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Musings: to meditate, think, contemplate, deliberate, ponder, reflect, ruminate, reverie, daydream, introspection, dream, preoccupation, brood, cogitate.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady - May



Edith begins her May entry thus:  The name of this month is of doubtful origin.  Ancient-writers suggest it to be derived from Maia, the mother of Mercury; to whom the Romans were accustomed to sacrifice on the first day of the month.  May-day is the name given to the first day of the month in England, when, in old days the people went out at dawn to welcome the advent of spring.  May-queens and May-poles were once general throughout the country.  The last may-pole erected in London was taken down in 1717. . . .

Below is the first page of Edith's diary.  I was delighted to see that she made two mistakes and had to add in the missing words with a ^ !  I'm delighted because this puts the mistake on my painting this month in good company. . . .

In Edith's biography it is the summer of 1905 and the family has just moved to Olton.  Edith's mother had died the year before so she and her two unwed sisters (who never marry) have moved to a smaller house with their father.  This is the house where Edith writes Nature Notes for 1906, the diary that has become known as The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.  This is the diary that she used in the classroom where she taught art on Friday afternoons at Solihull School for Girls beginning in early 1906.  

I began my day by watching the May episode of the 12-part 1984 TV series The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.   May's episode interweaves Edith's diary entries with moments when she looks back to when her mother was still living.  One memory is of her sister Evelyn's engagement.  Evelyn, who is a very accomplished artist, is asked by Edith, "When are you going to do your painting?" Evelyn says, "I'm happy.  Isn't that enough?" Later after her mother's death Edith decides not to go back to art school so she can stay home and take care of her 69-year-old father.  She intends to get a teaching job.  When he protests she says, "Evelyn is giving up her work when she marries."  Her father responds, "But that's different.  A woman expects to do as much when she marries.  It's natural."  There is much tension in the family because of the philosophical differences between her two brothers on how the family manufacturing business should be run.  Most of the episode shows Edith roaming through the lush countryside.  There are many scenes of wildflowers and birds as she recites the poems from her diary.  The episode ends with her setting up her easel to paint an oil rendition of the May painting (above) for the exhibition of the Royal Academy in Birmingham.

The little drawing booklet I've been using only has two lessons per season so there was nothing new to draw from there.  I did not want to attempt the May painting above because there were so many flowers to paint, so I chose the May painting from the Nature Notes for 1905.  First, I drew it in pencil on my sketch pad. . . .

Then I redrew it on watercolor paper and outlined it in brown ink. . . .

Then I took this photo of the wildflowers outside my window (anything to procrastinate!). . . .

After a tea break I started painting.  It took me a very long while (and another break or two) to get it to where I liked it enough to show you, so here it is. . . .

I didn't realize until I read this month's Country Diary that Wild Hyacinths are Bluebells.  I planted 80 English Bluebells last Autumn.  Most came up but only five plants bloomed, so I will have to content myself with my painting.

If you've been following this series every month I will have to disappoint you because Jackie Kellum left off posting Edith's diary on her Blog with last month's entry.  So if you want to read the May entries you will have to search out a copy of the book for yourself.  There are plenty on Amazon.com.  Bunny Mummy continues, however.  You can read her May post HERE.  She writes about Edith's 1905 Nature Notes, but she also includes photographs from the English countryside that I think you'll find enjoyable.  Ragged Robin's post takes you to Kingswood where Edith lived from 1890 to 1897.  There are more lovely countryside photos here, too.

While searching I came across another Country Diary book!  I found it at my local used book store's on-line shop.  I'll be able to pick it up at the store in a few days.  I'll let you know how it is in next month's post. . . .


•*¨`*•. ☆ .•*¨`*•
Take Joy!

26 comments:

  1. Cathy, you really captured this month's drawing; the sketch and subsequent painting were well executed! I'm still hoping to come across a copy of The Country Diary one of these days while browsing the thrift shops. Keep up the good work; your progress is evident.

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  2. You are such a skilled artist, a beautiful sketch and painting a real delight. I love the book and refer to it often I also have The Country Diary Book of Crafts which is another stunning book.

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    1. I have much to learn! But thank you for your compliment. I'll have to look for the Crafts book. That one hasn't turned up yet in any of my searches.

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  3. My gosh, you are doing a fine job of it! I am especially impressed with the nest, they are very tricky to paint. So, I must have missed this, Where exactly are you viewing this series about Edith Holden?

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    1. Thank you Jeri. Edith's painting is in the book called "Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady." It was her 1905 diary that was published after the 1906 diary called "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady."

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  4. Your water color came out beautifully! One of these days I am going to have to search out a copy of this dvd. I have had the book for years, but I never even heard of the dvd until your blog and the trailer looks wonderful.

