New Pajamas and a Tea Party

No matter how young or how old we are...we girls love a new set of pajamas...

...a pretty new nightgown...

...a new pair of slippers...

They just feel so good. Especially when it's cold outside, and there's no where she has to be.

So when one receives all 3...well, let's just say...

a girl might not ever come out of them!

Sophia's new jammies and bunny boots (as she calls her new slippers) arrived in the mail...

...and she was pretty excited.  They are very good for hopping.

Commence hopping.

On this chilly morning
we had enjoyed reading through some tales,
and I had begun my knitting time (a new Tasha Tudor inspired Cottage Shawl, for me) with the softest new yarn, Frog Tree's Alpaca Sport ....(acquired at my favorite place to knit, crochet, receive needed instruction..The Joy of Knitting shop, here in Franklin)

Sophia was wearing her pretty new gown.

Scout popped out from between the table and Grammy's Rocker ...wondering what Phia was up to, for she's ALWAYS up to SOMETHING interesting...

she looked awfully busy...

she was 'tidying up'...
 as they say on Peppa Pig...her most favorite show.
*****

Grammy is teaching her that she must tidy up one mess before beginning another...

...and there is always, always another mess on the way...

*****

This lovely new mess requires a basket filled with tea party goodies...

....and a sweet old cloth that is just the right size for impromptu tea party picnics..

...requiring several goes at getting it to lay, just so...

Now onto the guest list. 

There's Winnie bear and Grammy rabbit...

They love each other.
She leans on him, because he never ever falls over.

Then there is Really Old Bear
(not to be confused with Old Bear, who is the star of Jane Hissey's books)

He is a lighter shade of mohair...a very, very old shade...

Looking over Really Old Bear and the tea tray...
..Phia takes inventory.

Hmmmmmm what else do I need...

tea pot...check...a tea cup...

yes..

two tea cups...check...

Now to feed Winnie bear...

Oh...it's too hard to reach him...
must adjust the seating arrangement...

Oh, alright, Winnie bear...just come sit in my lap..

I will feed you.

Now... it is time for Really Old Bear's nap...for he is really really old...

Phia fixes and fixes until she gets his covers just right...

Really Old Bear looks so comfy... Maybe Phia will just slip right in there next to him...

Now of course, this went on for several more minutes, with several more tries,
but, alas, poor Sophia failed to achieve the same level of comfiness as Really Old Bear.
She is most comfy in her very own room,
in her very own bed..

reading books to Little Teddy.

We are very excited that Christmas is just around the corner, although it is very difficult explaining this to one little girl who, upon waking each morning, asks,
"Is it Kissmiss?"

Soon little Phia....soon.

*****
Our love for Tasha Tudor and Christmastide is reflected on our dining table....

The yellow ware bowl belonged to our beloved Tasha.  I was incredibly fortunate to find it on a website, The World of Tasha Tudor... Cellar Door Books.
It is perfect for pomanders and pinecones.
The tiny book of hers, The Bouquet, was found after quite an online search.
Sweet treasures resting alongside the Tudor family's hand-dipped beeswax candles.

Blessings, friends.

Her name shall be 'Rose Water Cottage'

After much thought and consideration....writing different names....rolling them off my tongue...the way an expectant mother writes prospective names for her unborn child, using beautiful script, searching the meanings of the names...I have come upon a name for our little white Victorian Cottage.

Her name came to me early on, but other names strolled across my mind...the way it seems to happen when a child's name has been chosen...clouded confusion takes up residence.  Then suddenly the air clears, the first loved name has remained and presents itself as a banner.

As Xavier lay next to me for nap time yesterday afternoon, his little face right next to mine...he sniffed my cheek and said, "you smell like your house, Grammy!"
Tea Rose fragranced lotion was worn on my first evening of dinner and conversation with the wonderful man who would one day be my husband...and it has remained his favorite. Crabtree and Evelyn has carried a Rosewater that I love, and that Tia and Keely often present as gifts on special occasions.  The Rose Water room spray falls to my hair as I release it's fragrance to the rooms of our home...the Rose Water talc is dusted across my shoulders after a bath..

