Happy Independence Day!

Posted: July 4, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Fun Finds, Holidays, Souvenirs | Tags: , , , , | Comments Off on Happy Independence Day!
IMG_5997

Popular mythology notwithstanding, the Liberty Bell wasn’t actually rung on July 4, 1776. But heck, it should have been. So, for once, this history teacher is siding with popular mythology.

Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.

Happy Independence Day to all our stateside readers!

It’s a bit of a damp one here—New England’s getting rain, rain, rain all day and all night from the tail end of an Atlantic hurricane. No cookouts or fireworks for us tonight! It’s all been postponed till tomorrow.

We’re celebrating a bit anyway. We’ll take turns reading the Declaration of Independence out loud tonight, and ring this vintage souvenir bell mightily when we get to John Hancock’s big fat signature at the bottom.

Unlike the real bell, this one has a sweet sound!

You want to know more about that fabulous red, white & blue scarf, don’t you?

Summer hoopla: the century-old edition

Posted: July 3, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Fun Finds, Holidays | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

IMG_5978

One hundred years ago, on a Saturday in June, the folks from two little New England churches got together at the lake to celebrate their annual summer picnic.

And in the games and general merriment before the picnic hampers were unpacked, one athletic senior citizen won bragging rights and a nifty silver-stamped white silk-satin ribbon for his skill at throwing a base ball.

IMG_5981

A “base ball” is what you youngsters would call a “baseball.” That stamped-brass scrolly bit is fab, isn’t it?

I would have liked to have been there, just to admire the Edwardian dresses worn by the ladies. And the hats!

Yep, there’s more!