WEEKEND WITH LASSIE







Most everyone has seen at least one Lassie movie in their lifetime and if you are a dog lover like me you’ve probably seen most of the ones made. Oddly enough, an enchanted re-telling of this classic tale (or should I say tail?) filmed in 2005 somehow escaped my attention until this weekend.

“This is the 11th movie about Lassie, according to the producers. It is a remake of the 1943 film, Lassie Come Home, and is based on Eric Knight's 1940 novel Lassie Come-Home.[1] The movie was filmed in Scotland, Ireland and on the Isle of Man, and though acclaimed by a number of critics, was generally poorly received at the box office. A New York Times reviewer praised the film, saying it "...balances cruelty and tenderness, pathos and humor without ever losing sight of its youngest audience member" and also exclaimed, "This 'Lassie' exhibits a repertory of facial expressions that would put Jim Carrey to shame".[1] (From Wikipedia)

I can’t believe I missed this movie when it was in theaters. The 2005 version of Lassie, directed by Charles Sturridge, is set in a Yorkshire mining town on the eve of World War II. The Carraclough family, (Jonathan Mason, Samantha Morton and John Lynch) struggling to afford food and basic necessities, is forced to sell their beloved collie, Lassie. The new owner is the Duke of Rudling, played by none other than the splendid Peter O'Toole, often accompanied by his charming niece, Cilla (Hester Odgers). When Lassie is taken from her homeland to live in the Duke's remote castle on the northern coast of Scotland, she is determined to defy the odds and return to her home and to Joe Carraclough, the little boy who loves her. This arduous and incredible adventure for our favorite Collie, who just happens to be Hey Hey II or Lassie the 9th-a direct descendent from the original Lassie, Pal, is set against a stunning series of bucolic British landscapes. Through the ordeal, Lassie encounters human and natural dangers as she finds help in unexpected places while making her way across the country to reach her home. The re-telling of this classic story is heart-warming beyond words and contains the perfect formula for a wonderful movie. The Tea Society and Lizzie the Sheltie highly recommend this version. Click on Lassie to see the wonderful trailer on Youtube.

TEA OF THE WEEK: PEPPERMINT TEA

(Twinings Peppermint Tea served in Harvest Time Tea Cup and Saucer by Johnson Brothers)

My favorite way to make mint tea is by an infusion(tisane) method. This is simply done by pouring boiling water over the herb and then steeping for 3 to 5 minutes. If you don't have fresh mint on hand you can use 1 to 2 tsp of dried peppermint leaf to 8 oz of hot water. However, when I discovered that Twinings has a Peppermint Tea (featured in the above photo) I wanted to at least try it to see if it measured up. Home infusions will always reign supreme for me but this offering from Twinings is quite smooth and tasty. It's a nice alternative to the tisane if you don't have fresh mint on hand. I had two cups this morning as a matter of fact.

Here is a bit of background on peppermint taken from the University or Maryland:

Peppermint ( Mentha x piperita ), a popular flavoring for gum, toothpaste, and tea, also serves as a calming agent to soothe an upset stomach or to aid in digestion. Because it has a calming and numbing effect, it has been used to treat headaches, skin irritations, anxiety associated with depression, nausea, and other digestive disorders. It is also widely used to treat symptoms of the common cold.

Peppermint plants grow to about two feet tall. They bloom from July through August, sprouting tiny purple flowers in whorls and terminal spikes. Simple, toothed, and fragrant leaves grow opposite the flowers. Peppermint is native to Europe and Asia, is naturalized to North America, and grows wild in moist, temperate areas. Some varieties are indigenous to South Africa, South America, and Australia

DELICIOUS PUMPKIN BREAD RECIPE


Ingredients:
3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
3 cups sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1 ½ tsp salt
1 tsp nutmeg
3 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp allspice
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 cup oil
1 16 oz can of pumpkin
2/3 cup of water
4 eggs
1 cups raisins (optional)
½ cup nuts (optional)

Mix everything together and bake in greased loaf pans in a preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour. Fill the loaf pans about ½ full of batter. To test the bread: insert a toothpick into the center of the loaf and if it comes out clean, it is done. Do not over bake as that will dry out the bread.

