The Ole School days

Well I wanted to tell you a little about this dedication we had on saturday.

The mossy Grove school house in jefferson city was built in 1851 by Prof. R.R. Bryan and class was held there until 1918.

My dad and the crew of "American pioneer restoration" were hired to restore this building to it's former glory.

Here's a link to the Historical society's page on it http://www.jctnhistory.org/?page_id=30

Dad, and Mr. Bob Jarnagin, invited me to come in costume.

Dad and Bob

For me, any excuse to trot out a costume is a thrill!

And so, after an hour of ironing, and another standing in this strangely warm november sun, the event was a complete success!!

Mark Finchum's opening speech

Bob Tells about the project

Mr R.R. Bryan HIMSELF! Straight from 1851!

The President of Carson Newman Colledge, (A School built on these same old foundations) Final speech

The "Gang" (LtR) "R.R. Bryan", unknown, Me, Bob Jarnagin, Dad, Mark Finchum

All in all it was a marvelous time! After which I got to go to lunch and go shopping in my long dress... due to a lack of modern shoes to wear... (I had brought clothes but had worn what I call my "Clunkies")

Well until next time!

~Meggie March. ;D

Ps, about half of these photos were taken by the lovely Ginger Burchett of the historical society, so pleas make sure you ask before using them, so we can make sure it's one of my photos.

Intruder!

So the other day I went to put in one of my favourit videos. A taped copy of the first season of "Road to Avonlea" that someone gave me when I was three years old.

So as you can imagine, it's a little worn out, and in places, doesn't play well.

So I pop it in the player, it shows about three seconds..... and stops.

I pull it out, fearing the worst.

Gladly, it hadn't been eaten and torn.

So I blow gently on the beloved tape, and savagely on the now hated player.

And as I go to put the video back in the player, praying for the best... I notice something...

Why yes, That IS a LIVE stinkbug INSIDE the tape!! Can you see it?

And so it was calmly evicted from its new forbidden home, and sent on its way.

And the tape played just as imperfectly as ever. :D

Rose Center!

The Rose Center, in my opinion, is one of the most perfect venues for old fashioned crafts. Originally it was a highschool around the turn of the century. And in the surrounding streets there are some of the most exquisite examples of Victorian houses!


The building itsself is simply chock full of some of the most amazing antiques. I don't think I've ever seen real turn of the century clothes up close! Course one of the fellows who was running the show, upon my asking if I could take the above picture, asked if I knew what the sleeves of the blouse were called. ;D Do you know?

Mom frying hoe (corn) cakes on our woodstove

As for myself I had a marvelous time, meeting kind people and demonstrating my sewing machine.

(My sewing machine is just behind the orange apron)

As I walked through the gymnasium (built on in later years) I was shocked to hear (live!) A truly iconic East Tennessee Voice! Bill Landry!

Now if any of you have ever been in the east Tennessee area and watched WBIR Channel 10 at any point, then you have probably heard or seen Bill Landry. For the past 30 some odd years, Mr. Landry Has hosted dad's and my favourite TV show "The Heartland Series" in which Mr. Landry gives us a 5 minute vingette of local history. (Saturday nights they complie them into a 30 minute program)

So later Saturday afternoon, Mr. Jim Claborn (Below on the right) A good friend of ours and often featured member of the "Heartland Family", agreed to introduce us.

Needless to say, Dad was tickled!

Of course, my head swelled up when Mr. Landry asked Jim if I was an actress. ;)

But anyways, I'll end on this note. We all had a marvelous time! And my parents have agreed to let me open an etsy account in which you will find many of the wares above. And all will be at reasonable prices, and completely hand sewn or on the treadle machine!

Have a wonderful week!!

~ Meggie

A Cozy Winter

Dad took down an old barn this week and as of this morning we have our first official load of firewood!!

Dad fixed up this old beut and hooked it to the tractor where we spent the better part of the morning avoiding nails... I MEAN!!! Cutting wood... (Sorry.. that thing scares me....)

As sad as it is to see someone's livelihood reduced to keeping us warm, I'm fully looking foreward to many cozy hours in front of a warm wood stove with a cup of hot cocoa. :D

Until next time!!!

~Meggie

A Bootfull of Gifts

I thought I'd show you how the stockings turned out. Aren't they darling??

Thy Will Not Mine, O Lord

Lately I've been discouraged.

Yup it's true, I admit it. Perhaps it's not elegant in Cranford, but I said it. You would think that with one of the oldest and most revered occupations it would be easy to learn about and be accepted.

