Wednesday, July 29, 2015

RSV Ladies' Retreat - Day 2 (Part 2) - Sewing, Dining, & Cards

(I had to split this post in two because I had too many pictures!  See Part 1 here.)

We arrived back at the house very warm, and were greeted by the delightfully cool air conditioning!  There are perks of 21st-Century living, after all.  :p  


Who needs rouge when one has exercise?
Jillian looks like she's asking me "Are you sewing again?"
RSV photo
By now it was nearly 2:00 in the afternoon, and almost time for tea!  


Cathy, me, and Jillian in the mirror
RSV Photo
We had scones (of course), egg salad and cucumber sandwiches, lemon pound cake, chocolate chip bars, and cookies.  The tea was lovely, and the company was pleasant.  The only low point was when somebody found a tick on her person, and then a few other people found ticks, so we all went to our rooms to change!  

Another wonderful aspect of this house was the on-site laundry machines, so many of us took advantage of this and washed our white underthings after the tick-hunting.  I was very glad to be able to launder my chemise and tanktop, as both were soaked through and I had no spares!  I changed back into my Regency pajamas and joined several other ladies in the library for sewing and movie-watching.  


Jenny, Cathy, Rebecca, Jillian, Bonnie (in front), me, Denisa
RSV photo
We watched Sense & Sensibility, and I worked diligently on my Yellow Sprigged Dress.  It had become clear to me by this point that there was no way I was going to finish it in time to wear it on Saturday, but if I sewed every spare minute I might get it done in time to put it on Sunday morning for a few pictures before we left the manor.  With this goal in mind, I sewed steadily until it was time to dress for dinner, which was had scheduled for 8:00.  

I re-dressed in my Blue Day Dress, which I had aired on my bed while my underthings were washed.  I left off the chemisette for the evening, but added my Sheer Striped Overdress and switched the cream satin sash and cameo brooch for a blue velvet sash and blue rhinestone brooch - another recent purchase.  I removed my cap, re-curled my bangs (borrowing my roommate Victoria's curling iron), and smoothed back any fly-aways with my LBCC Lavender Pomatum.  The bun and braid still looked decent, so I left the rest of my hair as it was.  


Jenny and me, dressed for dinner
I also wore my aquamarine earrings from Dames a la Mode, but sadly I could not find the matching collet necklace when I was packing for the weekend.  :(  I opted for a double-strand of pearls instead.  And I completed my toilette with more LBCC products - namely liquid Turkish Rogue on my lips and cheeks, and Rose Balm Lip Salve over top on my just lips.  
  
My full compliment of historical makeup and hair care:  Powder of Magnolia and Lemon Soap from Colonial Williamsburg; Turkish Rogue, Lavender Hair Pomatum, Rose Balm Lip Salve, and Burnt Cloves from LBCC; "Felicity" Jasmine & Rose perfume from RSV Fragrance Workshop; and gorgeous folding mirror from Austria - gift from Brian's cousin

Dinner was scrumptious!  We had chicken pudding (way more tasty than it sounds!), breaded & fried cauliflower, tomato and cucumber salad, fresh-baked rolls, and broccoli with pine nuts.  



Kimberly, who works as a cook at Colonial Williamsburg, informed us that everything but the broccoli was made from authentic 18th Century recipes, and it was all incredibly delicious.  And for dessert we had individual stemmed glasses with pistachio pudding.  

Everyone helped themselves to the exquisite cuisine
A good time was had by all!
After dinner (which was eaten entirely by candlelight) we moved some tables around in the dining room to create spaces for playing Whist.  We kept the candlelight ambiance going, and had a very jolly time of it!  

First we played open hands, for teaching purposes - a few of us were new to the game!
Photo by Heather Hufton

Whist is serious business.
Photo by Bonnie Britz
I shuffled for Megan when it was her turn to deal, and Stacy kept blaming me for her terrible cards!
RSV photo
My partner for the game was Cathy, and we won our first match against Stacy and Megan, but lost the second.  By that time it was getting rather late, and those of us who had not already gone off to bed gathered once more in the library and watched Horatio Hornblower!  


I took a quick shower, then rejoined the library party to brush out my hair and put it all up in rag curls.  It was very late by the time we went to bed, but I honestly could not tell you what time it was because I do not have a period-accurate watch.  :p

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

RSV Ladies' Retreat - Day 2 (Part 1): Breakfast, Dancing, & Hiking

Friday morning we awoke for breakfast at 8:00.  Two of our members - Rebecca and Kimberly - prepared all of our food for the weekend, and it was all delicious!  Rebecca did dinner the first night, then breakfast and tea Friday and Saturday, and Kimberly made dinner both Friday and Saturday evenings.  I'll describe each meal as it comes up.  

Breakfast Friday was ham, eggs, biscuits, and muffins, with fresh fruit at every place.  We also had coffee and tea, of course, and apple juice and orange juice.  


