A place for contemplation

We, my husband and I, went up to the mountains to see the colors change this weekend. It was beautiful—gold, red, orange and green.

The air was crisp and there was snow on the ground in places. Especially on the tops of the mountains and the trails through the forest. 
But what really got my attention was the small bench against the rocks. A place to rest. It called to me then, and it calls to me now.
I have lost someone very dear to me this year. I find myself eager to sit and watch and enjoy everything around me. Things that are hard, don't seem as hard. Things that are wonderful seem less so. It is probably the melancholy that I wear as a cape over everything I do, see and say.



The dark days of winter are coming and I know in advance, I will be more downhearted than usual. I know it will pass. But the truth is I don't want it to. I don't want to forget the person I loved and is no longer on this earth. I want to remember him always and I want others to remember him too.

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit away from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain. Psalm 51:11-12

Castlewood Canyon State Park

Hiking in Colorado is amazing. Castlewood Canyon State Park. We took a moderate loop hike. It was cold in the mountains and so it was perfect for an overcast day just outside the city. We should have taken a longer path, but hadn't picked up a map. Thought the trail maps would be enough. We will definitely be back.    

Regency fare

The Prince Regent indulged in food and it was said of him that he never restrained himself from any table. In one month’s time at Carlton House the household used 5,264 pounds of meat excluding sausage, pork and poultry. Those items were also consumed in varying amounts. At any given time there were close to 120 people eating at the Regent’s table. But that means that each guest had to eat at least more than a pound of meat a day. Any of the left-over dishes the servants ate and they were also given their own “joint of meat”.

In January 1817 at the Brighton Pavilion, the menu consisted of over a hundred dishes for the Regent and his guests. The dishes were placed in the middle of the table and servants would bring each dish to guests to serve them. Conversation was continually interrupted by guests asking servants for certain dishes.

One guest complained that the servants always offer the ladies the dishes first and some guests are offered the same dish 2 or 3 times while some unhappy fool sits without any options at all.

In smaller households hostesses began putting the dishes in the middle of the table and letting the guests serve themselves as they passed it along the table. It was more harmonious. But in order for this to work you could not have as many dishes otherwise you would be passing dishes all night and never have a chance to eat.

The working class’s main staple, you would think would be bread. However, bread cost a schilling, the same price for 20 pounds of potatoes. So they more than not survived on potatoes. If they received a higher wage, they would add tea, sugar and bread to their diet.  

So working as the staff of a grand home was desirable as it provided better food and often lodging. 

What's in a Title

What is in a title? It turns out during the late 1700’s and early 1800’s . . . a lot. Men’s titles dictated what the women in his family would be called. 

For instance if your father was a Duke, the highest rank under the King, both he and his wife the Duchess would be called Your Grace, though people close to them would be able to call them Duchess or Duke. All of the Duke’s daughters are given the title Lady, then their first name and then their surname. These titles continue to all daughters who have  fathers that are either a Duke, Marquess or Earl.

The Earl of Mistlewatch is then shortened to Earl Mistlewatch, his wife would be the Countess. So any one calling on him would call him the Earl of Mistlewatch or Lord Mistlewatch or Mistlewatch. His wife would be the Countess of Mistlewatch or Lady Mistlewatch, and sign letters to her closest friends, Constance Mistlewatch. His daughter would be called for instance Lady Helen Mistlewatch.

To make matters more interesting if Lady Helen Mistlewatch marries a commoner, she retains her title but if Lady Helen marries the Earl of Heinrich she becomes the Countess of Heinrich, Lady Heinrich. If she marries the holder of a courtesty title, then she may use his title or her birth title as she wishes.

So the Duke of Edinburough’s daughter, Lady Mary Edinburough will never be called Lady Edinburough. That is her mother’s title. The only exception being if her father has no sons and she marries the heir to his title. Then she will be Lady Edinburough. But if that does not occur she will be called Lady Mary until she marries.

To complicate matters the son of Earls, Marquesses and Dukes will take the title the father had before he became the higher title. So your father may be called Duke and the son from infancy would be called the Marquess of another property/land that the family holds. ie Marquess Somerset.  

