Queen Charlotte and Christmas in Georgian England

From Nancy Bilyeau:

Some people cherish an image of Victorian Christmas as the peak of all celebrations. This was when the Christmas tree first found its way into English homes, thanks to Prince Albert, and when families gathered to "make merry" and give thanks for their good fortune, just as they did in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. 

Um, that's not quite right. 

While there is a strong belief that Albert brought with him from Saxe-Coburg the tradition of a Christmas tree, the honors belong to Queen Charlotte, wife of George III. She was raised in Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and it was following her marriage to George in 1761 that the tree tradition found its way to England.... 

At first Queen Charlotte confined her importing of German Christmas traditions to mounting a decorated yew branch, but in 1800 she threw a memorable party at Windsor for the kingdom's leading families, showing off an entire tree. Dr John Watkins wrote with some awe of how "from the branches of which hung bunches of sweetmeats, almonds and raisins in papers, fruits and toys, most tastefully arranged; the whole illuminated by small wax candles." He said that "after the company had walked round and admired the tree, each child obtained a portion of the sweets it bore, together with a toy, and then all returned home quite delighted." 

Before long, anybody who was anybody wanted a Christmas tree. (Read more.)

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What Is Figgy Pudding?

From NPR:

This holiday season, one popular Christmas carol has been raising some questions here at NPR headquarters. Namely: "Oh, bring us some figgy pudding, oh, bring us some figgy pudding, oh — "

Wait. What is figgy pudding? First of all, it's "absolutely delicious," says Debbie Waugh, who recently served the dish at a tea at the Historic Green Spring House in Alexandria, Va.

Figgy pudding — also known as plum pudding or Christmas pudding — is a staple of the British Christmas table, she says. "It resembles something like a cannonball, and it maybe feels a bit like a cannonball when it hits your stomach, but it's tradition and we love it," Waugh tells NPR's Michel Martin. And despite its moniker, the dessert features neither figs nor plums. (Read more.)

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A ‘Little Women’ Christmas Aesthetic

  

From Homes and Gardens:

There’s something inherently nostalgic about the holiday season – the return of old traditions, the warmth of homecomings, and the quiet joy of generosity and togetherness. It’s a feeling steeped in comfort and memory, one that the March family captures so beautifully in the iconic book and films of Little Women. The Little Women Christmas aesthetic brings this timeless sentiment to life, blending the charm and magic of family and celebration.

Based on Louisa May Alcott's 1868 novel and its various film adaptations, the Little Women Christmas aesthetic embraces the simplicity of the holiday season by means of charming and evocative home decor. This Christmas decorating theme leans into 'nostalgia-core', or a yearning for the peace, comfort, and childlike joy of Christmases past. It's no surprise that this aesthetic is such a popular trend this year, as it 'captures what people are craving right now: more warmth, more color, more character,' interior designer Terri Brien explains. 'It’s sentimental and layered, with a feeling of nostalgia and comfort that is just perfect for the holidays.'

Unlike other holiday trends that might only speak to certain personalities or interior design styles, there's something universal about the Little Women Christmas aesthetic. It embodies the essence of the Christmas holiday itself, not only through its colors and its decorations, but through the feeling it establishes within individuals. (Read more.)

 

And here is a "Little Women" Christmas Brunch from Victoria!

 

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Holiday Etiquette Tips

From Kitchn:

When to arrive at a party?

If you live by the motto that it’s “better late than never,” you may be on to something. Although Martha doesn’t suggest showing up to parties two hours late, she does say that not showing up at the time it is scheduled to start is just fine. “A little past call time is always nice for the host because they’re never quite ready,” Martha suggested.

How long you should wait for a tardy guest before serving dinner?

“Not too long,” said Martha. “Just leave the plates — actually, push their plates to the end of the table.” (Note to self: Do not arrive late to Martha’s party.)

If you can move place cards if you don’t like the person you’re seated next to?

“No,” warned Martha. “You’re not allowed to. On Thanksgiving, my daughter moved all the place cards without my knowledge. That didn’t go over so well.” Check out the full segment below, along with Martha’s recipe for molasses-ginger crisps. We think they make a thoughtful gift, even if the eggs you use come from the grocery store. (Read more.)

 

More tips, HERE.

