250th Independence Day!

Tillie Tinkham, the seamstress mouse for the dolls and critters at Corgyncombe, waves the thirteen star flag!

 

Click Here for Music

 

 

Ima, Tillie Tinkham the seamstress mouse, and Hitty.

 

Hitty in the Corgyncombe Garden of Herbs
amongst the bee balm and echinacea.

 

The teapot is a replica of an antique
"No Stamp Act" teapot.

Nehemiah Lyon, our direct ancestral grandfather, represented the Woodstock, Connecticut area in the protest of the Stamp Act in 1765. Nehemiah Lyon's wife was Mehitabel (Child) Lyon. Hitty says "That's my name, too! My nickname is Hitty, from Mehitabel!" There are many Mehitabels in our family!

 

The vibrant Bee Balm, also called Oswego-Tea, resembles spectacular fireworks!

 

 

A grand fireworks display, that does indeed resemble bee balm!

 

 

 

The dolls and critters at Corgyncombe are excited to celebrate this, the year of the 250th anniversary of our Independence!

 

Many of our direct ancestors are recognized for patriotic service during the Revolutionary War, in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont.

 

  

 

  

Lady Abigail spinning.

 

A direct ancestral grandmother of ours, Martha (Lyon) May, daughter of Nehemiah Lyon, was reported in 1766 by The Hartford Courant (The Connecticut Courant), to have "spun 194 knots of good linen yarn in one day." It was considered patriotic during this time to boycott British products and to spin their own threads and yarns. Spinning and knitting bees were very popular.

 

 

Bridget shows Emma and their doll, "Dear Little One", the picture of George Washington in their book, "Child's Life of Washington".

 

 

The little dolls of Corgyncombe had an Independence Day picnic.
They brought their little dolls to join the 4th of July festivities.

 

 

Below the table full of delicious picnic fare, one of the littlest girls has found a spot to enjoy a bowl of star shaped macaroni with her little doll and an eager Tasha Corgi!

 

 

In "Corgiville Fair", written and illustrated by Tasha Tudor, in the grand parade along with Caleb Corgi and his racing goat Josephine, Miss Corgiville, the Bogarts, the California Gold Rush, and many floats, there are three corgis depicting "The Spirit of '76" with fife and drums, carrying flags.

 

As one might imagine, it is a favorite book for the dolls to read and show to their little Tasha Corgi!

 

 

 In "First Graces" Tasha Tudor illustrated part of "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" with a "Betsy Ross" flag, an eagle, and little children dressed in colonial clothing surrounded by stars.

 

 

Sarah waving the flag and singing to Tasha Corgi.
Sarah's middy was made by her Mum and she wore it for the first time on Independence Day.

 

 

Happy Independence Day!

 

 

Please do not "Pin" our photographs.
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 Our email:
atthecottagegate@yahoo.com
If you receive an email you think is from me from this email, please make sure it is atthecottagegate@yahoo.com, and not just something that sounds similar.

 

Photographs, images, and text copyright © 2000-2026 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.

 

https://corgyncombecourant.blogspot.com/2026/07/250th-independence-day.html

copyright © 2026 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Valentine's Day Loveliness at Finch Post!

Violet's mittens keep her hands warm as she goes out and about in the cold and snowy outdoors. Violet's antique mittens have pretty pom-poms attached. Carrying a basket of Finch Post mail, Violet has stopped at the Finch Post box.

Tasha Tudor had a little girl doll named Violet who reminded us of our doll. Our doll has the prettiest violet colour eyes, so Violet was the perfect name for her!

 

 

 

Finch Post serves the dolls and critters at Corgyncombe with superb mail delivery service. We were inspired by Tasha Tudor to have our own doll Post. Tasha Tudor's post was named Sparrow Post, where cards and goodies were delivered to her children, their dolls and critters. Tasha Tudor featured Sparrow Post in her books "All for Love" and "A Time to Keep".

Corgyncombe's Dear Little Postmistress Phidelia S. Finch, nicknamed "Dee Dee" for short. So cheerful to hear her sweet "dee dee" sound in the morning! Here she is perched at the edge of her nest. She provided the dolls with many eggs for cooking and baking!

 

Both Phidelia S. Finch and her husband Bates Finch's names were drawn from ancestral family members.
The S. in Phidelia's name is for Standish, as she was named for two generations of Standish Aunts of the 1800s.

At Corgyncombe's Finch Post, Chirpy Cheerful, who flies for Finch Post, holds one of our Valentine dolly cards. Tasha Tudor had the children use buttons to buy goods for their dolls and animals. The currency for the dolls at Corgyncombe is buttons, as well. A little button box can be seen near the base of the scale. Tasha Tudor fashioned the little canister on the upper shelf. The paper covering the counter is the same pattern as the canister.

 

 

The tiny doll's card, handmade by Diane, featuring her own photograph of bleeding heart in the Corgyncombe Gardens.

 

Phidelia's husband Bates Finch is surrounded with a circle of real roses and baby's breath.

 

 

 Violet out in the snow. Here one can see her pretty violet coloured eyes!

 

 

For the dolls and critters at Corgyncombe, a sheet of Finch Post 1 Button Pansy Stamps, 1 button for each stamp.

 

 

Chirpy Cheerful delivering for Finch Post at Tasha's kitchen.

 

 

Happy Valentine's 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.

 

Please do not "Pin" our photographs.
Please do not post our photographs on facebook.

 

Our email:
atthecottagegate@yahoo.com
If you receive an email you think is from me from this email, please make sure it is atthecottagegate@yahoo.com, and not just something that sounds similar.

 

Photographs, images, and text copyright © 2000-2026 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.

https://corgyncombecourant.blogspot.com/2026/02/valentines-day-loveliness-at-finch-post.html
copyright © 2026 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~