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

RSV Ladies' Retreat - Day 1: Manor and Butterflies

Over the July 16 - July 19 weekend, I was fortunate enough to attend a fantastic Regency-themed retreat with eleven other ladies of the Regency Society of Virginia.  We traveled to Eastover Manor on the James River, where we stayed for three nights and two full days.  

This was my bedroom - shared with two other ladies - for the weekend!  

This door led off to the bathroom.

We had a charming view of the backyard and the river!  

These are all of my things waiting to be unpacked.

This window looked out on the sunroom.  

And this was our closet.

We had the complete run of the house, which has five bedrooms, a library, a parlor, a dining room, kitchen, and sunroom.  We also had access to the extensive grounds, including a garden, spacious back lawn, and two walking/hiking trails down to the river.

My room was off the library.  Here is the view from the doorway of my bedchamber:

So many books; so little time!

The doorway to my room can be seen on the left. Jenny, one of my roommates, is seen here sewing on a lovely silk spencer.

The stairway led up to two additional bedrooms.

This is the fireplace in the parlor.

Such a lovely room!

The windows in the parlor look out into the sunroom - which was barely used because it was so hot all weekend!

The gorgeous dining room

All in all it was a thoroughly charming place.

We began arriving late Thursday afternoon, wending our ways through winding country roads surrounded by trees and lush vegetation on all sides.  One of the first things I noticed upon arrival was the myriad butterflies flitting and floating about the front of the house.  

(I may have taken too many photos of butterflies...)

The back of the house is quite as pretty as the front!

This was the view of the James from the backyard of the house.  It is situated up on a cliff above the river, with no direct path down.  

We got settled in and had an excellent dinner of quiche and salad followed by brownies and cookies, which we ate in the library while watching Pride & Prejudice on the DVD player.  

Would you believe I had never seen the BBC version of P&P?  My fellow RSV members couldn't believe it either when I announced that fact somewhat shamefacedly last year at the annual RSV meeting.  In fact, it was this shocking revelation that ultimately led to this retreat happening, as there was much "You HAVE to see it!" and "We should have a Regency slumber party and watch it!" going around.  And mission accomplished!  Now I have seen it and understand what all the fuss is about.  It was quite delightful.  :)  

Some of the ladies had brought along several Regency fashion books, which got thoroughly perused during leisure time (of which there was quite a lot!)  

Victoria (my other roommate), Kimberly, Stacy, and Heather

Jenny, Bonnie, Megan, Denisa, and Rebecca

I brought out my sewing at this point, because I was determined to finish a dress I had started earlier that week.  I had originally planned to finish it before the retreat, but first I had to make a bodiced petticoat to wear underneath, as I was using a somewhat sheer fabric for the dress itself.  I will dedicate a full post to the dress after these, but I will refer to it several times in the following posts as the Yellow Sprigged Dress.