 

The comfort of scruffy hospitality, from Treehugger:

My friends Dana and John perfectly practice what the Rev. Jack King referred to as "scruffy hospitality." Their kitchen is small. The wood cabinets are dark and a few decades old. Spices and jars for sugar and flour line the countertops because there's nowhere else to put them. A tall, round table shoved in a corner has mismatched bar stools crammed around it.

The sliding glass doors in the kitchen lead to a back deck with a well-used chiminea, an outdoor table and a large variety of chairs and cushions, many of them bought at yard sales. We circle the chairs around the chiminea on weekend nights during all four seasons, whenever Dana and John put out a simple call out through text or Facebook that says, "Fire tonight!"

There will always be food, but like the bar stools and deck chairs, the food is mismatched. Our hosts provide some food; John may have the urge to make jalapeño poppers or Dana may put together some version of salsa with whatever's fresh from the garden, but there's not a formally prepared meal. Everyone just brings something. It's perfectly acceptable — encouraged even — to bring odds and ends of foods that need to get used up. I often bring wedges of cheese that have already been cut into or half a baguette to slice up and toast to dip in hummus. Everyone brings a little something to drink. And it's a glorious feast.

This kitchen and deck won't be featured in Better Homes and Gardens anytime soon, but maybe they should be. They are two of the most hospitable spaces I know. By opening up their home as-is, Dana and John are the most gracious hosts I know. I almost wrote "by opening up their home with its imperfections," but that's not accurate. Their home is perfect — just like it is. (Read more.)

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The True Story of How Benjamin Guinness’s Will Changed the Course of History

 From Town and Country:

Benjamin Lee Guinness was the most successful businessman in Ireland, generous and wide-ranging in his philanthropy, civic-minded and now politically active. “The Governor,” as his children called him, now became Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, Bart, MP, his seat Ashford Castle.

However thrilled Sir Benjamin was for himself and for Arthur, who as the eldest son would inherit the baronetcy as well as so much on the material side, he didn’t enjoy it for long. It was late in life to be kicking off a political career, and the novelty and stimulation of the House of Commons and the pleasures of London palled in fairly short order. When fatigue and ill-health prevailed Sir Benjamin longed for the dear familiar rhythms of life at home at St Anne’s.

[His youngest son,] Edward Cecil brought him down to the Queen’s Hotel in Sydenham, Kent in May 1868, and wrote from there to his elder brother Arthur that their father was “very weak and languid, his stomach is very much out of order, he thinks caused by want of exercise which his cold prevented him taking.” He was “heartily sick of London, and of being a member [of Parliament].” Edward Cecil accompanied his father back to Mayfair the next day and reported to Arthur that he was “exceedingly weak today and very sickish,” adding that, despite this weakness, “the Devil can’t induce him to see a doctor’. He had lost all appetite and was eating barely anything. (Read more.)

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More on the Frederick Visitation

 

Mother Mary Paula

As many people know, I taught there in the 80's and 90's, was married there, and was close to the nuns. Lately, it was sold by the Archdiocese of Baltimore and made into a hotel. The gloriously beautiful chapel has been transformed into a bar, resulting in outrage from former students and teachers. I wrote a letter in protest, which the Frederick Post published. The blasphemous outrage recently came to the attention of Fox News:

More than 3,000 people have signed a petition urging the owners of a chapel-turned bar in a Maryland Marriott property to abstain from serving liquor from the former high altar.

Catholics are asking the Wye Oak Tavern in the recently opened luxury boutique Visitation Hotel in Frederick, Md., to restore the dignity of the chapel. The restaurant features a bar around the former high altar, which is flanked by large stained-glass windows and statues of kneeling angels. 

The restaurant, which opened on Dec. 19, is located in the former chapel of the Visitation Convent and Academy, a Catholic all-girls school that was established in 1846. It shuttered its doors in June 2016 due to low enrollment and was then purchased in 2017 and opened as a hotel in 2024. 

"Even though the chapel was properly deconsecrated - for the girls of Visitation, for Christians, and for people of goodwill everywhere, this is an evident and painful misuse of the space," the petition reads. 

"We, Visitation Academy alumni, concerned citizens of Frederick, Maryland, and others dismayed by the use of this space, request you to make the necessary changes as soon as possible to restore its dignity and respect its holy heritage - either by removing the altar and tabernacle or relocating the bar to another location," the petition adds. 

Koren told Fox News Digital the petition was delivered to the hotel on Thursday morning and that a meeting with hotel management had been requested, but she said they have not heard back. 