This is wonderful served with Yorkshire Gold, Darjeeling or English/Irish Breakfast. Enjoy!

FLOWER FAIRIES




The Song of the Michaelmas Daisy Fairy
by Cicely Mary Barker

"Red Admiral, Red Admiral,
I'm glad to see you here,
Alighting on my daisies one by one!
I hope you like their flavour
and although the Autumn's near,
Are happy as you sit there in the sun?"

"I thank you very kindly, sir!
Your daisies are so nice,
So pretty and so plentiful are they;
The flavour of their honey, sir,
it really does entice;
I'd like to bring my brothers, if I may!"

"Friend butterfly, friend butterfly,
go fetch them one and all!
I'm waiting here to welcome every guest;
And tell them it is Michaelmas,
and soon the leaves will fall,
But I think Autumn sunshine is the best!"

In the spring of 2007, the Tea Society had a delightful Fairy Tea and plant exchange. At this tea we each contributed an herb or flowering plant to exchange with one another. The theme was that of Victorian Fairies and of the life of English Illustrator, Cicely Mary Barker. I’ve been a fairy enthusiast for many years and have had a fascination with Barker’s artwork and writings. I have a collection of her flower fairy figurines, which I tuck in wreaths, plants, arrangements, and even the Christmas Tree. My daughter’s Baby Book is even the Cicely Mary Barker Flower Babies Book and I dare say, The Black Bryony Fairy, reminds me very much of our sweet Rosebud. Below is a bit of background information on Barker as well as some wonderful images of her art work as well as vintage photos from various stages of her life in England.

The children's classic books of Flower Fairies are what made Cicely Mary Barker famous. She had already received considerable praise during the first world war for her pictures of children at work and play, and in religious, literary and national themes.

Cicely Mary Barker was born in Croydon on 28th June 1895 and died in 1973 in Worthing. From 1907 she lived at No 17 The Waldrons and in 1924 she moved to No. 23 where her sister Dorothy eventually opened a small kindergarten school.
Cicely suffered epilepsy and was in poor health for much of her childhood. She was educated at home and this was where she taught herself to paint and draw. At this time she was greatly influenced by the illustrations of Kate Greenaway. She believed in recreating the beauty of nature in art. The plants and flowers she created were completed with total botanic accuracy and the fairies were all based on children she had observed, not only at her sister Dorothy's kindergarten but from all walks of life. Cicely’s principal artist influence has been credited to the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. She appreciated and shared their philosophy of being true to nature in her dedication to accuracy in depicting flowers and plants and in the manner in which her fairies represented the spirit.

Supported by her family and attending evening classes at Croydon School of Art she began by making postcards - a good way of getting public recognition for her art. At the age of 16 the Croydon Art Society awarded her second prize in a poster competition and she was elected to life membership of the Society - the youngest person to receive this honour.

Cicely had strong Christian beliefs and illustrated Christmas cards, hymns and bible stories. One of her commissioned works 'The Parable of the Last Supper' is housed at St Georges's Church in Waddon and the seven sacraments decorate the front of her own church St. Andrew's.


(So much like my daughter...)









( Cicely is seen here with her elder sister Dorothy.)

(A later photograph of Ms. Barker. She died on February 16, 1973 at the age of 77. Coincidentally, it was the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of her first ‘Flower Fairy’ book that year.)

HAPPY FALL HAT MONTH!




The hot summer is at an end and so is the wearing of all those straw garden hats. During Fall Hat Month (September), men and women are encouraged to put aside their straw hats and begin wearing felt or fabric hats that are seasonal for the fall. Hat-related activities are also encouraged too.