But alas in this "Age of Equality" It isn't....

I keep watching people, and their reactions. I Watch how people act on an everyday basis and laugh at how they screw up their faces when I tell them my reasoning for being a stay-at-home-daughter, and someday, wife.

Here are some things I've heard;

• 
  An eight year old girl asked me why I was still living at home if I was 20...
  




• A matron in my church told me I had to go to colledge because if I didn't my husband would leave me for being un-educated.
  




• "Why don't you just date that boy? What does marriage have to do with it?"
  




• A french guy told me if I went to colledge I could go to Europe whenever I wanted.
  




• "I think a girl should wear what she wants, if you've got it flaunt it! Besides my underwear match my skirt, it's all good."
  

And many more.. trust me..

After a while it gets really old. Why can't people just accept me. That's supposed to be part of this modern mantra isn't it? Acceptance?

Or does that not include Biblical womanhood?

So here I sit discouraged..

"What's the point" Has entered my mental vocabulary a lot now. Usually as I give up and slide into a pair of tight jeans, or turn from my sewing machine to lose myself in a computer game. (my computer is in the same room) Or even when I go to type up a blog post.

So what IS the point. ...


For the first time in a while I picked up my Oswald Chambers Devotional this morning and this is what I read;

The viewpoint of a worker for God must not be as near the highest as he can get, it must be the highest. Be careful to maintain strenuously God's point of view, it has to be done every day, bit by bit; don't think on the finite. No outside power can touch the viewpoint.
The viewpoint to maintain is that we are here for one purpose only, viz., to be captives in the train of Christ's triumphs. We are not in God's Showroom, we are here to exhibit one thing- the absolute captivity of our lives to Jesus Christ. How small the other points of view are- I am standing alone battling for Jesus; I have to maintain the cause of Christ and hold this fort for Him....
..."For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ." We are enwheeled with the odour of Jesus, and wherever we go we are a wonderful refreshment to God.
So what is our point? Keep going. So that when God looks down and sees the same things we are, and is just as discouraged, He can look at us and say, "Ahah! There's one who's still striving for Me."

If God can look at us and smile, can't we keep going? One day at a time?
I think so.

As a side note though, To those of you who read my blog that are not stay at home daughters, please encourage those you see. We struggle daily against the wiles of this world. Being us is harder than it looks. Especially when we live in an area where being a stay at home daughter is virtually non-existent.

We've chosen this path for a purpose, and begging us to go elsewise is just painful.

Keep up the Faith Girls!!
~Meggie

question from my phone. . .

Well, I'm not sure when I'll get to the library next so I thought I'd go ahead and ask. Does anyone know where I could find information on Edwardian and Teens clothing? Materials, patterns, hairstyles, underpinnings, ect. Mostly on the Teens though. I've found that I can wear 19 Teen's era clothing on a regular basis and not get funny looks. Plus I wear earlier Edwardian things to festivals. So any advise on that? Thanks a million! ~Meggie

Twenty's Pleanty

You know, Every year on my birthday, people ask me "Well do you feel different now that you're___" No.. I really didn't. But this year it's different.

I've hated being a teener so much that, now that twenty has come along it's a big sigh of relief. No, I don't want time to fly, I'm perfectly happy being twenty.

But Anyways, on my actual birthday, last Saterday Dear Lady Weaver decided to surprise me with a Cades Cove Breakfast picnic.

Course no one said it would be cold, luckily i like cold. ;D

Anyhoo, I think I'll just let you enjoy some of the pictures from the photoshoot we had. What a blast that was!!

The Homespun Treadler

Well I simply couln't wait to let ya'll know about this weekend's big success!!

Friday and Saturday were the beginning of my new "Career" As the "Homespun Treadler!"

We've been going to festivals as a side venture for as long as I can remember, and now my parents are passing the baton along to me and allowing me to spread my wings as it were. This weekend we set up at the "Olde Town Engine show" In Greenville, Tn.

My Products right now include Bonnets and aprons among other things. All of which will be made on my Mason Rotary Treadle machine that I mentioned in and earlier post.

Today I'm going to get some material for "Victorian Boot" Christmas stockings! How cute will those be!!!

Here are a few pictures of my set up, and of my latest costume (Made from a the folkwear Gibson Girl Shirtwaist pattern)

Also! Do any of you know anything about Edwardian hairstyles? I used wool as Rats to make it fuller, but my hair was so thin it kept falling down... :/ Any tips? Thanks a million!