The Visitation Hotel notes on its website that following its sale in 2017, the site was no longer consecrated. 

"The sale stipulated that the property and chapel be used for non-religious purposes," the hotel website states. "Sacred objects have been removed from the chapel. Any remaining items are present solely to maintain the building's historical character, as required by secular authorities." (Read more.)

 

My essay on Mother Mary Paula, HERE.

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A Pilgrimage to Ireland

 From my newsletter:

Last month my daughter and I accompanied our parish priest and several parishioners on a pilgrimage to Ireland. We traveled with Mark Forrest, the Irish tenor, a grand gentleman. We saw the West and the South of Ireland, stopping at holy places along the way. I have written a great deal about my Irish ancestors, the Kerry-O'Connors, including a novel about them entitled The Paradise Tree. However, I had never set foot in Ireland. I was immediately struck with the feeling of having come home. It was a strange feeling, since I had never been there and everything was new, new but familiar at the same time. Thousands of years of Irish ancestral memory must be deep in my DNA. (Read more.)

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Tilghman Island Country Store

 

(Courtesy of Tilghman Island Country Store Facebook Page)

5949 Tilghman Island Rd, Tilghman, MD

(410) 886-2777

The Tilghman Island Country Store is in itself worth a trip down the road to Tilghman Island, especially in the summer. I will sometimes get an ice cream cone and just sit on the porch of the store to be transported back to the simpler times of my childhood. Watermen drive by in pickup trucks and children whirl around on bikes as mothers come by for groceries and tourists stop by for wine.

As one of the few stores on the island it has just about everything, and unofficially serves as a visitors' center for vacationers hoping to escape the world for a few days. In addition to lots of ice cream there are homemade cookies, a deli, a cafe, fresh hot coffee, soups, crab cakes, cheeses, souvenirs as well as the usual grocery items.

Adding a touch of cosmopolitan glamor is the small but eclectic wine and liquor shop adjoining the deli, where there are always bargains as well as interesting finds, such as the Empress indigo gin I discovered last Friday. Friday nights Miss Patricia and Miss Mary host a wine-tasting party with hors d'oeuvres which is fun. Breakfast is served daily, beginning around dawn, and throughout the day people call in for carry-out sandwiches, subs, meatloaf, salads, crab cakes, soups, burgers and homemade pastries. Others enjoy eating outside on the picnic tables in the summer. In the back yard is Miss Patricia's garden, called "The Garden at Gibsontown," with flowers as well as the herbs and vegetables used in the various recipes. Daily specials are written in chalk outside but you can always call (410) 886-2777 or check online. Every meal I have ever had there has been delicious.

"Tilghman Island Country Store" by Marilyn Rose

Originally published in The Easton Gazette.

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A Brief History of Afternoon Tea

 
 

From Etiquipedia:

“Afternoon Tea” was started in the mid-1800s by Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford. At that time in history, only two meals were common; a mid-morning breakfast and a somewhat late evening dinner. The Duchess found herself with a “sinking feeling” in the late afternoon, with the unacceptably prolonged period of time between lunch and dinner. The Duchess decided to have some friends over for assorted snacks and tea – and the idea of an “afternoon tea” gathering became very popular among the elite, as well as a favorite pastime for “ladies of leisure”. The Duchess ordered a few delicacies and some tea to be brought to her boudoir. The assortment was placed on her low bedside table, and this became known as “Low Tea”. As time went on, the Duchess wished to enjoy these delights with friends in a more social setting – and so the parlor became the venue for “Afternoon Tea”.

“High Tea” – an often misused term for Afternoon Tea/Formal Tea/Royal Tea could not be more different from these specific tea formalities. “High Tea” has nothing to do with “high society”, “upper class”, or “royalty”. It was actually a more hearty “supper style” meal that included meat between the bread (introduced by the Fourth Earl of Sandwich and thus the High Tea Sandwich), and happened to include tea, that was served in the early evening to the “working men” coming home VERY hungry from a hard day’s work. This meal, like “Low Tea”, is so named, due to the height of the table on which it was served – to accommodate the height of the men who typically stood at the table or sat on high stools to feast. This meal gradually became more important on the social calendars of Ladies and Gentlemen and was enjoyed prior to social events like attending the theater or playing cards. (Read more.)