__________________________________________________________



Who celebrates this holiday?

Both men and women wear hats and hats have been a part of our history for years.

A hat may be worn for protection against the elements, for religious reasons, for safety, or as a fashion accessory. In the past, hats were an indicator of social status. In the military, they denote rank and regiment.


There are hats for men and hats for women, as well as hats worn by both sexes. Purveyors of men's hats are called hatters and purveyors of women's hats are called milliners.

__________________________________________________________



Origin of this holiday?

This holiday is referred to as a "National" day. However, I did not discover any congressional records or presidential proclamations for this day. Nevertheless, this is still a holiday that is publicized to celebrate. So have fun with it and celebrate it!

___________________________________________________


How can I celebrate this holiday?

Buy yourself a new fall hat! - Department stores will pack in the fall and winter hats that are just perfect for the season. Better yet, visit my friend and wonderful hat designer/milliner, Polly Singer, for an original couture hat.


Note* I had never heard of the observance and was so tickled to discover this.

TEA OF THE WEEK: ASHBY'S VANILLA SPICE




A wonderful way to welcome fall is with Ashby's Vanilla Spice Tea. This is a fine blend of black teas from Kenya, Ceylon, and Indonesia flavored with authentic South American vanilla, freshly ground cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. The deep, rich vanilla is perfectly balanced with just a light touch of spice. The aroma of this tea is absolute heaven. I can't think of a more perfect tea to have when cuddling up with a good book on a crisp autumn evening.

Ashby's Of London Tea
Exquisite English quality. Sublime flavor.
James Ashby, a traditional family man, established the Ashby's Tea firm in London in 1850. Importing and packaging only the highest quality teas from the most prestigious tea growing areas of the world, Ashby's Tea has become a standard among English teas. They offer quality, freshness and packaging that reflects the heritage and reputation that the English have come to expect of a great tea.

( From ashbytea.com )

ANOTHER FUN TAG FROM WILLOW!



I've been tagged by Willow to list "6 Unspectacular Quirks"
about myself. I've got tons of them but I'll try and narrow this down a bit.

1. I have been obsessed with rocking chairs for as long as I remember. If I'm in a room with one I have to seize it and rock away. I also used to rock back and forth when I would listen to music. My son does this, too and we catch ourselves laughing about this quirk.

2. Feet annoy me!...If a person touches me with their feet I get very antsy. Call it a foot phobia but I can't stand another person's feet even brushing against me.

3. You'll probably never catch me in blue jeans. I hate wearing them and they make me very uncomfortable.

4. I'm a bit OCD...I recheck locked doors and other appliances over and over again. I also wash my hands constantly.

5. I have to wear lipstick or I feel naked and get quite irritable.

6. I can't get enough of "Ghost Stories!" We believe our house to be haunted and though I've never seen any apparitions, there have been more than a few strange occurrences here. We smell lilacs and roses in February and my husband always smells cigarette smoke yet we have a smoke-free home.


There you have it...Some quirks about me...Now, I'm tagging Lavinia, Betsy, Kalianne, Natalie, and MMM.....

BLOGGING ABOUT BOOKPLATES




Betsy at My Five Men blogged on the most wonderful topic of bookplates today and she inspired me to search for some that really jumped out at me. Being an artist myself, and devotee to 19Th and early 20Th century illustration, I am drawn immediately to anything with a hint of Pre-Raphaelite or Symbolist movement influence so these two plates really grabbed my attention. Please check out Betsy's blog for more reading on this fascinating art form and some lovely images to inspire.

Background from Wiki...
A bookplate, also known as ex-librīs [Latin, "from the books of..."], is usually a small print or decorative label pasted into a book, often on the inside front cover, to indicate its owner. Simple typographical bookplates are termed 'booklabels'.

Bookplates typically bear a name, motto, device, coat-of-arms, crest, badge, or any motif that relates to the owner of the book, or is requested by him from the artist or designer. The name of the owner usually follows an inscription such as "from the books of . . . " or "from the library of . . . ", or in Latin, ex libris ....

