...okay, not famous, but everybody wants me.
To sew for them.
I haven't forgotten how to write either. In fact, writing and sewing is about all I have been doing for the past two weeks! Paper writing and Federal period coat sewing. I'm not complaining, I love it, but I feel like I have claw hands. The Claw...THE CLAW!!!
It seems like very recently that summer seemed like forever and a day away, but it has been 70 all week, I bought some seedlings at the stinky hippy market in Kansas City last weekend, and summer is creeping up fast. I've already got archaeology week in June, We Will Rock You in June, the Box Hill Regency Picnic in June, 1812 Independence Day in July, Old Crow Medicine Show in Julyu, AND a trip to CALIFORNIA in July. We're going to go through Albuhkoikey (no wrong turns, though) and end up at Pismo Beach. Totally not shittin' ya. My brother is stationed at Vandenberg, which is near Pismo Beach, so you know I must do homage to Bugs Bunny!
Oh, and I've been watching a lot of Lucy Worsley documentaries. She's cute as a button, in spite of (really, even more so because of) her speech "impediment." Honestly, I didn't even realize that is what it was at first. I thought it was some kind of posh, intellectual British accent that I was previously unaware of. I mean, British officers used to pronounce their "r"s as "w"s, so why not? Hey, I'm 'Murican. What do I know? :)
And that made me giggle again--in a discussion about many Americans refusal to acknowledge the extent of French assistance in the Revolution, someone called that The Derpmerican Revolution. I think I love that person.
So, yeah, like I said as I was getting over my week-long hangover (gah!), neither #Tom Hiddleston or #Benedict Cumberbatch managed to show up to April trade fair. I think they must have gotten lost on the way, that's all. They have less than 2 months to get a better map and get to June Freak Fest...I mean..June fort. I would say, make sure to get accurate clothes, but honestly, June Rendezvous isn't really the most strict in that department. If Jack Sparrow can show up and talk to Abe Lincoln at an 18th century French fort in southern Illinois....welll....
So, generally reading journal articles for research is one of those full-pot-of-coffee ordeals. The journal article I have been reading this week, however, has really been a winner, and helped me put into actual, real, coherent words some of the vague thoughts that have been floating around my mind. It has to do with what the author calls "geographies of encounter." Not just physical boundaries, but metaphorical boundaries (frontier, border, etc) that cause us to think of groups of people on the other sides of those boundaries as "different." This really ties directly into the area I am studying, because it basically was a gigantic border for a number of different groups. Without getting fully into details (I will post my paper when it is done), this is the perfect description for my Creoles, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the journal article (not something you hear every day). It is by Tracy Neal Leavelle, if you care to read it.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
"We Have Met the Enemy and He is Us"
Nope, that's wrong. He is cuba libres and shrub.
And us. Us imbibing too many cuba libres.
And shrub.
And Trader Joe's fizzy pink wine.
Ever have a week-long hangover? Yeah, I'm there. And one of my grad students keep sneaking up behind me and saying "Hi Heather" in a real creeper voice, which is hilarious, but I think I'm jumping more than I usually would.
April trade fair? A rousing success. And after such a long winter, it turned into a rampage in the evening. Oh my word. That was the best, awesomest, amazingest, WEIRDEST trade fair...no, any event...that I've been to. Anything that involves an antique prosthetic leg moves to the front of the pack.
So, I'm alive, but barely. My 36 year old body can't take blowouts like that. It was just what I needed to get back in the game, though, and remind me of how much I love that geographic area and that hobby. I've been jonesing for the weekend so I can pick up needle and thread again.
Oh, and Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch did NOT show up to camp with me. Ahem. I forgive them, though.
And that's about all I have of note to mention right now, other than I splurged on some new cowboy boots. Yee haw!
Here, look at Grueze's painting of a French peasant girl c 1770-80. What a sweet way to tie up a lappet cap!
Thursday, April 3, 2014
I will strife your breeches!
