A Blythe post from Easter 2008 and yes there was snow!

Over the years I've been a bit of a serial blogger, starting a blog and abandoning it because I haven't posted for a while. I'm going to try really hard to just keep this one going even when I go missing for months.

 I was reminded of my bad blogging habits when I saw this post of mine from a long abandoned blog :

Constance woke Easter Sunday to see snow for the very first time. She was so excited that she rushed outside in her old dressing gown of course the inevitable happened!

Up you get Constance your pet ponies are waiting for a sugar lump or two.

British Birds and Their Nests -Ladybird Book Series 536

 Ladybird Books British Birds and Their Nests Ladybird Series 536 - First Edition

 WHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT?

British Birds - nests - bird eggs - trees - hedges - Yellowhammer - Skylark - Wren - Robin - Blue Tit - Long-tailed Tit - Bullfinch - Linnet - Jay - Starling - Magpie - Blackbird - Song Thrush - Goldfinch - Willow Warbler - House Martin - Turtle Dove - Green Woodpecker - Pied Wagtail - Kingfisher - Brown Owl - Partridge - Moorhen - Black-headed Gull

"This, children, is a new book about British birds and their nests. All the birds are common ones, and Allen Seaby has given you lovely coloured pictures, to enable you to recognise each of the birds when you see them.

I have tried to tell you a little about each bird, so that you will know where and how they live; what the bird is when you see it, and you can only do that by watching and keeping your eyes open. So you want to look at these lovely pictures very closely, and then go out and see how many of the birds in this book you can find. You can try their nests as well, but if you do, do not take the eggs - just look at them.

Good Hunting"

 This copy complies with the following First Edition issue points for collectors : "Hardback book issued with dust-wrapper. Original price 2'6 Net. The title text on the dust-wrapper is white (later edition were in blue or black ink). Catalogue page at the rear of the book."

About Ladybird Series 536

Ladybird published 27 titles in series 536 between 1940 and 1980 inclusive. The first 14 titles were originally published with dust-wrapper and had the original price of 2'6 Net.

This was a hugely popular series as it explored the wonders of nature - each title has been reprinted numerous times throughout the years retaining the wonderful illustrations that accompanied the easy-to-read text

 Ladybird Books British Birds and Their Nests Ladybird Series 536 - First Edition

Author: Brian Vesey-Fitzgerald
Illustrator: Allen W Seaby
Publisher: Wills & Hepworth
First Published: 1953

 This is a Ladybird Tuesday Post hosted by Being Mrs C

Weekend Read - Miss Happiness and Miss Flower by Rumer Godden

Whilst browsing charity shop books I came across a copy of Miss Happiness and Miss Flower Not a vintage copy unfortunately but I bought it anyway.I started reading it as soon as I got home and was instantly enchanted.It was magical and now I wish I had a Miss Happiness and Miss Flower of my very own.

Weekly Poem - Sea-Fever by John Masefield (1878-1967)

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown splume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

 

Sea-Fever

by John Masefield (1878-1967)

Find out more about John Masefield, poet and author of the wonderful children's books The Midnight Folk and The Box of Delights by clicking here

The Story of our Churches and Cathedrals 1964 Ladybird Book

 The Story of our Churches and Cathedrals is a Ladybird Achievement Book first published in 1964, Series 601.

 This copy is a first edition it has beige boards with a blue pictorial and blue lettering on the front panel; blue lettering on the spine and endpaper maps on the dustcover. The original price was 2'6 Net.

 What is this book about?

Churches - Cathedrals - Religious Buildings - English Architecture

 "This book traces the development of our churches and cathedrals from Saxon times to the present day. With simple text and superb full colour illustrations it describes the many interesting and beautiful features of the various periods of architecture, and will add greatly to your understanding and pleasure."

 Contents: Stories in Stone; Saxon Churches; Saxon Towers; Norman Architecture; Norman Walls and Towers; Triforium and Clerestory; Norman Roofs Crypts and Windows; Early English Architecture; The Flying Buttress; Pillars and Cloisters; The Decorated Period; The Great Lantern of Ely; The Perpendicular Period; Large Windows and Fan Vaulting; Timber Roofs; Fonts Moulding and Gargoyles; Shrines and Tombs; English Renaissance; St Paul's Cathedral; Wren Churches; Eighteenth Century Chapels; The Gothic Revival; Coventry; and The Cathedral of Today.

Author: Richard Bowood
Illustrator: Robert Ayton
Publisher: Wills & Hepwroth
First publishd: 1964

About Series 601:  This series, the first to appear in the 1960s, was very popular for it’s well-written texts and superb colour illustrations, and added interest to the history of man's achievements, helping children grasp a greater understanding of our past, and how inventions of plastics, ships and railways have helped shape the world we live in today.
 If you like Ladybird Books you might also be interested in a previous post: Florence Nightingale Ladybird Book
This is a Ladybird Tuesday Post hosted by Being Mrs C  Mrs C is featuring Things to Make this week and is joined by Mrs Fox's who feature The Pottery Makers

Florence Nightingale Ladybird Book

 Mrs C of Being Mrs C today announced the start of Ladybird Tuesday where each Tuesday she plans to share one of the vintage Ladybird books from her collection and tell us a bit about it. It's a brilliant idea so I'd like to share one of our vintage Ladybird books in this post.

 Florence Nightingale is a Ladybird series 561 book. Series 561 was produced between 1940 and 1980 and was one of the more popular series. The first 23 titles of the series, 19 of which were produced with dust-wrappers, were all written by L Du Garde Peach and illustrated by John Kenney.

