I'll Put a Trinket On

Autumn

The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry’s cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I’ll put a trinket on.

Emily Dickinson

As we prepare for the season of beautiful foliage, pumpkins, corn stalks and apple picking, we thought we'd share some of our favorite photographs from last fall...

A Leap Back In Time(Not Easy to Do In A Hoop Skirt)

We had a marvellous time at the encore performances of the Gardner Historic Reenactments and Walking Tours. The event went smoothly(except for one actor who forgot to show) and we played before hundreds of guests! A friend's child attempted to fill in for the missing actor, but alas the hat was too big! We ended the morning's festivities with a delicious tea party, where the servers joined in the spirit of the morning and dressed in costume! Now on to Gardner's 225th parade next Sunday at 1:00 P.M. Can't wait!!!

New Finds!

We found so many incredible finds over the last few weeks. We have ventured around New England and stopped at farm stands and farmer's markets for armloads of fresh sunflowers and zinnias and locally grown veggies. We have of course also stopped at all the local end of summer flea markets and church sales and have armloads of fresh finds. We fell in love with the dramatic beauty of a jewel red garnet coloured velvet wedding gown from the 1930's that was worn for a December wedding. It has a peplum that cascades down the back in a tail that is backed in a creamy satin. We also found a gorgeous hand tailored Victorian two piece winter walking suit that was most likely for skating outings. It retains its original label from a Boston, Massachusetts design house. The garment is so heavy that we think that a pirouette on skates must have been quite a feat indeed! Check out the other snaps to see a great sign warning not to trespass on a private beach(Wellfleet on the Cape); antique corks coralled on ironstone with a metal boy lamp finial surfing across them; a miniature sewing table where two wee robins have gathered and a shabby ironstone pitcher sitting on a clockface...Inquiries welcomed!

Louisa May Alcott, Apple Slump, The Old Manse & The Old North Bridge

Is there anything more inspiring than taking a pilgrimage, walking the paths of America's famous literary greats? We saw Louisa May Alcott's writing desk where she penned Little Women; Nathaniel and Sophia's window glass etchings made by their diamond rings; the honeymoon gardens Thoreau planted for The Hawthornes; Mrs. Alcott's yellow ware bowls so enchantingly displayed on her turkey red tablecloth; May's drawings on the walls of The Orchard House where she was encouraged by her father to paint to hone her talents(think of this the next time your little one takes crayon to wallpaper!)...We even trod the path between the Orchard House and The Wayside where the Alcotts and Hawthornes wore a path so long ago. Then on to a fabulous Sunday brunch at The Colonial Inn and a few antique shops. Wish you all could join us for such a day! Now time to revisit our dog-eared copy of Little Women!