This is so funny. But don't let Cuddlebatch or Twhiddles read this, I intended to save the Latin scrap pelting as a surprise.
http://historyofloveblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/why-you-shouldnt-marry-a-lady-of-learning-1708/avo
My favorite part:
Therefore let none select a Wife,
For having sundry Speeches;
The more she has, the greater Strife
Will rise about the Breeches.
Unfortunately, educated women still seem to intimidate. Something about having both a brain and a vagina just doesn't seem right to some folks. ;) And there is a joke waiting to be told about man parts and brains, but I'll leave it be.
I finally got to sit and watch 12 Years a Slave today. That was hard to watch. Very hard. And poor Patsy. That movie deserved every award it won, and more besides. I find it interesting that Ben was in it (and was delicious, as usual), with that part of his family history. That is said without a hint of judgement...one half of my family was southern, and used slaves for hemp and tobacco harvest. History is not always a pretty thing. Missouri did not have huge plantations, the Taras and Twelve Oaks that people think of, but it certainly had slavery, and a lot of it. African slavery came to Missouri with the French in the 18th century. Indian slavery was practiced by the Europeans also, but it was practiced within the tribes before the Europeans even arrived. A long, ugly history.
Anyway, back to the 21st century. No easy way to transition there.
Storm season is upon us. Tornadoes in St. Louis today, and it's still storming. Of course, that is where I am headed tomorrow. Well, an hour south of St. Louis, to the 18th century and Fort de Chartres in the Pays des Illinois. Honestly...I'd rather not go, I'm not particularly excited. I got a new dress in the mail today (yes, sometimes I buy things instead of make them), and it's gorgeous. I'd rather go shopping for Western boots to go with it. And not spend insane amounts of money on gas. And, you know, I like showering. Sigh. I am crossing my fingers, however, that being there with less access to electronics and surrounded by nature helps my mind calm itself and maybe organize a bit. Buuuut....I'll probably just be waiting to leave the whole time.
But, since we're on the subject of the 18th century...wouldn't Tom and Ben look amazing in 18th century officer's gear? I guess they'd have to be redcoats, but that's alright. Those tight breeches...mmm hmm. And the officer's wigs (yes, they'd be officers. I couldn't bear the thought of them being foot soldiers and having a scratch on those pretty, posh faces) would set off their lovely eyes quite nicely. And they really do look tasty on a horse. :D When is this movie coming out? Or, even better, when will they come play dress up with me?
Speaking of pretty faces, I love this picture of Benedict.
I don't appreciate the photoshop on his eyes, they are pretty without help. But I love that he doesn't have a bunch of makeup on, and I love the pose. It is a pose that says that Ben has had a very long and tiring day doing....whatever it is that actors with production companies do (hey, I'm a historian, I have no idea)...and he wants me to remove all my clothing and make him a gin and tonic. Who am I to argue with that pose?
Oh, and on the subject of posh. Somehow I got sucked into the internet the other day, and ended up on the Chanel site...as one does. No, I had a reason. I wanted to see if a local place still sold the perfume I use, but I managed to find my way to the jewelry area of the site. And there I spotted a beautiful necklace, called the fontaine, in the 1932 collection. You know my fondness for that era's clothing. Soooo....I humored myself by using the little price slider to see how much it cost. Well, when I had gotten the slider up to $3,950.00 and it still hadn't appeared, I gave up. I have expensive tastes...but they have their limit!! It's called a budget. But, if anyone ever has some extra pocket change and wants to gift me with this, I'll be gracious and accept it! :) I'm not even a fan of diamonds, I just love the shape.
My friend sent me an old picture (of me. That's me. With a concertina, but it was apparently cropped out) from 2008 (I believe), in New Orleans. Oh, memories. Again, not helping my travel itch any! Maybe Jazz Fest next year? It's been a while...7 years next year. Yep, it's time!
http://historyofloveblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/why-you-shouldnt-marry-a-lady-of-learning-1708/avo
My favorite part:
Therefore let none select a Wife,
For having sundry Speeches;
The more she has, the greater Strife
Will rise about the Breeches.