The Duchess of Bedford

 From NPR:

Afternoon tea — the kind of fancy-schmancy affair where we might spot Lady Mary of Downton Abbey — emerged as a social event sometime around the 1830s or 1840s, Richardson writes in A Social History of Tea. And Anna Maria Russell, duchess of Bedford, led the pack.

Back then, lunch for the upper crust was generally a light repast served at noon, and dinner occurred no earlier than 7:30 p.m. As legend has it, during one long, food-less afternoon, the duchess felt hunger pangs and ordered tea and snacks to her bedroom chamber. The refreshments did the trick, and Russell soon made this tea break a habit.

The duchess' well-heeled friends began joining her in this post-lunch tea ritual, the story goes, and the practice spread in aristocratic circles. Though some historical references call this ritual "low tea" — because the ladies would sit in low armchairs while sipping — afternoon tea was hardly a humble affair then. Nor is it today.

Here's where you'll find those crustless finger sandwiches and an array of dainty scones, cakes, macaroons and other tempting nibbles. Afternoon tea is generally served around 3 or 4 p.m. these days. Richardson says it's a time to mind your manners. Place your napkin on your lap and stir gently. Splashing tea, clinking cups and spoons and finger licking will make you appear beastly.

And definitely don't devour everything in front of you. Richardson recalls advice that international etiquette expert (and Liv Tyler's grandmother) Dorothea Johnson once gave him: You don't actually want to appear hungry at this meal — propriety calls for restraint. (Read more.)

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The Coffee Houses of Queen Anne’s London

From English Historical Fiction Authors:

By the turn of the eighteenth century the coffee houses of London had become the great meeting-places of the capital – for relaxation and for stimulation. Whether your drink of choice was coffee, chocolate, or expensive tea, it was here you met with your friends and encountered strangers; where you could exercise your wit, pick up the latest news, sound forth your political opinions, and hear the latest spicy gossip as it did the rounds. Some characters (like Medley in Etherege’s The Man of Mode) were news bulletins in themselves, circulating scandal as a currency – one that gained value in the telling – perhaps to crash by tomorrow. A French traveller found London’s coffee houses remarkable: “You have all manner of news there: you have a good fire, which you may sit by as long as you please; you have a dish of coffee; you meet your friends for the transaction of business – and all for a penny, if you don’t care to spend more.” (Henri Misson, 1717). 

Coffee houses had their individual character, and this might change over the course of a day. Early in the morning the news-mongers circulated, spreading and exchanging the overnight intelligence; later, well-informed gentlemen might stroll in and put matters right; by afternoon the atmosphere was perhaps one of after-dinner reflection; then the place would ready itself for the arrival of the wits and the theatrical crowd primed for the adventures of the evening; and by nine the critics might reappear with their judgments on the new play at the Theatre Royal. 

First established in London during the Commonwealth, after the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660 the coffee houses seem to have gained a reputation for seditious conversation – places that might attract the disaffected. In December 1675 King Charles II issued a proclamation in the London Gazette to suppress all coffee houses as being the haunts of “Idle and disaffected persons” who were spreading “malicious and scandalous reports to the defamation of His Majesties Government . . . speaking evil of things they understand not.” From the following week it would be forbidden for anyone “to keep any publick Coffeehouse, or to utter or sell any Coffee, Chocolet, Sherbett or Tea, or they will answer the contrary at their utmost Perils.” It was a Draconian move against an institution that was becoming popular, and needless to say, this attempt to end what was proving to be a profitable trade for merchants and proprietors alike, was doomed. After a huge outcry the threat was withdrawn.* (*https://www.thegazette.co.uk/all-notices/content/100707). (Read more.)

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White Christmas Mimosas

 From Southern Living:

Everyone’s favorite brunch cocktail gets all dressed up for the holidays thanks to a winning trifecta of wintery fruits and herbs: fresh rosemary, orange liqueur, and two kinds of cranberries.

In addition to the Champagne (or whatever dry sparkling wine you have on hand), this recipe calls for clear orange liqueur and bottled white cranberry juice. Along with the sugared rim and a rosemary-cranberry garnish, the clear spirits and juice give this mimosa a frosty look.

If you can’t find white cranberry juice at the grocery store, substitute regular cranberry juice for a cocktail with a festive red hue. (Read more.)

