Pink and Blue, and Violet Jelly, Too!

Izannah Walker Dolls Take A Ride About Corgyncombe!

This May we have had lovely, sunny spring weather and the apple trees were blossomed to absolute perfection, with their delightful scent filling the air!

The chosen music to accompany this post is from
"Anne of Green Gables":
Click Here for Specially Chosen Musical Entertainments.
Return Here to Read the Corgyncombe Courant.
The music is so delightful whilst reading!

The lawn is also just full of an abundance of sweet blue violets! Izzibeth and IzziAnnie decided to take the carriage and go out amongst the beauty of May! The Baltimore Orioles could be seen and heard as they flew from apple tree to apple tree! What a lovely clear song the Oriole has! The girls were sure that the Orioles had a nest in one of the tall trees.

The Dame's Rocket will be ready to blossom soon. It is Diane's favourite flower and it is so fragrant in the evening! We think it will be blooming in great numbers this year as it seems to after a flood the previous year.

Izzibeth and IzziAnnie are both Izannah Walker inspired dolls. Izzibeth, made by talented dollmaker Paula Walton, is dressed in a frock and sunbonnet, both made of antique double pink fabric. IzziAnnie, made by talented dollmaker Margie Herrera, is dressed in a lovely blue frock made of antique fabric. IzziAnnie found a blue bonnet to wear in a box of doll clothes and she loves it as she thinks it makes her look like a pretty flower!

Izzibeth and IzziAnnie stop to smell the apple blossoms.
Mmmmm, the sweet apple blossoms of May!


A favoured view of the goats at pasture, framed in apple blossoms!


In the book "1 is One" by Tasha Tudor, she illustrated apple blossoms as a border around the
"7 is seven apples on a little apple tree" pages. For the number 13, Tasha Tudor illustrated violets as decoration atop a gift and around a birthday cake.


The girls stopped to pick some violets.
Seeing the violets on the lawn reminds us 'tis time for the making of the violet jelly!

Gathering violets that grow wild about the lawn at Corgyncombe!


The violets are gathered and washed in a colander and put into jars, then boiling water is poured over them.



The infusion was placed in the ice box overnight and was strained in the morning.
The resulting liquid was a beautiful blue!



Fresh lemon juice was added and, oh my, what a delightful colour change as the liquid turned bright pink! This was so much fun! Diane could put lemon juice in violet water all day just to watch the marvelous change of colour!

The rest of the process involved adding sugar and pectin and boiling before ladling the jelly into sterilized jars and processing in a water bath canner.

Violet Jelly ready to put on cakes at tea!

We have made two batches of Violet Jelly this year.
We feel like Pooh Bear licking the kettle, ladle and spoons, as it truly tastes like Violet Honey!!!

Bridget and Eliza have also been out and about on the lawn at Corgyncombe and hope to have a post up soon but please be patient Dear Readers!

http://corgyncombecourant.blogspot.com/2012/05/pink-and-blue-and-violet-jelly-too.html
copyright © 2012 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson

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Joyous May Day Celebrations!

Flowers, Dancing, and Refreshments!

May Day punch and cupcakes.
In this post are photographs from May Days of previous years
taken by Diane Shepard Johnson.

The chosen music to accompany this post is "Rakes of Kildare" Hammered Dulcimer:
Click Here for Specially Chosen Musical Entertainments.
Return Here to Read the Corgyncombe Courant.
The music is so delightful whilst reading!

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.
The stone walls are made of field stones that were gathered many years ago and used in an old foundation then reclaimed by us to use in the garden wall.

"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

Our May Day parties are always delightful! The day before May Day, a straight young maple tree is cut from our woods. 'Tis so festive to see the Maypole hoisted and set. Invited friends dance around the Maypole and play their musical instruments together. After May Day refreshments, scrolls are untied and unrolled and May Day poetry is read aloud, together. "May Song" and "Song on May Morning" are amongst some favorites. Tasha Tudor illustrated Sarah in a lithograph called "Afternoon Tea" from one of our May Day celebrations.


The table is decorated with three bouquets of daffodils. Their scent is delightful! The garden was explored whilst enjoying the refreshments.
In the background the field has been prepared for planting.


Diane made cupcakes using the receipt for Becky's Birthday Cake from
"The Tasha Tudor Cookbook".


Diane learned to make May baskets like the May basket above in kindergarten from her teacher. Diane's dear kindergarten teacher Mrs. Platt had also been her 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!

Diane and her daughter Sarah's 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.


A basket full of handmade May baskets and handmade crepe paper flowers.
Diane made cone shaped May Day baskets filled with crepe paper flowers and cards for Sarah's teachers when she was in grade school. Diane fashioned the daffodil and rose flowers out of crepe paper. Diane's homemade May Day cards were also included with a photograph of Sarah and her cousins dancing round in a circle and inside the card Diane wrote in calligraphy Milton's "Song on May Morning". Sarah wore her crepe paper flower head wreath and handed out the May Day gifts to all her teachers, including those she had in past years.