In the United States, bookplates replaced book rhymes after the 19Th century.

ICED TEA SOCIAL AND BOOK DISCUSSION

(Autographed from the author- A lovely surprise from my in-laws)



To begin this blog entry, I wish to thank tea society member, Polly Singer, for hosting this event at her home in Lexington. She created a lovely back drop with era-inspired music and a slide show of Carnton Plantation. She also contributed delicious Jasmine, rose and peony, and chocolate mint iced teas along with Benedictine tea sandwiches, and bourbon balls. Add those delicacies to ham, broccoli and Swiss quiche, olive nut tea sandwiches, and mini pecan tartlets and we were all feasting like queens!......To continue introducing you to Polly, we were no doubt the fortunate ones to be welcomed into her home and to get a glimpse at her hat creations. Polly is an internationally recognized and well-respected milliner and owner of All You Need Is Love Hats and Veils. She is incredibly humble about her accomplishments and that makes her even more exceptional, IMO....So, to give you a glimpse at her amazing talents, look no further than the Autumn issue of Victoria magazine, pictured below, with a feature of Polly’s creations and visit her site under the links portion on this blog. Thanks again, Polly....


(Three of our members: Darleen, Polly, and Denise)

At our book discussion on Saturday we concluded that this first novel by former Carnton Preservationist, Robert Hicks, was masterfully engaging and thought-provoking. The author successfully orchestrated a complex glimpse into and an interesting blending of lives of the historical and fictional characters. The book moves you profoundly and at times even to tears. The admiration that we felt for Carrie McGavock only grew as we witnessed her personal and spiritual growth and awakening throughout this novel. I have blogged about Franklin, TN in the past and how it’s one of my favorite towns because of the rich history and how it has this overwhelming energy that permeates throughout the cemeteries, homes, and even the ancient trees near Carter House and Carnton. It is truly a place that has been imprinted by the horrific magnitude of lives tragically lost on her soil. This book taps into that in a very powerful way. If you have any interest in Civil War History, The Battle of Franklin, or in Historic Fiction, I would highly recommend this novel. It is certainly graphic at times( How could it not be given the nature of the story?) but that all serves to create the authentic horror that was no doubt witnessed within the walls of Carnton Plantation and throughout the people of Franklin but perhaps specifically among the Union and Confederate soldiers so tragically killed there.

From the Jacket
In 1894 Carrie McGavock is an old woman who has only her former slave to keep her company…and the almost 1,500 soldiers buried in her backyard. Years before, rather than let someone plow over the field where these young men had been buried, Carrie dug them up and reburied them in her own personal cemetery. Now, as she walks the rows of the dead, an old soldier appears. It is the man she met on the day of the battle that changed everything. The man who came to her house as a wounded soldier and left with her heart. He asks if the cemetery has room for one more.

In an extraordinary debut novel, based on a remarkable true story, Robert Hicks draws an unforgettable, panoramic portrait of a woman who, through love and loss, found a cause. Known throughout the country as "the Widow of the South," Carrie McGavock gave her heart first to a stranger, then to a tract of hallowed ground - and became a symbol of a nation's soul.

The novel flashes back thirty years to the afternoon of the Battle of Franklin, five of the bloodiest hours of the Civil War. There were 9,200 casualties that fateful day. Carrie's home - the Carnton plantation - was taken over by the Confederate army and turned into a hospital; four generals lay dead on her back porch; the pile of amputated limbs rose as tall as the smoke house. And when a wounded soldier named Zachariah Cashwell arrived and awakened feelings she had thought long dead, Carrie found herself inexplicably drawn to him despite the boundaries of class and decorum. The story that ensues between Carrie and Cashwell is just as unforgettable as the battle from which it is drawn.

The Widow of The South is a brilliant novel that captures the end of an era, the vast madness of war, and the courage of a remarkable woman to claim life from the grasp of death itself.

