Wednesday, February 29, 2012

The Ephemeral Ghost

Today is an ephemeral ghost...

A strange amazing day that comes only once every four years. For the rest of the time it does not "exist."

In mundane terms, it marks a "leap" in time, when the calendar is adjusted to make up for extra seconds accumulated over the preceding three years due to the rotation of the earth. A day of temporal tune up!

But this day holds another secret—it contains one of those truly rare moments of delightful transience and light uncertainty that only exist on the razor edge of things, along a buzzing plane of quantum probability...

A day of unlocked potential.

Will you or won't you? Should you or shouldn't you?

Use this day to do something daring, extraordinary and unlike yourself. Take a chance and shape a different pattern in your personal cloud of probability!”

Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

Saturday, February 25, 2012

GOOSEBERRY SECRET


Well, it that time of the year!
Time to make Darla a new dress for Gooseberry Fair!
The fair isn't until May but because I'm a hand sewer it behooves me to get a move on
and get started early.
Plus, I'm wicked excited to see what will emerge!
(I never know.......)  :)

I've been pondering HOW to top last year's frock!
Egads! But I put a lot of time into that dress!


Though she *did* look beautiful!



So, this year I'm striving, not for matching exactly, but a connecting theme betwixt mine and Darla's garb.

And I have a plan.

Here's a wee tease:


You'll have to wait to see the rest.

And.....um......so will I!   ;)

BUTTERBEAN UPDATE

Cows are amongst the gentlest of breathing creatures; none show more passionate tenderness to their young when deprived of them; and, in short, I am not ashamed to profess a deep love for these quiet creatures. 
 ~Thomas de Quincey

Lizzie came 'round.....Wee Bertha has a friend.......




Friday, February 24, 2012

ANGEL BABY and her HAGGERS!

I am EVER so sorry I'm not clever enough to put a proper video link here but you MUST, MUST, MUST
take a moment to view this news cast! 

It's a wonderful story about Angel Baby, her delightful Haggers (Betty Shelby) and her fainting goats in Arkansas!

The station did a LOVELY job!

Angel Baby is a wee scamp with a clever wit (via Betty) and Betty is one of the strongest...and....most sensitive people I know.  Both at the same time.

I love her with all my heart.  I cried a wee bit seeing her on camera!
I'm extremely grateful that I have become her friend.
She is truly a memeber of the Sisterhood of the Goat!

So...take a peep......it will warm your goatie heart!

With love, Betty and AB.........
(AB!  Yous is FAMOUSER!!!!!!)

from your Missy Mimi  (& Darla, too)
xoxoxoxo


FOXMORTON'S FIRST FARM SHOW


So, today I went to my first Farm Show.
I was greatly disappointed to find no live animals.
But I guess farmers don't really NEED to see live animals, much less snuzzle them, do they?  Though if I were a sales person I'd DEFINITELY bring Darla in a new country frock to attract business.  And maybe one of those teacup pigs. 

I was hoping to pet a sheep but that didn't happen.



But...boy, I don't know how anyone can find the money to farm!
Or, at least, farm like this.....
That's me up there.  They let you do stuff like that.
Though, clearly they had no idea who they were letting up there.


They had a fake cow you could learn to hook up, but I passed.  It didn't have an end for snuzzling.


I liked the antique section the best.  Can you imagine pedaling that thing to milk your cows everyday.
Milk Maids must have strong thighs. 



There were some fun contests to enter, too!
I hope it's not a ruse like the time I had that tumor and they said I'd be having sex within three months.
That never happened.
I sent a strongly worded letter to the AMA....but they have yet to answer me.


We had a really good time though, despite the lack of farm animals.
Though we had to duck out quickly after I over-corrected whilst doing donuts
in the parking lot.......



Then we went to a diner and ate yummy-greasy hamburgers and called it a day.
Later, I went to the barn and snuzzled my own goat!

Farming's good.

Miss Darla/background by Betty Shelby

INTRODUCING.....

