My granddaughters, Brooke and Isabella, have been staying with me since Saturday night. We've watched four American Girl movies together, which I enjoyed as much as they did.
Today they wanted to go to the swimming pool and water slide, so I took some reading materials along to keep myself occupied while they played in the water.
One of the books in my book bag was Mrs. Sharp's Traditions. It was a gift from my daughter-in-law in 2006. Originally published in 1990, it was revised and republished in 2001. Mrs. E.F. Sharp is an imaginary character brought to life by author Sarah Ban Breathnach's imagination, after she acquired a trunkload of Victorian women's and children's magazines from an antique store. It is Mrs. Breathnach's hope that the customs and traditions of the bygone Victorian era can be revived through Mrs. Sharp's inspiration.
Today they wanted to go to the swimming pool and water slide, so I took some reading materials along to keep myself occupied while they played in the water.
One of the books in my book bag was Mrs. Sharp's Traditions. It was a gift from my daughter-in-law in 2006. Originally published in 1990, it was revised and republished in 2001. Mrs. E.F. Sharp is an imaginary character brought to life by author Sarah Ban Breathnach's imagination, after she acquired a trunkload of Victorian women's and children's magazines from an antique store. It is Mrs. Breathnach's hope that the customs and traditions of the bygone Victorian era can be revived through Mrs. Sharp's inspiration.
In the forward the author relates that every antique shop contains remnants of domestic life from those who've lived before us... the evidence of traditions from another time.
During Mrs. Sharp's era, nurturing a family and pursuing the domestic arts of cooking, decorating, handicrafts, and family recreational activities were not burdens, but a woman's most rewarding achievements.
And as you might guess, tea is mentioned in the book - "Ceremonials for Common Days." Maybe the girls and I will have a tea party tomorrow.
"Memory is the library of the soul."
It's a great book full of activities for family fun, based on the premise that if you want to make the world a better place, you must start with your own home.
