cemetery is a lasting memorial honoring those fallen soldiers and is the largest privately owned military cemetery in the nation.

The McGavock family owned Carnton until 1911 when Susie Lee McGavock, widow of Winder McGavock sold it. In 1973 Carnton and 30 acres were listed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 1977 the house and ten acres were donated to the Carnton Association, Inc. by Dr. W.D. Sugg. By that time the the house had suffered from years of neglect and disrepair and since then the Association has been vital in restoring and maintaining the plantation through membership, special events, donations, tours, admissions, and museum store sales.

Part II of Franklin will feature The Carter House and more antiques....

TREASURES FROM THE GLENDALE ANTIQUE MALL

Wedgwood and Johnson Brothers


German Pitcher


Wedgwood Patrician Tea Cup


After driving through flooding and horrid downpours of endless rain, my mother-in- law(Darleen) and I arrived in Glendale, KY Friday morning of April 4Th and began our weekend antiquing excursion. More and more primitive pieces seem to be finding their way into these shops and if I collected primitives I would be in 7Th heaven. Much to my delight, in my favorite antique shop, the former Greyhound Bus Station, I found 4 great Wedgwood Patrician cream ware tea cups and saucers, a Wedgwood platter and a small German cream ware pitcher with what looks to be a fox hunting scene complete with an elongated fox serving as the handle. This pitcher was just one of those pieces that when you come across you literally grab it out of a nagging fear that the person behind you might just get it if you don't act quickly. In the above pictures I have the Wedgwood tea cups displayed with my Johnson Brothers Harvest Time collection, the German Pitcher, and a close up of one of the teacups. More treasures to come in future Franklin posts.....

VILLAGE SHOPS




VILLAGE SHOPS


One of my favorite pastimes is seeking out small communities known for their clusters of antique and specialty shops. About 8 years ago, my mother-in-law and I first discovered historic Franklin,TN, approximately 15 miles south of Nashville, because of an article in Southern Living Magazine about the towns antiques district. Then Romantic Homes featured a shop there, The Iron Gate, where you can find everything from elaborate chandeliers, Rachel Ashwell linens and candles to a massive Virgin Mary statue from an old Catholic church. It's one of the most wonderfully eclectic shops in Franklin and we try to at least take a turn in there with each trip. Click on the Iron Gate link at the side bar and take a peek..... On our way to Franklin, we also discovered a town called Historic Glendale, KY. This township is literally nestled around a railroad track and is another great shop cluster community, though much smaller than Franklin. A great little shop in Glendale is called Once Upon A Country Road. It's located at the end of Penny Lane in a "Turn of the Century" pink cottage(Of course that holds a lot of charm in itself). The pictures above are from this shop. I like this place because of its lovely white furniture and whimsical painted signs. My favorite shop in Glendale is in a former Greyhound station and is literally filled to the ceiling with vintage linens, jewelry, and china. Early tomorrow morning, we're heading out once again for a weekend of antiquing in Glendale and Franklin and I hope to return with many more treasures and photos to share on the blog.

DRAWINGS

Beauty

The Proclamation

Angel of Mercy



I honestly can't remember a time in my life when I wasn't drawing. My first art kit came when I was about 7 or 8 years old but I was always drawing something and knew I wanted to be an artist. I never had an epiphany, it's just who I am. So, I wanted to share some of my drawings on the blog. I think most of the Tea Society ladies are familiar with my artwork by now but I wanted to show some of my favorite conte`crayon drawings. I love that the conte` pencil gives the impression of a red chalk Renaissance drawing and that's why I chose it to work with. The subjects I choose are very varied but I have an absolute passion for cemetery angels and they are among my favorite subjects. Two of the angels here are from a series of notecards that I made a few years ago. The other is of a Connemara Pony( I am a Kentucky girl after all and had to have some Equine Art thrown in for good measure.) I hope you enjoy them.

FROM THE GARDEN TO THE FOYER....





Tuesday morning I strolled out to the garden to survey the spring buds and blooms. I love to check the progress of the lilacs, tulips, and wisteria. I could smell the sweet scent of the jonquils before I actually saw them and when I walked through our little courtyard I was met with a sea of gold, cream, and white. Oh, how that makes my senses dance! I promptly returned to the house and left my ten year old son instructions to keep an eye on his sister, grabbed the camera and pruning shears then headed out to collect a nice spring bouquet. The result is what you see at the end of our foyer when you enter our front door. It's a very simple little arrangement but it just makes me smile.

NEVER PASS UP A TREASURE............




This advice came from none other than British actress Brenda Blethyn who recently played the role of Grace Turner(mother of James McAvoy's Robbie)in Atonement. Brenda was an avid collector at one time(perhaps she still is)and it seems several years ago she especially enjoyed antiquing when she was in Australia filming In The Winter Dark. I found an old issue of BBC Homes & Antiques where Ms. Blethyn told of the one that got away....... As Brenda passed the same quaint little shop in the Blue Mountains each day, she discovered a wonderful treasure; " And I fell in love with the most exquisite Art Deco dancing lady holding a ball. But I dithered. We were two hours from Sydney and that long flight home. The piece was heavy and quite expensive, too. On last day of filming, the chief make-up artist invited the cast to her home for lunch. And there, in the middle of the table was my dancing lady. I couldn't say anything, of course, except how lovely she was. But oh, the regret..."

