A morning spent pulling weeds using Mother’s old trowel, not to mention the ancient tweed skirt and thrift shop pullover she got somewhere in Montreal. A need to be dressed like Vogue at all times that came with her lifetime subscription, but not when the only things likely to see you are bugs, beetles, and worms.
my new short fiction piece with the rest at the Substack link in case you’d like to read the rest.
Pour les jours de grands froids, l’esquimau est le costume le plus comfortable des petits, nouse l’expliquons dans sette page, pour 3 ans, (voir les conditions de vent dans le texte. TRICOTER DES CHAUDS LAINAGES: LE COSTUME ESQUIMAU DES BAMBINS. Article published in the February 5, 1933 issue of La Mode illustrée: journal de la famille on Page 9. Collections of the Bibliothèque Forney, Paris, France. In the public domain due to age. https://bibliotheques-specialisees.paris.fr/ark:/73873/pf0000553549/1933/n06/v0009.simple.highlight=Dominotier.selectedTab=record
and the kind of winter outfit my parents, born in 1925 and 1928 wore when they were little and quite possibly knit by their mothers.
Front cover. Image 5 of Mount Desert with pen and pencil. Doctor W. B. Latham, compiler. Published in New York by the Press of Liberty Printing Company in 1886. Collections of the Library of Congress. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/barharbormountde00laph/page/n4/mode/1upBar Harbor, Mount Desert, Maine. Page 4, Image 10 of of Mount Desert with pen and pencil. Doctor W. B. Latham, compiler. Published in New York by the Press of Liberty Printing Company in 1886. Collections of the Library of Congress. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/barharbormountde00laph/page/4/mode/1upEagle Lake. Page 10, Image 16 of of Mount Desert with pen and pencil. Doctor W. B. Latham, compiler. Published in New York by the Press of Liberty Printing Company in 1886. Collections of the Library of Congress. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/barharbormountde00laph/page/10/mode/1upMount Desert from ‘The Bluffs.’ Mount Desert Ferry. Page 12, Image 18 of of Mount Desert with pen and pencil. Doctor W. B. Latham, compiler. Published in New York by the Press of Liberty Printing Company in 1886. Collections of the Library of Congress. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/barharbormountde00laph/page/12/mode/1upThe Ovens. Page 17, Image 23 of of Mount Desert with pen and pencil. Doctor W. B. Latham, compiler. Published in New York by the Press of Liberty Printing Company in 1886. Collections of the Library of Congress. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/barharbormountde00laph/page/17/mode/1upMount Desert, Looking up Some’s Sound. The Rand Avery Supply Company (lower left) was a Boston printing company. Page 21, Image 27 of of Mount Desert with pen and pencil. Doctor W. B. Latham, compiler. Published in New York by the Press of Liberty Printing Company in 1886. Collections of the Library of Congress. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/barharbormountde00laph/page/21/mode/1up Page 49, Image 55 of of Mount Desert with pen and pencil. Doctor W. B. Latham, compiler. Published in New York by the Press of Liberty Printing Company in 1886. Collections of the Library of Congress. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/barharbormountde00laph/page/49/mode/1up
Just like some others I found a different version of this here but it’s a different edition? Not sure what but it has 72 pages not 60
Front cover. . Image 1 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archivehttps://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/mode/1upThe earth mother awakening her children in early spring. Image 2 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n2/mode/1upThe earth mother’s children shout ‘Spring! Spring! and start sewing. The forget-me-not is cutting out a little blue cloak. The dandelion is sewing a golden caftan. The delicate, snow-white lily of the valley is sewing a beautiful outfit. The daisy and the chamomile are hurrying to sew little shirts. The poppy is sewing a dress from bright red fabric. The bellflower is ringing out in songwith the others joining in, singing ‘Soon, very soon—tram-tram-tram—we will scatter through the forests, over the hills and meadows.’Image 4 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n3/mode/1upThe children finish their sewing and show it to their mother, who says: ‘You can confidently go out into God’s world in these lovely dresses. Now, go and take a walk! Give my regards to the streams, the woods, the ravines, the butterflies, the beetles, the insects, the melodious birds, the crimson dawns, the pure dews, the light, fleeting clouds, the carefree breezes, the sky, the sun, and the stars!’Image 6 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n5/mode/1upThe children awaken the roots of trees and are joined in their underground workshop by lady bugs and other insects helping. Above the sun shines brightly as the children sing: “Come to us! to us! – the flowers of curly birch trees, thin-trunked aspens, pines, and shaggy fir trees beckon to the flowers. – We will shelter you from the summer heat with branches, we will amuse you with fun games with golden sun bunnies. – Come to us! to us!’ – the hills with lawns invite them.’ Image 8 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n7/mode/1up
The little ones live wonderfully above the ground. In the morning, the tender crimson dawn kisses the little ones, during the day the bright sun caresses them, the melodious birds entertain them with their singing, the evenings are adorned with dew, and the nights whisper wonderful fairy tales. ‘Look! – the silvery lily-of-the-valley tinkles softly – a butterfly is flying! Come, sit on my back under the little green leaf: I’ve saved a pure drop of dew for you to drink.’ Image 10 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n9/mode/1up
