Elegance Reclaimed

Alas, with reluctance ...

2010-03-04T14:47:00.001-08:00

Hello,

Thank you all for your comments and following my blog and family stories.

I have enjoyed blogging, but, due to personal reasons and my lack of focus, I am taking a recess, but I do hope to return sometime.

Again, thank you all and I wish you all the best.

Until Next Time ...
Sincerely
Lynda

2010-01-08T14:42:00.019-08:00

Coming from a family of packrats- I have realized that over the past days, trying to sort through the “family stuff “ is going to be a huge project. I have literally thousands of photographs, clippings, books and papers to wade through. This is defiantly going to take years to complete. But, I am going to tackle it and get started…

For today though I am going to share with you some more of my memories at “Abbey Dawn”. It was such a magical place for me. Often during the summer months, when visiting my grandparents, Gramp and I would, in the morning, set-out through the wide screen door of the back porch, out along the winding driveway for the trek-up the big hill to the museum.

He would have his trusty walking stick in one hand and in the other, while we walked, you could hear the coins jingling away, as they rattled around in the tyrian purple coloured hand-knit wool sock (generally tucked into a Crown Royal purple cloth bag with a gold chinch rope). The money that clanged away as it was swung in the sock as we walked, was for giving change to the visitors at the museum.
My job during those walks was to carry the lunch and thermoses that Gran had prepared for us for our day up at the museum.

The museum was built back from the edge of where we call the ridge. The edge is a massive rock-top to the gorge (more on that in other stories) with a 'spansive'(wide sweeping vista) of the St. Lawrence River and beyond. On clear days one could see the United States across the water.

I remember at certain times of day, the Gananoque Boat Lines would float by and blow their loud horn and we would wave back, and ring the bell in reply. One time Gran and one of her sisters took me on the tour boat when they did this horn blowing right after they did a speel over the loud speaker about Gramp "Abbey Dawn" and its history. That was thrilling for me as I could just see in my minds-eye Gramp waving up on the ridge.

My memories of seeing the people arrive, park their cars in the lower parking lot and walk their way along the little pathway up to the site, listening to Gramp talk about what we were going to do and say, feeling excited about meeting new people and watching Gramp again “do his thing”. It was all such a wonderful adventure for me and I felt so grown-up being allowed to and expected to help.

The routine was generally about the same, Gramp greeting and welcoming everyone, introducing himself and me, explaining what the tour was going to consists of, talking about the reason for and the history of Abbey Dawn, taking the tour, amongst, showing and describing the numerous Native Indian artifacts while all the while meandering closer to the ridge. Finally getting up to the ridge and seeing Gramp spread his arms full-out to the position of his Native Indian name which was bestowed to him “Great White Eagle”, in full flight soaring over the vista. Every time I saw it I was mesmerized; he was a showman.

I, through all of this, was to keep my eyes on any young folk, keep their attention, relate to them, help keep them entertained while the grown-ups would do their thing, then as we left the ridge heading towards the museum the last stop tour stop I would gently herd the young folks attention towards the fun little goodies on and in the large deep dark wood and thick glass display cast which was just inside the left side of the double-door doorway. There, the pamphlets and souvenirs were on top of the showcase and the cash-sock was hidden underneath, and inside the case, were the very special small Native Indian items such as a small pouch, a pair of children's mocasines all beautifully beaded, a play toy and the long peace pipe. Also to, since "Abbey Dawn" was the first bird of prey sanctuary in North America, there were the prints of the paintings by Allan Brooks Gramp comissioned, and all the birdland information, about to.

a postcard dated Aug 1921

of a sandpiper on Gramp's hand, in prior years to Abbey Dawn

Some days it seems like there were never ending groups of people filing through, and other days there would be just smatterings of visitors, and, in between giving the tours was my private time spent with Gramp, it all was so wonderful.

I suspect I have enough materials to open up my own museum. Among the thousands of things I have four years worth of scrap books of my grandmother’s. She made them while she attended the Ontario Ladies’ College in Whitby Ontario, starting in 1909, there are all the historical stories and information about other family members, newspaper clippings and scrap books, two years of letters of almost daily letters from my grandmother to my grandfather prior to when they wed in 1913 he had saved, peoples diaries, WWI and WWII family correspondence, all the material my mother saved from when she trained as a nurse prepared to go overseas and her time and recordings while over there, and it goes on and on and on ...

oh yes, then there is the bell,

how the Royal Patronage came to be, the movie, the Robert Holmes memorial, and on and on the stories go.

At times, I do admit, I have become quite overwhelmed with it all, but now that I am doing what my wise father suggested to do of mapping it out, and my sister Kerrie suggested of setting goals and sticking to them, it seems to be a bit less daunting a task, just as long as I keep my focuse on the goal at hand...

Admittedly, my living room reminds me somewhat what "the stacks" look like in the basement of the old Queen’s University’s library, and my previously called linen-room has turned into just a catchall, the rest of my place I have thankfully been able to keep (so far) relatively normal, but I can not promise anything in the coming days months and so on. Hopefully, as time goes on, I will learn and be better equipped to cope with this, but in the mean time, I will just keep chipping way at it. And along the way, I will keep you up to date on my progress

The City of Kingston, where I wa born and raised is on the edge of the 1000 Islands. Being one of Canada’s oldest cities it has much history which I hope to discuss over time, but the following will give you an idea of the the region looks like

public domain image obtained from Wikimedia Commons

You can see more by clicking on Boldt Castle

1000 Islands actually consists of 1,800 islands; what is considered an island is any landmass that is above the water for 356 days a year and supports the growth of at least one tree.

Beautiful images of the 1000 Islands and Boldt Castle can been seen at http://www.yousaytoo.com/patricia/1000-islands/3722

Have fun and I hope you enjoy.

And until next time enjoy being alive.

This post has been submitted to "Show and Tell" hosted by Cindy at My Romantic Home

2010-01-07T21:53:00.004-08:00

This morning in my electronic mailbox I received the

“Kreative Blogger”

Award

nomination

from

Jeanne at

COLLAGE OF LIFE

Jeanne Thank you, it is an honour and pleasure; a two-fold joy as it is coming from you and is my first blogging award, makes it a very special award indeed.

I have followed Jeanne’s blog “COLLAGE OF LIFE” since almost the first day I started blogging. Her zeal for living shines through in her every post. Her open and honest look at herself and situations is refreshing and truely delightful. I’ve learned much about New Zealand and now that she has recently moved to the UK, I am just-chompin’-at-the-bit to read all about every new adventure she posts about.

One of the requirements for the award is to share seven things about yourself others may not know, so here goes- I:

when I was a child, dreamt of becoming a professional singer once I grew up,
am dyslexic and had not read a book from cover to cover until I was 21, and continue to be the world’s worst speller, so much so that I check, recheck, triple check, and quadruple check everything before I hit send, and truly hate it when spell check can not even figure out what I am trying to spell, grrrr!
have very sensitive hearing, a trait that several Burrows female family members have, some more pronounced than others; when the old glass Christmas lights twinkled on and off, I could hear the sound (plink-plunk-plink-plink-plink-plunk-plink) the filaments emitted. The first time I realized it, I thought I was going mad, it took me quite awhile to figure out what the sounds were and was much relieved I wasn’t imaging things. The yellow ones, for some reason, seem to be the highest pitched ones …
drove school bus for just under eight years among several other things, and I was a professional public pitchman, also
wrote backhand until about three years ago, and then one day while writing a letter, I looked down and noticed I had slipped into writing slanted to the right- sometimes such is the way transitions of life manifest
just started-up attempting to do ribbon embroidery, it’s fun and so-far I find it relatively easy,
love the smell of orange, the taste of dew, feel of moonlight and shade on sunny days.

