I pretty much spent the month preparing for the first meeting of the Maryland Chapter of the Tasha Tudor Museum Society. I made a poster and found a few places in town that let me post it. I also sent it to my paper along with a write-up. I was really quite shocked that a reporter contacted me and said she'd like to attend the meeting and write a story about it. Plus, a photographer was coming. So with the local advertisement completed I started reading all the biographical books on Tasha, watched the videos, and went through most of her books looking for ideas for our meetings. . . .
I also started sprucing up my garden. August is not a good month to have a photographer from the newspaper roam about! So I kept up with the weeding and deadheading. I don't think my August garden has ever looked so good. . . .
With gardens in abundance you have to be prepared for wildlife in unwanted places--like my laundry room. I found Poetry on the basement window ledge staring at the curtain I have hanging between the sewing/storage room and the washing machine area. I followed her gaze and saw the snake's head resting on top of the curtain rod. It looked small enough. I could deal with this (Ken wasn't home). But when I went around the curtain and saw the rest of the snake, well.....I ran for my camera--a delay tactic, hoping Ken would arrive soon. I was pretty sure it was just an Eastern Milk Snake so there was no danger--just the creepy factor. Of course, when Ken got home it had disappeared into one of the many baskets I have on the top shelf. Ken got the shop vac and went through every basket, behind the chest of drawers, under the shelves. I got my laundry room cleaned that morning. Finally, he found it and between the two of us we captured, vacuumed up, and released it back into the woods. . . .
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| I'm leaving the photo small so not to gross out anyone. |
We went to her other grandparents farm and helped them, along with her Daddy and Mommy, make sausage from the pigs they raised. . . .
Finally, the day arrived for the Tasha Tudor Birthday Celebration. I made Tasha's Washington Pie and served Tasha's special blend of Welsh Breakfast Tea. . . .
During the month I went to yard sales just about every Friday and/or Saturday looking not only for things for Olivia June, but also for my garden or for decorations for my tea party. That lavendar wreath in the above photo was one of them. It only cost 25¢. The same lady sold me this trellis for $5 and also offered to deliver it! As I wrote in an earlier post it cost me more for the paint I used to antique it than to buy it. . . .
This weekend I found more bargains! Like this chair for my guest room desk also for $5. . . .
Then I found this tremendous bargain at a flea market. The seller had just set it out. In fact, I had looked through this market the week before, but Ken was with me yardsaling and wanted to stop and browse. I've included the price tag so that you'll believe me when I tell you I bought 16 pieces of made-in-England Johnson Brothers "Rose Chintz" china for $7.00! One dinner plate at Replacements.com cost $29.95. I don't have enough for guests, but I will dine in style. . . .
I thought I let you see what else I've been doing.....practicing my drawing. I've been copying from Tasha Tudor's sketchbook most evenings. I won't show you her sketches because then you'll see how much mine don't look like hers--but they ARE close, and I'm feeling pretty good about getting something down on paper that's recognizable. You can see, though, where I've had to do a lot of erasing, or just plain old crossing out. . . .
These were harder because I drew them from real life. I write in my journal each morning and before I close the book I draw Poetry, who is usually sitting in the window, or Gabriel, who is stretched out on the bed sleeping. . . .
As you see, I've been very busy and I don't expect September to be much different. We are going away for two days to some place special that I know you'll enjoy, I have another Tasha Tudor meeting planned for later in the month, more visits with Olivia, some birthdays to celebrate, and will help our son paint several rooms before they move into their new house in October.
Until next time. . . .and as Tasha would say, Take Joy!
Oh how I love all those books. I have some but being in England it makes it hard to have some of them.
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying your blog.
Michelle, I just realized you have a Blog! I will have to check it out this afternoon. You know, Tasha spent a year in England (1957) and her son, Tom, stayed to go to school there the following year. I wonder if there is more information about that somewhere there in England. Perhaps there's a newspaper article about her stay in the archives. Her daughter, Bethany, wrote about it in a story called Tweedy: A Love Story. She said they rented a farm in Sussex. They toured all over England, spent Christmas holidays in London and visited Edinburgh Castle while traveling in Scotland. This is all I've ever found written about their England stay.
DeleteI'm off to check out your blog, Michelle ~ I'm in Wales, and I love Tasha ~ and I now have shivers as I read that she came to England the year I was born. ~~~Waving~~~
DeleteDeborah I had no idea we were born in the same year! That makes us both in our 40's right! ?! I also didn't know about her visiting
DeleteEngland. Thank you for that info Cathy. If either you Deborah or Michelle find out any more info can you please share. Heading over to read your blog now Michelle.
Hi, Cathy ... EEEK! That snake would have had me putting the house up for sale! It's bad enough to come across them in THEIR habitat, but something altogether different when they invade MY space! I think that's one of the reasons I'm wary of thick, lushly planted cottage-style gardens, beautiful though they are. And those dishes? I would have been ecstatic to score one cup & saucer for that price! You are indeed Bargain Shopper Extraordinaire (*_*) Olivia June looks like a girl after my own pasta-loving heart; such a cutie. Your artistic talents are much better developed than mine, although mine aren't likely to improve unless I actually begin putting pencil to paper again! Thanks for sharing, and I'll look forward to that Tasha Tudor newspaper article. Hugs from Alabama ...