A little stream flows through the cheerful meadow and all day the little ones frolic with their forget-me-not and snail friends. Image 12 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n11/mode/1upThe rye has ripened, turned yellow. When the wind blows, the field sways like a golden sea; it rolls waves with a quiet rustle – further and further – over the boundary, like golden foam, scattering in a lush, golden crest. On the boundary, tiny flowers: poppy, chamomile, cornflower, bellflower, caraway, and others, dance in a round.The bellflower replies and the others respond: ‘The princess-queen! the princess-queen!’ Image 13 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n13/mode/1upThe bellflower replies and the others respond: ‘The princess-queen! the princess-queen!’ Image 16 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n15/mode/1upThe beautiful summer flew by very quickly. The bright sun shines less often, warms less, and the air grows colder. Over the deserted fields, over the yellowing forests, various birds stretched out in long lines, heading south. There’s no time for games, no time for songs, no time for jokes. Often, the cold rain made the little ones shiver. Often, like a hungry beast, the wind howled, mercilessly bending the flower stems, instilling fear with its ominous roar. The little ones grow cold and, their little cloaks fluttering in the wind, return to their mother who says: “Hurry up, my dears! I have long since made up the beds in the little chambers for you, my little ones.” Image 18 of a 1917 Russian translation of the children’s book Детки Земли (Children of the Earth). Sibylle von Olfers (1881-1916), illustrator, with V. A. Smirnov having written the text. T. I. D. Sytin, Moscow, lithographer. In the public domain due to age. via the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/halfofthesky_gmail_20171022/page/n17/mode/1up
These lithographs don’t actually have captions nor can I read Cyrillic. I have gone through the text, run it through Google Translate and then quoted much of the text or paraphrased it.
Off to the school to collect the twins in their little plaid dresses with the white sashes held on by big green buttons like the ones Grandmama bought from Best and Company. No Best and Company anymore, at least not near Omaha, but a seamstress with an entire wall of bolts of tartan plaid of every clan that ever graced Edinburgh on a bad day or a good day. The colors do not match. The girls getting to pick out their favorite instead.
My new short fiction piece at the link in case you’d like to read the rest. Enjoy!
Title page artwork. Page 7 of The frozen zone and its explorers: a comprehensive history of voyages, travels, adventures, disasters, and discoveries in the Arctic regions: Life in the Realm of Frost, co written by Alexander Hyde, A. C. Baldwin, and William Leonard Gage. Published in 1880 by R. W. Bliss and Company (Hartford) and A. L. Bancroft and Company, San Francisco. J. McGoffin engraver after J. Hamilton. Collections of the Library of Congress. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/frozenzoneitsexp01hyde/page/n6/mode/1upScene on the Greenland Coast. Page 25 of The frozen zone and its explorers: a comprehensive history of voyages, travels, adventures, disasters, and discoveries in the Arctic regions: Life in the Realm of Frost, co written by Alexander Hyde, A. C. Baldwin, and William Leonard Gage. Published in 1880 by R. W. Bliss and Company (Hartford) and A. L. Bancroft and Company, San Francisco. Collections of the Library of Congress. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/frozenzoneitsexp01hyde/page/25/mode/1upFreighted Iceberg. Page 82 of The frozen zone and its explorers: a comprehensive history of voyages, travels, adventures, disasters, and discoveries in the Arctic regions: Life in the Realm of Frost, co written by Alexander Hyde, A. C. Baldwin, and William Leonard Gage. Published in 1880 by R. W. Bliss and Company (Hartford) and A. L. Bancroft and Company, San Francisco. Collections of the Library of Congress. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/frozenzoneitsexp01hyde/page/25/mode/1upParhelia. Page 115 of The frozen zone and its explorers: a comprehensive history of voyages, travels, adventures, disasters, and discoveries in the Arctic regions: Life in the Realm of Frost, co written by Alexander Hyde, A. C. Baldwin, and William Leonard Gage. Published in 1880 by R. W. Bliss and Company (Hartford) and A. L. Bancroft and Company, San Francisco. Collections of the Library of Congress. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/frozenzoneitsexp01hyde/page/115/mode/1upEsquimaux Hut. Page 567 of The frozen zone and its explorers: a comprehensive history of voyages, travels, adventures, disasters, and discoveries in the Arctic regions: Life in the Realm of Frost, co written by Alexander Hyde, A. C. Baldwin, and William Leonard Gage. Published in 1880 by R. W. Bliss and Company (Hartford) and A. L. Bancroft and Company, San Francisco. Collections of the Library of Congress. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/frozenzoneitsexp01hyde/page/567/mode/1up
This one I didn’t find by myself. I found a link on the website of rare book dealer James Arsenault who is selling a salesman’s sample used to sell copies of The Frozen Zone and its Explorers. Then I found a scanned version over on the Internet Archive.