Now here is my checklist for the award, of things to do:

Thank the person who nominated me for the award,
copy the logo and place it on my blog,
link to the person who nominated me,
list 7 things people may not know about me,
nominate 7 creative bloggers, and post their links,
leave a comment/notification to each nominee

And now... I nominate

ELENA MARIA @ HTTP://TEAATTRIANON.BLOGSPOT.COM
CATHE @ HTTP://JUSTSOMETHINGIMADE.BLOGSPOT.COM
MISS MUSTARD SEED @ HTTP://MISSMUSTARDSEED.BLOGSPOT.COM/
KENDRA @ HTTP://PORCELAINSANDPEACOCKS.BLOGSPOT.COM
NANCY @ HTTP://NANCYLINDEMEYER.BLOGSPOT.COM
WALT @ HTTP://WCS4.BLOGSPOT.COM
LORD COWELL @ HTTP://WILLOWBROOKPARK.BLOGSPOT.COM

2010-01-04T00:33:00.005-08:00

I would like to share with you a lovely post at Sweet Jeanette Blog to read.

Tag

you're it ;-)

2010-01-03T17:52:00.004-08:00

painted by Eva Gonzalès in 1879

by Peter Adolf Hall (1739-1793) a Swedish painter

On this date January 3rd, in 1938, the first broadcast of "Woman in White" by Irna Phillips was presented on the NBC Red network. The program remained on radio for 10 years.

Irna Phillips, according to the Wikipedia article "is recognized as one of the most important pioneers in television history, and as the originator of the daytime TV drama"

2010-01-03T16:10:00.002-08:00

According to Wikipedia at Kate Greenaway

Kate Greenaway (Catherine Greenaway) (London, 17 March 1846 – 6 November 1901) was an English children's book illustrator and writer. Her first book, Under The Window (1879), a collection of simple, perfectly idyllic verses concerning children who endlessly gathered posies, untouched by the Industrial Revolution, was a best-seller.

The Kate Greenaway Medal, established in her honour in 1955, is awarded annually by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in the UK to an illustrator of children's books. Her paintings were reproduced by chromoxylography, by which the colours were printed from hand-engraved wood blocks by the firm of Edmund Evans. Through the 1880s and 90s, in popularity her only rivals in the field of children's book illustration were Walter Crane and Randolph Caldecott, himself also the eponym of a highly-regarded prize medal.

"Kate Greenaway" children, all of them little girls and boys too young to be put in trousers, according to the conventions of the time, were dressed in her own versions of late eighteenth century and Regency fashions: smock-frocks and skeleton suits for boys, high-waisted pinafores and dresses with mobcaps and straw bonnets for girls. The influence of children's clothes in portraits by British painter John Hoppner (1758-1810) may have provided her some inspiration. Liberty's of London adapted Kate Greenaway's drawings as designs for actual children's clothes. A full generation of mothers in the liberal-minded "artistic" British circles who called themselves "The Souls" and embraced the Arts and Crafts movement dressed their daughters in Kate Greenaway pantaloons and bonnets in the 1880s and '90s.

She was elected to membership of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in 1889 and lived in an arts and crafts house she commissioned from Richard Norman Shaw in Frognal, London, although she also spent summers in the small Nottinghamshire village of Rolleston, near Southwell.

She died of breast cancer in 1901 and is buried in Hampstead Cemetery, London.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Also to, a more thorough biography may be read by clicking
Illuminated Books

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Recently I posted a copy of one of her prints, you can click HERE to read, and, strangely enough, this morning her name popped-up again in an article written by Ina Taylor in the January 1992 edition of Victoria magazine, on page 96.

2010-01-03T14:33:00.001-08:00

With cleaning-up comes (for me) the want for flowers ...

All of the following is copied from:

The Botanical Magazine, Vol. 2

or Flower-Garden Displayed, Curtis, William, 1746-1799 [Author],

LONDON: Printed by Couchman and Fry, Throgmorton-Street, For W. CURTIS, at his Botanic-Garden, Lambeth-Marsh; And Sold by the principal Booksellers in Great-Britain and Ireland.

M DCC XC.

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[42]

Camellia Japonica. Rose Camellia.

Class and Order.

Monadelphia Polyandria.

Generic Character.

Calyx imbricatus, polyphyllus: foliolis interioribus majoribus.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

CAMELLIA japonica foliis acute serratis acuminatis. Lin. Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. p. 632. Thunberg Fl. Japon. t. 273.

TSUBAKI Kempfer Amœn. 850. t. 851.

ROSA chinensis. Ed. av. 2. p. 67. t. 67.

THEA chinensis pimentæ jamaicensis folio, flore roseo. Pet. Gaz. t. 33. fig. 4.

No42

This most beautiful tree, though long since figured and described, as may be seen by the above synonyms, was a stranger to our gardens in the time of Miller, or at least it is not noticed in the last edition of his Dictiona
It is a native both of China and Japan.

Thunberg, in his Flora Japonica, describes it as growing every where in the groves and gardens of Japan, where it becomes a prodigiously large and tall tree, highly esteemed by the natives for the elegance of its large and very variable blossoms, and its evergreen leaves; it is there found with single and double flowers, which also are white, red, and purple, and produced from April to October.

[Pg 97]Representations of this flower are frequently met with in Chinese paintings.

With us, the Camellia is generally treated as a stove plant, and propagated by layers; it is sometimes placed in the greenhouse; but it appears to us to be one of the properest plants imaginable for the conservatory. At some future time it may, perhaps, not be uncommon to treat it as a Laurustinus or Magnolia: the high price at which it has hitherto been sold, may have prevented its being hazarded in this way.

The blossoms are of a firm texture, but apt to fall off long before they have lost their brilliancy; it therefore is a practice with some to stick such deciduous blossoms on some fresh bud, where they continue to look well for a considerable time.

Petiver considered our plant as a species of Tea tree; future observations will probably confirm his conjecture.

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[Pg 98]

[Pg 99]

[43]

Cistus incanus. Hoary, or Rose Cistus.

Class and Order.

Polyandria Monogynia.

Generic Character.

Corolla 5-petala. Calyx 5-phyllus, foliolis duobus minoribus. Capsula.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

CISTUS incanus arborescens exstipulatus, foliis spatulatis tomentosis rugosis inferioribus basi connatis vaginantibus. Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 497.

CISTUS mas angustifolius. Bauh. Pin. 464.

No43

Few plants are more admired than the Cistus tribe; they have indeed one imperfection, their petals soon fall off: this however is the less to be regretted, as they in general have a great profusion of flower-buds, whence their loss is daily supplied. They are, for the most part, inhabitants of warm climates, and affect dry, sheltered, though not shady, situations.
The present species is a native of Spain, and the south of France, and being liable to be killed by the severity of our winters, is generally kept with green-house plants.
It may be propagated either by seeds, or cuttings; the former make the best plants.
[Pg 100][Pg 101]

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[Pg 102]

[44]

Cyclamen persicum. Persian Cyclamen.

Class and Order.

Pentandria Monogynia.

Generic Character.

Corolla rotata, reflexa, tubo brevissimo: fauce prominente. Bacca tecta capsula.

Specific Character.

CYCLAMEN persicum foliis cordatis serratis. Miller's Dict. 4to. ed. 6.

No44

Linnæus in this, as in many other genera, certainly makes too few species, having only two; Miller, on the contrary, is perhaps too profuse in his number, making eight. The ascertaining the precise limits of species, and variety, in plants that have been for a great length of time objects of culture, is often attended with difficulties scarcely to be surmounted, is indeed a Gordian Knot to Botanists.

Our plant is the Cyclamen persicum of Miller, and has been introduced into our gardens long since the European ones; being a native of the East-Indies, it is of course more tender than the others, and therefore requires to be treated more in the style of a green-house plant.

It is generally cultivated in pots, in light undunged earth, or in a mixture of loam and lime rubbish, and kept in frames, or on the front shelf of a green-house, where it may have plenty of air in the summer, but guarded against too much moisture in the winter.

May be raised from seeds in the same manner as the round-leaved Cyclamen already figured in this work, p. n. 4.

Flowers early in the spring, and is admirably well adapted to decorate the parlour or study.

Varies with fragrant flowers, and the eye more or less red.

[Pg 103]

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[Pg 104]

[45]

Crocus vernus. Spring Crocus.

Class and Order

Triandria Monogynia.