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Perry: The Pear Cider Dubbed ‘the English Champagne’

 From Country Life:

Not to be confused with cider, the art of perry-making is more than a craft — it’s an English passion. Ben Lerwill meets some of our best producers of fermented pear juice.You can say what you like about Napoleon Bonaparte, but he wasn’t one for dishing out idle praise. When he reportedly described perry as ‘the English Champagne’, it was a sparkling endorsement of the doughty orchardists of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The palaces of imperial France were a long way from the fields of the Wye Valley — nonetheless, a bottle of fine, bittersweet bubbles was seemingly enough to bridge the divide. Perry has history, provenance and prestige. It is, in very basic terms, an alcoholic beverage made from fermented pear juice: perry is to pears what wine is to grapes and cider is to apples.

However, although wine and cider have legions of international devotees, perry occupies a much more specialised place in public (un)consciousness. It had a seat at the top table during the Georgian era but has since experienced periods of near-obsolescence. Happily, despite the fruit it depends on being notoriously troublesome to work with, the drink itself is still very much with us.

At this point, you should dismiss any preconceptions based on Babycham, Lambrini or mass-produced pear cider. Fine perry is an artisan product. Its traditional UK heartland lies in the three counties previously mentioned, with supporting roles from makers in Somerset and Monmouthshire. It typically ranges in strength from 4% to 8% ABV and is commonly sold in 750ml bottles (chill well and pour carefully — leave any sediment).

It often has a pale, straw-coloured hue with a fresh greenish tint. The key fact, however, is this: a good perry is a thing of life-enhancing, effervescent complexity. Among those in the know — and this number is unquestionably growing — the best small-batch makers in the UK are seen as alchemists. (Read more.)

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The Murderous Children of 19th Century Britain

 Anyone who has read Dickens is aware that the lot of the poor in Victorian England was dire, in spite of continuous efforts  on the part of both church and state to give aid. While the Industrial Revolution brought many advantages to society in general, such as more efficient transportation, cheaper and plentiful food and personal amenities, the initial transformation of society from agricultural and rural to urban and mechanized caused great upheavals. Family life, religious custom, moral guidelines, were seemingly trampled in the maze of crowded slums of those whose new center of life was the factories where health and safety measures were practically unknown. No laws existed initially to protect children from working all day and so they labored at many jobs all over the country. One would not therefore be surprised at children turning to crime in the cities, like Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger. 

What surprised me about Christina Croft's carefully researched book about child murderers of the nineteenth century were how the children in the countryside seemed as depraved as those in the towns. Little children killing other little children just out of spite, curiosity, or for no apparent reason occurred in idyllic country villages as well as in thriving centers of commerce. Some people blamed the Penny Dreadfuls, which were serialized bloody and lurid tales aimed at a youthful audience, for giving violent ideas to unformed minds. Others blamed the fact that many poor families drank gin or ale when clean drinking water was absent, which it was most of the time. And so it seems many poor children, bereft of an adequate breakfast, were stumbling around intoxicated by mid-morning. In order to feed them, many destitute families sent their children, as soon as they were old enough, to work in service to middle class or wealthy families. It was in respectable and prosperous homes that many of the most infamous murder cases occurred, for the child servants were given the task of watching over the babies of the family. It seems the repressed or suppressed anger of some servant children manifested itself when they were supposed to be caring for helpless infants. England was shocked by such incidents, and the death penalty did not distinguish between adult and child criminals.

Besides willful murder, there were also children who raped other children, as well as children who enjoyed throwing rocks at strangers' heads and seeing them collapse. There were no gun laws regarding children; many curious young boys found it exciting to steal their fathers' firearms but then accidentally shoot innocent passersby or even their friends and family members. Christina Croft has recorded dozens of tragic cases of all varieties of crime which put one more in mind of twenty-first century Baltimore, Maryland than nineteenth century Great Britain. My Beatrix Potter-like visions of Victorian children having rustic tea parties in the garden along with bunnies, dolls and hedgehogs have been smashed forever.

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Art Tea at The Merrion Hotel

  

From Victoria:

Set in the heart of Dublin, The Merrion boasts luxury lodging, fine dining, and historic atmosphere. Said to have been the birthplace of the first Duke of Wellington in 1769, the hotel is also known for a uniquely lavish teatime experience known as Art Afternoon Tea. Here, in the gracious surroundings of the drawing rooms, guests are treated to a slice of miniature artwork inspired by the nineteenth- and twentieth-century pieces displayed throughout the property, or by figures from the hotel’s past. Art Afternoon Tea is a two-hour experience consisting of two courses, accompanied by teas and coffees selected by The Merrion’s in-house tea masters and barista. While dining, individuals are invited to browse a catalogue of the artwork that is displayed throughout the hotel. And after tea, guests may peruse the paintings in person or during a private or self-guided tour. (Read more.)