Introducing.......

Miss Bertha Butterbean Bovinia (of the Butterbean Bovinias)
4 days old
Arrived as a surprise....even to Farmer......from a sale barn.
We traded up.  Small Bull went on to his Greater Glory.
And by Greater Glory, I mean he's now romping with a herd of Mardi Gras girl cows.
Last I saw Small Bull he had 28 strings of beads and a dumb-arsed smile on his face!  ;)

Miss Bertha, who is wee as a butterbean, caused a small panic in the goat barn when she arrived.
I swear, if it had been a cartoon, those goats would have screamed !
Lizzie (my cow) was appalled and ran like a chicken out of the barn!
It was hilarious!
Sweet Bill, who is reminded daily by Lizzie not to be a bully, just sighed.

Clearly, Miss Bertha will be a force to be reckoned with!

The dynamics of a barnyard never cease to amaze me.



Lizzie disguised herself as a tree so she could ambush Sweet Bill.


In addition, this week saw the delivery of a 5 month old Scottish Highlander!
(Or, as the Sisterhood of the Goat knows:  Heilan Koo!)
I nearly died of cuteness when I saw him!
I call him New Koo  (new cow) but he is really a steer.
Steer sound so big for his wee self!
But, that's probably as far as it goes as the wee bugger is destined for the Queen's table..........
Circle of life, and all that.
I like to mostly not think about it.

But, cute he IS......like a wee pig-bear.

So, all in all, it's been a good week at the barn!





Thursday, February 23, 2012

TEAM FOX?


TEAM FOX!
Hey-ho, lovies!  It's me, Foxmorton!
I participated in a Period Advice Event this weekend wherein one responds to a love lorn query as a literary character. 
I chose Miss Havisham!  ('cause, ya know....I still have the dress from....
*The Incident........)
(if you don't know about....The Incident......ask me, and I shall blog about
 The Incident.......  ;)
 
Voting has Begun! Choose from any one of the fine and lovely Period Advice Event letters.......
........or my little ol' letter..........as you will.............
  It's easy.  No sign in. Just click to the left of the blog and vote for your favorite!
It was a fun exercise in writing, which is what blogging is really all about.
My thanks to Elegance of Fashion for allowing me the lovely opportunity to share my writing.
Much love, Fox  xo




Monday, February 20, 2012

CRANFORD


 
If you haven't been to BBC's CRANFORD...well then, you should. Immediately!  Get thee, hie!
 Love, love, LOVIN' Bessie, dearest......Mrs. Forrester's beloved cow....who fell in a lime pit and lost her hair and now wears jaunty jammies!
 I'm pretty sure if I were lucky enough to live in Cranford, I'd be Mrs. Forrester.  Though I must say, I probably would have gone with a lovely calico!  :)
I never thought I should love a cow, but since Miss Lizzie happened upon me I have found it to be SUCH a delight!  Those eyes....that nose......that love............
You can be sure, as Spring blooms....so will my love of cows.....!
Oh dear, I really DO need a farm!
 Miss Elizabeth Rose Bovinia
Now, off I go to RETURN to CRANFORD!
Hope to see you there!

 
 

Sunday, February 19, 2012

The Journal of Violet Moorfields


 


"Sir, you may indeed ornament the blaze upon your hoop in any manner you discern gladdening, but I deem it scarcely conceivable that you shall ever sway my pig to vault through it."

 ~Violet Moorfields from "The Found Moorfields Journals


Friday, February 17, 2012

Sweet Vio-lets............


Wow........I was looking for something else and found this draft from ages ago.
What a lovely surprise!  lol
I could have sworn that I posted this and people commented on it.
Ah well..........here you go then......
(and by the by......Mum made it to 100!)   :)

Inspired by Pat from Arkansas at Rememberances of an Arkansas Stamper

http://anarkansasstamper.blogspot.com/

 I became moved to find this song.

I hadn't thought about it in ages.

My Mom, who will be 100 come this June 5th, used to sing it all the time.

