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

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady - September



Edith Holden writes in her Nature Notes for 1906:

September was the seventh month of the Roman calendar, but is the ninth according to our reckoning.  The Anglo-Saxons call it 'gerst-monath,'--Barley month."  

Mottoes:  "Fair on September first, fair for the month."

In the DVD series, September begins with Edith and her new husband, Ernest Smith, unpacking boxes in their new home in London.  It is 1911 and they have just married.  Ernest sees her Nature Diary and asks to read it, but Edith grabs it from him, but not before he opens it to September 1906 and says she does not mention him.  That is because in reality she does not meet him until 1907!  In the DVD series last month Ernest followed Edith to Scotland and proposed to her, but she refused him.  Now the DVD takes us back to September 1906 and follows along in her diary.  The diary speaks of an unnamed companion, but the DVD takes license and says it is Ernest on his second visit to Scotland to see Edith again while she is still in Scotland.  She writes, "Rowed across to Inchamahone Priory, on one of the two islands.  Here were huge old Spanish Chesnut Trees, supposed to have been planted by the monks, and the largest Nut trees I have ever seen; also the Box tree, said to have been planted by Queen Mary."  Edith leaves Scotland for home on the 25th.

I've reached the last chapter in Edith's biography.  It is 1907.  She makes several visits to visit her married sister, Effie.  This is when she meets Ernest Smith, the sculptor who was studying at the Royal College of Art and they begin their 5-year courtship.  Edith's family has always been involved in social issues, but Edith'a interest in animals led her to belong to the National Council for Animals' Welfare.  She did illustrations for their magazine and designed a calendar for them that was sold to raise funds. . . .

...and postcards. . . .
Bunny Mummy's September post follows Edith's 1905 Nature Notes, but some of the drawings are similar.

Because I was late in coming to Ragged Robin's webjournal we are at her July post, Part 6, where she takes us to Temple Balsall Nature Reserve, an area Edit visited in July 1906.

Another webjournal you might enjoy is A Garden in the Shire, written by Deborah in Wales.  She photographs the seed pods and berries in her garden this month and has two posts about them:  The Beauty and Bounty of Seed Heads and Celebrating Apple Time.

The painting I've chosen to illustrate is on the last page of the September entry. . . .

I drew it first on my drawing pad. . . .

I sat at my drawing table struggling to draw it again.  I heard in my head the little girl stamping her foot and crying, "Don't make me do it again!"  After I threw my little fit, I gazed out the window at the wild honeysuckle growing on the boardwalk railing and said, "You can do this, Cathy". . . .

I redrew it onto the watercolor paper and outlined it in sepia ink.  So far so good.  This was easier than I thought. . . .

Finally, I painted.  This is the fun part....until I run into trouble getting the colors right.  But overrall, I'm pretty pleased. . . .



Here are a few of my practice sketches done in my morning journaling time. . . .


The Country Diary Learn to Draw booklet has a real challenge for Autumn. . . .


I'm going to give it a try and watercolor it during the month and will add when I finish it here. . . .

.•*¨`*•. ☆ .•*¨`*•
Take Joy!

22 comments:

  1. Cathy, I am thrilled for you! Your drawing this month is beyond lovely---The colors perfect! I love that you tell your process and struggles. As I began reading I was thinking of Beatrix Potter and see you have her in your diary. This music so reminds me of the Lake District! Congratulations on your accomplishments! ♥

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    1. Thank you, Martha Ellen. The more I copy the artists I love, I´m hoping I´ll assimilate some of their style.

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  2. Hi Cathy. You are such an inspiration to me with your beautiful watercolors. I've ordered a sepia pen as it's so prefect for the art you are creating. It's hot here in southern California as we're in the midst of a heatwave. I can hardly wait for the cooler temps to arrive. I hope all is well with you and your family. My best to you, Pat xx

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    1. Pat, I´m love that I´m an inspiration. That makes me very happy. We are in Vermont where it´s been in the 90s, but have woke up to rain and cooler temps this morning. Maybe Autumn is finally arriving.