Unfortunately, educated women still seem to intimidate. Something about having both a brain and a vagina just doesn't seem right to some folks. ;) And there is a joke waiting to be told about man parts and brains, but I'll leave it be.
I finally got to sit and watch 12 Years a Slave today. That was hard to watch. Very hard. And poor Patsy. That movie deserved every award it won, and more besides. I find it interesting that Ben was in it (and was delicious, as usual), with that part of his family history. That is said without a hint of judgement...one half of my family was southern, and used slaves for hemp and tobacco harvest. History is not always a pretty thing. Missouri did not have huge plantations, the Taras and Twelve Oaks that people think of, but it certainly had slavery, and a lot of it. African slavery came to Missouri with the French in the 18th century. Indian slavery was practiced by the Europeans also, but it was practiced within the tribes before the Europeans even arrived. A long, ugly history.
Anyway, back to the 21st century. No easy way to transition there.
Storm season is upon us. Tornadoes in St. Louis today, and it's still storming. Of course, that is where I am headed tomorrow. Well, an hour south of St. Louis, to the 18th century and Fort de Chartres in the Pays des Illinois. Honestly...I'd rather not go, I'm not particularly excited. I got a new dress in the mail today (yes, sometimes I buy things instead of make them), and it's gorgeous. I'd rather go shopping for Western boots to go with it. And not spend insane amounts of money on gas. And, you know, I like showering. Sigh. I am crossing my fingers, however, that being there with less access to electronics and surrounded by nature helps my mind calm itself and maybe organize a bit. Buuuut....I'll probably just be waiting to leave the whole time.
But, since we're on the subject of the 18th century...wouldn't Tom and Ben look amazing in 18th century officer's gear? I guess they'd have to be redcoats, but that's alright. Those tight breeches...mmm hmm. And the officer's wigs (yes, they'd be officers. I couldn't bear the thought of them being foot soldiers and having a scratch on those pretty, posh faces) would set off their lovely eyes quite nicely. And they really do look tasty on a horse. :D When is this movie coming out? Or, even better, when will they come play dress up with me?
Speaking of pretty faces, I love this picture of Benedict.
I don't appreciate the photoshop on his eyes, they are pretty without help. But I love that he doesn't have a bunch of makeup on, and I love the pose. It is a pose that says that Ben has had a very long and tiring day doing....whatever it is that actors with production companies do (hey, I'm a historian, I have no idea)...and he wants me to remove all my clothing and make him a gin and tonic. Who am I to argue with that pose?
Oh, and on the subject of posh. Somehow I got sucked into the internet the other day, and ended up on the Chanel site...as one does. No, I had a reason. I wanted to see if a local place still sold the perfume I use, but I managed to find my way to the jewelry area of the site. And there I spotted a beautiful necklace, called the fontaine, in the 1932 collection. You know my fondness for that era's clothing. Soooo....I humored myself by using the little price slider to see how much it cost. Well, when I had gotten the slider up to $3,950.00 and it still hadn't appeared, I gave up. I have expensive tastes...but they have their limit!! It's called a budget. But, if anyone ever has some extra pocket change and wants to gift me with this, I'll be gracious and accept it! :) I'm not even a fan of diamonds, I just love the shape.
I'd wear it with this:
Soooo, I can't decide if Mr. Greene here is wearing a snuggie, or is dressed as a tamale?
My friend sent me an old picture (of me. That's me. With a concertina, but it was apparently cropped out) from 2008 (I believe), in New Orleans. Oh, memories. Again, not helping my travel itch any! Maybe Jazz Fest next year? It's been a while...7 years next year. Yep, it's time!
