Well, well, well. This weekend I was talking with some visitors in my happy little cabin and somehow we ventured into Red Light Districts and not-so-honorable ladies. As we discussed fashion, culture, and faux pas, I think I made my own.
I was explaining that prostitutes wore colorful stockings and would show them off by tucking the back of their skirts up into their knees or flipping their skirts up to show gentlemen that the lady was "open for business". Generally, the gentlemen would offer to escort the lady for a walk (to settle on the transaction and other business). Unless of course, the woman was just hanging about the saloon undressed, waiting for her suitors to come adore her. If only!
Anyway, during this part of my explanation one of the visitors asked me to go for a walk. I looked right at him and gave him a stern "No" and carried on. Only later did I start to wonder if, Option A. he was joking or Option B. he thought I really was a hooker....hmmm. Maybe I play-act being an 1870's hooker too well? Great, isn't that something to be proud of and share in the family Christmas letter!
Ahh, well, I'm off to contemplate on my tuffet...
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Paper Windows
I have a long list of my favorite questions when I'm giving tours, making dresses, or even cleaning historic houses (some is of the do ask variety, others are of the please never ask me this again kind, and the third column are the ones that boggle my mind- therefore either requiring me to do research or to chalk it up to a yuh'huh moment.)
This summer has had a reoccurring theme about glass....glass windows, glass mirrors, glass canning jars, whatever. Mostly the questions are about whether glass existed yet. Now, I don't know the exact year glass work came into existence (I do know that lightning can strike sand and create naturally formed glass works). The other interpreters all scratch their heads and point out the many cathedrals in Europe, for example the medieval stained glass windows in Canterbury Cathedral are among the earliest at 1180 AD. Clearly, we're wrong. These must not be glass windows but actually colored tissue paper windows.
I had the glass question 3 times this afternoon! So, this called me to action to come home and pour myself into research. Here's what I found:
Until next time,
M
Resources:
Ellis, William S. Glass: From the First Mirror to Fiber Optics, the Story of the Substance That Changed the World. New York: Avon Books, Inc., 1998
Steve W. Martin, "Glass," Discovery Channel School, original content provided by World Book Online, http://www.discoveryschool.com/homeworkhelp/
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/england/canterbury-cathedral-stained-glass-windows
http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/how-was-glass-invented-and-when
http://www.texasglass.com/glass_facts/history_of_Glass.htm
This summer has had a reoccurring theme about glass....glass windows, glass mirrors, glass canning jars, whatever. Mostly the questions are about whether glass existed yet. Now, I don't know the exact year glass work came into existence (I do know that lightning can strike sand and create naturally formed glass works). The other interpreters all scratch their heads and point out the many cathedrals in Europe, for example the medieval stained glass windows in Canterbury Cathedral are among the earliest at 1180 AD. Clearly, we're wrong. These must not be glass windows but actually colored tissue paper windows.
I had the glass question 3 times this afternoon! So, this called me to action to come home and pour myself into research. Here's what I found:
- "We do not know exactly when, where, or how people first learned to make glass. It is generally believed that the first manufactured glass was in the form of a glaze on ceramic vessels, about 3000 B.C. The first glass vessels were produced about 1500 B.C. in Egypt and Mesopotamia." (http://www.texasglass.com/glass_facts/history_of_Glass.htm)
- "The first factory in what is now the United States was a glass plant built at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1608. The venture failed within a year because of a famine that took the lives of many colonists." (http://www.texasglass.com/glass_facts/history_of_Glass.htm)
- "In the early 1800's, the type of glass in greatest demand was window glass. At that time, window glass was called crown glass. Glassmakers made it by blowing a bubble of glass, then spinning it until it was flat. This process left a sheet of glass with a bump called a crown in the center." (http://www.texasglass.com/glass_facts/history_of_Glass.htm)
- "The screw-top Mason jar for home canning appeared in 1858." (http://www.texasglass.com/glass_facts/history_of_Glass.htm)
- "Until the late 1700s, anything seen through a glass window wasn’t admissible as evidence in an English law court." (http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/how-was-glass-invented-and-when)
Until next time,
M
Resources:
Ellis, William S. Glass: From the First Mirror to Fiber Optics, the Story of the Substance That Changed the World. New York: Avon Books, Inc., 1998
Steve W. Martin, "Glass," Discovery Channel School, original content provided by World Book Online, http://www.discoveryschool.com/homeworkhelp/
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/england/canterbury-cathedral-stained-glass-windows
http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/how-was-glass-invented-and-when
http://www.texasglass.com/glass_facts/history_of_Glass.htm
Friday, August 31, 2012
My Lady's Cake
Today was back to the weekend grind for me. I was excited (Fridays are always my favorite since I get to spend my day with Ashley)- I "planned" our day with a little eating, a little sewing, some cleaning, maybe a little gardening depending on the weather, and a whole lot of talking! What I got was a video camera and cooking on the wood-stove....bummer.
