A Most Wonderful Afternoon

The hour is late as I write this, but as promised, fingers to key and pen to paper Each Day. I spent my morning buried under mounds of clothing as it was Laundry Day for Master Fox and I, and it had been far too long since I had properly washed my wardrobe (and I fear 'tis overlarge). My efforts were rewarded of course, as I had a freshly laundered outfit to wear out on the town to see all our lovely friends! We took the automobile to Madame Makebrew's establishment and no sooner had we passed the threshold than a Most Torrential Rain began- an inauspicious beginning but you see our luck held well for we garnered not a drop while our friends, arriving later, did not fare so well. Miss Teatrola, Master and Miss H. Ţigan, and the Courting Pair (Master Merritop and dear Miss Indianna) made up Our Company, leaving us missing only one of our usual accomplices- the Very Dear Miss Woodwise (of course, being now Very Fine, the eldest Miss Ţigan is living in the City and is often missing from our gatherings). In any case, a great deal of Coffee and Catching-Up was passed about, as well as much bemoaning our lack of cards (not that we ever play at Gambling of course, our Cards are quite innocent). This was remedied when we all traveled over to the Teatrola Estate to enjoy a late supper of Sweets and Salts and play many card games. We also were able to pop over to the house where Miss Woodwise was hard as work looking after a large brood of children, and surprise her with a short visit. We left all festivities shortly after to return home, happy to see our our beds after a Long Day.

~A Most Contented Lady

~We three Fine Ladies at cards

In Which a Lady is of the Theatre

Yesterday I promised a little news, and you shall have it- I am to be the lead in a small Theatrical Endeavor in the town theatre. Mr. H. Polaris generously lauded my Acting Skills, which was most flattering as I feel that in such I am often overshadowed by the very talented Master Fox. After our practice (which I must admit left me quite winded, there being a Great Many Lines) I found myself stranded on the theatre steps. As there was no respectable establishment open at such an hour, I settled myself down to a Long Wait, as Mother and Master Fox were employed elsewhere and could not come for me with any haste. I am Quite Capable of looking after myself so I was not troubled overmuch by my predicament, and instead communicated over Wire with Monsieur Noblesse. With such invigorating conversation the time passed quickly and after a time our automobile did show itself, out of the dark.

Today we are in town once more, working on various Correspondences, and for myself, this writing. I was quite pleased to receive an invitation out from a Good Friend, Miss Teatrola, who desires to gather our “Cercle d'Amis” together for some Amusements. It will be with only the Greatest Pleasure that I accept, for it means I shall see my dear Miss Woodwises and Master Merrytop, and the Very Fine Miss H. Ţigan and Master Ţigan.

 We shall not linger very long today though as we need to find parts with which Father may repair his Farm Equipment.

Best,

~Lady Morewit

Post Script - The Theatre! How very grand I am now, eh?

A Final Writing for the Day!

10^th of June

Finally, a chance has arisen to actually make my thoughts, directed at you dear readers, readable to you. I have some Small News from today, but I have only a little time to dally with my writing so I think I will write it later on this Glorious Sunday and sent it with my next batch of days. Such a pile of correspondence below for you to read through! I hope you will.
 
Much love and warm thoughts,

~Lady E. Morewit

A Lady Needs Sleep

June the 9^th (or very early on the 10^th if one watches the clock)

I could not bear to sleep without turning out at least a single word, for it is far too early to break my promise of daily writing.

My dear Kit has no sooner finished raising her brood of kittens than she is bothering Tom Cat for another, which Mother and I agree we should not allow. So, she is Caged (and very unhappily) until we can find a Good Doctor to fix her so that she will have no more young.

No, it won’t do- I must go to sleep now. I am Worn Through after general daily bustle, culling weeds from amongst the beans, and helping Father prepare to make hay. Despite that work done, it seemed a day overlong without cause. I shall redeem myself, I hope, with a better show of writing tomorrow.

Yours, Exhausted,

~Lady Morewit

In which a Lady Experiments and Speaks to a Very Dear Old Friend

8th of June

 A glorious and unexpectedly productive day! Having made it to town yestereve, I did have the chance to read up on the Benefits and Creation of rosewater. A mild astringent, rosewater can be used as a facial cleanse on its own, or be added to other tinctures. It is also a most fragrant addition to many puddings and recipes (one such being the favorite drink of the brilliant Leonardo Da Vinci), and should one manage to make it, rose oil is a lovely perfume. Having a few rose bushes with Excellent Fragrance, I went out this morning and collected a large colander full of petals (after the morning dew had dried under the sun). One must begin the cooking process as soon as the petals are gathered and rinsed, which I did in a large yellow canning pot. The directions call for the most ingenious use of a “cold finger”- in this case, the lid of the pot is placed upside-down and filled with ice once the water inside is boiling.  Inside the pot, a shallow bowl is placed in the middle, on any sort of lift (a glass carafe, a small canning jar filled with water for weight, etc.) and when the steam hits the cold lid, it rolls neatly down and drips into the bowl. It is thusly that one creates Rose Water. Of course the process is simply and quickly explained, but is much longer in reality, and takes much tending with the ice.

I was enormously pleased with the first sampling of the water, but I fear I may have left the second batch on for more that I ought, for it had an almost green scent (though still quite rosy). Of course, having had Some Success, I now have high ambitions for other Waters and Oils that I might create – and market? Perhaps I dream too far ahead.