Please visit this Youtube clip for a short Tour of Carnton with author, Robert Hicks.

THE WIDOW OF THE SOUTH


Saturday, September 6, 2008, The Ladies' Historical Tea Society will have an Iced Tea Social and book discussion of The Widow of The South by Robert Hicks. This book takes an interesting look at the life of Carrie McGavock of Franklin, TN. Carrie begins the story as a regular southern woman caught up against the backdrop of the tragic Civil War. In the midst of all the mourning of personal losses, death and devastation, she is transformed from the mere ordinary to extraordinary and reaches the status of legend. I will be posting pictures and comments next week from this event and welcome any bloggers who have read this book to post their comments and thoughts as well.

Our Rosebud has Chicken Pox....
(Illustration by Hanako Wakiyama from the book Goldilocks's has Chicken Pox by Erin Dealy)

We've been hit with the dreaded Chicken Pox at our house. Our poor little 20 month old daughter, Katie( AKA Rosebud) has been bombarded with the itching, fever, irritability and more itching...The Calamine lotion and Dr. Mom is fast at work...Our son had the vaccine when he was a toddler but Katie had yet to have that so wouldn't you know it hit with a vengeance...I remember my bout with this when I was 5 years old and still have a faint scar on my left shoulder to remind me of all that scratching!

TEA OF THE WEEK: PERFECTLY PEAR WHITE TEA


"White tea comes from only the first few tender leaves and new buds of the tea plant harvested in early springtime in the mountains of China. The least processed of all teas from the Camellia sinensis tea plant, white tea is naturally dried indoors for a flavor that most reflects a freshly picked tea leaf and retains the most healthful antioxidants."(From Celestial Seasonings)

Perfectly Pear White Tea by Celestial Seasonings beautifully blends the highest quality white teas resulting in a delicate, flowery taste that’s slightly sweet and very smooth. The natural sweetness of white tea is enhanced with the flavor of delicious pears and a fragrant touch of vanilla. This tea is perfect any time of day and quite readily available...Enjoy!

THE SPARTA TEAPOT MUSEUM



As I was browsing the web this morning, I stumbled across the most amazing place called The Sparta Teapot Museum. I had never heard of this place before but recalled that a traveling tea pot exhibit came through Centre College in Danville, KY last year and began to wonder if some of that collection might have been on loan from this new museum. ....The museum, located in Sparta, NC near the Virginia border, has a website( the gallery photo on this blog was taken from there) but it seems to be undergoing some updates and I just discovered some more information from Wiki( below) about this new museum. Have any of you wonderful bloggers heard of this amazing place?

The Sparta Teapot Museum is currently being constructed in downtown Sparta, North Carolina, USA and is scheduled for completion by the summer of 2008.

It will contain approximately 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2) devoted to the history of tea and teapots and to the display of teapots from all cultures and all eras.

The museum will draw mainly from the teapot collection of Gloria and Sonny Kamm. The Kamm Collection comprising of more than 6,000 teapots is the largest teapot collection in the USA and arguably the world.

Hum...I know I'll be making this pilgrimmage!

Thank you Willow!

...Willow has given me another greatly appreciated award...You're the best!....

WAITING FOR A VERY SPECIAL GUEST




My mother is on her way to our house for a nice 3 1/2 day visit and I'll be away from the blogosphere for a while. I'll return soon.....