Generic Character.

Corolla 6-partita, æqualis. Stigmata convoluta.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

CROCUS vernus foliis latioribus margine patulo. Jacq. Fl. Austr. Vol. 5. app. t. 36. Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 83. var. sativ.

CROCUS vernus latifolius. Bauh. Pin. 65, 66.

The Yellow Crocus. Parkins. Parad. p. 166.

No45

Linnæus considers the Crocus, or Saffron of the shops, which blows invariably in the autumn, and the spring Crocus, with its numerous varieties (of which Parkinson, in his Garden of Pleasant Flowers, enumerates no less than twenty-seven) as one and the same species; other Botanists have considered them as distinct, particularly Prof. Jacquin, whose opinion on this subject we deem the most decisive.

We have figured the yellow variety, which is the one most commonly cultivated in our gardens, though according to the description in the Flora Austriaca, the Crocus vernus, in its wild state, is usually purple or white.

The cultivation of this plant is attended with no difficulty; in a light sandy loam, and dry situation, the roots thrive, and multiply so much as to require frequent reducing; they usually flower about the beginning of March, and whether planted in rows, or patches, on the borders of the flower-garden, or mixed indiscriminately with the herbage of the lawn, when expanded by the warmth of the sun, they produce a most brilliant and exhilirating effect.

The most mischievous of all our common birds, the sparrow, is very apt to commit great depredations amongst them when in flower, to the no small mortification of those who delight in their culture; we have succeeded in keeping these birds off, by placing near the object to be preserved, the skin of a cat properly stuffed: a live cat, or some bird of the hawk kind confined in a cage, might perhaps answer the purpose more effectually, at least in point of duration.

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[Pg 105]

[46]

Leucojum vernum. Spring Snow-Flake.

Class and Order.

Hexandria Monogynia.

Generic Character.

Corolla campaniformis, 6-partita, apicibus incrassata, Stigma simplex.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

LEUCOJUM vernum spatha uniflora, stylo clavato. Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 316.

LEUCOJUM bulbosum vulgare. Bauh. Pin. 55.

The great early bulbous Violet. Park. Parad.

No46

The blossoms of the Leucojum and Galanthus, or Snow-Drop, are very similar at first sight, but differ very essentially when examined; the Snow-Drop having, according to the Linnæan description, a three-leaved nectary, which is wanting in the Leucojum; the two genera then being very distinct, it becomes necessary to give them different names; we have accordingly bestowed on the Leucojum the name of Snow-Flake, which, while it denotes its affinity to the Snow-Drop, is not inapplicable to the meaning of Leucojum.

As the spring Snow-Flake does not increase so fast by its roots, as the Snow-Drop, or even the summer Snow-Flake, so it is become much scarcer in our gardens; it may, indeed, be almost considered as one of our plantæ rariores, though at the same time a very desirable one.

It does not flower so soon by almost a month, as the Snow-Drop; but its blossoms, which are usually one on each foot-stalk, sometimes two, are much larger, and delightfully fragrant.

It is found wild in shady places and moist woods in many parts of Germany and Italy. The most proper situation for it is a north or east border, soil a mixture of loam and bog earth; but by having it in different aspects, this, as well as other plants, may have its flowering forwarded or protracted, and, consequently, the pleasure of seeing them in blossom, considerably lengthened.

In a favourable soil and situation, it propagates tolerably fast by offsets.

[Pg 106]

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[Pg 107]

[47]

Amaryllis formosissima. Jacobæan Amaryllis.

Class and Order.

Hexandria Monogynia.

Generic Character.

Corolla 6-petala, campanulata. Stigma trifidum.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

AMARYLLIS formosissima spatha uniflora, corolla inæquali petalis tribus, staminibus pistilloque declinatis. Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 320.

LILIO-NARCISSUS jacobæus, flore sanguineo nutante, Dillen. elth. 195. t. 162. f. 196.

The Indian Daffodil with a red flower. Park. Par. 71. f. 3.

No47

A native of South-America: according to Linnæus, first known in Europe in 1593, figured by Parkinson in 1629, and placed by him among the Daffodils; stoves and green-houses were then unknown, no wonder therefore it did not thrive long.

"Is now become pretty common in the curious gardens in England, and known by the name of Jacobæa Lily; the roots send forth plenty of offsets, especially when they are kept in a moderate warmth in winter; for the roots of this kind will live in a good green-house, or may be preserved through the winter under a common hot-bed frame; but then they will not flower so often, nor send out so many offsets as when they are placed in a moderate stove in winter. This sort will produce its flowers two or three times in a year, and is not regular to any season; but from March to the beginning of September, the flowers will be produced, when the roots are in vigour.

"It is propagated by offsets, which may be taken off every year; the best time to shift and part these roots is in August, that they may take good root before winter; in doing of this, there should be care taken not to break off the fibres from their roots. They should be planted in pots of a middling size, filled with light kitchen-garden earth; and, if they are kept in a moderate degree of warmth, they will produce their flowers in plenty, and the roots will make great increase." Miller's Gard. Dict.

[Pg 108]

[Pg 109]

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[Pg 110]

[48]

Narcissus triandrus. Reflexed Daffodil.

Class and Order.

Hexandria Monogynia.

Generic Character.

Petala sex, æqualia. Nectario infundibuliformi, 1-phyllo, Stamina intra nectarium.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

NARCISSUS triandrus spatha sub-biflora, floribus cernuis, petalis reflexis, staminibus tribus longioribus.

NARCISSUS triandrus spatha sub-uniflora, nectario campanulato crenato dimidio petalis breviore, staminibus ternis. Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 317.

NARCISSUS juncifolius, albo flore reflexo. Clus. app. alt.

The yellow turning Junquilia, or Rush Daffodil. Parkins. Parad. 93. fig. 2, 3.

No48

The present species of Narcissus is considered by the Nursery-men near London as the triandrus of Linnæus, which it no doubt is, though it does not accord in every particular with his description: his triandrus is white, ours is pale yellow, but colour is not in the least to be depended on, for it is found to vary in this as in all the other species; his triandrus he describes as having in general only three stamina, whence the name he has given it; ours, so far as we have observed, has constantly six, three of which reach no further than the mouth of the tube, a circumstance so unusual, that Linnæus might overlook it without any great impeachment of his discernment; he says, indeed, that it has sometimes six: perhaps, the three lowermost ones may, in some instances, be elongated so as to equal the others; if he had observed the great inequality of their length, he would certainly have mentioned it.

This species is found wild on the Pyrenean mountains; was an inhabitant of our gardens in the time of Parkinson (who has very accurately described it, noticing even its three stamina) to which, however, it has been a stranger for many years: it has lately been re-introduced, but is as yet very scarce. Our figure was taken from a specimen which flowered in Mr. Lee's Nursery at Hammersmith.

It grows with as much readiness as any of the others of the genus, and flowers in March and April.

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[Pg 111]

[49]

Soldanella alpina. Alpine Soldanella.

Class and Order.

Pentandria Monogynia.

Generic Character.

Corolla campanulata, lacero-multifida. Caps. 1-locularis, apice multidentata.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

SOLDANELLA alpina. Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 194.

SOLDANELLA alpina rotundifolia. Bauh. Pin. 295

No49

Of this genus there is at present only one known species, the alpina here figured, which is a native of Germany, and, as its name imports, an alpine plant.

Its blossoms are bell-shaped, of a delicate blue colour, sometimes white, and strikingly fringed on the edge.

It flowers usually in March, in the open ground; requires, as most alpine plants do, shade and moisture in the summer, and the shelter of a frame, in lieu of its more natural covering snow, in the winter; hence it is found to succeed best in a northern aspect: will thrive in an open border, but is more commonly kept in pots.

May be increased by parting its roots early in autumn.

[Pg 112]

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[Pg 113]

[Pg 114]

[50]

Iris sibirica. Siberian Iris.

Class and Order.

Triandria Monogynia.

Generic Character.