After my industrious morning, Mother decided that we might go to town and frequent The Coffee House. A pleasant place owned by Madame Makebrew, we often settle down at one of the tables and take care of correspondence, other work over Wire, and absorb town and world news that does not reach the country-bound Morewit Manor. It was here that I received a Wire from a Dear Old Friend that I have not seen for many years- one Mr. Rowan Noblesse. We met as School Children (though of course we did not see ourselves as such at the time) nearly 8 years hence, and were much drawn to each other’s company for we had similar interests and natures. I will confess that I found him Most Diverting at the time for he seemed to me Superior to the other gentlemen of my age. Though parted for such a length of time, we kept in correspondence, and have retained a fine friendship and much affection for each other. It was lovely to speak (as it were) to Mr. Noblesse and reacquaint each other on our respective lives and thoughts, and lovelier still to find that he has secured a summer mentoring post that will bring him closer to my home! I am not yet sure if or how or when I might have occasion to visit him there, but it is something that I dearly wish do, for such an Opportunity might not arise again for some time. 

Despite the pleasantness of the day, I find that speaking to one old friend has reminded me of how many other Dear Friends I have been neglecting of late! I fear the number is too high, and I am truly and properly embarrassed at my lack of social graces. I shall have to find some way to make recompense to them all… perhaps a fine evening tea? But as that only serves my nearest companions I suppose Many Apologies must be penned.

~A Lady Abashed

A Lady Breaks-Fast

7th of June

Awoke today after a number of Fantastical Dreams (perhaps as I had been taken with yesterday’s flurry of writing at the wee hours of the night?) which have now faded to vague recollections of a yellow photographer’s box, an Indian whistle, an a Dear Friend deciding to make his home in a wooden tube scarcely larger than a flute (and he being of normal human size, it was no wonder he complained of being cramped)! In any case, I have now settled myself down in the sitting room with a slice of toast, a spoonful of cherry pie innards, and a generous serving of coffee - college does increase any lady’s consumption of the bitter brew, and truly, there was only really enough remaining for one Thirsty Breakfaster. I expect I shall be wanted in the garden in short order, but I feel that a few stolen moments for breakfast will not be missed… but only a few. There is a great deal of tending due to garden and grounds, as is always the case in spring.  A certain project of my own that I hope to see to fruition is the creation if my own rose water. It has the most pleasant scent, and many uses, so it would be a Useful Accomplishment, should I ever remember to get myself to the town library and search out the Process.

Well then, off to the world outside to make myself a Useful Person!

~The (Very Useful) Lady of Morewit
  

A New (New) Resolve

6th of June

Dear Friends,

Having often made promise of more Frequent Writings on my part, and having oftener failed such pledges, I now endeavor to make amends with a Most Ambitious Proliferation. That is to say, I shall be writing daily, even if it is only a one line scrawl made from a Terribly Exhausted State. Now, before you erupt into Harrumphs of Cynical Skepticism, let me protest that I am in earnest! I feel that daily writing shall invigorate and inspire my writing to Great Heights as there is no better Exercise of the mind than to write. As for what to write? I recall fondly my daily journals of my younger years, and I found that penning the stories of one’s life brought Catharsis and Calm.

It is oft said that any day can be the start of a new chapter in one’s life. So prefaced, I will commence with my first true journaling this-
The Quite-Nearly-Almost-True Chronicles of Miss Morewit OR A Year of a Lady’s Thoughts

This morning I was awoken late, an occurrence that never bothers me over much (some days I don’t doubt that I could sleep through ‘til supper if left to my own devices) except that we were expecting visit, and very few of the chores and preparations necessary to receive a caller properly were completed. Should we be town gentry, I imagine we might have in our employ a number of housemaids to bustle about for us, but as the family of a country gentleman we run the manor as Ladies and Housekeepers - and I must admit that I for one bear great pride in the resulting smooth running of The House. Having tidied things up and run to town for a few forgotten essentials, we awaited our caller with a room scented with a gorgeous bunch of peonies from the garden, and graced with strong coffee (that I quite diligently ground myself) and a cherry pie just set out to cool. The gentleman of honor showed himself to lacking the virtue of punctuality, and when Mr. Sesnel finally deigned to make appearance (having sent a note, already late, to inform us of his even later arrival) luncheon was long past.

Mr. Sesnel was a self-proclaimed Professional of Photography, he had made arrangements for Mother to escort him out to forest to collect images of That Most Terrible Industry. But he was not the glamorous town gentry that we had anticipated, appearing a rather round and plain gentleman. He spoke with an elevated voice and, despite the weather being Quite Pleasant, his face had a pronounced sheen, as if it was a boiling summer afternoon. It looked to be a perpetual malady, and knowing such a tendency was his, I thought the poor fellow ought to have had the sense to carry a handkerchief with which to blot his forehead (indeed, should in not have been Terribly Rude, I would have offered him one). I greeted him politely and entertained until Mother made her appearance, but it would be false to say that I was not glad to see the back of him, for his conversational skills were drab even in their brighter moments – however, poor mother had to listen to his ramblings for quite a while longer, so I shouldn't be too Gleeful.

Of course, the Bright Side was that Mr. Sesnel left us with an entire cherry pie to enjoy, which we did, quite thoroughly!

Best,

Lady Morewit