Can I ever relate to this. I've lost count of how many times I've seen something that I really wanted but for some reason just didn't buy it at that moment only to literally return to the store a week or sometimes even only a day or two later and of course it would be gone. I've learned my lesson about this and one of the last really good purchases I made I only pondered on for about an hour before taking the plunge and buying an older edition of John Ruskin's Modern Painters. Just how old the book was I wasn't sure of because the description on the ad didn't say. I wasn't particularly looking for an old edition of this book but wanted desperately to read it and was perfectly content to buy a modern version when I found this great little book on ebay. I was so taken with the Art Nouveau gold floral design and loved the flowers wrapped with a pale blue ribbon on the cover. I decided to take the plunge and make the purchase. I'm so glad that I did because when the book arrived,the first thing I saw when opening the cover was an inscription to one Nanna Morton with the date December 25, 1900. I wonder what Ms. Morton thought of her treasure that Christmas, how often she read it, and how it possibly changed her life in some way. This book was indeed considered "The Bible" for the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood of artists based out of England in the mid to late 1800's, whom I happen to have a rather unhealthy obsession with. I knew the read would be very engaging and it certainly has been. Yes, I'm so glad I followed my instinct and made this purchase.

Atonement





"In this drama based on the critically acclaimed novel by Ian McEwan, a childhood lie irrevocably changes the lives of several people."
Netflix

My husband, John, and I first watched this movie a couple of weeks ago and watched it again last night. It's certainly the type of movie to watch more than once. This is one of the most provocative and heart-wrenching films that I've seen in ages. I have not read the novel so I knew only a little of the subject matter ( not for younger viewers). I was so taken with the cinematography and beauty of the costumes. Kiera Knightley's now infamous green dress ( as seen in one of the above photographs)is extraordinary! I will not write too much about the plot as to not spoil it for those who have not read the book or seen the film but I will comment that James McAvoy's performance as the ill-fated Robbie is nothing short of brilliant. He is fast becoming one of my favorite actors. I dare say that Kiera Knightley also surprised me in her role as Cecilia. She is a strikingly beautiful woman and her acting has certainly come a long way. The girl portraying young Briony, Saoirse Ronan, is astonishingly captivating and a true pleasure to watch. I have little doubt that we will be seeing this young girl in many more films to come. Another interesting fact about this film is that the scenes of the beautiful Tallis estate were actually filmed on location at Stokesay Court , an 1891 Manor House in Shropshire, England. The Production Company actually paid to renovate a large portion of the house just for the film. Extraordinary! Please take the time to go to http://www.stokesaycourt.com/ and visit Stokesay Court's Website. There, you can read about the history of this most interesting estate.

To help endure the bleak rainy day we're having....

I wanted to offer a glimpse of the opulence of the Grand Dame of The Gilded Age, Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. These photos were taken a few years ago on our first Tea Society Weekend getaway and my goodness what a wonderful time that was! We were wined and dined at The Historic Beaufort House Victorian Inn http://www.beauforthouse.com/index.htm. And what a surprise it was to arrive on the day of a wedding under the Wisteria laden pergola in the garden. We had a wonderful unobtrusive view from the white rocking chairs on the front porch. Besides the wedding party, who certainly made themselves scarce, we felt as though we had the run of the Inn. I would love to be there right now!

This is such a nice reminder that Spring is finally here and that very soon the fragrant blooms of my treasured Wisteria will be perfuming the air in our little courtyard. This photo was from last year before a wretched late freeze killed the massive grape clusters on the vine as well as the buds on my Nikko Blue Hydrangea. I was devastated to say the least.

Take the Quiz here!

At long last I've gotten 'round to posting a picture from our Murder Mystery Dinner from October 2007. The theme was The Hollywood Premiere of Powar and Greede. Seen here are Tea Society members, Darleen Chamberlain and Polly Singer. Polly is our newest member and is a well known hat designer. Her business, All you need is Love Hats and Veils, is found under the links portion of this blog. Polly also won a free tea voucher for dressing in the most glamorous costume. What a night of laughs we had!

The Return of Victoria


So often in life, the saying, " You can never go home again" rings true. Yet this past Saturday I was greeted with the most comforting surprise and nostalgic journey. All found within the pages of a lovely little magazine called Victoria. She is mercifully back and I welcomed her with open arms and a fresh cuppa Earl Grey Lavender tea. I mourned her ending and the reality that I could no longer count on the comfort of a wee glimpse into a world where time stood still. A world that I desperately longed to join. This is a world where women are championed because of their contributions but equally celebrated for their grace, elegance, class, and dignity. This world is one where modernism takes a well ushered back seat to traditions, antiques, historic preservation, gardens, art, tea, and of course travel. This world exists within Victoria and as I've come to discover with her rebirth, many others across the universe have longed for her return as well. If I can only recommend one magazine worthy of our Tea Society members to subscribe to, it is Victoria.

So,When Mother Nature ushers in the chill of winter, you will be forever grateful that your dear cherished friend will arrive to comfort you as you share a scone and cuppa by the fire. Please go to Victoria's website http://www.victoriamag.com/ and take a moment to preview the contents and don't dare leave until you've ordered your subscription.