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Do Let's Have Another Drink!: The Dry Wit and Fizzy Life of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother

The latest work of one of my favorite authors, Oxford-educated historian Gareth Russell, is a delightful literary portrait of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother entitled Do Let's Have Another Drink! As Mr. Russell makes clear from the beginning of the book, it is not a full biography, covering every aspect and incident of the late Queen Mother's life. It is rather a collection of anecdotes, arranged in chronological order, which nevertheless create a vibrant depiction of the Queen whom Hitler called "the most dangerous woman in Europe." While the book is laugh-out-loud amusing it  also has many poignant moments as befits the life of a royal consort who endured two world wars, accompanied by apocalyptic global changes, including the rise of Communism and the decline of the British Empire. Elizabeth suffered many personal losses throughout, such as the deaths of family members, and the scandals which haunt most royal families, including the relatively staid House of Windsor. The lady whom the more elegant and stylish set liked to ridicule for her love of cocktails, good food, and country life could also be the life of any party when she chose to be, taking Paris by storm in her white wardrobe. The Queen Mother became most known for her bright smile and spine of steel as she picked her way through the rubble left by German bombs in order to comfort the citizens of London. Her refusal to flee London with her children during the worst of the blitz made her a beloved figure, a larger-than-life legend in her own time, and in times to come.

I thoroughly enjoyed the account of the visit to Paris of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The Queen had just lost her mother the Countess of Strathmore and so she was in mourning. Black was not considered suitable for so important a state visit, so the Queen's designer Norman Hartnell designed a white wardrobe, since in France white was the color of mourning for queens. I have no doubt Marie-Antoinette would have approved. In the words of The Court Jeweller:

In the spring of 1938, Buckingham Palace was hard at work planning King George VI and Queen Elizabeth’s first state visit. They were due to arrive in France for the visit in June, but the death of the Queen’s mother, the Countess of Strathmore, meant that plans had to be changed. So did the Queen’s state visit wardrobe, which was in the process of being made by Norman Hartnell.

Instead of remaking the tour wardrobe in black mourning colors, Hartnell suggested that the Queen’s clothes for the visit should be white instead, pointing to Queen Victoria’s all-white funeral as a royal precedent. The fittings for the outfits were finished in a hurried rush; Elizabeth wrote to her mother-in-law, Queen Mary, that she was “nearly demented with rushing up and down and trying to order and try on all my white things for Paris!” With the white wardrobe, naturally, the Queen packed lots of royal pearls in her bags, too. (Read more.)

According to The Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor:

When the trip arrived, Queen Elizabeth left England in black and arrived in France in dazzling white. Dressed like a cloud, she was an ethereal sight to behold. There are several accounts of her presence inspiring gasps from the crowds, from the moment she stepped off the train to the flutter when she opened her parasol (in fact, she temporarily revived parasol production in Paris and London). The white color proved to be the perfect thing to make her easily seen in the crowd, as did her seemingly outdated style. Her romantic image was the opposite of what many French women were striving for with their sleek up looks and raised skirt heights; and as is the case more often than not, timeless elegance and working with what suits you before anything else easily surpassed the trends. (Read more.)

From The Enchanted Manor:

Normally not known as a fashion icon, especially in her later years, the famous “White Wardrobe” worn by the Queen in Paris during the Royal Tour of France in 1938 caused an international fashion sensation.  Hartnell had designed romantic day and evening dresses made of beautiful white fabrics such as the finest silks, chiffons, lace and tulle which were embellished with sequin and pearls.  Inspired by a Winterhalter portrait of Queen Victoria, Hartnell incorporated crinoline into the dress designs and the Queen also revived a past fashion trend by accessorizing her outfits with lovely parasols to match each dress.  With the great press coverage and wonderful reviews of her clothing, the Queen wanted to commemorate the success of the Paris visit by commissioning her favorite royal photographer, Cecil Beaton, to document the beautiful Hartnell dresses in a series of portraits taken in the State Rooms and gardens of Buckingham Palace.  (If you are interested in finding out more information about the life of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, please clink on the link) (Read more.)