It is great to keep a chart of who is who and what they should be called for it can be very confusing even within a family of who is who.    

Springtime Means the Season

My crocuses have bloomed. Which means spring is on its way. Which of course has me once again thinking about Regency England.

The end of April marked the beginning of the Season.

Roads were dry enough for horses and carriages to travel upon. The weather was warmer making it easier for whole families to accompany their father, son, brother or husband as they made their way to the city of London to take their seats in Parliament. If you did not have a home in the city, one could be rented.

Evenings were filled with entertainments. Mornings were filled with visits from friends and, of course, shopping.

The Season was rightly called the "Marriage Market" where young women of 17-25 were adorned in the finest gowns to attract husbands. Social gatherings to bring young people together, still done today.

Dancing was a way to meet prospective husbands. A "dance" could last up to an hour. So you had some time to converse. It was similar to line dances except that the women were in one line and the men in another. They promenaded between the two lines and held gloved hands lightly.

If you did not want to dance with a partner there were ways to avoid the encounter.

1. You can hide from him, but then you might not be seen by the partners you do want to encourage. Probably not wise.
2. You can pretend not to hear him, when he asks for a dance. He may be persistent.
3. You could say you have promised all your dances to others. But if someone comes up and asks you to dance, you can't dance with that man either.
4. The best way is to bite the bullet and get the dance over with. Be a boring partner and talk about silk and satins. He may get the hint.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and don't forget Tea Time

For the wealthy in the Regency period, life was wonderful. Or was it? Sure you didn’t have to worry about where your next meal was coming from and if you would have a place to sleep at night. But there were rules. Rigid rules. Rules for everything and everyone to live under.  Perhaps that is how Society everywhere is run.

Living in a wealthy home the order of meals were ruled by what could be eaten and what time they could be eaten. You had a cook, she had to know what she was to prepare and when. It makes sense.

Breakfast seems to be of an incredible poor quality. Around 10:00 a.m Toast or bread with tea, coffee or a chocolate drink. Sounds good. But the chocolate beverage was a thick dark chocolate and not sweet but bitter. Maybe lunch will be hardier.

Lunch/Nuncheon was served in the middle of the day. Cold meat, cheese and bread. I guess a sandwich. Not bad. But you would be out making morning calls and would be served at your friend’s house. As a woman you were expected to eat light, so now it seems you would be starving. Tea was served with small cakes and fruit. I suggest making friends with the cook.  

Dinner – You’ve made it to 3 - 5 o’clock depending when the lady of the house has ordered this meal to be served. (In the country it was early, in town it was 6 - 7 o’clock.) Finally you get to eat. There could be hot pudding, hot meat, soup, and bread. This is where you will need to fill up. Put something in your pocket for later.

Tea time – an hour after dinner. Tea or coffee is served and maybe a small piece of cake.

Supper was served between 9-10 o’clock. Depending when dinner was served it could be a hot meal. Yes!!! Or if dinner was at 7 and finished at 8, you might get nothing more than tea and bread and butter. Maybe an English muffin, coffee or some wine and water mixed as an aid to sleep.

I'm starving but it's time for bed. Maybe tomorrow will be better. 

Peppermint oil

When I read books about the sick room in the 1800’s and of the peppermint water in doctors’ bags as well as leeches. I usually smile.
So primitive. Any yet, maybe not. Maybe remedies of the past still work today. Recently, I went to an essential oil party and saw all the cute little vials.
Suffering from allergies I made a blend. Lo and behold, it worked.
Peppermint is a naturally occurring hybrid of spearmint and water mint. It has been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to the pyramids. In the mid 1700’s London cultivated and grew peppermint.

The United States was the first to commercially grow peppermint in the late 1700’s.

So why am I writing about peppermint when I’ve already blogged about doctors of the 1800’s. I have been sick lately and got out all the essential oils that I thought would help. My room smelled of peppermint to the point that now smelling it makes me sick.

Having used peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, lemon oil, and lavender oil has helped me to stop being snobbish when reading the books I love and the medicines they used.

I’m still against leeches though.