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Just a quickie
This was on NPR this morning. This is my current field of study. This gets me all squiggy! Pretty sure I know some of these state of MO diggers, too.
http://www.npr.org/2014/04/02/298159486/st-louis-unearths-some-surprises?sc=17&f
Scientists Discover Remnants of St. Louis' French Colonial Past
On a side note, I *FINALLY* got to use my new London Fog umbrella today. The storms came complete with a power outage, but no biggie, it was nice to lay in bed and listen to the rain for a while. Too bad it wasn't in the middle of a Ben and Tom sandwich.
Twitter must know I am camping this weekend, which means the portajohn experience. They have sponsored Poo-pourri posts on my page.
And oh my. Oh my my my. This is a Callot Sœurs from 1930, and it. is. GORGEOUS. So glamorous. I love these dresses, they were created for a dancer's body, I want to wear them all over. Can I grocery shop in these? And again, standing next to someone tall and lean, like Benedict or Thomas, they'd just look that much better. Do you think I can call them up and ask if they'd go out and about with me so I can look fab? I think that's reasonable. :) And I don't necessarily need the scarf part, that is just a recipe for decapitation.
http://www.npr.org/2014/04/02/298159486/st-louis-unearths-some-surprises?sc=17&f
Scientists Discover Remnants of St. Louis' French Colonial Past
On a side note, I *FINALLY* got to use my new London Fog umbrella today. The storms came complete with a power outage, but no biggie, it was nice to lay in bed and listen to the rain for a while. Too bad it wasn't in the middle of a Ben and Tom sandwich.
Twitter must know I am camping this weekend, which means the portajohn experience. They have sponsored Poo-pourri posts on my page.
And oh my. Oh my my my. This is a Callot Sœurs from 1930, and it. is. GORGEOUS. So glamorous. I love these dresses, they were created for a dancer's body, I want to wear them all over. Can I grocery shop in these? And again, standing next to someone tall and lean, like Benedict or Thomas, they'd just look that much better. Do you think I can call them up and ask if they'd go out and about with me so I can look fab? I think that's reasonable. :) And I don't necessarily need the scarf part, that is just a recipe for decapitation.
Much to do today, before camping time. Suppose I should quit procrastinating, and get to it. But, before I go...
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Myne Favoured Thynges
In Honour of Whan that Aprille Day
Twenty of Myne Favoured Thynges
(In VERY Pidgin Middle English)
1. Reyn droppes on roses
2. Wiskeres on kitouns
3. Benedictus Cumber Batche (gentleman, player) clad in noght but mittyns
4. Thomas Hiddlestone (gentleman, player) clad in noght but streng...
...do yow fynde it hot in heere?....
5. A goode lay.
Be yow not vile, this kynde of lay:
6. Sir Mumford and his gentil sones
7. Oteres, that I myghte boop hir noses.
8. Sloth. Be yow nat idel, I mente the animale.
9. Tacoes. Crunchye!
10. Tales of vertuous men and wommen who, thogh they were nat engeles, koude flye, and koude shoote laseres from their eyes, and koude defeate vileynye.
11. Wolvyrene.
12. Bookes.
13. Shakespeare. Yow shal meet hym in aboute 250 yeres.
14. Opera. Yow shal meet it in aboute 350 yeres. If yow be gentrye or noble.
15. Cosmoes. Sir Neil deGrasse Tyson (a man of wysdam and science from the Kyngdome of France).
16. The philosophie of histoire.
17. Fyne garments and clooth, noon of polyestere.
18. To wereth the clooth of the past, with verray freendes, and acte oute momentes of olde.
19. The blisse of an hotte chai.
20. Twittere, social media, for gathering loveres of historie.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Middle English. I will NEVER get on the London Eye. Gak.
Hey, hey guys! Wanna join my CLUUUUB? We'll do stuuuuuff.