Uh...the Doris Day version, that is, not the Naughty Nymphs.  ;)

And, incidentally, her middle name is Viola!



Enjoy!



The Dinah Shore version with lovely photos.

http://youtu.be/LtnLvrmyh3E

and



The Naughty Nymphs version that is so sweet it makes you long to be at Faire!

http://youtu.be/1Dk83DYRgp0



photo:   stock Victorian greeting card

Monday, February 13, 2012

FOXMORTON CONSULTS THE BEAVER: Valentine Edition

Ha!  I crack myself up!
Just found Pirate Foxmorton's
CONSULT THE BEAVER:  Valentine Edition

ENJOY!

And HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
xox


Tuesday, February 7, 2012

LAMB-IN-THE-BOX

Timoleon Marie Labrichon 1883

Dear Fellow Junque Collectors,

You know that moment?  Sure you do.
That moment when you are idly wandering the junque stalls, mostly not finding anything that strikes
your fancy, with that nagging thought in the back of your mind that, really, you don't need another single thing to find a home for......this week, anyway............

And there it is.  Just sitting there. 

You walked past it. 

 Twice.

And, oh, how it must have felt to think you might actually walk right out of the store without taking it home.

And so, it calls your name.

"Oi!  Foxmorton!  Over here, you daft girl!
You know you're going to want me!  And not just me.....but lots and lots MORE like me!"

And suddenly, in a flash, you knew you were meant to collect _______________!
(insert item of the month here)

And so I part with .79 cents......and begin my vintage Jack-in-the-box collection.

And I like it.

Yes, I do.
********************
 
Seriously?  A Widdle Wamb?  How could I not?

Oddly, it plays Pop! Goes the Weasel.
I guess you can't POP to Mary Had A  Little Lamb.


Widdle Wamb came home to live with Dave, my three legged mule.
I rescued him one day for $1.29  He's been quite grateful ever since and the perfect companion.

And, for those interested, here's a bit of history regarding the
Jack-in-the-Box from Retro Planet  (retroplanet.com)
Enjoy!
*********************

The Jack-in-the-Box has been one of the most enduring toys throughout the centuries. There are many stories and theories circulating about its origins. One theory is that it was a toy that was popularized in the 15th and 16th centuries, based on the very popular “Punch” puppet featured in the “Punch and Judy” shows seen in public squares throughout England beginning in the Middle Ages. Early Jack-in-the Box toys resembled the jester Punch, with his white painted face. Another theory is that the name “Jack” was a reference to the devil, referred to as a “jack”. There is a legend in England about a medieval ecclesiastic who claimed to have captured the devil by trapping him a boot. This story may have contributed to the toy’s invention as well, as illustrations were made of him holding a boot with the devil’s head popping out of it. Of course, wind-up toys had been evolving since early Grecian days and there was a revival of this earlier technology with clockmakers beginning in the 13th century.
The first documentation of a Jack-in-the-Box toy was of one made in Germany in the early 16th century by a clockmaker as a gift for the son of a local prince. The wooden box had a handle on the side that when cranked, would play music until a “jack”, or devil on a spring was suddenly released. Word spread among the nobles and the demand for this toy was created.
Technology improved, and by the 1700s, the Jack-in-the-Box had become easier to produce, thus becoming a common toy for people of all ages. The Cockney tune known as “Pop Goes the Weasel” became a frequently used melody in the toy. The Jack-in-the-Box itself became a frequently used image in political cartoons, featuring the face of the latest politician to be lambasted.
In the 1930s, the Jack-in-the-Box toy began to be made out of tin, rather than wood. The exterior of the boxes were stamped with images from nursery rhymes and the “jack” was changed to one of the characters featured in the rhymes. The music was the tune traditionally sung along to the rhyme. A huge variety of Jack-in-the-Box characters continue to be made today and make a great toy for young children, due to the surprise factor associated with it. Of course, many people who are merely young at heart enjoy them, too.