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    1. Thank you, Pattianne. You can find the DVD on Amazon.

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  5. Pretty bluebells--I didn't know they were wild hyacinths. Your art is amazing. Are you improving of have you always been this good? I'm doing some coloring with good colored pencils--using adult coloring pages. It's so relaxing; I wish I had more time for it!

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    1. Thank you, Dotsie. I've always felt I had it in me, but it just would come out! Drawing from other people's drawings has given me the confidence to set something down on paper. After doing this for the remainder of the year I intend to start drawing from real life. I'll probably need to take some lessons then so I can learn shading and perspective, etc.

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  6. Hi Cathy, this is such a beautiful watercolor you painted. I think you captured the image perfectly. I want to thank you for the lovely book. (I have sent you a card via USPS). I hope you are enjoying the spring weather. My best to you :) hugs, Pat

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    1. Hi Pat. Thanks for letting me know your book arrived and thank you for your comment on my drawing. ☺

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  7. Cathy you have painted another lovely picture!!! Just beautiful!! I really enjoy these Edith posts!
    Have a wonderful week :-) Blessings and hugs Linnie

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    1. Thank you, Linnie. I'm glad you're enjoying this series! Blessings and hugs to you, too.

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  8. Wonderful job on your May painting, Cathy! I really do need to find my copy of this book. I'm not sure where it got placed when we moved. Maybe it will inspire me to start the drawing lessons I started at the beginning of the year, but soon abandoned.

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    1. Thank you, Kristie. Yes, you really must get back to your drawing lessons. That will encourage me to keep improving when I see what you've done!

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  9. I love the picture for May - perfect for this month - and your re-creation of it! But then I've liked all your versions. So what's more difficult? Doing your own version of a previous painting? Or painting from the ground up with "original" content? I'm guessing it would be easier to re-create something than to do a full-on original, at least it would for me. I'm pretty good at details so I think I could manage to get most of what the original artist painted. But I'd be fairly clueless on my own, which is probably why I've never drawn or painted much. But I do like rubber-stamping and really enjoy "coloring" the blank stamp designs. I like choosing colors and seeing the blank scene come to life. I saw a feature on one of the news stations recently about "coloring for adults" - apparently it's an actively-trending thing right now. Years back, I bought a set of 8 stamps, about 5 x 5 in size, that depict different kitchen herbs - oregano, dill, basil etc. Have done versions of them in groups of 4 and framed them as shower presents. Lots of fun to do that. But it pretty much IS the extent of my own artistic bent. I can't wait to read about your adventures in creativity with Olivia, who I'm willing to bet could have a fair amount of hereditary talent in those cute little baby hands of hers. It's one of those sparkling May days here today. Sun, no humidity whatsoever, nearly cloudless blue skies. I think I'm going to take a drive down along the Lake today and get myself an ice cream cone - first of the year. The hamburger stand/ice cream parlor that was there when I was little is STILL there, nearly 60 years later, and I am loving that. So much from childhood is either gone or changed - it's really special to find something that's still hanging in there! OK take care and talk to you soon.

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    1. Thank you, Janet. To answer your question....I haven't attempted to draw my own version of anything so I don't know yet if I can do it. I figure it's going to take me all year of doing it this way to gain the confidence I need to strike out on my own. Your drive today sounds lovely, especially being able to go back to your childhood ice cream parlor.

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  10. Oh such a beautiful painting Cathy, I love seeing your Country Diary studies.
    Enjoy the last few days of May.
    Fondly Michelle

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    1. Thank you, Michelle. It is hot and humid here so enjoying the out-of-doors must be done from inside through the windows!

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  11. You May picture is so lovely. I'm sorry you didn't get many blooms from your bluebells I hope next week will be more successful. Sarah x

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    1. Thank you, Sarah. I'm guessing you meant to say you hope next year will be more successful, but I'd prefer it WAS next WEEK! ☺

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  12. Beautiful work, Cathy! I hope you are already at work on a fairy garden book for Olivia June! It will be wonderful!
    I should very much like an autographed copy, too!

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    1. Thank you, Elaine. I hope I can do such a book. Wouldn't that be fun!

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  13. Still catching up on these lovely posts. You are very talented - your drawing from the book is excellent. Thank you again for the mention. It is wonderful that so many people are still enjoying Edith's work and books.

    I thought about her yesterday when I visited a churchyard with a wildlife area which was full of butterflies. A visit to St Giles, Church Packwood a few years ago in search of snowdrops mentioned in her journal sparked my interest in churchyards as wildlife sanctuaries.

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    1. Thank you! I will have to check out the rest of your Blog this month as time permits! You have some very interesting posts.

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