May Day Delights!
Emma was overjoyed to have her Cousin Lucy come join her to live at Corgyncombe! The girls get along splendidly and share many of the same interests!
Lucy and Emma are Izannah Walker inspired dolls and were made by talented dollmaker Margaret Flavin, who also made their charming clothes and bonnets!
As they take a leisurely carriage ride amongst the daffodils on the banks of Corgi Creek, Emma tells Lucy the story of Diane's grandparents courtship, that Diane had shared with the Izannah Girls.
Charming, Quaint, and Romantic!
Grandfather Goes Courtin'!
Diane's Grandfather Goin' Courtin' with horse and buggy.
Grandfather had brown eyes and red hair, which Grandmum loved!
Some of the photographs and some of the writings on this post are from previous Corgyncombe Courant posts that can be found here on the Corgyncombe Courant.
Diane's Grandmum in her wedding frock.
Grandmum had lovely light blue eyes and long dark brown hair which she put up, which Grandfather loved!
An old photograph of Diane's Grandmum in her wedding frock along with an antique camera. Diane aspires to do portrait photography with old cameras such as this using the Corgyncombe Antique Clothing Collection.
Diane's Grandmum and Grandfather were both of early Quaker descent. Both of their families started out in Massachusetts, north of Boston in the Newbury area and south of Boston in the Dartmouth area. Their Quaker families, known as the Society of Friends, then settled in an area known as the Oblong.
The Oblong was a long, narrow strip of land whose ownership was disputed between Connecticut and New York. In this long, narrow strip, Diane's Quaker families settled and lived.
"The History of Dutchess County, New York" edited by Frank Hasbrouck, published 1909, says the following: "The Oblong Patent, covering a narrow strip along the east borders of Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester counties, was ceded to the State of New York by Connecticut, May 14, 1731."
The Valley in Spring.
Imagine riding in a horse and buggy along the lovely rolling hills, with the only sounds being the horses hooves and the lovely sound of the Baltimore Oriole flying from apple tree to apple tree, along with the other songbirds, and livestock to pasture, the sound of the creek, and ahhhh, the fragrance of the May apple tree...
May apple blossoms at sunrise down near Corgi Creek.
Later in May the apples trees will burst forth with lovely, fragrant blooms.
In "Tasha Tudor, The Direction of Her Dreams" by Wm John Hare and Priscilla T. Hare, Tasha Tudor's daughter Bethany Tudor speaks of how Tasha Tudor was inspired by the movie "Friendly Persuasion" to illustrate the endpapers of "Around the Year". The endpapers of "Around the Year" show a couple riding in a horse and buggy, crossing a creek, with lovely countryside round with sheep and cows to pasture.
The movie "Friendly Persuasion" was about a Quaker family amidst the Civil War. The movie's introduction song is so lovely accompanying this post.
As they continue their journey along Corgi Creek,
Emma and Lucy discuss all the fun things to do at Corgyncombe. Emma says "There will be tea parties, lots of fun playing with dollies, watching the birds and little critters, working in the herb, flower and vegetable gardens, making candles, making sweet soothing goat's milk soap and writing stories!"
"We also like reading and have a fine library with many little books! We all enjoy making tussie mussies and pressing flowers, carriage rides about the acreage, and perhaps there will be another sighting of 'Corie Combie, The Curious Carnivorous Creature of Corgyncombe's Corgi Creek'. There are other surprises that you will love, Lucy! I have seen them and I am so excited!"
Lucy says she is excited, too!
When Lucy came to Corgyncombe she brought little Pansy with her in a charming little box! Upon arrival Pansy flitted off to explore the wilderness of Corgyncombe.
Pansy nestles amongst the violas and has found her favorite flower that has pretty colours just like her!
You can see the hollow mossy log behind the carriage.
Whilst riding Lucy and Emma spied Pansy by the mossy hollow log where Miss Elsie Pricklish the Hedgehog makes her summer home.
I (Diane) learned to make May baskets like the May basket above in kindergarten from my teacher. My dear kindergarten teacher Mrs. Platt had also been my Mum's grade school teacher. We make our May baskets out of wallpaper from wallpaper sample books, lined with stiffer paper, in the shape of a cone with a handle. The wallpaper for our baskets is so much fun to pick out from all the samples! Sometimes we also make paper flowers to add to the May baskets, too! Making May baskets is a May Day family tradition at Corgyncombe!
Our dolls and animal friends also make small May baskets of their own!
The May basket above is hung on "A Time to Keep" illustrated by Tasha Tudor! Tasha Tudor has done delightful illustrations of children leaving their May baskets at the door and children dancing around the Maypole with a joyful Corgi herding the children in a circle. In the borders round, there are beautiful spring flowers, robins, barns swallows, and a bluebird.
Twinkle Toes and Pansy on an antique vasculum.
Twinkle Toes and Pansy were made by Margaret Flavin.
In the old days children would go out and about in the woods, fields, hills, and dales and gather plant specimens for studying botany and pressing. A tin vessel with a tight fitting lid would keep the flower specimens fresh. This tin vessel is called a vasculum and has a strap for carrying over your shoulder.
"Song on May Morning"
"Now the bright morning-star, day's harbinger,
Comes dancing from the east, and leads with her
The flowery May, who from her green lap throws
The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose.
Hail, bounteous May, that dost inspire
Mirth, and youth, and warm desire;
Woods and groves are of thy dressing,
Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing.
Thus we salute thee with our early song,
And welcome thee, and wish thee long."
- John Milton
We hope all our dear readers have a lovely May Day!
Here is a link to:
Tasha Tudor and Family
There you can find "Around the Year" and "A Time to Keep", two of the Corgyncombe Library's favorite Tasha Tudor books!