ReplyDeleteThanks for saying that about my artistic talent, but I've seen yours and I KNOW yours is much more developed than mine! I hate snakes, too. But they do eat rodents so I don't mind the non-poisonous ones as long as they don't creep up on me while I'm gardening! For years we've gotten snakes in the basement, so we alway turn on the light before walking down the long hallway to the garage. And now that I know Poetry is a great snake detector, I can relax about it a little knowing she'll alert me to it--like she did the bear! Gabriel just barks at the deer and bunnies and squirrels....oh, and turtles.
DeleteOh, I love snakes! I'd happily have a {non poisonous} snake in the house instead of a spider! You have had a busy month indeed, and are well rewarded for your industry with such bargains. I do miss living in America with the Saturday morning yard sales ~ such fun! I love seeing your sketch book. Time I started again, it has been too long. ~~~waving~~~ from Across the Pond ~~~
ReplyDeleteHi Deborah. Don't you have tag sales or such there? Have you been checking out Michelle's Blog. Isn't it wonderful!
DeleteIn some parts, they have big, weekly car boot sales, but not in my area, and they aren't nearly as much fun as yard sale~ing was. Yes, Michelle has a wonderful blog indeed. I am so happy you mentioned it. Oh, I tried asking before, is it all right if I pin the Tasha invitation to my Tasha Tudor pinterest board? ~~~waving~~~
DeleteDeborah, I'm thinking I really don't want my phone # publicized even more than I've already let it out there. If you can photoshop that part out, I'd be fine with it. It's not my photo anyway. I could just send you the photo by itself if that is what you're really interested in.
DeleteGlad I asked now, because the 'Pin It' button shows up and anyone reading this blog could actually just go ahead and pin it on to Pinterest. Our online lives give us so much extra to think about!
DeleteOh Well, I just figured only the few people who looked at my Blog would see what I post. I don't use Pinterest so I never paid any attention to it. Since the horse is already out of the barn, feel free to post it. I've posted that photo in several posts and on Facebook, so it's out there already. I wouldn't think anyone dastardly lurks on Pinterest anyway! :-)
DeleteWhat a lovely, busy month you have enjoyed, Cathy. I must say you are the best yard sale hunter I've ever heard about. What a bargain on the Rose Chintz! Now the snake is just too creepy for me! When the children were small and my husband was out of town I had to kill a copperhead that was hanging around the property. It was all I could do! Of course, a Mama will do anything to protect her children. Your sketches are looking pretty good to me. Congratulations on sticking with it! ♥
ReplyDeleteI think I must have inherited my mother's yardsale gene. One Christmas that's all my boys got from Santa (they were young enough not to know the difference between new and old yet and it was the year we didn't watch TV so they didn't know what the latest new thing out there was!) I'm pretty good a bargaining, too, when I need to be. In this case, I paid the lady an extra $5 to pay for her gas even though she hadn't asked for it. I felt guilty enough getting the trellis for $5 as it was.
DeleteYou are happy busy--all good things, with the exception of the snake. Yikes. Olivia is growing so fast and is adorable. As to the chair find (and the dishes) they are amazing. My parents had a set of three of those, along with a rocker and a desk quite similar to what you have. Siblings inherited them but I grew up seeing them in our house. Yours looks like the caning is quite intact.
ReplyDeleteIt is in great shape. My grandmother had "antique" furniture. She just called it "old" and didn't care for it much. Finding the snake was a good thing, actually. We have a snake skin in the attic, and I'd sure like to know where the owner is right now. It was much larger than the snake we caught in the basement!
DeleteCathy, I am so impressed with your sketches. I struggle with stick figures LOL. I guess it is just not my thing. I am happy for you that you have become more devoted to it. I like the idea that you draw something at night after you have written in your journal. Great idea.
ReplyDeleteI am coming to Maryland just to go to yard sales with you! I cannot believe what you are finding for a few dollars! I used to love to go to sales when I lived in Ohio. I have wonderful memories of hauling home my treasures and then finding just the right spot for them.
I hate SNAKES! I am very willing to let them live...they just need to move on, unless it's a rattlesnake, then the gun comes out. But I have never had one in the house, I think I would just die!
After that trauma, thanks for putting in pictures of Olivia! She is growing and she is such a happy baby! Never too many pictures of that sweetheart. It is as much fun for us to watch her grow as it is for you.
Happy for you that your Tasha Tudor Tea was a success! New friends that are kindred spirits....lovely!
You have had a busy month and now it is September. It is supposed to be 101 here today. I am so D.U.N.! Come on Autumn!
Thanks for the great post,
Chris W.
