A few years ago I got a beautiful book, the title of which is : "The Country Dairy of an Edwardian Lady". The writer is Edith Holden. She not only recorded what she met in the country
but she illustrated her stories about plants and animals as well. Those drawings are so priceless, so wonderful. Here is an example of her water colours in March and April and what she wrote about these months.
As in the Roman year, so in the English ecclesiastical calendar used till 1752 March was the first month and the legal year commenced on the 25th of March. Scotland changed the first month to January in 1599.
April
When daisies red and violets blue and Lady's Smock all silver white
And cuckoo-budsof yellow hue do paint the meadow with delight.
The name of this month is derived from the Greek word for opening
5 comments:
Illustrated books are nice and reminds me that I used to make books with my own illustrations in them but the words were all written down by hand too. The last one was called Buffalo and Indians and won a book award and sold out. It was done in a handmade model with a leather cover I made for it and then it was printed. Not a thick book but lots of work went into it. The research for it took about two years. That was back in 1974. I also wrote a book back then on handwriting and through the years it has had three revisions but is still sold throughout the US and was just reprinted last month.
I remember Abe, that you showed a couple of your drawings and calligraphy in one of the other blogs, and they were stunning! You are a gifted writer, painter and photographer.
Beautiful illustrations.
Thanks Patty!
Hi Wil, I just discovered your blog and will spend more time here but I first wanted to tell you that I had this sweet book a long time ago and sincerely treasured it. I had a house fire (1990)a house we had built ourselves and worked on for 15 years; and lost everything... and and when I finally found this little book again at a yard sale a couple years ago I was so happy... glad you liked it too... I was just looking at it the other day...
My ex-mother-in-law who recently passed away was a dutch war bride(Korteweg) and the most wonderful little lady.. so talented... she would tell us stories about when she worked with the Underground during the war and the close calls she had.. she could make anything, cook anything and grow anything... I learned so much from her... I think she missed Holland after she came here but her determined nature made her carry on and create a new life here in this very foreign land...I miss her...
And I am very happy to learn that Abe who also left a post here created such an interesting book... Such a talented fellow too.. I really enjoy going to his site too..
I am so glad I discovered your site...gwen
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