Dearest Mother,
I am sorry that I have not been able to find the time to compose a letter to you until now. My studies are progressing quite well and I find myself having been struck a gentler blow than usual this week in regards to home-work. I may even have a moment or two to spend drawing whatever I please. I find this a pleasant surprise - all too often I want to throw my hands into the air and cry "I cannot draw, for I must draw!" &c., &c.
I am very glad that you sent with me those small parcels of vitamin preparations, for I fear that I may be coming down with some sort of malady. I do hope it is not Dutch flu, Russian flu, or any of those other horrible geographic variations of malaise. If all goes well, I will be healed by the time we are to attend Mr W. E. E. Bronson's ball this Thursday and Friday to come.
For luncheon today I dined on one of the preparations which we procured from Mr Kroger this past week-end - a dish of Spanish origin, I think. I found it quite agreeable; indeed it reminded me of those delightful poches chaudes which were common fare for us several years ago.
Last night I made a sojourn to the Taubman estate so that I might have one of my pieces of art reproduced in physical form. The journey was quite agreeable - true, the carriage track is bumpy, but it is not at all unpleasant, and I love to see the town at night with all its lantern lights.
I do not think that I have any more news for now, but I will keep you up to date on any future occurrences. I very much look forward to seeing all of you in scarce over two days' time!
Lots of love,
Molly
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Monday, October 26, 2015
26th October
My Darling,
It was wonderful to have you here for the week-end. And what a busy week-end it was! Now we are back to the drudgery of the weekdays, though I feel sometimes that I would benefit from the addition of a few more hours' time to each day in order to accomplish all that I would like.
The servants are getting on with their work again, but I must supervise and yes, even assist, as usual. I was pleased with myself for hauling Hazel (the floor cleaner, as you must remember) all the way up the stairs, for she could do with losing a few pounds! Once up there, she performed admirably, so it was worth the trouble, but it is rather daunting at the best of times to navigate the stairs with her.
Our preparations for the arrival of the Henriksons is going well. I have ordered a guest bed to be delivered so that Nathaniel might make use of it. As you children are all getting older, I fear that the indignity of sleeping on floors will no longer suffice. I reassure myself that this is a good investment, however, because I am certain that the bed will also be of great value when your aunt and cousins come to visit.
Bentley and Wheatley have engaged themselves just now in playing with a length of pink and green ribbon. I know not its origin, but they find it most intriguing. I do hope it is not from one of your bonnets! If it is, I shall have to make it up to you, for I cannot bear to take it away from them.
You can see how very pleased Wheatley is with himself for having unravelled the end. When I arose to capture this image of the two conspirators, I discovered that Bentley had also stolen my knitting from the ottoman. The small curve of material at the right edge of the image is my work in progress. I do not find this sort of behaviour particularly helpful. I begin to think that I shall have to keep my knitting in a higher place.
I very much enjoyed our visit to Pandora, and I must thank you again for inviting me along. The people there are all so charming. Or at least some of them are charming, and those that are not are so peculiar and fascinating that I cannot imagine leaving them out of our adventures.
I hear the Postman, which reminds me to tell you that you must look out for a small package arriving on Wednesday. I suppose that it may not be available for you to procure until Thursday, if the past is any sort of yardstick. The box contains another physick preparation, as well as a small surprise.
George and Katrina have just arrived home from their studies. George has procured some sort of cake from the office and is devouring it with great gusto. It was very cunningly made, with a little spider perched atop the frosting. Never fear, it was not a true sugared spider (as they no doubt feast upon in Barbarous France ) but rather a cherry with legs fashioned from shreds of cocoanut meat - very clever indeed! I was troubled to learn from him that one of his classmates suffered a seizure during class today. I hope that the young man is recovered. (It was nothing to do with the spiders or cakes, so pray do not fret for your brother's health.)
I am sorry that I have not more news, but I must continue my preparations for our company, and I am also collecting things from around the house for the Charity Man, who will be coming by tomorrow - and at extremely short notice! But perhaps my haste will give me more ruthlessness in choosing what to send out. Later tonight will find me chasing around the infernal inflated ball again. I hope that I shall be able to put it away in the net once or twice.