Also Also! If any of you would be interested in any of my products, please let me know. I'm thinking about getting myself and etsy page, but I would need your support to keep it up. So please do let me know!

And lastly, if you have any ideas for crafts or costume pieces that you would like to see please tell me about them! I'm sitting at the beginning and raring to go!

Oh! And one more thing (I know I know) If you are in the area on the 28th-30th Stop by and see me at the "Rose Center's Mountain Makins" Festival in Morristown!

comment problems

Hey, I wanted to let ya'll know I'm having trouble commenting. I try from my phone but it appears as an anonymous post. Then my computer is having trouble loading blogs. Something to do with the backgrounds. So i'm going to keep commenting from my phone and i'll sign them so you'll know who it is. Keep the comments coming! God Bless! ~Meggie

A Holy Dunking

Bahaha Okay, So it's a much more serious matter than that I know. But that was just one of the things people said to me on that last day of july.

The others included, be careful of the shark and "If you die will you will me your bicycle?"

Now, to begin at the beginning. Yes, I am a baptist... and yes I'm 19 and had never been Baptised! I'm not sure why. I remember being 7 years old and practising going under water so I could get baptised. But we did a lot of church hopping when I was young, due to a split at our home church...

So I've been attending my little backwoods church for aroung 4-5 years now. I feel at home, and loved there, and I'm begining to do more than just sing and pray. So one sunday last october, God nudged me and I knew it was time to fulfill his command.

But there was a hitch....

I couldn't figure it... but there was something about that big green bathtub at the back of the church that scared the heck out of me! Maybe it's the fact that when I was little, the baptistry was off limits.. a "NO no" room persay. Or maybe it was something else.. I dunno...

But hey! My Grandparents were baptised in a mountain river, so why not me?

So I went to the pastor and he heartily consented. But by this time.... it was january... and BOY was it cold!

So we settled in to wait until summer.

By then we realized it was going to be much easier to go one mile down the road to the lake than to try to get the whole church into the mountains.

And now we're back to the day of. After service we had a meal in the fellowship hall, and then it was down the road in a convoy of church goers to the TVA boat ramp.

I'm afraid that from here, things got a bit hazy for me. I just focused on the task at hand. But I can tell you looking out across the water at my new family looked, to me, a bit like a scene of pride and prejudice, when Jane is going off to london and looks back at her family on the porch, waving and smiling. Course I was coming home, not going away.

Miss Lady Weaver's Mom once told me how good it would feel when I finally did as God asked, and she was right. I now feel as though I can take on the world!

Chicken pen!

Well I thought I would post a picture of our chicken's new abode. They seem to like it, they just like it better when they fly over the walls... :/ Needless to say a roof is in the works... BUT!! We got our first two eggs yesterday!! Woot!!

Well, until next time!

God Bless!!

Meggie

Guest post!!

Hey all! Just a quick note to let you know I was asked to guest post for Lady Weaver over at "Wonderlust Requiem" So Check it out!!

Old fashioned Photos

Lauren over at American Duchess has been giving tutorials on creating and old fashioned look from a new photo. She's been going the whole nine yards, from costume and pose to backdrop, not to mention all the computer editing.

So I decided to give it a try as best I could with what I have (I left my camera at my best friend's a few weeks ago and have yet to get it back... *blush*)

What do you think??

Sewing extravaganza

Hey all!

I thought I'd catch you up on my latest sewing adventures.

First off, I made a blouse from a past patterns teens era pattern... (don't ask the number...) I bought some pale green material to make it up with. But we were having a cookout at my aunt's that weekend and I needed something to wear. I didn't want to use my good material since I knew I didn't have time to make it up properly. So I found this peach print and plain lining in my stash, and gave it a try. I LOVE IT!!! It's one of my favourite things in my wardrobe now!

Next though, I have to tell you how I made the piping around the collar, cuffs, and down the front.

On my, New to me, 1912, Mason Rotary treadle machine!!!

Isn't it great! It came with a box full of attachments! My favourites are the ruffler (seen above, on the machine) and of course, the piper! I can just see the CW dresses I'l create!! :D

Finally though, I can't sign off without showing you the quilt I'm working on.