Rose Water body cream is applied to my hands before I slip into the bed at night...

Rose Water hand cream keeps my hands soft...as I write letters on rose stationery collected in a rose-covered tin....

The dried rosebuds and hydrangeas from our wedding cake, have been kept in a bowl that also holds the dried roses that formed a lovely bouquet (presented to us by our sweet Tia on our wedding day)...I wore some of the tiny rosebuds in my hair for that most special occasion.

Even the vintage 'handkersniff' I carried, wiping joyful tears during the ceremony, is covered with pink buds...

Sweet little Eliza has her favorite...

Tasha Tudor's Spring Bouquet Moisturizing Cream has a delightful rose water fragrance that I love to use when I take breaks from my knitting, as it softens the callouses eager to form on my fingers.

So, with much joy and anticipation...our cozy cottage finally has a name ....and a fragrance that will come her way.
Rose Water Cottage shall be her name....

Minnie Elizabeth Weatherington Aly...

I have had the most wonderful news...I am going to be a mother-in-law to the most precious young woman I could have ever imagined in all my dreams and wishes. My eldest, Matthew, has asked his Jenny to be his wife.  The ring he has given her as a promise, and as her  future wedding band, is the ring which belonged to my great great grandmother. I would like to share this post from last year, Mother's Day 2011, so that this sweet girl can know the history of this band of gold, given to dear Minnie on her wedding day in 1871.

"Keeper of the Stories" being my unofficial title in our family is a difficult task, but as I share them in this fashion, they are released, and no longer bump into each other in my mind, causing much relief. I want to remember all the special details, facts, who-begat-who, and on and on...
This is where we shall start.

A little car was purchased for Eliza and John Jacob  ...it reminded our friend Diane of a truck her grandparents had...and it reminded me of a photo I keep in my family treasures cabinet...and so the story must begin with Miss Minnie Elizabeth Weatherington.

She is pictured in the photo wearing her fancy fascinator (this is surely why I adore wearing hats). This was taken about the time of her marriage to John R. Aly in 1871. Her wedding band rests on the art stand and is inscribed "John R. Aly to M.E.W" in beautiful script. The tiny spectacles, toddler's shoe, and darning egg have been passed down to me, but no one is quite sure which article belonged to whom. The dashing young fellow in the picture would be the son she would have, Fred R. Aly, Sr.  Minnie would obtain the Testament & Psalms after 20 years of marriage.

Little Fred Aly, Sr. would one day have a granddaughter named Dorothy, and would carve this tiny little chair for her. If he had ever dreamed that his great granddaughter would still cherish this petite piece of furniture and photograph its escapades with tiny mice and dolls and squirrels...He would surely be proud.

This photo was taken of John and Minnie and their grandson, Fred R. Aly, Jr. with the automobile that reminded me of Eliza and John Jacob's new little car.

See the resemblence?

I am so honored to have this Bible, fragile as it is, knowing that my great great grandmother held it in her hands.

Upon opening, the front page bears a faded signature, date, and address....

A closer look reveals the complete date...

Feb. 14th 1891

Pasted on the back cover, I found a poem, "One of Us Two" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. How incredibly gripping are the words...

One of Us Two

The day will dawn, when one of us shall hearken

In vain to hear a voice that has grown dumb.

And morns will fade, moons pale, and shadows darken,

While sad eyes watch for feet that never come.

One of us two must, some time face existence,

Alone with memories that but sharpen pain.

And these sweet days shall shine back in the distance,

Like dreams of summer dawns, in nights of rain.

One of us two, with tortured heart half broken,

Shall read long -treasured letters through salt tears,

Shall kiss with anguished lips each cherished token,

That speaks of these love-crowned, delicious years.

One of us two shall and all light, all beauty,

All joy on earth, a tale forever done;

Shall know henceforth that life means only duty.

Oh God! Oh, God! have pity on that one

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

I have never known who passed away first, and who was left behind....

