Today's Shakespeare quote from The Shakespeare Birthday Book
"We know what we are, but know not what we may be."
Hamlet, Act iv. Sc. 5.
Thursday, 28 May 2015
Sunday, 10 May 2015
1915 Housekeeper's Diary: May
Flora Klickmann's tips for the month of May, from her 1915 book The Mistress of the Little House.
(Links to catch up on previous months if you missed them: January, February, March, April)
May
"Old-fashioned housekeepers used to store this month the may-blossom, by stripping off the white petals and putting them into a wide-mouthed bottle with a screw-top, or a tight-fitting cork.
When full, pour in as much brandy as it will hold, and seal it down, then, after a few weeks, pour off the spirit and keep it for flavouring custards, etc., as it is deliciously delicate." - This sounds rather lovely!
"The whites of eggs well whisked up and a little lemon-juice added, is a very nutritious pick-me-up for sick people." - This sounds quite nice too, and it also makes a good DIY face mask!
And for the bacon lovers: "...bacon is a very good dish for luncheon for a change, but should be followed immediately by a green salad to counteract its richness." - I don't see this advice catching on though to be honest!
(Links to catch up on previous months if you missed them: January, February, March, April)
May
"Old-fashioned housekeepers used to store this month the may-blossom, by stripping off the white petals and putting them into a wide-mouthed bottle with a screw-top, or a tight-fitting cork.
When full, pour in as much brandy as it will hold, and seal it down, then, after a few weeks, pour off the spirit and keep it for flavouring custards, etc., as it is deliciously delicate." - This sounds rather lovely!
"The whites of eggs well whisked up and a little lemon-juice added, is a very nutritious pick-me-up for sick people." - This sounds quite nice too, and it also makes a good DIY face mask!
And for the bacon lovers: "...bacon is a very good dish for luncheon for a change, but should be followed immediately by a green salad to counteract its richness." - I don't see this advice catching on though to be honest!
Wednesday, 6 May 2015
Shakespeare: In the merry month of May
Today's Shakespeare quote from The Shakespeare Birthday Book
"In the merry month of May.
Sitting in the pleasant shade
Which a grove of myrtles made,
Beasts did leap, and birds did sing,
Trees did grow and plants did spring;
Everything did banish moan."
Passionate Pilgrim.
"In the merry month of May.
Sitting in the pleasant shade
Which a grove of myrtles made,
Beasts did leap, and birds did sing,
Trees did grow and plants did spring;
Everything did banish moan."
Passionate Pilgrim.
Friday, 1 May 2015
May Song - joy is everywhere!
Oxfordshire Children's May Song
Spring is coming, spring is coming,
Birdies, build your nest;
Weave together straw and feather,
Doing each your best.
Spring is coming, spring is coming,
Flowers are coming too:
Pansies, lilies, daffodillies
Now are coming through.
Spring is coming, spring is coming,
All around is fair:
Shimmer and quiver on the river,
Joy is everywhere.
We wish you a happy May.
Old Country Rhyme, taken from Harry Golding's book Verses For Children
Spring is coming, spring is coming,
Birdies, build your nest;
Weave together straw and feather,
Doing each your best.
Spring is coming, spring is coming,
Flowers are coming too:
Pansies, lilies, daffodillies
Now are coming through.
Spring is coming, spring is coming,
All around is fair:
Shimmer and quiver on the river,
Joy is everywhere.
We wish you a happy May.
Old Country Rhyme, taken from Harry Golding's book Verses For Children
Illustration by Margaret W. Tarrant
Tuesday, 28 April 2015
Terry Pratchett's Birthday
Today would have been Sir Terry Pratchett's 67th birthday.
I'm a huge fan of his Discworld books and am the proud owner of every single one! Plus The Discworld Mapp, The Streets of Ankh-Morpork map, A Tourist Guide To Lancre: A Discworld Mapp, The Pratchett Portfolio, The Art of Discworld, Nanny Ogg's Cookbook, The Discworld Almanack and The Folklore of Discworld :-)
As well as being a fantastic author, Sir Terry was an all round awesome dude. He campaigned for assisted suicide, raised awareness for Alzheimer's, and was a trustee for the Orangutan Foundation UK.
He also had a greenhouse full of carnivorous plants and made himself a sword!