Farm Life

A few months ago I left you with a cliffhanger post… And I’m afraid it’s still going to be. I’ve sadly become a bit of a perfectionist on it, and I want to take my time on it and make sure it’s good. :D
I figured though, that I’d catch you up on a few things that have been going on around our little farm. I am proud to say that it is now well on its way to becoming a working farm again!
As of a few weeks ago, this was our garden. There are peas, radishes, Onions, heirloom beans compliments of the G. family. ;D, and cabbages. Since then we have harvested the radishes and really need to get the peas up. We had a few terrible bouts of hail that did some serious damage to everything. The younger plants made it through okay, but the peas look terrible… And we’ve had a problem with things being way too dry… So we’ve been hauling water and struggling to make sure the newly planted things make it.


Look at the eerie mist that came up off the ice!!
But to me, every struggle is a learning experience. It’s such a wonderful feeling to work hard for something and finally reap the result of a full larder! I can’t wait to start canning and freezing!!
Now we have added Tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes
Secondly are my new babies. There is no greater joy to someone who doesn’t have children around to enjoy, than watching animals grow.
These guys were so curious about my camera!!

They’re not quite full grown, they still peep. :D But it sure has been a pleasure to see them mature to this from the little fluff balls we bought back in late April. God’s creatures always amaze me. These little ones could "talk", and walk, and run, from the moment they hatched. Can you imagine what kind of instincts God put In them from the start? And with just a few words?

To say the least, these past few months have been an absolute blessing!! I know these opportunities I’ve had are teaching me to be the best wife and mother I can. Sometimes I still struggle to make myself get up in the morning, but once I do, and I can start doing my chores, everything just seems to get better.
Everything seems to be going right, especially true when my hands are dirty.
I have a few more posts in the works, and I hope to get them out to you in the next few days, if not it’ll be the next few weeks. You see, it’s a 30 minute drive to my library and with gas prices the way they are, we’re having to be really careful and stick close to home. I Really miss blogging and I can’t wait until I have internet at home again so I can catch up with everybody here!
Until then!! Much Love and Huggs!!
~ Meggie

Guess What?

Hey!

Wanna know what I"m doing this week??

Here's a Hint!

More on this later! :D

Fort Business, Update

Well, Here I am headed home from KY. We've been up to see the fort and some of the local sites.

First off, here is what the fort looked like when I left last time.

And Now without further Ado, here it is now.

Can you see how absolutely MASSIVE this thing already is? Think of when it's done! Ain't no Indian gonna be able to vault over that wall!

The Long awaited and debated for "Water Gap Gate" I didn't get a picture of when my dad let go of that thing. It stayed exactly where he put it. Perfectly balanced. :D

The newest addition to the Fort Family. :D It's taller on the far side than on this so a man could climb on the roof and shoot invaders without being seen.

Home pegged Cedar steps

Outside the new corner house. Again, the absolute massiveness of it. My Dad is about 5'11"

We've seen some wonderful old buildings and homes ranging from Colonial to Victorian. All well dressed by fancy Derby people. (Most were surrounded by huge horse barns and white/ black picket fences)

This was a street full of old colonials in Downtown Danville

Next we went to Shakertown. I'll admit, it is an absolutely gorgeous little town, peaceful and serene. But they were a cult, and to hear about a cult on TV or some such, is a whole other story from actually touching things they built or being inside one of their dorm houses. Their main fault was a vow of complete celibacy, upon entering the town you gave up all your worldly goods, your marriage vows, and even your children, and became a part of the "Family." The whole community was based upon false prophesy. Now, If you can put the past behind you, and remember that these people are all dead and gone, unlike me, then you will probably enjoy a visit. The crafters are there year round, and the sheer craftsmanship of everything in sight IS magnificent. I'm not going to post any pictures, if you have a subscription to Victoria Magazine, you saw about as much as I did in last fall's edition.

Lastly though, we went to the Perryville Civil war Battlefield. The longest and bloodiest battle in KY, it lasted all of 5 hours... The Rebs were beat out 3-1 and STILL whipped Yankee Tail!! Course they subsequently ran out of supplies and men and headed back across the Mason Dixon.. I didn't get any pictures sadly... But! I did get an absolutely wonderful New old book. And a new dip pen. :D

The Cameo one of the church ladies gave me before I left.

The book though, is amazing! It's a modern reprint of a popular 1820s-30s How to book.

The American Frugal Housewife, by Mrs. Child.

I'm only in the second chapter, but already it has held some great tips on everything from keeping away moths to cleaning white kid gloves, and all on a budget. Some are just entertaining, knowing that a certain item is no longer available, nor in common use, but some are very practical. I Highly recommend it as a good read anyways!

Well, that is my week so far. and I hope yours is even better!

Luffles Muchly!

Meggie