 Florence Nightingale was first published in 1959 by Wills & Hepworth, written by L Du Garde Peach and illustrated by John Kenney. It's an adventure from history which tells the true story of Florence Nightingale, The Lady with the Lamp.

"The nurses and hospitals of the whole world owe a great debt to Florence Nightingale, one of the greatest Englishwomen who ever lived.

Her name has always been associated with the Crimean War, but it was her patient work during a very long life which made our hospitals what they are today. This is her story."

 Author:L Du Garde Peach
Illustrator: John Kenney
Publisher: Wills & Hepworth
First Published: 1959

Weekend Read - The Musical Umbrella by Friedrich Feld

 Love the 1950's illustrations by Ferelith Eccles Williams in The Musical Umbrella by Friedrich Feld.

 "Mr Aldermar had spent ten years on his invention, a marvellous umbrella which made the sound of lovely chiming bells when he put it up. It looked quite ordinary, but it was the only musical umbrella in the world. Then, on the first day he went out with it, he lost it - and was plunged into the depths of despair, Thanks to Marin and Helen - and clever Brownie the dog - he gets it back in the end, after some very funny and surprising happenings."

The  original title was DER MUSIKALISCHE REGENSCHIRM, The Musical Umbrella was translated from the German by W. Kersley Holmes. This vintage copy is  from 1958  published by Blackie & Son Ltd, London and Glasgow.

Make your own recycled bird feeder

  Here are a couple of ideas for DIY bird feeders:

The tea cup and saucer bird feeder is made from recycled cups and saucers instructions here

and this stylish bird feeder is made from recycled bottles and wood, instructions here

Images: Shelterness

Guy Fawkes, The Gun Powder Plot and Bonfire Night - 10 Things

1. The Gunpowder Treason Plot of 1605 was an assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of Catholics who were unhappy at the treatment of Catholics in England.
2. There were 13 conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot: Robert Catesby, Thomas Wintour, Jack Wright,Thomas Percy, Guy Fawkes, Robert Wintour, Christopher (Kit) Wright, Robert Keyes, Thomas Bates, John Grant, Ambrose Rookwood, Francis Tresham, and Everard Digby.
3.  They hid 36 barrels of gunpowder in the cellars under The House of Lords, planning to blow up The Houses of Parliament, King James, The Prince of Wales and Members of Parliament.
4.  One of the conspirators decided to warn a friend against going to The Houses of Parliament on the day of the planned explosion, 5th November 1605. An anonymous letter was sent to Lord Monteagle who passed it on to the authorities.
5. Guy Fawkes was the conspirator who was supposed to ignite the gunpowder but due to the anonymous letter sent to Lord Monteagle the cellars were searched and Guy was arrested.
6.  Word soon got out about the foiled plan to kill the king and bonfires were lit to celebrate the safety of the King. 
7. Guy Fawkes who gave his name as John Johnson was interrogated and tortured  for 2 days before he finally gave in and told the authorities about the other conspirators. He told the authorities that his intention had been "to blow you Scotch beggars back to your native mountains."
8.  Robert Catesby  Rookwood, the Wright brothers, Percy and John Grant died in a siege at Holbeche House  on 8th November.
9.  Francis Tresham died in prison while awaiting trial, the other 8 conspirators including Guy Fawkes were sent to trail and sentenced to be hanged drawn and quartered.
10. The Gunpowder Plot is commemorated in England on 5th November with firework displays and bonfire parties.

Halloween - 10 Things

Did you know that the custom of trick or treating is believed to have developed from a medieval custom called souling?
 The poor would go from door to door asking for food in return for prayers for the dead.

And do you know why folk dress up for Halloween?
Why to fool the spirits that are wandering on All Hallow's Eve when the veil between the world of the living and the dead is said to be at it's thinnest.

Do you know the legend of the Jack O Lantern?
 Apparently Jack tricked the devil into agreeing never to collect his soul. Unfortunately for Jack when he died he wasn't allowed into Heaven and because of the agreement the Devil had made he wasn't allowed into hell either. Jack's spirit was left to wander the earth moaning about how dark it was. Someone took pity on Jack and tossed him a lump of glowing coal which he put into a hollowed out pumpkin which he now uses to light his way - especially on Halloween!

And did you know that large turnips (swedes, rutabaga) were once used to make Jack O Lanterns in the UK?
Pumkins were very much a North American crop but now they are very popular in the UK too and they make a far more dramatic, and easier to carve Jack O Lantern.

Do you know why orange and black are such popular Halloween colours?
Well orange is a symbol of strength and endurance and black symbolizes death and darkness. These two colours  symbolize the demarcations between life and death and as the veil between the living world and the world of the dead is said to be at it's thinnest during Halloween they have been adopted as Halloween colours.

And did you know that some people suffer from a Halloween phobia?
No me neither but they do and it's called Samhainophobia.

Do you know that Halloween is also known as Samhain?
Samhain is a Celtic festival, a pagan sabbat, that marks the end of harvest.

And did you know that Samhain / Halloween is also The Celtic New Year?
In the old Celtic calendar the New Year began at sunset on Samhain.

Do you know that Halloween is the perfect time for scrying, trying to see the future?
There are many ancient Halloween traditions for trying to see into the future, especially for finding out who you are going to marry.

And did you know that Halloween is a time to honour  the dead?
Many cultures honour their dead and remember their ancestors at this time of year in a way we do it too with Remembrance Sunday in November.

(Image copyright James Caton)

Read more at: http://goodtimes.ndtv.com/News_Details.aspx?SubcatDetails=Features,819&cp

Read more at: http://goodtimes.ndtv.com/News_Details.aspx?SubcatDetails=Features,819&cp