I hope you are keeping well!
All my love,
Mumsy
It was wonderful to have you here for the week-end. And what a busy week-end it was! Now we are back to the drudgery of the weekdays, though I feel sometimes that I would benefit from the addition of a few more hours' time to each day in order to accomplish all that I would like.
The servants are getting on with their work again, but I must supervise and yes, even assist, as usual. I was pleased with myself for hauling Hazel (the floor cleaner, as you must remember) all the way up the stairs, for she could do with losing a few pounds! Once up there, she performed admirably, so it was worth the trouble, but it is rather daunting at the best of times to navigate the stairs with her.
Our preparations for the arrival of the Henriksons is going well. I have ordered a guest bed to be delivered so that Nathaniel might make use of it. As you children are all getting older, I fear that the indignity of sleeping on floors will no longer suffice. I reassure myself that this is a good investment, however, because I am certain that the bed will also be of great value when your aunt and cousins come to visit.
Bentley and Wheatley have engaged themselves just now in playing with a length of pink and green ribbon. I know not its origin, but they find it most intriguing. I do hope it is not from one of your bonnets! If it is, I shall have to make it up to you, for I cannot bear to take it away from them.
You can see how very pleased Wheatley is with himself for having unravelled the end. When I arose to capture this image of the two conspirators, I discovered that Bentley had also stolen my knitting from the ottoman. The small curve of material at the right edge of the image is my work in progress. I do not find this sort of behaviour particularly helpful. I begin to think that I shall have to keep my knitting in a higher place.
I very much enjoyed our visit to Pandora, and I must thank you again for inviting me along. The people there are all so charming. Or at least some of them are charming, and those that are not are so peculiar and fascinating that I cannot imagine leaving them out of our adventures.
I hear the Postman, which reminds me to tell you that you must look out for a small package arriving on Wednesday. I suppose that it may not be available for you to procure until Thursday, if the past is any sort of yardstick. The box contains another physick preparation, as well as a small surprise.
George and Katrina have just arrived home from their studies. George has procured some sort of cake from the office and is devouring it with great gusto. It was very cunningly made, with a little spider perched atop the frosting. Never fear, it was not a true sugared spider (as they no doubt feast upon in Barbarous France ) but rather a cherry with legs fashioned from shreds of cocoanut meat - very clever indeed! I was troubled to learn from him that one of his classmates suffered a seizure during class today. I hope that the young man is recovered. (It was nothing to do with the spiders or cakes, so pray do not fret for your brother's health.)
I am sorry that I have not more news, but I must continue my preparations for our company, and I am also collecting things from around the house for the Charity Man, who will be coming by tomorrow - and at extremely short notice! But perhaps my haste will give me more ruthlessness in choosing what to send out. Later tonight will find me chasing around the infernal inflated ball again. I hope that I shall be able to put it away in the net once or twice.
I hope you are keeping well!
All my love,
Mumsy
Thursday, October 22, 2015
22nd October
Hello My Darling,
I hope the day finds you well! I have already dragged one of the servants throughout the whole of the living room and up and down the stairs to clean the floors. I should dearly love to discover whomever had the notion of carpeting stairs so that I could hunt him down and wring his neck for him. Truly, what an idiot he must have been! Or perhaps he was simply a sadist. I fear we shall never know as he is probably long dead. (Side-note: look into development of time-traveling device - also into circumstances of death for inventor or stairway carpeting. If I find he died of having his neck wrung, it will be telling indeed!)
Your brother and second sister (elder-younger? I know not how to call her, in truth) are off to their classes, and your youngest sister is engaged in mathematical struggles of her own. We shall away to the library soon enough, though, for it is Volunteering Day. I do not know what they will have in store for us today. Last week we were set to sorting beads by colour for some project or another, which I found to be a strangely soothing activity. We were also tasked with the dressing of a door to make it appear as a mummy. I hope it has not frightened any of the small children. That is unlikely, though, because we ran out of supplies when were were not yet half done. More than likely, the children will simply believe that there has been an accident involving a roll or two of the loo paper one sees so often in these parts. (I do think that a lovely invention, as the Sears Catalogue was a bit brittle for my liking.) I hope they do not try to recreate something similar at home, for then we should catch it for putting ideas into their little heads!