I have some Discworld artefacts from The Discworld Emporium. The crowning jewel is my The Turtle Moves pin, which the website says was designed by Sir Terry himself to function as "a symbol that would tell one Discworld fan to another that they shared the same taste in literature."
I also have some Ankh-Morpork half dollars, in case I ever visit!
Front:
Back:
I'm a huge fan of his Discworld books and am the proud owner of every single one! Plus The Discworld Mapp, The Streets of Ankh-Morpork map, A Tourist Guide To Lancre: A Discworld Mapp, The Pratchett Portfolio, The Art of Discworld, Nanny Ogg's Cookbook, The Discworld Almanack and The Folklore of Discworld :-)
As well as being a fantastic author, Sir Terry was an all round awesome dude. He campaigned for assisted suicide, raised awareness for Alzheimer's, and was a trustee for the Orangutan Foundation UK.
He also had a greenhouse full of carnivorous plants and made himself a sword!
I have some Discworld artefacts from The Discworld Emporium. The crowning jewel is my The Turtle Moves pin, which the website says was designed by Sir Terry himself to function as "a symbol that would tell one Discworld fan to another that they shared the same taste in literature."
I also have some Ankh-Morpork half dollars, in case I ever visit!
Front:
Back:
Here's to you Sir Terry, you are greatly missed.
Wednesday, 22 April 2015
1915 Housekeeper's Diary: April
Bits and pieces from the April section of Flora Klickmann's 1915 book The Mistress of the Little House :-)
(Links to catch up on previous months if you missed them: January, February, March)
April
Flora says "Spring-cleaning is the chief feature of this month."
And my goodness 1915 spring-cleaning sounds EXHAUSTING! The list of supplies alone could tire you out:
"Carpet-sweeper or broom, combined stair and bannister brush, curtain-brush, soft furniture-brush, set of blacklead brushes, housemaid's box with movable tray, scrubbing-brush, house-flannel, strong zinc pail... carbolic and scrubbing soap, soft soap, soda, turpentine, household ammonia, metal polish, blacklead, furniture polish, stale bread, a little methylated spirit, plenty of dust-sheets, polishing rags, dusters, cloths, and any old, soft silk handkerchiefs you can collect." Phew!
There's a curious bit of advice:
"Remember this is the last month with an 'r' in it, and so, according to the old rule, the last in which you can eat pork and oysters."
Maybe this has something to do with avoiding food that could go off easily in the warmer months, before the transport and storage methods we have today?
And she finishes with a lovely quote:
"A man's house is really but his larger body, and expresses in a way his nature and character." S. O. Jewett
(Links to catch up on previous months if you missed them: January, February, March)
April
Flora says "Spring-cleaning is the chief feature of this month."
And my goodness 1915 spring-cleaning sounds EXHAUSTING! The list of supplies alone could tire you out:
"Carpet-sweeper or broom, combined stair and bannister brush, curtain-brush, soft furniture-brush, set of blacklead brushes, housemaid's box with movable tray, scrubbing-brush, house-flannel, strong zinc pail... carbolic and scrubbing soap, soft soap, soda, turpentine, household ammonia, metal polish, blacklead, furniture polish, stale bread, a little methylated spirit, plenty of dust-sheets, polishing rags, dusters, cloths, and any old, soft silk handkerchiefs you can collect." Phew!
There's a curious bit of advice:
"Remember this is the last month with an 'r' in it, and so, according to the old rule, the last in which you can eat pork and oysters."
Maybe this has something to do with avoiding food that could go off easily in the warmer months, before the transport and storage methods we have today?
And she finishes with a lovely quote:
"A man's house is really but his larger body, and expresses in a way his nature and character." S. O. Jewett
Sunday, 19 April 2015
Spring Song
Spring Song
Have you ever seen
such green, such green?
Have you ever seen
such blue
as the woods in April
when they blink
and a bit of the sky
looks through?
And the light - the light
is tiny and bright
in every blob
of dew?
Have you ever seen
such green, such green?
Have you ever seen
such blue?
By Jean Kenward, taken from My Very First Poetry Book
Have you ever seen
such green, such green?
Have you ever seen
such blue
as the woods in April
when they blink
and a bit of the sky
looks through?
And the light - the light
is tiny and bright
in every blob
of dew?
Have you ever seen
such green, such green?
Have you ever seen
such blue?
By Jean Kenward, taken from My Very First Poetry Book
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