May 1, 2017

Delightful May Day Ribbons and Flowers!

"Bounteous May, that dost inspire" ~ Milton
A circle of daffodils round the little apple tree along Corgi Creek. This morning when I brought the Maypole ribbons out, I was so delighted to hear and see the little wren that lives in the little house hung from the apple tree during the nesting season at Corgyncombe.


May Day punch and cupcakes at Corgyncombe.
The table is decorated with three bouquets of daffodils. Their scent is delightful! The garden was explored whilst enjoying the refreshments. I made cupcakes using the receipt for Becky's Birthday Cake from "The Tasha Tudor Cookbook".


A joyous May Day Celebration was held when Sarah's friend's came over to dance round the Maypole.
A tiny Maypole with bears, rabbits, and mouse can be seen in the corner of the stone and wattle fences.


"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


I 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!

My 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.


Lady's Keys and pink violets in May at Corgyncombe.




Head wreaths and tussie mussies for dolly friends that were sent out via Corgyncombe's Finch Post. Underneath the table, Tasha Corgi has a bunch of flowers in her mouth!

Lydia Lindenwood, lovely with a head wreath.


A basket full of handmade cone shaped May baskets and handmade crepe paper flowers.
I fashioned the daffodil and rose flowers out of crepe paper. I also made May Day cards with a  photograph of Sarah and her cousins dancing round in a circle and inside the card I wrote in calligraphy Milton's "Song on May Morning".



We at the Corgyncombe Courant hope all our Dear Readers have a joyous May Day!

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 and from our web site and our previous postings elsewhere on the internet.

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atthecottagegate@yahoo.com
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Photographs, images, and text copyright © 2000-2017 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson. All rights reserved. Photographs, images, and/or text may not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson.
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copyright © 2017 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson
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