However, it was Ashley's birthday so we pulled out all the stops and made a cake instead of the normal biscuits or churned ice cream for Ice Cream Friday (oh, well, the churn broke a few weeks ago but I discovered the way to fake churning the ice cream. ha!) The cake turned out fabulously. The recipe came from the book Breakfast, Lunch and Tea by Marion Harland, c. 1875.
There was a filling recipe included (which we skipped due to supplies and time) but I'm including here:
We opted for a generic powdered sugar/vanilla/cinnamon/nutmeg frosting. The cake, as do biscuits, come out pretty dense- packed with flavor, and ready to melt in your mouth. I'm tempted to try this one at home, maybe it was the wood-stove or the 90+ degree day or maybe it's just a fantastic recipe that doesn't come in a box!
Until Next Time,
M
However, it was Ashley's birthday so we pulled out all the stops and made a cake instead of the normal biscuits or churned ice cream for Ice Cream Friday (oh, well, the churn broke a few weeks ago but I discovered the way to fake churning the ice cream. ha!) The cake turned out fabulously. The recipe came from the book Breakfast, Lunch and Tea by Marion Harland, c. 1875.
There was a filling recipe included (which we skipped due to supplies and time) but I'm including here:
We opted for a generic powdered sugar/vanilla/cinnamon/nutmeg frosting. The cake, as do biscuits, come out pretty dense- packed with flavor, and ready to melt in your mouth. I'm tempted to try this one at home, maybe it was the wood-stove or the 90+ degree day or maybe it's just a fantastic recipe that doesn't come in a box!
Until Next Time,
M
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Finding My Tuffet
Over the years, I have truly loved being a historical interpreter. Well, until last weekend that is. I drove bright and early to my beloved town (city streets were being closed for other events unrelated to the museum....you know, someone was sneezing or something...) I arrived on site to find broken glass and vomit a stellar 2 feet away from the trash can in front of the historic houses. I'm not sure I can throw that stone- I generally miss the trash can too, but I certainly don't throw up in public AND miss the trash can, that's for sure.
There were plenty of people milling through the museum park, but with no interest in the gardens, the buildings, the chickens, bees, Fred the Bunny, or me. I thought it was going to be a quiet day, and I might get through some of the tedious cleaning like washing the windows and trying to convince Charlotte to change her web to a new window. All until I could hear the fence cracking (I was in the cabin looking at dress patterns) I looked out the kitchen window and people were STANDING ON THE FENCE. Seriously, in what lifetime does it ever seem like a fantastic idea for an adult (much less a child) to stand on a public fence that's not all that sturdy? And then for more adults to do it too???
Feeling the need to do my job (okay, okay, stupidity always follows the sentence that starts with "doing my job") I went out in my historically accurate costume and teacher voice to proclaim: "Excuse me, you have to get off the fence. It's not safe. Thank you." Most people got done with little grumbling, until I reached Mr. Butthole. I repeated myself 5 or 6 times and he said: "oh F--- off, I don't have to listen to you Ms Muffet." (Okay, side note here: I thought he said Ms Muppet, so I was incredibly insulted thinking he was trying to call me Miss Piggy or even Kermit and messing it up.) I told him I'd call the police and he said go ahead. Some lady called me a B......
I retraced my steps, telling people to get off the fence and again, another man said no, he paid city taxes so it was his property and he didn't have to get down. By this point, I was so angry I could barely walk.