I cannot recommend Gareth Russell's book highly enough. He is one of the best history writers in the English language, due to the thoroughness of his research and his marvelous expressiveness, as he is a novelist and playwright as well.

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Sweets for the Sweet

 

From Victoria:

A delicate shade of blush adds signature charm to Coconut Ice, a British specialty made with confectioners’ sugar, desiccated coconut, and sweetened condensed milk. Cut into hearts and crowned with rosebuds in honor of Valentine’s Day, our version includes aromatic notes in the additions of Meyer lemon zest and almond extract. Flavorings of lemon, elderflower, and rose water create unique varieties of Rock Candy, which can be used as playful swizzle sticks for Champagne. (Read more.)

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The Origin of Afternoon Tea

  

From Wilderness England:

While tea was made popular by Catherine Braganza, it was Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford and lifelong friend of Queen Victoria, who was responsible for the creation of one of the most famous and well-loved British traditions: afternoon tea. Complaining of feeling empty in the long hours of an idle afternoon, the Duchess is said to have solved this ‘sinking feeling’ by taking tea, sandwiches and cake in her private parlour at around 4pm every day. She began inviting friends over to enjoy this ritual with her. It swiftly became an elegant and popular pastime for the upper classes. (Read more.)

 

Teatime etiquette tips from Victoria:

1. What are the differences among various types of tea occasions?

Tea is a wonderful opportunity to create a feeling for your guests to enjoy. And there are several types of tea occasions from which one can choose, but the names are not interchangeable. Afternoon tea is served in the late afternoon. High tea is often eaten at higher tables, closer to five o’clock, and typically is served with heavy meats and cheeses. Royal tea features Champagne in addition to the classic tea beverage.

2. When I’m invited to afternoon tea, what should I wear?

Use the occasion as an opportunity to be your best self. Put on a pretty sweater or blouse that gets you in the spirit of afternoon tea—and even a hat if you so choose! Dresses are often perfect for this occasion, as well. And one can always direct dress code questions to the hostess for more details on the specific gathering. (Read more.)

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A Gathering in the Grove

 

“Is this not the perfect autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love—that makes nature and life harmonize.”
—George Eliot

 From Victoria:

Layers of linen dress a table set beneath a canopy of brilliantly hued branches. Candles add flickers of romance to the muted sunlight, while seasonal offerings invite guests to gather ’round for an alfresco fête. A bright pinot noir wine pairs well with most fall foods, and that is certainly the case with a sumptuous charcuterie board, brimming with a tempting mélange of meats, cheeses, fruits, and olives. (Read more.)

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An Early Autumn Brunch

 From Victoria:

Slowly and reverently, sip Apple and Spice Wassail, allowing cozy notes of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cardamom to mingle on the palate with a tangy blend of orange juice, cider, and fresh fruit. The aroma of this refresher offers its own gracious welcome. Fresh Fig and Frisée Salad promises delight with Tiger and Mission varieties crowning a medley that includes golden beets, pomegranate arils, and toasted walnuts. Egg-Topped Prosciutto, Mushroom, and Goat Cheese Galettes, the stars of this fete, boast savory filling atop delectable homemade crust. (Read more.)

 

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Belle Époque Posters of Jules Chéret

 From Artnet:

You may not know the name Jules Chéret—but his work has probably left an impression on you nevertheless. That’s because of how wide his influence has been. Chéret (1836–1932) is one of the artists who defines the image of Belle Époque Paris through the afterimage of his dazzling commercial posters. Drawing on the ebullience of Rococo art, he created a new visual iconography of commercial life with his innovative lithographs. Their exuberance matched the excitement and ever-changing nature of the industrial metropolis.

Today, Chéret is remembered as one of the great progenitors of the poster as an art form. His stylish ads for liquor and nightlife are also credited with creating a new kind of image of the free-spirited fin-de-siècle women—the public even used the term “Chérette” to refer to the phenomenon. His models were described as looking “like champagne coming out of a bottle.”

“Always New: The Posters of Jules Chéret” at the Milwaukee Art Museum marks the first U.S. solo show for the artist, with 109 sensational works on view that hail from a donation to the institution from James and Susee Wiechmann. While these graphics were made to hawk the fleeting attractions of a cabaret or fashions that are now firmly in the past, the appeal of Chéret’s dynamic style has lasted much longer than any of the things he was selling. (Read more.)

 

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