Cor. 6-petala, inæqualis, petalis alternis geniculato-patentibus. Stigmata petaliformia, cucullato-bilabiata. Thunb. Diss. de Iride.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

IRIS sibirica imberbis foliis linearibus, scapo subtrifloro tereti, germinibus trigonis. Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 91.

IRIS pratensis angustifolia, non fœtida altior. Bauh. Pin. 32.

IRIS bicolor. Miller's Dict. ed. 6, 4to.

The greater blue Flower-de-luce with narrow leaves. Parkins. Parad. p. 185. fig. 2.

No50

This species of Iris is a native of Germany and Siberia, and is distinguished from those usually cultivated in our gardens by the superior height of its stems, and the narrowness of its leaves; from which last character it is often, by mistake, called graminea; but the true graminea is a very different plant.

The Iris sibirica is a hardy perennial, and will thrive in almost any soil or situation; but grows most luxuriantly in a moist one, and flowers in June.

Is propagated most readily, by parting its roots in autumn.

[Pg 115]

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[Pg 116]

[51]

Narcissus major. Great Daffodil.

Class and Order.

Hexandria Monogynia.

Generic Character.

Petala 6 æqualia: Nectario infundibuliformi, 1-phyllo. Stamina intra nectarium.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

NARCISSUS major foliis subtortuosis, spatha uniflora, nectario campanulato patulo crispo æquante petala.

NARCISSUS major totus luteus calyce prælongo. Bauhin Pin. 52.

NARCISSI sylvestris alia icon. Dodon. Stirp. p. 227.

The great yellow Spanish Bastard Daffodil. Parkins. Parad. t. 101. fig. 1.

No51

The present species of Daffodil is the largest of the genus, and bears the most magnificent flowers, but, though it has long been known in this country, it is confined rather to the gardens of the curious.

It is a native of Spain, and flowers with us in April. As its roots produce plenty of offsets, it is readily propagated.

It approaches in its general appearance very near to the Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus, but differs in being a much taller plant, having its leaves more twisted, as well as more glaucous, its flowers (but especially its Nectary) much larger, and its petals more spreading; and these characters are not altered by culture.

It answers to the bicolor of Linnæus in every respect but colour, and we should have adopted that name, had not the flowers with us been always of a fine deep yellow; we have therefore taken Bauhin's name as the most expressive.

It varies with double flowers.

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2010-01-01T17:36:00.008-08:00

OFF with the old and in with the new ...

my bangs

All the hair was prepared for and is going to Locks of Love a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.

To learn more about the organization click on
Locks Of Love

The donated hair has to be at least 10" minimum and have been cut off in a prescribed manner to be accepted.

And so, add some age-lines and more grey hair and I look like this again ...

and boy does it feel good !

2010-01-01T14:47:00.007-08:00

"ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO"

Drawn by Kate Greenaway, published in 1879

Today listening to CBC I heard a wonderful interview/ “musical documenter” program titled “More About Henry”. Just listening to this program put such a soft warm smile on my dace I just have to share it with you … it is so sweet and creatively put together.

Thank you Adam Goddard, your debut program was marvelous!

On this link, there are several programs listed, “More About Henry” is the last one which you can click on "More About Henry" on CBC Ideas, by Adam Goddard to listen to an excerpt of it

I really like the program Ideas and try to listen to it as often as I can, definatly it is time well spent.

I hope you enjoy.

2009-12-30T14:48:00.009-08:00

public domain image obtained from www.pdphoto.org

Over the past decade so much has changed, both in the world at large and also to within my little bubble-world. Back in the end of 1999 having been on the internet for almost two years then, I, like many others, was concerned what the change with the Millennium might bring on the technical/computer front. The Millennium bug worries happily on the most part though proved to be much over rated.

Then digital cameras and cell phones were just becoming popular and I smile and wonder if youth of today ever think to themselves ”Oh how did the world ever function before?”

So much has changed in the way things are done, but on the wide scale, very little has really changed. Snow still falls as it used to, the stars still twinkle in the night skies, bears still hibernate through the cold season and in the spring new life starts to emerge and come forth.

Experience deludes, years are minuscule blimps in all of existence, but what will the next 10 years, for us each, bring? We can only live to find out ...

Living rather a remote existence provides me sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of most city living, but I do like to keep-up with things. It has been almost three years since I gave up television, now the internet services; I am an avid CBC and BBC devotee along with other various News networks, viewing TED lectures, and of course reading.

As is my custom, the last few days of the years are spent contemplating and planning on what might I accomplish during the coming year. My goals are modest- redecorating, mastering a few new skills and preserving things from the ravages of time.

Since starting to blog, often I feel like Alice might have felt when she fell down the rabbit hole, and as I ponder, some of best lyrics in a song come to mind by Robbie Robertson in Somewhere Down The Crazy River:

"You like it now … but you'll learn to love it later."

To learn more about Robbie Robertson, you may click HERE

So, as another year comes to a close, the ending line in a poem “Don’t Look back, you’re not going that way!” accompanies me into the year 2010.

Here is wising you each and all a very happy passing into 2010 with a year full of joy wonder and fun …

2009-12-29T14:58:00.020-08:00

Have been trying to stay warn inside playing around with photoshop.

I love silhouettes.

Using only my own personal or publicly domain images,

these are some adaptations I have done so far ...

2009-12-28T20:41:00.011-08:00

My mother's hands

The following is an excerpt of an article published in The Strand Magazine, Volume V, Issue 26, February 1893 by Beckles Wilson, on the subject of hands:

The hand, like the face, is indicative or representative of character. Even those who find the path to belief in the doctrines of the palmist and chirognomist paved with innumerable thorns, cannot fail to be interested in the illustrious manual examples, collected from the studios of various sculptors, which accompany this article.

Mr. Adams-Acton, a distinguished sculptor, tells me his belief that there is as great expression in the hand as in the face; and another great artist, Mr. Alfred Gilbert, R.A., goes even a step further: he invests the bare knee with expression and vital identity. There would, indeed, appear to be no portion of the human frame which is incapable of giving forth some measure of the inherent distinctiveness of its owner. This is, I think, especially true of the hand. No one who was fortunate enough to observe the slender, tapering fingers and singular grace of the hand of the deceased Poet Laureate could possibly believe it the extremity of a coarse or narrow-minded person. In the accompanying photographs, the hand of a cool, yet enthusiastic, ratiocinative spirit will be found to bear a palpable affinity to others whose possessors come under this head, and yet be utterly antagonistic to Carlyle's, or to another type, Cardinal Manning's.

We have here spread out for our edification hands of majesty, hands of power; of artistic creativeness; of cunning; hands of the ruler, the statesman, the soldier, the author, and the artist. To philosophers disposed to resolve a science from representative examples here is surely no lack of matter. It would, on the whole, be difficult to garner from the century's history a more glittering array of celebrities in all the various departments of endeavour than is here presented.

Queen Victoria's hands

Princess Alice's hands

First and foremost, entitled to precedence almost by a double right, for this cast antedates, with one exception, all the rest, are the hands of Her Majesty the Queen. They were executed in 1844, when Her Majesty had sat upon the throne but seven years, and, if I do not greatly err, in connection with the first statue of the Queen after her accession. They will no doubt evoke much interest when compared with the hand of the lamented Princess Alice, who was present at the first ceremony, an infant in arms of eight months. In addition to that of the Princess Alice, taken in 1872, we have the hands of the Princesses Louise and Beatrice, all three of whom sat for portrait statues to Sir Edgar Boehm, R.A., from whose studio, also, emanates the cast of the hand of the Prince of Wales.

Prince Of Wales's hands

Princess Beatrice's hand Princess Louise's hand.

In each of the manual extremities thus presented of the Royal Family, similar characteristics may be noticed. The dark hue which appears on the surface of the hands of the two last named Princesses is not the fault of the photograph but of the casts, which are, unfortunately, in a soiled condition.