A BREAKFAST FIT FOR A HOBBIT


It's so funny for me to think that there was ever a time when I did not love breakfast. When I was younger, a cup of coffee and a piece of dry toast was about all I needed ( or thought that I needed) to get me through the day...Oh, how life changes and how I have changed. Now, as I approach the middle years of my life, I think my favorite meal might just be our special weekend breakfasts...Not a doughnut and coffee kind of breakfast mind you but a real Hobbit breakfast fitting for Bilbo, Frodo, Merry and Pippin! I want omelettes loaded with bacon,tomatoes, cheese, scallions, and mushrooms( of course!) with even more bacon on the side and a couple of wedges of wheat toast( this is precisely why we only eat like this on a couple of Saturdays out of the month)...Yes, that would just about do for me...Can't forget the cuppa Irish breakfast tea to go along with that, can we? And of course, speaking of Hobbits, you know they didn't settle for just one breakfast. They were quite partial to "elevenses" and Tolkien mentions that they are quite fond of 6 meals a day if they can get them.....I'm afraid I would be a quite rotund Hobbit if I did that so the one first morning feast will have to do until a lunchtime salad calls me back to reality and out of the much coveted Shire.....

TEA OF THE WEEK: REVOLUTION SWEET GINGER PEACH




The best description of this tea is that it is truly reminiscent of the delicious aroma of fresh baked peach cobbler. What is not to love about that?...Sweet Ginger Peach is a rich blend of Asam and Ceylon teas and fresh peach flavoring, with the unmistakable addition of ginger root. I think I enjoy this tea best with no milk or sugar.

THE CAT OF THE HOUSE

( Magic peering through the spindles)



The Cat Of The House

Author: Ford Madox Ford (1873-1939)


Over the hearth with my 'minishing eyes I muse; until after
the last coal dies.
Every tunnel of the mouse,
every channel of the cricket,
I have smelt,
I have felt
the secret shifting of the mouldered rafter,
and heard
every bird in the thicket.
I see
you
Nightingale up in the tree!
I, born of a race of strange things,
of deserts, great temples, great kings,
in the hot sands where the nightingale never sings!

Yesterday was a very sad day around our house...We had to say farewell to our old black cat, Magic....Magic was somewhat of an enigma. He adored my husband but merely tolerated the rest of us but we loved him in spite of this. We adopted him from Petsmart when he was two or three years old. A stray scraggly little lethargic thing he was but he sprang to life with vigor when we brought him home and attended to him. We had many years with him and he was nearing 14 or so but steadily spiraling downward...It's so hard to see your pets in this state...The above poem by Ford Madox Brown epitomizes how Magic would've been most happy....He was a house cat though and was rarely able to venture outdoors to enjoy such antics( we live in a downtown area near a very busy street) but he would watch by the window as the birds would taunt and tease him. He was so desperate to get through the glass window to pounce...My favorite memory of him was to see how his whiskers fluttered rapidly and twitched with fervor as the autumn leaves from the back maple tree fell to the ground in a rhythmic dance. He was most funny to watch during this little "Leaf Ritual."...He will be missed and the house is strangely empty without him but he is at peace now and no longer ailing so that gives us great comfort...And, I can't help but think he's in heaven chasing birds, leaves, squirrels and butterflies to very little avail...

TEA WITH C.S. LEWIS

"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me."

~C.S. Lewis

Have you ever been asked who you would like to meet in heaven? Well, I would like to ask, who would you like to have tea with in heaven?...Not counting Christ, family members, the saints, martyrs, etc.,I think at the top of my list would have to be C.S. Lewis...What a magnificent mind he had and his writings of fiction as well as his Christian Apologetics, serves as a constant inspiration to me in life and in art...Recently, as I put the movie, Shadowlands, on my Netflix queue, I began to ponder what it would be like to have tea with “Jack” and to truly know what he found pleasing and enjoyable in his life...Fortunately, his stepson Douglas Gresham has provided some insight into his famous step-father ......


