Everything But the Fragrance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Milliner

Last week, when I wrote about the hatbox and my memories of Revere McCleod , I was reminded that my own great-grandmother Alice was a milliner.  I never knew her -- she died shortly before her daughter ( my  maternal grandmother) was married. 

My grandmother often talked about her mother, saying that she could do anything she set her mind to. There were three daughters and one son and, though her husband had a good job working for the railroad, Alice set up as a milliner in her hometown of Troy, Alabama. 

Her business did so well that eventually the Rosenbergs (across the street neighbors and owners of the largest department store in town) bought her out and put her in charge of the millinery in their store.

They also made her a buyer and she would ride the train to New York City to purchase merchandise for the store -- a pretty big deal for a small town girl back in the early 1900s.

On several occasions, Alice and her employers disagreed. "She would quit," my grandmother told me, "and go back into business for herself and then, sooner or later, the Rosenbergs would buy her out again and she'd go back to working for them."

Evidently this happened several times. And evidently the families stayed on good terms because Bernice Rosenberg was a bridemaid in my grandmother's wedding.

"Junior bridesmaid -- I was a lot younger than the rest of  them," Bernice told me when she and her husband visited my grandparents some fifty years after the wedding.

 

Moonrise

 

 

 

 

Do You Know...?

What these are?

What kind of insect this is?

What flower this is?

And what flower this will be? 

 

Birthday Celebration...with Pictures

The birthday was a few days ago but the celebration was last night --an amazing meal with family and friends . . .

Pasta with wonderful meatballs, roasted broccolini and onions, bruschetta . . .

There were artichokes, salad with blackberries and pine nuts,  and a beautiful berry palova  to finish.

Claui did most of the cooking; our friend Kasie made the bruschetta; and all the young uns pitched in to help. 

What a great way to celebrate my 70th birthday! I'm a lucky woman. . . 

but you knew that.

 

Birthday Celebration

The birthday was a few days ago but the celebration was last night --an amazing meal with family and friends . . .

Pasta with wonderful meatballs, roasted broccolini and onions, bruschetta . . .

There were artichokes, salad with blackberries and pine nuts,  and a beautiful berry palova  to finish.

Claui did most of the cooking; our friend Kasie made the bruschetta; and all the young uns pitched in to help. 

What a great way to celebrate my 70th birthday! I'm a lucky woman. . . 

but you knew that.

 

A Little Walk

Thursday was a beautiful sunny day -- just right for a little walk. The hellebores are blooming in their usual modest manner, looking down at the ground.

Looking back at the house. . .

Looking down the holler -- how about that Carolina blue sky!

 Seed pod of Datura aka Jimson Weed or Thorn Apple. Poisonous. 

No sign of green on the deciduous trees . . .

Saw briar berries? I'm not sure.

A fine collection of lichens ...

I guess that's what the white stuff is.

Unknown bracket fungi . . .

Aha! A rare full frontal hellebore!

And this below is Turkey Tail bracket fungi -- said to be good for cancer prevention. Usually made into a tea.  I have to admit I haven't tried it.