Diane also made the head wreath flowers out of crepe paper. When Diane showed Tasha Tudor the head wreath, it was packed in a box with tissue paper covering it. When Diane opened the box with the head wreath and picked up the tissue paper, Tasha told Diane's husband that he had an exceptionally talented wife!


Sarah and Tasha Corgi in a rainbow of ribbons.
All the dolls dancing around the Maypole carried small May baskets filled with flowers.

Below are some violets that are in bloom about the lawn. They look like butterflies!




http://corgyncombecourant.blogspot.com/2012/05/joyous-may-day-celebrations.html
copyright © 2012 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson

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Hot Cross Buns at Good Friday Tea!

Eliza is holding the new dolly that she shares with her sister Bridget.

Tasha Tudor's Welsh Breakfast Tea and Hot Cross Buns from "The Tasha Tudor Cookbook" are served at Good Friday Tea.
In front of the little doll is a basket of marbleized eggs and she has her own little cup of tea.
Daffodils are added to the pussy willows that were gathered on the "Corie Combie" Adventure.
The flowers are so pretty and so enjoyed with tea!
The Dibble Dabble Ducklings are in the enclosure underneath the pussy willow tree behind Eliza.

The chosen music to accompany this post is from "Emma":
Click Here for Specially Chosen Musical Entertainments.
Return Here to Read the Corgyncombe Courant.
The music is so lovely whilst reading!

Bridget is holding Chickalily in her lap.


Between Bridget and Eliza the Dibble Dabble Sisters can be seen quacking and running about.
Dilley Dibble Dabble is in the front wearing a pink frock.
Bridget and Eliza are so entertained by the Dibble Dabble sisters!
Tasha Tudor sometimes put ducklings or rabbits under her Easter tree.
In Tasha Tudor's book "A Time to Keep" she illustrates bunnies under the Easter egg tree.
In "Seasons of Delight", a pop-up book by Tasha Tudor, a pussy willow Easter tree with ducklings beneath the tree is illustrated in the Spring section.






For Good Friday tea, Eliza decided to wear the antique bonnet that Lydia Corgi has on in the photograph below.
The bandboxes hold bonnets and other delightful gatherings belonging to Bridget and Eliza.
The glass case holds hot cross buns for the sisters and a little bun especially for their little doll.


Lydia Corgi wearing the bonnet whilst watching the goat races on the anniversary of Tasha Tudor's birthday in August.




Cousin Charlotte with Chickalily.
Charlotte reminds us of Tasha Tudor.

Charlotte, Bridget and Eliza were all made by Margaret Flavin.

Bridget, Eliza, and their little doll are Izannah Walker inspired dolls.



Hot Cross Buns made at the Corgyncombe Bakery using the receipt from "The Tasha Tudor Cookbook". The slanted glass top bakery case is an antique from an old candy store.

With the lid open, a reflection of the hot cross buns can be seen.
This case reminds us of Mr. McGregor's cucumber frame in "Peter Rabbit" written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter.
Tasha Tudor used to speak of how she admired that cucumber frame.


A hot cross bun with tea, with blueish eggs round.
The teapot is one of Diane's favorite and has Jemima Puddle-duck and, as Beatrix Potter said, the "foxy-whiskered gentleman" walking about discussing things of importance, such as nesting. The "foxy-whiskered gentleman" was all too interested! Beatrix Potter's Benjamin Bunny is on the teacup.


Eliza's best bonnet.
In "A Tale for Easter", written and illustrated by Tasha Tudor, Tasha writes about how eggs can be found on Easter morn in your shoes and your best bonnet.

We at the Corgyncombe Courant hope that our Dear Readers had a Joyful Resurrection Sunday!

http://corgyncombecourant.blogspot.com/2012/04/hot-cross-buns-at-good-friday-tea.html
copyright © 2012 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson

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Izannah Walker Sisters Discover Creature in Corgi Creek!

A Rare Sighting of An Unusual Phenomenon!

Sisters Bridget and Eliza had been inside the cottage, looking out the window enjoying the birds and squirrels coming and going. Watching the little red squirrel scurry about outside the window, Eliza wanted to go out and about Corgyncombe for a closer look at the little red squirrel!

Whilst out, they hope to find some pussy willows down by the creek.

The chosen music to accompany this post is by Shostakovich:
Click Here for Specially Chosen Musical Entertainments.
Return Here to Read the Corgyncombe Courant.
The music is so appropriate whilst reading!

Izannah Walker inspired dolls Bridget and Eliza and their clothing and bonnets were made by Margaret Flavin. Charlotte's clothing and bonnet were also made by Margaret Flavin.