It is a circumstance not a little singular, but the only cast in this collection which is anterior to the Queen's, itself appertains to Royalty, being none other than the hand of Caroline, sister of the first Napoleon, who also, it must not be forgotten, was a queen. It is purposely coupled in the photograph with that of Anak, the famous French giant, in order to exhibit the exact degree of its deficiency in that quality which giants most and ladies least can afford to be complaisant over size. Certainly it would be hard to deny it grace and exquisite proportion, in which it resembles an even more beautiful hand, that of the Greek lady, Zoe, wife of the late Archbishop of York, which seems to breathe of Ionian mysticism and elegance.

In 2005 I photographed "my mother's hands" and though she has since died I still find it compelling. I see such contrasts in subject matter, textures, colour and age, the old holding the young, It was just a study while I was playing while learning photography, but I marvel at the colours lines and character her hands showed, and it tickles me that in 1893 someone found this subject as interesting as I find it ... still today.

2009-12-26T16:36:00.004-08:00

and now the clean-up begins ...

an ad taken from The Canadian Bride's Reference Book (1930)

and to help you, purhaps a good cup of coffee ...

in 1865 December 26th, James H. Mason of Franklin, MA patented the coffee percolator,

taken from the Boston Cooking-School Cook Book 1930 edition

so take a moment, relax sip some coffee and remember-

as Scarlet said in Gone With The Wind

"After all, tomorrow is another day!”

2009-12-25T14:58:00.003-08:00

Xmas 1905

A small hard covered book addressed to my grandmother

"Edna Burrows Xmas 1905"

A sweet little family heirloom book

The illustrations are by Gordon Browne

No edition, date of publication or printing information except

Philadelphia

Henry Altemus Company

"PREFETORY NOTE.

________________________

The famous story of the Rip Van Winke first appeared in 1818, and was republished in London the following year as one of a series of papers which had the collective titles of The Sketch-book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent"., this being a pseudonym which Washington Irving attached to several of his works. The author, born in New York in 1783 of a Scottish father and English mother was residing in England when the Sketch-book appeared. He had already become known to the reading world of Britain by his humorous and fictitious History of the New York, by Deidrich Knickerbocker. It is to the same mythical American Dutchman that he ascribed the admirable tale here presented, as the reader will learn from the statement prefixed to it, professedly proceeding from the pen of Geoffery Crayon, Irving lived for a number of years in England, and was on intimate terms with Moore, Campbell, Sir Walter Scott, and other distinguished men of the time. His later years were spent on Wolfert’s Roost (or Sunnyside). His retreat as the River Hudson, and here he died in 1859.

The specialty of this edition consists in the illustrations by Gordon Browne, and these speak for themselves. The Text is divided into pages of various sizes in order that the passage illustrated may come directly opposite the respective illustrations."

Update: and I just love the way Christmas greetings in languages from around the world are displayed on
Cick here to view "Garvinweasel" Blog

This post was submitted to "Show and Tell" hosted by Cindy at

My Romantic Home

2009-12-25T11:14:00.009-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS

SEASONS GREETINGS

TO EVERYONE

One of our family's traditions on Christmas morning is to listen to The Queen's Christmas message

Click here to view: BBC's link to The Queen's Christmas message

2009-12-20T13:28:00.004-08:00

Though we are wine country here in the Okanagan Valley, most years we experience a brief bitter cold-snap, generally mid January. This was taken a few years ago during one such snap when the temperature plummeted to -27° C (-16.6° F). Steam rose from the lake ... connecting with low laying clouds, making ribbons of cold lace. Though beautiful, defiantly a time to be staying indoors rather than wandering around outdoors looking for things to photograph.

Arriving back home I felt I had earned, and fixed my warmer-upper hot chocolate with a splash of Grand Marnier.

2009-12-19T21:37:00.001-08:00

just playing around ...

2009-12-17T22:37:00.008-08:00

photographer Klaas Tuinman

Here is my grandfather wearing his recital robe seated at his desk in his study in the lower house at "Abbey Dawn".

From the day he left the business-world and became fully focused on being a poet writer and bird protector, he vowed to never-again wear a tie; the trillium collar was one of his trademarks and was his formal wear. My grandmother made and hand-sewed each one of the collars on his shirts. There is a funny story which I will later share about Gramp refusing to wear a tie, but for now I am staying to this story.

Do you remember the movie "Miracle on 34th Street"? Well, you see for years Gramp used a walking stick. He didn’t have to, it was for show. It was not a cane per se, but instead was a well-worn-smooth straight walking stick with a metal wrapped foot, and today it is leaning up in the corner of my vestibule. Every year, around this time, I look down and see it there, smile and remember.

Gramp used to use that walking stick to get visitors, at the museum up in the ridge, to focus. When he noticed that for what ever reason visitors were not fully attentive or if the children were becoming cranky or such, he would slowly walk to the door way of the building, stand in the center and while he was still talking, the walking stick would start to swing, wider and higher, widerer and higher.

For some, it took longer than others, to notice what was happening- Gramp and that swinging walking stick. Then all of a sudden, he would slightly toss it up in the air and catch it on his chin. Moving back and forth keeping it in balance he would by now have most but not all peoples attention. Then, the walking stick, would seemingly all by itself, jump to his tongue as he was still balancing it, and then back to his chin. This dance would happend several times and now everyone in the crowd was mesmerized.

Watching him intently the crown was usually hushed, but broke out into clapping and Bravos’ when the walking stick seemingly leapt down into his hand once again as he continued talking; he then would gently bow to his audience with his pious smile and that devilish twinkle in his eye he had, and would proceed to direct them inside the museum.

He was a great showman and grandfather, and a man of the people. He loved his birds, Native Indian history, integrity, was moved to write, and, he was emotional, which in his own words was out of character for his Anglo-Saxon background.

With his white whiskers, goatee, long white hair, trillium collar, passionate personality and ice-blue eyes, he was a compelling character. His command of oration was nothing short of gripping, his gestures drawing and entertaining, and his passion unmistakable! He truely savoured life.

The living at Abbey Dawn was not high-style to say the least, he left that lifestyle behind when he left Montreal and the business, to persue his writing and passions.

He was a controversial person many times; other than the Shriner's, he purposefully gave-up all affiliations (excepting family), leaving him beholdin’ to no-one or group. He was defiantly a free agent onto himself.

Over the years he would publicly take to task Government, organizations groups and/or individuals when he deemed it needed to be done. He was well known in the region (and in the Kingston Whig Standard) to be an avid unrelenting defender and one who would bring to task (and publically if need be) others who no-one else would dare to.

So, like Kris Kringle in the movie "Miracle on 34th Street", Gramp stood his ground, held his stance, won … and left his walking stick behind as a reminder …

And oh ... how that old walking stick is treasured!

This post has been submitted to "Show and Tell" hosted by Cindy at My Romantic Home

Christmas time reminiscings ...

2009-12-17T14:48:00.016-08:00

Do you remember when:

just playing around this evening ...

2009-12-17T00:56:00.004-08:00

me bungee-bounding a few years ago ...

a little bottle collar I just made ...

and last but not least ...

orginal source of image unknown, altered with photoshop by myself

Displays of ...

2009-12-16T11:41:00.003-08:00

As I travel through the years, more and more, I am seeing festive-competitiveness with the main purpose being to-impress. More, bigger, better (supposedly), prettier, most, shiniest, and on-and-on the superlatives roll.

And, in my wanderings, I observe and wonder ...

Many times, displays, reveal much more than they are ment to show.

Sugar Plums - "the quintessential Christmas sweet"

2009-12-16T00:26:00.004-08:00

Towards the end of September of this year, when my neighbour got a lot of special Italian plums, I took to looking-up how to make real "sugar plums” as in the Sugar Plum Fairy and I located on the internet "The Historical Cookery Page" at http://www.godecookery.com/friends/frec74.htm by Sharon Cohen, where she describes how sugar plums historically were made, and I passed the link along to Barb.

Well low and behold she tried the old recipe and, sorry to say I didn't take a picture of them but, I can report that they were absolutely FANTASTIC!

She said they were easy to make, not complicated that is, just time consuming, and at the end I put some in the dehydrator to spead the process along and they turned out wonderfully.