A quiet weekend. Ahhhh...I needed that. Had a lot of cutting of fabric and house tidying to get done. Friends over for gin and tonics in the evening, now my house smells like a Victorian workhouse. Minus the eau de typhoid. Friday night, I had 2 gin and tonics and some asparagus for dinner. Why? Because I CAN. I also was up at 5:30 am on Saturday. That was AWFUL. It's still dark at 5:30 in the morning! It shouldn't be called "in the morning" because it's still night time. It should be "5:30 in the pre-dawn hours."
I had a middle-class moment this weekend, and I had to laugh at myself for being such a twat. Mind you, it was at home, with no one around to witness my uppity shame. I wanted to make chocolate chip cookies for people, but I was adamant that I use my GOOD chips, the Ghirardellis, not the boring old store brand chips. I couldn't FIND them though. I must have had my panties in a bunch for an hour looking for them, when I could have just MOVED ON...but I finally found them. Hidden behind my Umbrian lentils (as if I would ever eat lentils from anywhere else), and a box for French mousse.
Good grief.
So, I'm a bit prickly and independent, and all about empowered women, so the "slutty nurse, cop, etc" Halloween costumes have always bothered me. I mean, if you're looking to get laid, that's awesome, more power to you, but it isn't necessary to debase female police officers, nurses, teachers, etc, in the process (also, as a costumer, I am always dismayed by a lack of originality). HOWEVER...I have found a slutty cop costume that even *I* can get behind!!
Everywhere I look, I keep seeing reminders of London and England. It's a sign. My wanderlust is going nuts. I even dreamed the other night that I was touristing in a little English village and I was ridiculously excited about some goats and chickens up on a hill. Those who know me well know I grew up with both, and I *do* get ridiculously excited about them, but apparently these were SUPER special, because they're ENGLISH. So yes, I am really going to have to be aware of vacation time next year and blow the dust off my passport. This year, I am already committed to a week-long archaeology program here, and visiting my brother in California, but next year....medieval archives, here I come!
Oh, that reminds me...it's International Hug a Medievalist Day. Though I'm currently more involved in early modern, medieval is still my passion. So HUG ME DAMMIT!
Back to England...and traveling. I have a younger friend who is also prickly and independent like me, and generally for the same reasons (mostly coming by it naturally, but some of it thanks to crappy relationships), and she is always traveling. She just came back from ANTARCTICA and posted wonderful pictures. She is not helping my cause! :) I turned on the TV yesterday and Fantastic Four was on...and they were in London. Of course. It's everywhere! That movie did reinforce my aversion to ever getting on that monstrosity they call the Eye, though. ::shudder:: It also made me wonder how Chris Evans can be both the Human Torch AND Captain America. What the what?
And BBC, you're not helping my cause any:
"BBC One @BBCOne
A reminder from the Time Lord: the clocks go forward one hour tonight. It's wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff."
Sure wish they'd explain it like that on this side of the pond.
And I cannot forget...I am SO happy for couples in England and Wales. Love and marriage between people of any sex are NOT something for the government to dictate or regulate.
I found this beautiful confection of a 1937 Elsa Schiaparelli summer dress on the Met Museum site the other day. Oh my, I am in love. So, so elegant, I love the lines and drape of 1930s gowns. This is a crepe-back silk satin, which would feel wonderfully cool and smooth on the skin in the summer. I was trying to determine if I would be wearing this on a date with Twhiddles or with Benedictus. With both of them being so tall, it would look wonderfully glam, as I am about 5'8" in heels. Hmmm...I am thinking this is a Ben dress, though. And if I can't find similar fabric, I suppose I can always make it on Spoonflower.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/2009.300.1347a,b
I have decided I also want to see both of them in early season Mad Men suits. Yep.
Oh, history stuff! Yeah! This is a history blog! How about this? I was pretty excited to see this in the KC Star this weekend, this is part of my current field of study. Again, I don't think people understand the ties of France and Spain to MO and KS. Before the days of Little House on the Prairie.
http://www.kansascity.com/2014/03/30/4925613/up-the-river-to-destiny-missouris.html
Also, don't forget that tomorrow is April 1st. Besides being April Fool's Day, it is also Whan That Aprille Day, time to read "old" or "archaic" or "middle" languages! Yay! Might I suggest the Breton lays in Middle English? Some of my favorites. Here, have a sample!