By the end of the day:
SO....my final thoughts on the above society citizens:
Mr.I-Don't-Have-to-Listen-to-You: I really, truly hope you are married, have a daughter, and granddaughters. Someday, I hope some wrinkly, old jerkwad calls them names when they are doing the job of their dreams (for very little pay...) Hopefully, this brings them to the breaking point and reminds them that they are only women and lesser, somehow therefore cartoonish/waste of time/and never to be taken seriously. I hope you have to listen to them cry for HOURS and comfort them.
To the Lady that called me a B: I hope your daughter asked you what that was; she's approaching teen years soon. (Oh, and I hope you wrinkle.)
And Mr.I-Pay-Taxes-I-Don't-Have-To: Next time you stop by the history park, please give me your wallet. I'd like a raise as your employee, and you need to fix your fence (the kid broke it).
Until Next Time...
M
There were plenty of people milling through the museum park, but with no interest in the gardens, the buildings, the chickens, bees, Fred the Bunny, or me. I thought it was going to be a quiet day, and I might get through some of the tedious cleaning like washing the windows and trying to convince Charlotte to change her web to a new window. All until I could hear the fence cracking (I was in the cabin looking at dress patterns) I looked out the kitchen window and people were STANDING ON THE FENCE. Seriously, in what lifetime does it ever seem like a fantastic idea for an adult (much less a child) to stand on a public fence that's not all that sturdy? And then for more adults to do it too???
Feeling the need to do my job (okay, okay, stupidity always follows the sentence that starts with "doing my job") I went out in my historically accurate costume and teacher voice to proclaim: "Excuse me, you have to get off the fence. It's not safe. Thank you." Most people got done with little grumbling, until I reached Mr. Butthole. I repeated myself 5 or 6 times and he said: "oh F--- off, I don't have to listen to you Ms Muffet." (Okay, side note here: I thought he said Ms Muppet, so I was incredibly insulted thinking he was trying to call me Miss Piggy or even Kermit and messing it up.) I told him I'd call the police and he said go ahead. Some lady called me a B......
I retraced my steps, telling people to get off the fence and again, another man said no, he paid city taxes so it was his property and he didn't have to get down. By this point, I was so angry I could barely walk.
By the end of the day:
- some kid fell of fence and got hurt (big dam,n duh)
- the police came twice with guns and yelled in that police way (totally trumping my teacher voice... how do they do that?)
- I was insulted, pushed, and threatened
- I got to use a real Bio hazard Waste bag (those are seriously gross by the way)
SO....my final thoughts on the above society citizens:
Mr.I-Don't-Have-to-Listen-to-You: I really, truly hope you are married, have a daughter, and granddaughters. Someday, I hope some wrinkly, old jerkwad calls them names when they are doing the job of their dreams (for very little pay...) Hopefully, this brings them to the breaking point and reminds them that they are only women and lesser, somehow therefore cartoonish/waste of time/and never to be taken seriously. I hope you have to listen to them cry for HOURS and comfort them.
To the Lady that called me a B: I hope your daughter asked you what that was; she's approaching teen years soon. (Oh, and I hope you wrinkle.)
And Mr.I-Pay-Taxes-I-Don't-Have-To: Next time you stop by the history park, please give me your wallet. I'd like a raise as your employee, and you need to fix your fence (the kid broke it).
Until Next Time...
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Once Upon a Time
In a land far, far away, a little girl grew up. She thought she knew between right and wrong. She loved to read, sew, and bake delicious treats for the people she loved best- and everyone else.
She spent her days teaching and guiding, balancing herself on a delicate line between the past and present. The No Where and Now Here. The long forgotten conveniently set smack in the middle of a bustling present day modernism. Still, she loved crossing over the gates of the imagination game over and over again. And she loved the people.
She loved the smart phones and wood fire stoves.
The car alarms and petticoats.
Modern day rudeness's and 1870's homes.
There's just nothing else like it....Welcome to my adventure wagon!
She spent her days teaching and guiding, balancing herself on a delicate line between the past and present. The No Where and Now Here. The long forgotten conveniently set smack in the middle of a bustling present day modernism. Still, she loved crossing over the gates of the imagination game over and over again. And she loved the people.
She loved the smart phones and wood fire stoves.
The car alarms and petticoats.
Modern day rudeness's and 1870's homes.
There's just nothing else like it....Welcome to my adventure wagon!
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