Three important notes:

she used the Italian plums
you need to be very very carefully follow the instruction or you’ll end up with a pot full of goo instead of sugar plums; when it says turn gently them certainly mean GENTLY, but oh the effort is so worth it,
Barb did use a heavy bottomed enamel pan and said it was great as she did not have to transfer the plums.

We found that ¼ on one at a time suffices they are so rich …

The video of Walt Disney’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8At8zfh_o3E from the up-dated version of Fantasia is all I have to offer visually, but, I highly recommend making the sugar plums next year and saving them for a very special treat indeed for Christmas next.

They are truly stupendous!

With history forgotten, how ever can today be fully appreciated?

2009-12-14T08:43:00.004-08:00

I bring your attention an on-line audio slideshow click here to access article by BBC. It is about four diaries written by Cecil Sharp, England's most prolific folk music and dance collector

(with permission) Link to Cecil Sharp's Appalachian Diaries 1915 -- 1918 http://library.efdss.org/exhibitions/sharpdiaries/ that as stated in the text in the link "offer a new and very important resource -- online access to Cecil Sharp's only surviving personal diaries, in which he describes his collecting experiences in the Appalachian Mountains of North America." and, I've been informed they have more diaries to appear over the new few months.

Christmas Greetings from Abbey Dawn

2009-12-10T20:33:00.012-08:00

This year, my Christmas decorations are going to be of Chistmasses of past. One such display is going to be my grandparents Christmas Greetings.

I do not know how far back the tradition went, but I have Christmas Greetings from my grandparants as far back as 1940 and I am sure there were others from earlier years, but so far I have not found any.

These Greetings personally designed by my grandfather Wallace Havelock Robb at Abbey Dawn, were sent out, yearly, to family friends and prominents alike.

Each year prior to the Christmas Season, he would set to task designing and having these specially printed.

A signal that Christmas was soon approaching was the day early in December my grandparents would take a special trip into town, together, to the main Post Office in Kingston, to mail out their Christmas Greetings.

The card-basket, that evening would be placed in it's place in the living room at Abbey Dawn. I remember each year during this festive season, that basket on the floor between Gramp's and Gran's chairs, across from the large fieldstone fireplace.

As the days peeled-away nearing to Christmas the pile of Christmas Greetings would mound-up to even overflowing and spill over. Gramp would sit with his wife, my grandmother, to his right, both holding hands as they always did while they were sitting in those chairs; she in her especially small high-back rocker intently listening, as any who where there also did, as Gramp read aloud the greetings received that day, from whom and what part of this world the Greeting came from.

HRH Prince of Wales Edward VIII was the Patron of Abbey Dawn (more on the history of Abbey Dawn and my grandfather in future posts) and the very special Greetings would be given their own deserving prominent place on the wonderfully substantial wood mantel that surrounded the deep and wide, floor ceiling, hand built fireplace, with it's tall andirons standing guard in front. Ahhh yes ... I remember it well, and very fondly indeed.

The following are scanned images of the actual cards, the first (1940) is one sided, the second (1957) is folded, showing both sides, the third is not a card style with a flold, but still is two sided, showing both sides.

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The spelling of "Christmasse" is an Old English spelling going back to at least the reign of Richard I in 1190.

To read about it click Here

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This post was submitted to the "Show and Tell" hosted by Cindy at My Romantic Home

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Over the next days weeks and months I will be writing my accountings of times at Abbey Dawn, and my writings about articles and photographs I possess today and the stories behind them. These, I will be posting in this blog; about my grandfather, his poetry and books, family history, and documented articles I will post in my blog at "Abbey Dawn"

This, was found amongst the family papers from Abbey Dawn

2009-12-07T23:28:00.004-08:00

Splayed out were teetering piles of papers and old photographs on the living room floor - I came across the following, on a aged and fragile sheet, crediting "Author unknown"

The Patter Of The Shingle

When the angery passions gathering
In my mother's face I see,
And she leads me to the bedroom,
Gently lays me on her knee,

Then I know I will catch it,
And my flesh in fancy itchings,
As I listen for the patter
Of the shingle on my britches.

Every tingle of the shingle
has an echo and a sting,
And a thousand burning fancies
Into active being spring;

And a thousand bees and hornets
Neath my coat-tail seem to sworm,
As I listen for the patter
Of the shingle, oh, so warm.

At a sudden intermission,
Which appears my only chance,
I say, "Strick gently, mother,
or you'll split my Sunday pants!"

She stops a moment, draws her breath,
The shingle holds aloft,
Then says, "I had not thought of that ---
My son, just take them off!"

Holy Moses and the angles,
Cast thy pitying glances down!
And thou, oh, family doctor,
Put a good, soft po(u)ltice on!

And may I with fools and dunces,
Everlasting mingle,
If I ever say another word,
When mother wields the shingle.

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Recently I’ve embarked on the journey of going through (as I refer to it) “the family stuff” and what a journey it promises to be; you are welcomed to follow along ...

Chick on you can click on Abbey Dawn or go to http://elegancereclaimed-abbeydawn.blogspot.com/

Sound of time ...

2009-12-06T23:24:00.010-08:00

As I went about my weekly Sunday duty of winding the clock I fondly remembered the sounds of time from my childhood. Of lying in the old high iron framed bed after my grandmother had tucked me in for the night, the sound from across the hall rocked me to sleep. It was the tidy rhythmic ticking of my grandparents bedside table wind-up clock … tick tick tich tick

Unlike modern clocks it had a low steady ticking tone, it did not have glowing hands or a fancy case but instead was a turquoise painted metal case scratched and hurt, with a wide gold-coloured face rim and a turn-key at the back which was large and stuck-out. It was not all sleek nor stylish, but instead it was “reliable”, and at night as my granparents turned-in, Gramp could be heard winging that clock.

Downstairs during the day there were several sounding time pieces. High on the kitchen wall hung the yellow and ivory striped pendulum clock, and in the living room the largest of three graduated French regulator (pedulum) mantel clocks. In the same room also was the wonderful grandmother's clock that was so special. It, stood only about 4 feet high and looked just like a big grandfather’s clock but was smaller and daintier. It’s chime was sweet sounding but was special as in addition to sounding the hour and half hour it also rang-out 4-2-3-1 notes on the quarter. So at 15 minutes past it would end with a space after the 4-2-3-1 notes with a single chime, then on the half hour it would chime twice and at a quarter-to it would ring three chimes, so ... all day long every day … we heard a virtual chorus of chimes notifying all within ear's distance the time.

Do you remember the one sound we all knew growing up? It was the sound of our watches ticking. Mostly, we would ignore it, but, every once in awhile, sometimes for no particular reason other then to just listen, we would hold our wrist up to your ear, go quiet, and listen. tick-tick-tick-tick ... listening to the sound of time passing.

Do you remember having to wind your watch? Ever forget and have it stop?

The middle-sized of the graduating mantel clocks, to this day still chimes-out to me the time, through electrical storms and in the middle of the night while I sleep it tells my ears the time. No power needed, just the turning of the two keys once every week.

Through all the early years my Uncle Joe would clean the clocks. It was a ritual for him. Each clock had it’s certain day and when that day came he would clear off the long, worn, old kitchen table and set the clock at the head. Then, while sitting in my grandfather's old captain’s chair, Uncle Joe would go to task dismantling the clock piece-by-piece.

I was permitted to “quietly” watch this ritual, and while his hands were busy, he would recount the story of the time early-on he learned just why he had to concentrate and be so careful to place each piece, each cog and each screw, in order. As the ritual continued, so did the story. Then, he would show me how he cleaned each part ever-so-carefully. When all had had their yearly cleaning and been inspection, Uncle Joe would methodically reverse-order work his way along, piece by piece, putting the clock back to whole.

Though Uncle Joe is now gone I carry with me the memories and times we shared in those magical years. The clock-cleaning tradition continues though other’s hands now clean it, and what was once Gramps's job every Sunday morning, the turning of the clock's keys, is now done by my hand..

And, I am comforted that through all my lived-out years I still hear the same ... sound of time.