Hi Chris, We are to be in the 90's this week and they say it will feel like 101! Do you have humidity there? That is what does me in. I was having breakfast in my garden this morning and realized I should have also shown the wrought-iron garden chairs I bought for $5 each. I thought they were a bargain until the little fellow helping me load them into my car did not wait for me and ended up scratching the bumper on my new car! The touch-up paint cost me $10. Oh well, right? Thank you for your encouraging comments about my drawing. For me, just to put something down on paper is an accomplishment, and if I don't get too eager to see results right away, and just keep plodding along, I feel certain, eventually, hopefully, I'll get to where I want to be with my drawing. :-) I purposely put Olivia's pictures after the snake. Otherwise, I figured you all wouldn't forgive me for posting the snake photos. :-)
DeleteHi Cathy- I'm really enjoying your blog...I followed a link here quite awhile ago from Take Peace. I have those same dishes!! You got an unbelievable bargain with them. I love them and use them as my everyday dishes at my house. I really wish I lived close enough to be a part of your Tasha Tudor group- it looks wonderful. And your granddaughter is just adorable.
ReplyDelete- Patricia
Thank you, Patricia. I'm glad you're enjoying my Blog!
DeleteEeeeeek! I'm with Sharon. If I ever saw even PART of a snake in my house, I'd have the house on the market and my keester in a hotel so fast it would make your head spin! I can deal with spiders and bugs, but worms and snakes, no way! Now on to that baby... is she the cutest thing or what? Always happy. And so photogenic. I love the photo of Olivia gazing at Gabriel. They look to be good buddies. I bet he is probably very protective and can just imagine the menacing growl when anyone he doesn't know comes near Olivia. The "shirtless baby enjoying her spaghetti" photo is priceless too. Not to mention smart. That should be in all the baby care books everywhere - "undress baby before feeding pasta." Then you have only a baby to wash and not the baby plus her spaghetti-stained clothes as well. Funny!! I bow to you for all the great yard sale finds too. The dishes and that terrific little chair! You couldn't pass up 16 pieces of Rose Chintz for that price. And you may find other pieces to fill in at future sales. Who knows? Maybe you'll amass a set big enough to give to Olivia someday! Such a pretty pattern. I don't stop at yard sales too often now because well, twould be bad. I basically have everything I'll ever need plus a lot more. Plenty enough to fill my house. But every once in a while I'll see a sale that looks promising from the street. Or maybe I might be looking for something new in the way of seasonal decorations, something like that. And then I see all KINDS of things I want. And that's when it's bad. Keep going with your sketching. I don't know much about it but it looks like you are really on your way. Practice doesn't really make Perfect but it does definitely does make Better. OK, enjoy the rest of your Labor Day, take care and talk to you soon.
ReplyDeleteOlivia hasn't started on solid food yet. That was her Daddy's dinner she grabbed! She is still spitting up a lot, so they leave her shirtless whenever they're home to cut down on the laundry. I know what you mean about yard sales being bad. But I've gotten a little better about not buying it just because it's a good price. :-)
DeleteOh my goodness, Cathy! You HAVE been busy! And I LOOOOVE that trellis you got for $5?! that was an amazing deal! its beautiful! Your garden too is amazing for August. Still so green and pretty!
ReplyDeleteYour sketches are coming along wonderfully! Animals are hard for me. I try to try new things though, and am getting better! I've always preferred to draw people. I guess we all have what we're drawn to. Tasha was so talented at both! So very inspiring!~
Thank you, Heather. I want to learn to draw animals so I can illustrate the children's stories I've written. They all have animals in them.....and a few people when necessary. Yes, Tasha certainly was talented in both. That is why I'm practicing by drawing the animals and people in her Sketch books.
DeleteSuch a lovely post! Your garden looks so pretty and you have found so many fantastic bargains! Olivia looks so cute and happy and Gabriel looks so interested in her too. I glad your Tasha celebration day was such a success, and she has inspired you to draw your pets they are so good. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sarah! Gabriel is very curious about her and even protective of her when I'm holding her. He won't let anyone near me--not even Olivia's mommy!
DeleteHi Cathy,
ReplyDeleteWhat a LOVELY SWEET Granddaughter :-D
You Garden does look so lovely and your gathering was a delightful success indeed!
You have been blessed with the best bargain finds! And the trellis is wonderful!
I am glad the snake is safe outside now! It is fortunate for me that I rather like snakes for they are in abundance here in my yard and about the damp stone basement! ;-)
I really enjoyed visiting today!
Many Blessings Linnie
Thank you, Linnie. I'm glad to hear that you don't mind the snakes in your garden. They DO have their place--just not in the house! I like to think the snake showed up because Tasha Tudor liked snakes and I read that she even brought one to bed with her. THAT I will not do!
DeleteAnother great blog entry! Had to visit again with all of Christie and Karen's postings from Vermont. A bucket trip list for my future for sure! I have a few black snakes in my garden but that us definitely where U prefer they stay...; 0). Looks like your Tasha birthday tea turned out wonderful! You did a great job. I really need to see if there is a chapter near me. I love the trellis. Just beautiful!!
DeleteThanks Belinda. There's one starting in Stuart, FL at some point. I think the Family has been inundated this year with requests to start Chapters and are behind in sending out the information to the leaders. They're still trying to figure out how to organize the Chapters I think.
ReplyDelete