Yesterday I engaged myself for part of the day in the making of tiny sweets for the Little People.
I feel that the larger lollipops leave much to be desired, but they taught me a thing or two.
Last night we had some rain and a spot of some rather spectacular lightning, but it did not last for long. Did you have any rain or storms in The City?
Bentley allowed me to brush him and even trim his nails today. Will wonders never cease? Wheatley, meanwhile, amuses himself with a fluffy yellow ball (I suspect that it was once a Sparkle Ball in its heyday) and with stealing pieces of your sister's new puzzle. Jet's course of medicine is nearly finished (he is much the better for it!) and Puffin simply IS, which she does exceedingly well.
I look forward to collecting you from The City this evening! After that, perhaps you will wish to accompany me in collecting your brother from his final carriage-driving class. Do you feel brave enough to allow him to drive us home? I find that he is coming along admirably, though i would desire him to be a bit more commanding, lest the carriage develop notions of its own.
I have found several receipts for Cousin Winry's Apple Pie. Perhaps you will be able to assist me in discovering which is the correct one. I have also been introduced to an amazing young man who makes televisual feasts. You may think I exaggerate, but I assure you that I do no such thing. And his parents appear to be positively delightful. Perhaps we shall meet them at some party or another. I do hope so, for his mother is an admirable chef, and one can never have too many of such friends! Never fear, though; I shall not try any designs to throw you into his path, for I know you do not desire such things. There, now. Count yourself fortunate that I am nothing like Lizzy's meddling mother!
And so I leave you with this. Until tonight, My Dear!
Much love,
Mumsy
I hope the day finds you well! I have already dragged one of the servants throughout the whole of the living room and up and down the stairs to clean the floors. I should dearly love to discover whomever had the notion of carpeting stairs so that I could hunt him down and wring his neck for him. Truly, what an idiot he must have been! Or perhaps he was simply a sadist. I fear we shall never know as he is probably long dead. (Side-note: look into development of time-traveling device - also into circumstances of death for inventor or stairway carpeting. If I find he died of having his neck wrung, it will be telling indeed!)
Your brother and second sister (elder-younger? I know not how to call her, in truth) are off to their classes, and your youngest sister is engaged in mathematical struggles of her own. We shall away to the library soon enough, though, for it is Volunteering Day. I do not know what they will have in store for us today. Last week we were set to sorting beads by colour for some project or another, which I found to be a strangely soothing activity. We were also tasked with the dressing of a door to make it appear as a mummy. I hope it has not frightened any of the small children. That is unlikely, though, because we ran out of supplies when were were not yet half done. More than likely, the children will simply believe that there has been an accident involving a roll or two of the loo paper one sees so often in these parts. (I do think that a lovely invention, as the Sears Catalogue was a bit brittle for my liking.) I hope they do not try to recreate something similar at home, for then we should catch it for putting ideas into their little heads!
Yesterday I engaged myself for part of the day in the making of tiny sweets for the Little People.
Last night we had some rain and a spot of some rather spectacular lightning, but it did not last for long. Did you have any rain or storms in The City?
Bentley allowed me to brush him and even trim his nails today. Will wonders never cease? Wheatley, meanwhile, amuses himself with a fluffy yellow ball (I suspect that it was once a Sparkle Ball in its heyday) and with stealing pieces of your sister's new puzzle. Jet's course of medicine is nearly finished (he is much the better for it!) and Puffin simply IS, which she does exceedingly well.
I look forward to collecting you from The City this evening! After that, perhaps you will wish to accompany me in collecting your brother from his final carriage-driving class. Do you feel brave enough to allow him to drive us home? I find that he is coming along admirably, though i would desire him to be a bit more commanding, lest the carriage develop notions of its own.