“Some of Jack's favorite things; good tobacco, good beer, good tea, strong Darjeeling or Ceylon tea, good friendships good, conversation, good literature, good food, a good fast walk in the countryside, preferably, anything of beauty, anything finely crafted well constructed. I think that Jack enjoyed what was well done. Everything God does is well done. So he enjoyed all of nature, because God did it well. I don't think he had much time for shoddy things, for planned obsolescence, things of that nature. Jack enjoyed good quality anything, in a sense, those things that display the beauties of God's creation to the best of their advantage, whether they be the artisanship of man bringing those out, like finely crafted woodwork, furniture and so on, or whether they simply be a beautiful oak tree”.... Douglas Gresham

Reading about his simple pleasures, all of which many of us enjoy, makes me so glad that the world was given such a gift in the life of C.S. Lewis...Though quite pale in comparison to his achievements, knowing just what kind of tea Jack preferred truly thrills me.... I am not the least bit surprised that he was a Darjeeling man. A more fitting tea for his character, I can not imagine...




"Jack and his beloved Joy "

TWININGS IRISH BREAKFAST: FEATURED TEA OF THE WEEK



Being of Irish decent, I am deeply drawn to the country and people of Ireland…Dare I say, I don’t fully understand the tug and pull of my very soul to a land I’ve never known. Yet, it exists within me and I know that I will not be truly content until I see Ireland, someday very soon……

What I find very interesting is that Ireland has the highest per capita tea consumption in the world at 3.2 kg (7 lb) per head per year. Hum… my English ancestry combined with the Celts just might explain my obsession with all things tea and British Isle- related …With all that in mind, the featured tea of the week is Twinings Irish Breakfast. This is of course a blend of many black teas with Assam perhaps being the most prominent. According to James Norwood Pratt’s Tea Lover’s Treasury, there is believed to have once been a very strong preference for Assam among the Irish... Just why this was so remains a bit of a mystery. Also interesting to note is that the Irish are in fact among the most discerning tea drinkers in the world and in “regards to taste and leaf appearance, quality is an obsession.” Hum…and you thought I was joking about my ancestry playing a part in my own obsession……

In Ireland of course, the tea is not referred to as “Irish Breakfast”, just merely “tea” and is enjoyed throughout the day and evening. The taste is of a brisk full-bodied malty brew. It is often served with milk and sugar or sometimes only with lemon or with nothing added at all.

Since Ireland is on my mind these days. I want to share a song by my favorite vocalist, the Irish-Canadian Nightingale, Loreena McKennitt…The song, that you hear on the play-list, is a traditional Celtic one called Bonny Portmore…It is about the mourning over the destruction of the ancient Great Oak of Portmore…The words and music to this song are so haunting and melancholy …

BONNY PORTMORE
Traditional Music and Lyrics/ Arrangement by Loreena McKennitt

O Bonny Portmore I am sorry to see
Such a woeful destruction of your ornament tree
For it stood on your shore for many's the long day
Till the long boats from Antrim came to float it away.

O Bonny Portmore you shine where you stand
And the more I think on you the more I think long
If I had you now as I had once before
All the Lords in Old England would not purchase Portmore.

All the Birds in the forest they bitterly weep
Saying "where shall we shelter or where shall we sleep?"
For the Oak and the Ash they all cutten down
And the walls of Bonny Portmore are all down to the ground.

O Bonny Portmore you shine where you stand
And the more I think on you the more I think long
If I had you now as I had once before
All the Lords of Old England would not purchase Portmore.
________________________________________
The destruction of old growth forests has become an important conservation issue in recent years, but it is not a new phenomenon. Over the centuries many of Ireland's old oak forests were leveled for military and shipbuilding purposes. Only recently has there been an effort to reestablish these great hardwoods. The Great Oak of Portmore stood on the property of Portmore Castle on the shore of Lough Beg. – Loreena McKennitt

HISTORY OF THE CLOCHE
Some favorites from my personal cloche collection


A favorite brown cloche with wider brim


The timeless Louise Brooks wearing a lovely cloche






Evie and Beatrice sporting cloches in The House of Eliott


Are you a hat lover? Do you flock to millinery in antique shops and browse countless websites searching for the perfect hat?