S.S. Abyssinia Souvenier Autographed Hand Fan, Dated 1870

2009-12-04T00:16:00.013-08:00

For

Show and Tell Friday

Hosted at

My Romantic Home

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This is an antique hand fan which is just one of the many fans in my late mother's hand fan collection. She collected them over many years and gave talks and showings at local schools, groups and Fairs in the several locations she lived in Ontario and British Columbia.

This fan is my favorite; it is not fancy nor frilly, but it is to me

never the less ... a real true gem .

An antique wooden autograph souvenir hand fan. The autographs are from 1870 done by passengers traveling on the S.S. Abyssinia during late October and early November 1870.

The writing was mostly with pen, but one or two were with pencil; some are bible verses other are poems, some just comments of the voyage underway. I had to use a loupe to read some of them, as over time they have faded and to, the writing was so fine so as to fit it all in, in the limited space.

The paddles are adorned with a lovely deep purple silk ribbon which is woven through the top part of the paddles keeping them together, alas though, over time, the silk ribbon has been damaged, but ... thankfully it at least it still remains.

The end paddles are plain, but the inner paddles, written on, have a carved/whittled design. In all my years of antiquing I have never seen another quite like this.

It has been great fun researcing this, and I hope you find the links below interesting reads ...

Taken from Wikipedia, to view Click HERE "The S.S.Abyssinia (1870) was a British mail liner originally operated by the Cunard Line on the Liverpool -New York route. It carried 200 first class passengers and 1050 stearage.

According to the Mersysidehe Marine Musum at the Liverpool Museums 'Abyssinia' and her sister, 'Algeria' were both built for Cunard by J and G Thomson of Glasgow. They were the first Cunard liners to have straight, slightly raking stems or bows, as opposed to the clipper bows of their predecessors. They were also the first to have bathrooms, one on each side." to view Click HERE

A great read is at the Gjenvick-Gjønvik Archives where the Cunard ships are mentioned in this marvalous detail article "The Ocean Steamer" Crossing the Atlantic in Early Steamships - 1870 taken from Harper's New Monthly Magazine, August, 1870. Volume XLI. Number 242 Pages 185 - 198. 14 pages along with 11 exquisite engravings all of which you can view Click Here

I hope you enjoyed this post; until next time ... I wish you good health and happiness.

Memories that warm ...

2009-12-03T12:06:00.002-08:00

Today I happened upon one of my mother's coat corsages and it got me remembering ...

Some fond memories from my childhood during the Christmas season are:
• The custom of wearing those lovely Christmas corsages on our coats
• My mother wearing tinkling real little bells as earrings
• Christmas aprons
• Handmade stockings
• Making Spritz cookies with the hand-crank Spritz maker
• Orange rind bits in the fireplace scenting the room
• Carolers coming to the door
• The smell of real mulled wine to warm the carolers for on their way to the next house to sing at
• Salvation Army singers singing under the nearby corner street light
• Having everyone know where our house was, as we were the last in the neighbourhood to have a bin of ashes (from our coal furnace) outside and the curb for people who got stuck in the snow
• My sister and I hand-painting reverse murals on the inside of our front windows as decoration
• Going house to house in the neighbourhood the week before Christmas hand delivering handmade cards to their door
• Real homemade eggnog

And my all time favorite memory and custon, which I still do to this day, is frying almonds. I truely LOVE the aroma as it wafts through my home, and the devine taste ... I just can-not-resist!

To make, take whole blanched almonds, and in a large frying pan melt a generous supply of about ¼" deep of butter, in a pan, add almonds and over medium-high heat stirring them constantly so they don't burn, fry them until they are golden to dark-golden brown, quickly turn them out, and salt to taste. When they have cooled just enough, devour them. The aroma from them is (I find) complety intoxicating.

You are invited to share some of your fond memories in comments ...

Antique and Vintage Linens ...

2009-11-29T13:30:00.012-08:00

Best invention for a romantic decor since furniture was inventerd ...

2009-11-27T08:49:00.013-08:00

First I would like to thank Cindy for hosting the ‘Show and Tell’ this week at http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2009/11/show-tell-friday_26.html and also to all who've contributed. Reading all of your posts has become one of my favorite times of the week, Thank You.

And now, I would like to apologize to you all for the lack of quality for my pictures this week, the batteries were low and I was in a hurry.

Flickering candles (I think) are the easiest way to creat a romantic atmosphere in a space, and after being so close to the big fire of 2003 here in the Okanagan, I staved-off lighting any candles for awhile, then I learned of the fabulous candles that are no fire hazard.

Well to say the least I purchased a set of three and loved them so much so that over time I’ve acquired over thirty of them, they are the one treat I have allowed myself to buy new. I have them scattered all over my home. I my opinion they are the best invention for decorating since furniture was invented. They are made by Candle Impressions and I so highly recommend them that I think home should have them. They are safe oh so beautiful economical as I now mostly only use one electric light in my home.

When I first put batteries in them, because I have so many, I line them all up on the kitchen counter upside. I pop in the batteries close the covers ad test to make sure they work, and then I leave them off. At the time of my choice starting at one end, I switch the first candle timer switch to timer followed by doing the same action to each candle along the line. Once they are all on and flickering I turn then all upright making sure not to rearrang them, then starting with the first in the line I then place them around my home in the areas I want but so that they turn on in a wave …

Because they are battery operated, they can be placed in areas where you would never have a lit flame like on top of the china cabinet and very close to the ceiling (even inside the cabinet), or as bookends in a bookshelf. I keep one in the bathroom and one on a floor pedestal candle holder in the front foyer. I have one on my journal table and one beside my white whicker lounge, on the side table (no flame they are wind resistanct), out in the sunroom where I relax and read, and listen to the creek-water go singing by.

Now the piece-de-resistant’s in exactly 5 hours Tinkerbelle quietly flies around and very considerately turns them all off in a wave. And then returns th following day at the very same starting time and relights them all. So each night I get an ever-so-romantic wave of candles lighting, flickering and they turning off. Safe beautiful energy smart (as each candle lasts for about 700 hours, and they are fabulous during a winter storm when all the electricity is down and I still have my home all lit) and though I live alone now a romantic home and atmosphere is something that I treasure greatly.

I have looked and checked-out other brands but Candle Impressions is the one one’s I have as I have found they are the best …

Because they are battery operated, they emit no heat so I can use them all year round depending on the life in your batteries and upon starting to use them I find they last about four to five months.

Honestly I am not getting anything for promoting these … I just LOVE them so much, they are the one thing that I have allowed myself to buy that is ‘new’ in the past year or so.

I have some short pillars (these do not have timers), but mostly I have the 8” pillars (all with the convent timers) (which are a mix of the plain and the scrolled ones. Oh and I forgot to mention that these candles also have a very faint pleasant vanilla scent also ;-)

The company has many different kinds and models, but here is the link to the ones I have http://www.candleimpressions.net/website/images/products/pillars/tall/index_products_pillars_tall.html

And for those who have asked, ther is a place on he manufactures lik that you cn find the nearest store that carries then near you, or ... I purchased mine though QVC; here is the link to QVC and I just input " candle Impressions timer" in their search engine, to get a selection of all their timer candles

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.H02139.desc.CandleImpressions-S3-Embossed-ScentedFlamelessCandles-wTimer

If this link does not work, just copy it and then past it into your http:// (address) window which should be near the top of your screen.

P.S. I now see that there is also now available a graduated-hight set, which I did not know about, so now ... I have to treat myself again, and get a few more for the coffee table and hall way, scapes. And maybe one for the patio table also.

Oh dear me, here I go again ... as Wilma and Betty used to loudly proclaim "CHARGE IT"

Until next time

.....Lynda

My Friendship Shamrock

2009-11-20T07:13:00.005-08:00

First I want to thank Cindy for hosting the 'Show and Tell' at http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2009/11/show-tell-friday.html

This week I am featuring

My Friendship Shamrock

A few years ago a friend insisted on stopping by for a visit on her and her husband’s way to Nevada for their winter stay-over. They had to come way out of their way. I was wondering why they where coming and I was soon to find out.