I have found several receipts for Cousin Winry's Apple Pie. Perhaps you will be able to assist me in discovering which is the correct one. I have also been introduced to an amazing young man who makes televisual feasts. You may think I exaggerate, but I assure you that I do no such thing. And his parents appear to be positively delightful. Perhaps we shall meet them at some party or another. I do hope so, for his mother is an admirable chef, and one can never have too many of such friends! Never fear, though; I shall not try any designs to throw you into his path, for I know you do not desire such things. There, now. Count yourself fortunate that I am nothing like Lizzy's meddling mother!
And so I leave you with this. Until tonight, My Dear!
Much love,
Mumsy
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
21st October
Hello My Dear!
First, I would wish you the happiest and most restful of Wednesdays. I am sorry that your College does not allow observance of our Holy Day, but I am grateful that you do not have to rise too early, and that you have but the one class. Would that it were not Social Anxiety 901! But we cannot always be the masters of our own fate - at least not in matters such as this.
I am observing the rites as best as possible, and have set the indentured servants to their tasks (for they cannot - nay WILL not operate without at least some aid and supervision.) They are even now humming at their work. I am glad that they have not our tradition of observance. I find it is best to employ heathens if for this reason alone.
As you can see, I did not perish at the market yesterday, although there was a man shouting rather stridently somewhere out of our sight, and your sister was more than a little alarmed. (I will admit to taking a strong cup of tea, myself, once we returned home) However, I do not believe he meant to harm anyone. I think perhaps he only had some sort of malady of the brain. At any rate, I found two items which may be of interest to you.
The first is a chocolate hazelnut cheesecake spread for - well, for eating with a spoon if I am to be completely honest, although it is also very palatable when spread on the little animal shaped biscuits that we favour. I am afraid that between your brother, two sisters, and myself, we devoured fully half the jar before the day's end! I will attempt to preserve the rest (or at least a portion of it) for you to sample upon your return.
First, I would wish you the happiest and most restful of Wednesdays. I am sorry that your College does not allow observance of our Holy Day, but I am grateful that you do not have to rise too early, and that you have but the one class. Would that it were not Social Anxiety 901! But we cannot always be the masters of our own fate - at least not in matters such as this.
I am observing the rites as best as possible, and have set the indentured servants to their tasks (for they cannot - nay WILL not operate without at least some aid and supervision.) They are even now humming at their work. I am glad that they have not our tradition of observance. I find it is best to employ heathens if for this reason alone.
As you can see, I did not perish at the market yesterday, although there was a man shouting rather stridently somewhere out of our sight, and your sister was more than a little alarmed. (I will admit to taking a strong cup of tea, myself, once we returned home) However, I do not believe he meant to harm anyone. I think perhaps he only had some sort of malady of the brain. At any rate, I found two items which may be of interest to you.
The first is a chocolate hazelnut cheesecake spread for - well, for eating with a spoon if I am to be completely honest, although it is also very palatable when spread on the little animal shaped biscuits that we favour. I am afraid that between your brother, two sisters, and myself, we devoured fully half the jar before the day's end! I will attempt to preserve the rest (or at least a portion of it) for you to sample upon your return.
The second item is a sort of pillowy, pumpkiny cereal good. Pray, do not be disturbed by the image upon the package. As far as I am able to discern, it contains no actual bird meat. As you must know, now is the time of year when one can find nearly any kind of foodstuff imaginable reinvented to include the flavour of the large orange gourds favoured by these North Americans.
All this talk of food puts me in mind that I have yet to peruse the archives for Cousin Winry's Apple Pie receipt. If I find it, I will send you a copy by Steam Post for your evaluation.
And in a decidedly non-food vein, I must disclose that yesterday's adventures included a voyage of discovery into the icebox, which proved most distressing indeed. I considered sending some of the more outstanding samples of my findings with your second sister so that she might study them with her Science Club, but in the end I did not, for fear of contravening Geneva Convention.
You might like to know that the Beggars who live in the woods took yesterday's offerings of ham and cheese, along with some popped corn. I did not see them, nor did they leave any sign of gratitude, but I have come to expect such things.
Well, My Darling, one of the servants has just sung the "I Am Done" song, so I must go and attend to that and instruct her in her new task (and no doubt do all the heavy lifting for her as well!) I hope that you have the most Wednesdayest Wednesday possible.