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  3. Oh, Cathy, I have to agree with Martha Ellen ~~~ you just keep getting better and this is your best yet. I LOVE the Guelder Rose illustration you did! {am I allowed to say I like it better than the original?} I think the little girl in your head deserves a treat for perseverance!
    A long, long time ago I used to freestyle paint berries and leaves for Autumn decoration, and I think the pages from the Learn To Draw book might just be nudging me along again. I really must stop this procrastination, mustn't I?
    Thank you for the mention too! My heart skipped a beat or two when I saw it.
    ~~~Deb xoxo

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    1. I´m blushing now. And yes, Deb, your little girl in your head needs to get over her tendency to drag her feet. Tell her her game is over. It´s TIME.

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  4. Dear Cathy, Your drawings are lovely. I admire that you continue to be so focused, determined & even with obstacles you overcome! Love, Sis xoxo

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    1. Thank you, Sandy. I can say the same thing about you with your treatment for cancer. xoxoxo

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  5. You're continuing to do beautifully, Cathy. I just noticed today how much Edith's art reminds me of those "Brambly Hedge" books, by British illustrator Jill Barklem. Like Edith, she was very interested in natural history, rural customs and crafts too and wrote the sweetest stories about mice and other "critters" who all live in a "brambly hedge' in the English countryside. I'm betting Olivia would love them when she's a little older. It became very popular in the 70s, 80s. It was even made into china, which is where I discovered it - I worked part-time in a department store in the china-crystal area while I was teaching. Eventually I ended up buying a teacup and saucer in each of the four seasons, and they're SO cute. I think they actually have a lot of Brambly Hedge merchandise now. Books obviously, videos, lots of different pieces of china [I'm coveting the teapot, sugar and creamer to go with my teacups now], prints etc. Anyway, you might take a look at it for ideas on future "lessons" for yourself. The woodland nature of 'Brambly art" is very reminiscent of Edith's Country Diary. Those English and their garden mentality! No one does the natural world better than they do, seriously. Well have a wonderful weekend, take care & talk to you soon. :>)

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    1. Thank you, Janet. I have 8 Brambly Hedge books and today at the bookshop in Vermont that Tasha Tudor had her book signings I found The Brambly Hedge Pattern Book for making the little critters. I think I have a few Brambly Hedge dishes. I´ll have to check when I get home. They might be some other mice.

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  6. Cathy It is so inspiring to come along on your artistic adventure!! You really are expressing the loveliest images
    and I LOVE to see them and admire!!
    Sending warmth, many BLESSINGS Dearest, Linnie

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    1. Thank you, Linnie. I wrote in the TT Museum memories book today right after your comment. They no longer let you take photos in the museum because the family was upset that pictures were posted on Facebook. I also discovered I had the wrong house on Tyler Road....I posted new information on that first post correcting the mistake.

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  7. I love seeing your drawing before the paint and after. What rich colors and great talent. And your persistence is admirable,

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    1. Thank you, Dotsie. I´m loving all the encouraging comments I´m getting.

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  8. Your painting is lovely, Cathy; the 'berries' are perfect! With this mastery, I think you will enjoy your new exercise.

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    1. Thank you, Elaine. I´m gaining more courage as I go along.

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  9. Lovely, lovely post and so enjoy seeing your drawings - you are so talented. I really wouldn't have a clue where to start even though its something I would like to have a go at one day. I am learning a lot about Country Diary connected books on your blog - I hadn't heard of the Learn to Draw one!

    I love those little Beatrix Potter style drawings too :)

    Thanks so much again for the mention :)

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    1. Than you, Robin. I´m very glad to mention your web journal posts about Edith Holden.

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  10. It is a wet Sunday evening here near the east coast of Suffolk England and I have been exploring new (to me) blogs and found your lovely drawings - So good. You have inspired me to fetch my Edith Holden Nature Notes off the bookshelves for another look. Thank you

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    1. Welcome Sue in Suffolk. I'm always excited to have British readers comment about my posts on Edith Holden. I'm so glad I've inspired you to take another look at one of Edith's diaries.

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  11. I always I look forward to your monthly painting and post. It is so lovely! Sarah x

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