Bridget asked her Cousin Charlotte if she could wear her bonnet and cap. Bridget has a superb hood to go with her coat but this time, because Eliza was wearing her bonnet, Bridget wanted to wear a bonnet also. Of course, Eliza wants a coat and hood like Bridget's, only in another colour. Little girl sisters seem to be that way, wanting what the other has. Charlotte allowed Eliza to borrow her brown wool cape for her ride in the sleigh.
As they glide along the ribbons on their bonnets flutter in the wind.
Ah, yes, there he is, the little red squirrel!

See how he blends in with the bark of the old maple tree!
What a red streak he has down his back and tail!
How amusing the squirrel is to watch as he hops from tree to tree and scampers here and there!

How swift and smooth their sleigh glides over the snow!
They love watching the squirrel and think he is so cute even though the proprietress at the old book shoppe calls them rats with tails! Bridget and Eliza think that the proprietress actually is quite fond of squirrels, despite her remark.

'Twas a chilly day and the little ladies had their warm woolen blanket tucked round.
Eliza is so cold that she had to tuck her hands under the blanket.
They will have to knit some warm mittens of wool.

Creekcicles along Corgi Creek
The banks of Corgi Creek beckon them as they think that is where they might find some pussy willows to gather.

In "First Poems of Childhood" illustrated by Tasha Tudor, there is a poem by Kate L. Brown called "Pussy Willow". Tasha has illustrated a girl and a boy with school books and lunch bucket, on a stone wall collecting pussy willows.

The last stanza of the poem "Pussy Willow":

Happy little children
Cried with laugh and shout,
"Spring is coming, coming,
Pussy Willow's out."
by Kate L. Brown

Oh, the little squirrel has popped out of the door of his little house!

He is looking left and right in rather a nervous manner!

"How curious, I wonder why?" they both think.

The creek is a beautiful sight with all the rocks covered with snow!

They find some pussy willows and gather them.
They will make a fine display inside the cottage!

Across the bridge, the water glistens and looks as smooth as glass before it shoots and rushes down the falls!
Bridget and Eliza were startled by something going UP the falls!

(The music at 2 minutes, 20 seconds with the trombone is perfect for viewing this creature!)

Eliza says "Look, there is some sort of creature coming UP the falls! Do you see it, Bridget?"

There is a lot for imaginative little girls to ponder!

"Yes, I do!", replied Bridget,

"It looks to have a broad duck bill with nostrils,
large round eyes on either side of its head, and flippers!"

Eliza disagrees and exclaims,
"Oh, no, sister, that sounds too duck-like.
It is clear to see that it has a snout of a more carnivorous nature!"

The Squirrel is thinking
"A Carnivorous Nature!?!"

Bridget says, "Oh, yes, NOW I see, it is as you say!
Oh, how frightful it is, to be sure!"

Eliza continues to describe the sight before her!
"The creature has bumpy scales, fins, wings, and feet, and its tail fin flaps!
One can actually see how its nostrils are creating paths of air in the water!
One can see the motion of the water as the creature is making its way through the water!
One can see the steam rising from the hot springs as it hits the cold air!"

The girls are quite sure that the creature must live in the gloomy, eerie, creepy cave in the back of the photograph with stalactites hanging down!

Concerned, Bridget asks Eliza "Do you think it eats squirrels?"

"Oh, I'm sure it must!" says Eliza.

A Creature of a Carnivorous Nature...
Eats Squirrels...
Do they mean ME!?!

A negative is studied during the investigative process to analyze the creature (and its lair) further!

As Bridget and Eliza have tea in the Corgyncombe Library, they check to see if anything similar to the creature had ever been seen before and checked through their books.
They had heard rumors of the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland and Champ of Lake Champlain.

As nothing quite like it has been observed and described before,
they think they have discovered a never before seen in recent history, long forgotten species which they declare to be a:

"Corie Combie"
The Curious Carnivorous Creature
of Corgyncombe's Corgi Creek

Subsequent investigative strolls along the creek since the thaw have revealed nary a sight or trace of Corie Combie, so far.
The girls are positive it is something, somewhat of an unusual phenomenon, but they are not quite sure what!

This is not the first time (and, we trust, not the last) that unusual discoveries have been made around and about Corgi Creek! Several years ago a petrified frog was found washed up along the banks after a flood! The petrified frog was named Phineas T. Frog (T. is for Taylor). It has since been on exhibit at the Corgyncombe Hall of Oddities and Curiosities, much to the thrill of all who view it!

Eliza and Bridget are considering opening an inn and observatory overlooking Corgi Creek for Izannah Walker dolls and other dolls, where they can patiently wait and observe, in hopes of catching a glimpse of Corie Combie! The girls are sure they can provide some shopping opportunities for those wanting souvenirs of this rare phenomenon (post cards, perhaps, or other knickknacks bearing the striking image of Corie Combie as photographed by Diane Shepard Johnson)!

http://corgyncombecourant.blogspot.com/2012/04/izannah-walker-sisters-discover.html
copyright © 2012 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson

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