Lay le Freine
We redeth oft and findeth ywrite
And this clerkes wele it wite
Layes that ben in harping (BEN! THEY SAID BEN!)
Ben yfounde of ferli thing
Here is a wonderful site that has translations of this and the rest of the lays (heh. heh heh).
http://d.lib.rochester.edu/teams/text/laskaya-and-salisbury-middle-english-breton-lays-general-introduction
The Canterbury Tales are always a good choice as well, and the Wife of Bath's prologue/tale is my personal favorite:
Experience, though noon auctoritee
Were in this world, is right ynogh for me.
To speke of wo that is in mariage;
For lordynges, sith I twelve yeer was of age,
Thonked be God that is eterne on lyve,
Housbondes at chirche dore I have had fyve--
If I so ofte myghte have ywedded bee--
And alle were worthy men in hir degree.
But me was toold, certeyn, not longe agoon is,
That sith that Crist ne wente nevere but onis
To weddyng, in the Cane of Galilee,
That by the same ensample taughte he me
That I ne sholde wedded be but ones.
Herkne eek, lo, which a sharp word for the nones,
Biside a welle, Jhesus, God and man,
Spak in repreeve of the Samaritan:
'Thou has yhad fyve housbondes,' quod he,
'And that ilke man that now hath thee
Is noght thyn housbonde,' thus seyde he certeyn.
This is a wonderful series of documentaries from England on the history of the English language, and they read many texts in the original dialect, it really does sound magical. Here is the first, and you can find the remaining in the links on the side.
No?
I had a middle-class moment this weekend, and I had to laugh at myself for being such a twat. Mind you, it was at home, with no one around to witness my uppity shame. I wanted to make chocolate chip cookies for people, but I was adamant that I use my GOOD chips, the Ghirardellis, not the boring old store brand chips. I couldn't FIND them though. I must have had my panties in a bunch for an hour looking for them, when I could have just MOVED ON...but I finally found them. Hidden behind my Umbrian lentils (as if I would ever eat lentils from anywhere else), and a box for French mousse.
Good grief.
So, I'm a bit prickly and independent, and all about empowered women, so the "slutty nurse, cop, etc" Halloween costumes have always bothered me. I mean, if you're looking to get laid, that's awesome, more power to you, but it isn't necessary to debase female police officers, nurses, teachers, etc, in the process (also, as a costumer, I am always dismayed by a lack of originality). HOWEVER...I have found a slutty cop costume that even *I* can get behind!!
Boo-yah!
Everywhere I look, I keep seeing reminders of London and England. It's a sign. My wanderlust is going nuts. I even dreamed the other night that I was touristing in a little English village and I was ridiculously excited about some goats and chickens up on a hill. Those who know me well know I grew up with both, and I *do* get ridiculously excited about them, but apparently these were SUPER special, because they're ENGLISH. So yes, I am really going to have to be aware of vacation time next year and blow the dust off my passport. This year, I am already committed to a week-long archaeology program here, and visiting my brother in California, but next year....medieval archives, here I come!
Oh, that reminds me...it's International Hug a Medievalist Day. Though I'm currently more involved in early modern, medieval is still my passion. So HUG ME DAMMIT!
Back to England...and traveling. I have a younger friend who is also prickly and independent like me, and generally for the same reasons (mostly coming by it naturally, but some of it thanks to crappy relationships), and she is always traveling. She just came back from ANTARCTICA and posted wonderful pictures. She is not helping my cause! :) I turned on the TV yesterday and Fantastic Four was on...and they were in London. Of course. It's everywhere! That movie did reinforce my aversion to ever getting on that monstrosity they call the Eye, though. ::shudder:: It also made me wonder how Chris Evans can be both the Human Torch AND Captain America. What the what?