BASEBALLTEAM – ChapelBuilding in Background: Morrow, Eureka, photographers? Page 11 of the 1898 edition of the ‘Eureka College Souvenir‘ which was published by the Eureka College Aid Association and printed by J. W. Franks and Sons of Peoria Illinois. Collections of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/eurekacollegesou00eure/page/11/mode/1upON THE ELMWOOD COURT – Tabernacle in Background. Morrow, Eureka, photographers? Page 13 of the 1898 edition of the ‘Eureka College Souvenir‘ which was published by the Eureka College Aid Association and printed by J. W. Franks and Sons of Peoria Illinois. Collections of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/eurekacollegesou00eure/page/13/mode/1upA CLASS IN THE GYMNASIUM:Morrow, Eureka, photographers? Page 15 of the 1898 edition of the ‘Eureka College Souvenir‘ which was published by the Eureka College Aid Association and printed by J. W. Franks and Sons of Peoria Illinois. Collections of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/eurekacollegesou00eure/page/15/mode/1upFOOTBALL TEAM:Morrow, Eureka, photographers? Page 17 of the 1898 edition of the ‘Eureka College Souvenir‘ which was published by the Eureka College Aid Association and printed by J. W. Franks and Sons of Peoria Illinois. Collections of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/eurekacollegesou00eure/page/17/mode/1upTRACK TEAM:Morrow, Eureka, photographers? Page 19 of the 1898 edition of the ‘Eureka College Souvenir‘ which was published by the Eureka College Aid Association and printed by J. W. Franks and Sons of Peoria Illinois. Collections of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/eurekacollegesou00eure/page/19/mode/1upMANDOLIN CLUB: Page 23 of the 1898 edition of the ‘Eureka College Souvenir‘ which was published by the Eureka College Aid Association and printed by J. W. Franks and Sons of Peoria Illinois. Collections of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/eurekacollegesou00eure/page/23/mode/1upA SOCIAL HOUR AT LIDA’S WOOD:Morrow, Eureka, photographers? Page 28 of the 1898 edition of the ‘Eureka College Souvenir‘ which was published by the Eureka College Aid Association and printed by J. W. Franks and Sons of Peoria Illinois. Collections of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/eurekacollegesou00eure/page/28/mode/1upA ROOM OF ONE OF THE GIRLS AT LIDA’S WOOD:Morrow, Eureka, photographers? Page 29 of the 1898 edition of the ‘Eureka College Souvenir‘ which was published by the Eureka College Aid Association and printed by J. W. Franks and Sons of Peoria Illinois. Collections of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/eurekacollegesou00eure/page/29/mode/1upPERICLESIAN HALL:Morrow, Eureka, photographers? Page 35 of the 1898 edition of the ‘Eureka College Souvenir‘ which was published by the Eureka College Aid Association and printed by J. W. Franks and Sons of Peoria Illinois. Collections of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In the public domain due to age. https://archive.org/details/eurekacollegesou00eure/page/35/mode/1up
smiling on the tip of a sunbeam glowing in neon pink as somewhere down where the Rio Grande reaches for the sea families inch out their babies in tow and smile . . . from all over and that hard but together today . . . a movie sprouted out of nowhere with a huge sheet tacked up for a screen . . . creatures that dance and children that sing and others that pray . . . intermission and people in green tights tossing out candy . . . a better tomorrow for sure but a celebration in your heart to last all your life long . . .
my series post (and the last post for my winter series) at the link:
Crimson Blooms Crown. Gold plated and encrusted with red enamel flowers, cubic zirconia crystals, pearlised beads and brass florets. monarquejewels.com.