Photo by Bonnie Britz
Almost everyone dressed for breakfast, but I didn't wake up in time.  I had packed my 18th Century shift to use as a nightgown, and I had very quickly made up a simple bedgown to wear over it for modesty when not in bed.  I put just my bangs in rag curls and threw a cap on over the rest of my hair, then added stockings and "slippers" to my ensemble before joining everyone at the table.  


My slippers were just my green Chelsea flats with tassel shoe clips added.  :p
After breakfast, most everyone gathered in the parlor for dancing.  We had already moved most of the furniture from the parlor into the library for movie-watching the night before, so it was a nice clear space.  I got dressed, then joined the festivities for a couple of dances.  


Stacy (calling the dances), Megan, Denisa, Rebecca, Jillian, and Jenny
Jenny, Denisa, Jillian, Heather, Bonnie, Kimberly, Rebecca
Jillian, Denisa, Megan, Kimberly, Rebecca, Jenny, Heather
Ok, I think I've captioned everyone now.
The dancing was very diverting!


This was a very fun dance! I was on the opposite corner and had just enough time to sneak these photos before my turn came again.


There are no pictures of me dancing, but I swear I did!  

I did not get nearly as much sewing done for this retreat as I had wanted to, so I didn't have the stays I had wanted to make.  I've been getting by without proper undergarments by wearing a white tanktop with a built-in bra, but I really must get some stays made soon.  I did finish a hand-sewn chemise, though!  I'm very glad I did, too.  

For this trip, I brought along an 18th Century petticoat that I made years ago, and decided at the last minute (that morning) to add some shoulder straps to it to make it more 19th Century.  I think it worked rather well, and I can still use it with 18th Century gowns by letting the straps hang down on the inside.  :)  



Thank you Jenny for the pictures!
I put my hair in a simple bun with a small braid wrapped around it, took the rags out of my bangs, and replaced my cap on my head.  I really like my cap, which I sewed completely by hand, and must do a separate post on it soon, as well.  



I made it around the same time as my new chemisette, which is also fully hand-sewn.  

I wore my Blue Day Dress, and accessorized with a cream satin sash and a new cameo brooch I had purchased recently.

This was taken hours after the above photo - following a long walk.  That's why my face is flushed and my curls are drooping.  :p
For the breakfast ball I wore my ballet flats-turned dancing slippers, adorned with the silk ribbon bow shoe clips that were my "something blue" for my wedding.  


Then after the dancing, several ladies ventured outside to practice archery on the back lawn.  


Victoria, Stacy, Bonnie, and Heather


I changed into my yellow boots before joining them, adding my striped bonnet and green paisley shawl to my ensemble - it was too hot for any other shawl, although I had brought my entire collection including three wool ones!  But the paisley shawl is very light and sheer, so it was perfect. 

Thank you Heather for the picture!
My roommate Jenny and I decided to take a walk down to the river, and we were joined by three other ladies for the journey.  

Jenny, Heather, Jillian, me
Photo by Bonnie Britz
There were two trails down to the water, and Stacy and Rebecca had explored them both on the afternoon before.  They told us to take the easier one, but we mistakenly took the steeper, more wooded one.  Oops.  





It was a slightly treacherous path, but by going slowly we were able to make it fine.  And we were rewarded by this lovely view of the water:  


Jenny looks so pretty in her gorgeous blue print dress!

Lovely ladies on a lovely day - Heather, Bonnie, Jillian
The water was so serene and pretty!

Thank you Heather for the picture!
The ever fashionable Jenny
Jenny, me, Jillian, Heather
Photo by Bonnie Britz
Bonnet pic!  -  Jenny, Heather, Jillian, me
Photo by Bonnie Britz
We all agreed to take the easier trail back up to the house, but that meant we had to find it first!  
Bonnie opted to take a breather on a fallen log while the rest of us strolled along the beach looking for the other path.  We found it after quite a bit of walking, and I ran back to get Bonnie while the others started back to the house.  As it turns out, they didn't get very far before running into another group of ladies coming down the easier trail, so they decided to stay at the water for a little longer. 



When we rejoined them, a few of the more adventurous gals had removed their boots and stockings and were wading in the river!  



Stacy, Jillian, Victoria
They professed that it felt wonderful, but I opted not to join them.  I did collect several lovely shells along the sand, and washing them off was as much being in the river as I needed.  :p  

Jenny, Megan, Kimberly
Megan is just pretty as a picture.
Stacy, Bonnie, Heather
When the naiads were finished with their water play, we all started back to the house together.  The second trail was much easier!  It started with stairs and a somewhat steep gravel trail, then it leveled out and became a very pleasant and leisurely stroll.  





Photo by Heather Hufton

Bonnie was as fascinated as I was by the spider's handiwork. 


Aren't we an elegant party?
Megan & me
Photo by Heather Hufton
Bonnie, me, Stacy
Photo by Heather Hufton
Jillian, Victoria, Megan, me, Jenny, Heather, Stacy
Photo by Bonnie Britz