And BBC, you're not helping my cause any:
"BBC One @BBCOne
A reminder from the Time Lord: the clocks go forward one hour tonight. It's wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff."
Sure wish they'd explain it like that on this side of the pond.
And I cannot forget...I am SO happy for couples in England and Wales. Love and marriage between people of any sex are NOT something for the government to dictate or regulate.
I found this beautiful confection of a 1937 Elsa Schiaparelli summer dress on the Met Museum site the other day. Oh my, I am in love. So, so elegant, I love the lines and drape of 1930s gowns. This is a crepe-back silk satin, which would feel wonderfully cool and smooth on the skin in the summer. I was trying to determine if I would be wearing this on a date with Twhiddles or with Benedictus. With both of them being so tall, it would look wonderfully glam, as I am about 5'8" in heels. Hmmm...I am thinking this is a Ben dress, though. And if I can't find similar fabric, I suppose I can always make it on Spoonflower.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/2009.300.1347a,b
I have decided I also want to see both of them in early season Mad Men suits. Yep.
Oh, history stuff! Yeah! This is a history blog! How about this? I was pretty excited to see this in the KC Star this weekend, this is part of my current field of study. Again, I don't think people understand the ties of France and Spain to MO and KS. Before the days of Little House on the Prairie.
http://www.kansascity.com/2014/03/30/4925613/up-the-river-to-destiny-missouris.html
Also, don't forget that tomorrow is April 1st. Besides being April Fool's Day, it is also Whan That Aprille Day, time to read "old" or "archaic" or "middle" languages! Yay! Might I suggest the Breton lays in Middle English? Some of my favorites. Here, have a sample!
Lay le Freine
We redeth oft and findeth ywrite
And this clerkes wele it wite
Layes that ben in harping (BEN! THEY SAID BEN!)
Ben yfounde of ferli thing
Here is a wonderful site that has translations of this and the rest of the lays (heh. heh heh).
http://d.lib.rochester.edu/teams/text/laskaya-and-salisbury-middle-english-breton-lays-general-introduction
The Canterbury Tales are always a good choice as well, and the Wife of Bath's prologue/tale is my personal favorite:
Experience, though noon auctoritee
Were in this world, is right ynogh for me.
To speke of wo that is in mariage;
For lordynges, sith I twelve yeer was of age,
Thonked be God that is eterne on lyve,
Housbondes at chirche dore I have had fyve--
If I so ofte myghte have ywedded bee--
And alle were worthy men in hir degree.
But me was toold, certeyn, not longe agoon is,
That sith that Crist ne wente nevere but onis
To weddyng, in the Cane of Galilee,
That by the same ensample taughte he me
That I ne sholde wedded be but ones.
Herkne eek, lo, which a sharp word for the nones,
Biside a welle, Jhesus, God and man,
Spak in repreeve of the Samaritan:
'Thou has yhad fyve housbondes,' quod he,
'And that ilke man that now hath thee
Is noght thyn housbonde,' thus seyde he certeyn.
This is a wonderful series of documentaries from England on the history of the English language, and they read many texts in the original dialect, it really does sound magical. Here is the first, and you can find the remaining in the links on the side.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Mmm....tasty foot bread!
It snowed. Again. Winter, you are such a giant
Seriously.
This? I snapped this yesterday as I left the office.
Merry Christmas one and all!
Today, Lady Day (don't forget to sign your farm contracts, peasants!), thankfully, it is sunny. Cold, but sunny. Mr. Bumble hasn't allowed a fire in the workhouse today, so here I am:
(4? 4 what?)
Despite the chill, I'm feeling pretty chill. Oooo...didn't even mean to do that! Three of my favorite songs came on one right after the other on my playlist this morning. And I had a short road trip to To-puke-a yesterday to pick up something from a friend. I took the back way along where the old American Indian land grants were, into North Topukea. It was interesting to see them under a dusting of snow, instead of in the summer heat, with archaeologists working on them. And it's relatively quiet around here (everyone probably went home to get under their blankets). So I'm nice and relaxed, like I rolled a doobie. I didn't, but I'm just saying. Chiillll.....