This is how the lineage progressed:

Little Fred Aly, Jr. pictured in photo on the left...grew up to marry pretty Effie Belle Sams, pictured in photo on the right...and they would have a baby, Dorothy, being held by new mommy... Effie...and Dorothy would have Christie (Grammy)....  I find my smiling eyes in my Grandma's sweet face.

My great great grandmother Minnie, holding my mother Dorothy in the photo to the right. 

Thank you for joining me, as I strive to be a thoughtful caretaker and "Keeper of the Stories"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Miss Eliza has requested that Grammy knit 2 more lovely shawls to send to her new friend, Millie Mousekin, as a belated Mother's Day gift. Mama Mousekin has been quite busy these days helping her mistress Linnie (the Butt'ry and Book'ry) sew tiny stitches in her beautiful gown for the Ball they will be attending this week.  A working shawl and a tea party shawl (like Tasha Tudor used to wear, minus the fancy ribbons...little mice have trouble keeping their shawls on their little shoulders) are being sent her way...

...with warmest regards, blessings, and many mouse hugs!

Hoping all who are Mothers, had a most blessed day, and were honored for their love and commitment to their children.

                                                  

Meet the Newest Little Residents at Grammy's House....John Jacob and Eliza Dormouse

After hibernating all Winter long, John Jacob and Eliza Dormouse found their way to Grammy's House....sniffed a few sniffs...scurried 'round the baseboards...and found a lovely little cottage door by the tea table. It was perfectly perfect!

Eliza's "City Mouse" cousin lives in a grand house not very far away and commissioned her mistress to craft a sweet little door for Eliza and John Jacob's new home at Grammy's house in the country. It seems to be just right!

So Eliza asks Mistress Grammy if she would prepare a lovely Spring wardrobe for her dear cousin...and indeed, Mistress Grammy is delighted to knit and sew a pair of shawls and a kerchief.

Very special yarn will be used, and fashionable little ribbons will keep them snuggly tied around her mousey tummy and shoulders. The kerchief will be made from handkersniff remnants....Xavier's very most favorite of all of Grammy's hankies...the one he loved on the most...until it came apart from all the loving. What beautiful little Tasha Tudor - like kerchiefs are made as sweet remembrances.

The brown shawl is very similar to Miss Tasha's "work shawl" used whilst she was gardening, cooking, sewing, spinning...completing her domestic tasks. The pink shawl shall be for special occasions, such as tea parties and visits from her "Country Mouse" cousin.

Mistress Grammy finds a teeny tiny box to wrap the teeny tiny gifts and uses pale blue tissue paper to wrap each one. She uses her very old fountain pen to write a sweet note, dictated by Eliza, and tucks all these things into the box.

Eliza whispers to John Jacob, "She will be so surprised!!" 

John Jacob whispers to Eliza, "She mustn't squeak too loud...for Matilda the Cat might pounce!"

Yes, the city mouse cousin must always watch for the Cat, as John Jacob has learned he must always watch out for Scout the Yorkie, who snatched him straightaway whilst he was posing for his picture by their new door. (Mistress Grammy will be much more careful to watch out for her tiny new residents!)

Eliza loves to sit atop the Tasha Tudor Spring Bouquet Hand Cream and watch her mistress knit...for she uses the cream quite often...which means extra attention for Mrs. Dormouse...

Sweet little Eliza is named after Mistress Grammy's Great Grandmother....Dear John Jacob is named after her great-great-great grandfather, who came over from England to North Carolina and fought in the Revolutionary War. Miss Eliza Bitt was nicknamed 'Bitty', as she only grew to be 4 feet tall! 

A Dormouse is found in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, making nests under the foliage of the forest floor, hibernating all winter long. They have furry tails, and resemble squirrels...and are called dormouse, referring to their dormant nature during the long cold months. 

But since they are British, Mistress Grammy felt they would be perfect little friends with perfect little names to honor her ancestry.

We will pop in every now and then to see their progress as they create a cozy home at Grammy's House.