As she walked up my front pathway from the gate I could see she had something behind her back which she soon revealed. Around came her hand holding a potted shamrock.

“Do you remember this Lynda?” she asked.

“You gave this to me 31 years ago.”

I was shocked warmed, then tickled ...

Yes ...she was correct, I had given her a section of my shamrock that I had in my living room, back then. I broke off a section, potted it and gave it to her as a friendship plant. And, through all the years she had kept it alive and took it when ever they moved.

Now, she and her husband Bruce travel to Nevada every year, and the previous year they had tried to take it across the border where upon the border guard would not let the shamrock cross, so to keep it safe she asked if she may go and have someone take care of it, until they returned. She somehow found someone. If memory serves me correctly, kind strangers (I think); they just stopping at a house along the roadside and after telling them the history of the plant asked if they could leave it in their care until they returned in the spring.

Spring arrived, Kathy and Bruce crossed the border back into Canada, returned to the kind peoples home, and retrieved the shamrock on their way back to Alberta..

Well … that fall she wanted to make sure of shamrock’s care so she brought it back to me. Over the years, she told me, it had had many many babies given away to friends and relatives, but she assured me that the main plant that I had given her was somewhere in the middle still, it had remained, just like our friendship had through all the years …

So, to this very day, now, my table is graced with a beautiful display our wonderful friendship, sweet little white flowers with broad emerald three petal leaves that open every day and close up at night.

Things are not really possession, but instead, (the way I see it as) we are stewards of them, and among all the things I have stewardship over, this is one of my fondest …

Thank you Kathy and Bruce for being my friends,

I love you.

"Who's that old lady in the mirror?"

2009-11-19T07:52:00.009-08:00

I do not know the date of the original publication of this, but a copy of the following was send to me a while back; I loved it so much I framed it and it is hanging on my bedroom wall:

Dear Readers: My cousin Ruth Davidson sent this to me. I have no idea who wrote it, but I laughed a lot.

Senior Sentiments

A very weird thing has happened. A strange old lady had moved into my house. I have no idea who she is, where she came from of how she got in. All I know is that one day, she wasn’t there, and the next day, she was.

She manages to keep out of sight for most part, but whenever I pass a mirror, I catch a glimpse of her. And whenever I look in the mirror to check my appearance, there she is, completely obliterating my gorgeous face and body.

I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but I thick she is stealing money from me. I go to the ATM and withdraw $100.00 and a few days later it’s all gone. I certainly don’t spend money that fast.

Food also seems to disappear at an alarming rate — especially in the good stuff like ice cream, cookies and candy. She must have a real sweet tooth, but she better watch it, because she is really packing on the pounds. To make herself feel better, she is tampering with my scales to make me think I am putting on weight, too.

For an old lady, she is quite childish. She likes to play nasty games, like going into my closet when I’m not home and altering my clothes so they don’t fit. And she messes with my files and papers so I can’t find anything. She also fiddles with my VCR so it doesn’t record what I’ve programmed.

She gets into my mail, newspapers and magazines before I do, and blurs the print so I can’t read it. And she has done something really sinister to the volume controls on my TV, radio and telephone. Now all I hear are mumbles and whispers.

She has done other things — like make my stairs steeper, my vacuum cleaner heavier and all my knobs and faucets harder to turn. She even made my bed higher so that getting into and out of it is a real challenge. Lately, she had been fooling with my groceries before I put them away, applying glue to the lids, making it almost imposable for me to open the jars.

She has taken the fun out of shopping for clothes. When I try something on, she stands in front of the dressing room mirror and monopolizes it. She looks totally ridiculous in so of those outfits, plus she keeps me from seeing how great they look on me.

Just when I though she couldn’t get any meaner, she proved me wrong. She came along when I went to get my picture taken for my driver’s license and just as the camera shutter clicked, she jumped in front of me. No one is going to believe that the picture of that old lady is me.
----------------------------------------------

Ann Landers’ column appears in the Life section Monday through Saturday and in the At Home section on

Sundays.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~end of copy.
For more information on Ann Landers' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Landers
or Google her name http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=Ann+Landers&meta=&aq=f&oq=

An important history lesson !!!

2009-11-16T17:36:00.005-08:00

I received this as a forwarded email today (original email authour unknown).

An important history lesson!

This is the story of women who were ground-breakers. These brave women from the early 1900s made all the difference in the lives we live today.

Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.

The women were innocent and defenseless, but when, in North America, women picketed in front of

the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote, they were jailed.

And by the end of the first night in jail, those women were barely alive.

Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing

went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of

'obstructing sidewalk traffic.'

(Lucy Burns)

They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above

her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping

for air.

(Dora Lewis)

They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her

head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate,

Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack.

Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging,

beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.

Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917,

when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his

guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because

they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right

to vote.

For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their

food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms.

(Alice Paul)

When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a

chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited.

She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press.

All women who have ever voted, have ever owned property, have ever enjoyed equal rights need to remember that women’s rights had to be fought for in Canada as well. Do our daughters and our sisters know the price that was paid to earn rights for women here, in North America?

2009 is the 80th Anniversary of the Persons Case in Canada,

which finally declared women in Canada to be Persons!

Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know, so that we remember to celebrate the rights we enjoy.

“Knowledge is Freedom: hide it, and it withers; share it, and it blooms” (P. Hill)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I honour the hight price others paid so we can live the life we now enjoy ... LMM
There is a movie about this, the title is "Iron Jawed Angels" an HBO movie, but I watched it on YouTube ...

With inspiration ...

2009-11-15T11:04:00.002-08:00

What do you think of my very first scrap project ?

For this I took one very inexpensive brass plated lamp, quickly spray painted it, applied a decal on not quite dried paint so it crackled which actully adds to the piece and then I took one completely plan lamp shade and put over it two (one large and one small) scrap (damaged) antique lace collars on it.

The top collar is torn and frayed so I had to sew and stitch-patch it a tiny bit, but that is all I did.

VOILA !

Story telling ...

2009-11-14T12:54:00.003-08:00

Oh my! Being new to blogging is overwhelming. So much to learn, so much to do …

Thank you all so much for your comments, I will take all the encouragement I can get, and yes I'm a story teller, it's genetic.

While tending to my linens today I have been contemplating blogging posts; I thought I would offers the following:

Diane Ackerman is my very favorite author; her web site is at http://dianeackerman.com/index.htm

If you like gardening the earth nature and the passing of the seasons you will most defiantly love “Cultivating Delight”; if you are a people person with an inquisitive mind I suggest reading “An Alchemy of Mind”, and others titles that are just as enjoyable and enlightening at the same time are “The Zoo Keepers Wife” “The Rarest Of Rare” “The Natural History Of Love” “A Slender Thread” and “A Natural History of the Senses".

I highly recommend any and all of these books; I've read each and every one of them; I keep them close and treasure them.

As my grandfather said and taught me

"Life is to be savoured, not just endured."

ENJOY !

Deagan Chimes With A Story

2009-11-13T16:45:00.009-08:00

Sitting here listening to the soft sounds of “Quiet Observer” by (electric harpist) Andreas Vollenweider, contemplating what to show and tell for my first post the beautiful soft music helped me decide ...

This set of Deagan Chimes was given to my grandparents for a wedding gift back in 1913; it is the very set that was used in my paternal great grandfather’s private care in the Grand Trunk Railroad.

Deagan chimes were used in those days to sound to the passengers meal time had arrived, and all through my childhood these chimes hung in the small hallway between the kitchen and dinning room at my grandparents place and they were rung during Sunday and special occasion meals.

Deagan chimes have quite the history some being with NBC (radio) and the not so well known “fourth note”. This "fourth note" was sounded to alert staff that they were to call in to their station. It was also used as an alert of a big happening and a call-out to the staff for events such as the Hindenburg disaster the Munich crisis and Pearl Harbor.

My set is still rung by myself for my personal little events, and for my personal pleasure ... just whenever the fancy strikes me. The sound of it makes me smile.

To learn more about Deagan Chimes you may search Google for a plethora of information.

You are invited to come visit my new website at www.elegancereclaimed.com