My three songs:
So, before I get to the fun history bits--my dear friend, who is the father of my godson, is also a pop culture/convention geek. He threw out the idea of having an Adventurer's Guild, which is awesome. There are two historic female adventurers I've been waiting to do for a while, and have been kind of working on their clothes here and there. Guess I'll pick them up now and finish them in earnest. Gertrude and Amelia. Gertrude, for obvious reasons, and Amelia is from the area.
Oh, and if you want to know what happened to Amelia, just read "Fluke, Or I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings," by Christopher Moore. Seems just as plausible as some other theories out there. :)
Alright...in my historical training, I've gravitated towards material culture (among other things), which of course encompasses the household. I kept finding little non-detailed references to bakers kneading bread dough with their feet. Not generally in the home, mind you, but male bakers, in bakeries...causing people to do their baking at home as often as possible. Well, that got me curious (in many ways), but I am not having much luck with just basic searches. I will dig into more detail in the library, but in the meantime, I did find two interesting things. First of all....the fine art of foot bread has not left us! MMM, model foot bread.
Alright, seriously...I had Nessun Dorma playing QUIETLY on my computer, and my coworker (a 50+ year old male, mind you), decided to crank up Pharrell Williams. I understand opera is not for everyone, but give me a break. Maybe I can passive-aggressively play volume wars with him. Surely he remembers I have a recording of myself playing fife with a bagpiper on this computer.
Anyway, in looking for foot bread, I discovered that a book I love has been digitized by Google Books. It has the very compact and pithy title "An Encyclopædia of Domestic Economy: Comprising Such Subjects as are Most Immediately Connected With Housekeeping; As, The Construction of Domestic Edifices, With the Modes of Warming, Ventilating, and Lighting Them: A Description of the Various Articles of Furniture; A General Account of the Animal and Vegetable Substances Used As Food; And the Methods of Preserving and Preparing Them by Cooking;..." and so on in that vein. While it is necessary to remember that this was written in 1845 by Thomas Webster, a man, who spent very little time in a Victorian kitchen, he does claim that he was assisted by the late Mrs Parkes. This book covers EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING...housing styles, bathing, cooking, food adulteration, carriages, medicines, clothing, furnishings, lighting, servants, fruit in England, types of fish and how to cook them, honey, types of water, and, of course...tea. Among other things, including a discussion of a douche bath, which is not at all what you think it is. My apologies.
Someone sent this fairly brief article to me, because they knew (correctly) that I would find it interesting. I know, the historians who are surrounded by more than a millenia of written history laugh, but around these parts, there is a misconception that a white face was not seen until after the American Civil War. The battle noted in this article took place in 1720, and French traders were making regular trips beyond Kansas City by (and possibly before) 1700. It's amazing the resistance we (we being historians of this field) encounter by people when we present these findings. They have had such wrong history drilled into their head for so long, that it really does make them ANGRY to find out it was wrong. Not angry that they have been lied to, but angry that we are presenting new evidence to the contrary. And we've only just scratched the surface, this really is a virgin field. A lot of the primary sources, like so many others, have been passed down in families and are still sitting in a box or a desk somewhere waiting to be rediscovered.
Netflix suggested I watch Sherlock (again), so I said "what the heck!" (again). Today I watched The Blind Banker--Benedict is so good at expressing emotion in his face. I'm a face person, I like interesting faces, and I like faces that can expressing interesting things (which is why I like watching Tom and Ben. Yes, we're on buddy names basis. They call me Kitten). There is a part that refers to his difficult school years, and though it is for less than a second, his face is so sad that I just can't.
Oh, and I think I want to ray gun the Copenhagen Zoo. Today it was four healthy lions. What is wrong with those people????
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