“I’ve come to issue an invitation…” so said Colonel Brandon in Jane Austen’s classic story of romance and lost love, Sense and Sensibility, and shared beautifully in the movie adaptation thereof starring Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman as the colonel.
Step-forward 200 years to today…
A few weeks ago I felt like I had gone back in time to the early 1800’s when I was invited to attend a tea put on by a group of re-enactors from the DFW Costumers Guild. Held at River Legacy Park in Arlington, Texas, the setting for the tea transported those who attended to a gentler time…
Play this while you read this…
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| My two favorite photos ~ this one and our lead photograph! |
Love is not love when it alteration finds
nor bends with the remover to remove…
~ part of Sonnet 116, William Shakespeare
My friend Laura who writes Decor to Adore invited me this day and I am so glad she did! Everyone visited for the first hour or so and enjoyed seeing each other and their costumes. A few of the ladies had either just finished making a new bonnet or a new dress and everyone was stopping to admire the new fashion. For myself, it was fun just taking it all in…
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| A shot right out of a Merchant-Ivory film! |
I love the authenticity of the dresses, the peplum over shirts, the hoop skirts, bustles and petticoats worn underneath to fluff each skirt out in its style, and of course the hairstyles, bonnets and hats!
Meet Jane
This lady is the first person I met from the guild and her name really is Jane! She is exactly what I picture the real Jane Austen to have looked like in real life.
We had an impromptu portrait session, too, which was lots of fun!
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| Mother and daughter ~ Love this! 🙂 |
Love the family portraits!
I have shared my love for Jane Austen before in
this post and I probably will continue revisiting
Ms. Austen’s genre and books from time to time.
It is definitely one of my favorite periods in history.
🙂
this post and I probably will continue revisiting
Ms. Austen’s genre and books from time to time.
It is definitely one of my favorite periods in history.
🙂
On this day two members of the Victorian Fencing Society came to spar and share a little on the art of fencing and some history. The children were enthralled and after the demonstration they were invited to come up and try to fence a little themselves.
Such fun!
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| The trees and sitting pavilion cast a lot of shadow on our fearless fencers (?) so much had to be tweaked to get these photos right. 😉 |
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| Dueling with rapier swords, I believe. |
Sharing how one scores a point with a touch.
More discussion on technique and demonstrations with this sabre. These gentlemen explained about their outfits and that their quilted protective vests are actual fencing gear redesigned to look the period.
Don’t you just love these costumes?
Here Laura visits with these ladies and this sweet little chihuahua held most of the day by its owner.
Colonel Brandon: Miss Dashwood, Miss Marianne – I come to issue an invitation. A picnic on my estate at Delaford if you would care to join us on Thursday next. Mrs. Jennings daughter and her husband are traveling up especially.Elinor Dashwood: We should be delighted, Colonel.Colonel Brandon: I will of course be including Mr. Willoughby in the party.Marianne: I shall be delighted to join you, Colonel.
~ from Sense and Sensibility Quotes
Some sat down to tea straight away as we arrived around 2:00p.m. but the ground was still damp from the week’s rains so later everyone moved to the pavillion and picnic tables spread with scarves and tablecloths in period appropriate styles.
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| Madame upon arrival ~ loved her costume, which is why I took this! Then I felt badly because I hadn’t rushed over to help her but was shooting pictures of her instead… 😉 |
Laura served us sandwiches from Panera as it was a super busy week for her (wedding business + blog + family and life) which were wonderful paired with the two teas she brought in traveling thermoses.
Other ladies brought chicken and hummus, cheeses and small petit fours to share with everyone. I had a few cinnamon chip scones and banana chocolate chip muffins in the freezer so I hurriedly arranged them on a pretty plate and brought those to share.
The tea was a wonderful outing for everyone and I am happy to have been invited to take part!
Here is the whole group in the late afternoon’s setting sunlight… Very ethereal day, Ladies and Gents!!!
Sonnet 116: Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds
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Q1
Q2 Q3 C |
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove: O, no! it is an ever-fixed mark, That looks on tempests and is never shaken; It is the star to every wandering bark, Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken. Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks Within his bending sickle’s compass come; Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of doom. If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved. William Shakespeare, published 1609
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Here’s the link to Peter Doyle’s song from the film titled Throw the Coins.
Play it while you read this…
Sharing with
Vintage Charm ~ My Thrift Store Addiction
Blessings to you,