My favorite hat design is the cloche (French for bell) which became fashionable in 1908 and remained so until 1933, hence revealing that the cloche was not confined to the 20’s era, as is sometimes believed. However, it was most certainly at its most popular during that time period. The cloche of that era resembled a helmet and worn properly, would have been nearly pulled over the eyes making it necessary for the wearer to lean her head back in an almost air of superiority. The clever bell shape was meant to add height to the wearer to give off the illusion of grandeur.

The brims on the cloche, when worn in 1908 were close fitting with deep crowns over the brow, underwent a change in later years. Between 1922-1925, the hat was even snugger and the brim was small at the front. The only way to bring an updated look to the hat was to further reduce the brim. The new reduced brim became fashionable after 1926 and completely disappeared by 1928.

Cloches exist in many forms and are often made of felt, making it much easier to form fit closer to the head. Also noted is the influence of the Art Deco movement which may be seen in construction line, appliqués and zigzag seaming.

And what of the hairstyle most associated with the cloche? By the early 1920’s "the bob" became the rage and when a woman sported a cloche, her bobbed hair was pressed very close to her head most often revealing the cheek sweep of hair which accentuated her cheekbones and created a fresh feminine look.

I’m delighted to find so many cloche hats available today and am always eager to find the perfect one to add to my growing collection. However, to truly pay proper homage to the cloche, one must also adorn her lips with ox-blood red lipstick before daring to venture in public...At least she must do so if she is to accurately recreate the era...

TEA OF THE WEEK- TWININGS ENGLISH BREAKFAST

To pay a proper homage to MMM at Steamed Sponge, I wanted to feature a no frills delicious black tea for him this week. So, MMM, what do you say to a perfect cuppa Twinings English Breakfast Tea? This black tea is a robust, full- bodied, rich tea often served with hearty English breakfasts. The actual black tea blend found in "English Breakfast Tea" is usually a blending of teas such as Assam, Ceylon, Kenyan, and Keemun. The flavor of the tea has been described as having “light floral undertones (sometimes referred to as "coppery"). When blended with milk, it produces a comforting aroma eerily similar to warm toast and honey.” However, it is also enjoyed black with nothing added. Virtually any scone would pair well with English Breakfast.



Some brief back ground information on Twinings:

For many people, Twinings is the epitome of English Tea. Since its inception in 1706 the English Tea company has successfully blended an inexpensive high quality tea which can be found in over 100 different countries across the world. To discover more about the fascinating world of Twinings please visit The History of Twinings Tea Company. To learn more about the Twining family and their estate, Dial House, please visit The Twickenham Musem.

A fun tidbit to remember is that according to her former butler, Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite tea is Twinings Earl Grey. That just so happens to be my favorite as well so if it’s good enough for Ma’am, then it’s good enough for The Tea Society...

EXCELLENT BLOG AWARD



Thank you to Kalianne at Bygone Beauty for this lovely Excellent Blog award...There are indeed countless excellent bloga out there. Many of my favorites have already received this award but I wanted to nominate some of you again just the same because your blogs are so wonderful:

I'm nominating:

Willow at Willow Manor- Need I say anything more? Willow Manor is really the blog that motivated me to actively update and maintain my blog. Willow has the most interesting and thought provoking posts. I always learn something new when visiting the manor. And, did I mention her fantastic photography?

Betsy-My Five Men- Some of the best recipes in Cyperspace seem to land here and Betsy is one of the most inspiring women that I've come across.

Fairmaiden at Sea Cottage- Serenity and bliss are the two words that best describe Fairmaiden's blog. Her cottage by the sea is absolutely enchanting...

Steviewren at A Little Birdie Told Me So- A very diverse and creative artist with a wonderful blog about her life, art, and other musings.

Barb- Stamplicity- A lovely new site with wonderfully creative vintage -inspired crafts.

and.... even though she nominated me for this, I love her blog so much that I'm bouncing one right back to her! So Kalianne, I want to second the nomination for Bygone Beauty:-)

Congratulations to the recipients!