All my love,
Mumsy
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
20th October
Hello My Dearest,
I hope that life in The City finds you well today. I'm enjoying the warmer weather, and have even opened a door! How lovely.
Last night (as you probably know), I spent the greater part of the evening in pursuit of an inflated orb. I do not feel that I was particularly successful in my endeavours, but unlike last week, I did not collide with anyone or shed any blood (my own or others'.) We must take these small victories where we can.
I begin to think that I shall have to take the carriage to Mr Kroger's market today. I never really enjoy such activities, but we seem to be out of nearly everything that isn't either a condiment or no longer edible (and possibly mildly toxic.) I hope I do not die of boredom. Mayhap there will be something of interest there. Should I purchase some celery root? Mr Elton claims to love it, but I find myself skeptical. I think I will err on the side of caution and delve no further than the grand adventure that is fennel, at least for now. I have not really even decided what to purchase. Nothing inspires. But I suppose I should feed the family, if only occasionally.
But enough of my tiresome ennui. I find myself decided upon looking out for Cousin Winry's Apple Pie receipt. Shall we make it when next you are home? I am nearly tempted to make a practice one, but what if it were to turn out wonderfully and you were not here? That would, indeed, be a tragedy. I do not think I could live with the guilt.
Your brother is having sushi rice for his lunch, and I will admit that your youngest sister and I breakfasted upon the same. For some reason, I was moved to cut stars of ham to place on top of the rice in his lunch case. I shall give the "ham sprue" to the beggars who live in the woods. The same goes for the Swiss Cheese sprue. I rather think they will enjoy it.
Pippa was intrigued to see that the fiery green paste known as wasabi (they say that it is "blessed by the devil" to obtain its fire, but I do not believe in such nonsense) can be purchased in "gigantic" tubes. She insisted that I show you this massive tube in comparison with her normal sized one. I have not the heart to tell her that it his her own that is the oddity and not the other way 'round. Please excuse her mode of dress; she is going through what I believe is called an "experimental" phase.
I hope that life in The City finds you well today. I'm enjoying the warmer weather, and have even opened a door! How lovely.
Last night (as you probably know), I spent the greater part of the evening in pursuit of an inflated orb. I do not feel that I was particularly successful in my endeavours, but unlike last week, I did not collide with anyone or shed any blood (my own or others'.) We must take these small victories where we can.
I begin to think that I shall have to take the carriage to Mr Kroger's market today. I never really enjoy such activities, but we seem to be out of nearly everything that isn't either a condiment or no longer edible (and possibly mildly toxic.) I hope I do not die of boredom. Mayhap there will be something of interest there. Should I purchase some celery root? Mr Elton claims to love it, but I find myself skeptical. I think I will err on the side of caution and delve no further than the grand adventure that is fennel, at least for now. I have not really even decided what to purchase. Nothing inspires. But I suppose I should feed the family, if only occasionally.
But enough of my tiresome ennui. I find myself decided upon looking out for Cousin Winry's Apple Pie receipt. Shall we make it when next you are home? I am nearly tempted to make a practice one, but what if it were to turn out wonderfully and you were not here? That would, indeed, be a tragedy. I do not think I could live with the guilt.
Your brother is having sushi rice for his lunch, and I will admit that your youngest sister and I breakfasted upon the same. For some reason, I was moved to cut stars of ham to place on top of the rice in his lunch case. I shall give the "ham sprue" to the beggars who live in the woods. The same goes for the Swiss Cheese sprue. I rather think they will enjoy it.
Pippa was intrigued to see that the fiery green paste known as wasabi (they say that it is "blessed by the devil" to obtain its fire, but I do not believe in such nonsense) can be purchased in "gigantic" tubes. She insisted that I show you this massive tube in comparison with her normal sized one. I have not the heart to tell her that it his her own that is the oddity and not the other way 'round. Please excuse her mode of dress; she is going through what I believe is called an "experimental" phase.
Your middle sister has only one class today, but I believe she is meeting with the Lady Scientist to discuss matters for the Science Club. (Leaf club? Bulb? STEM! Yes, I believe that is it.) She will be retrieving your brother from his carriage lessons this evening, as I will be teaching and attending my regular classes in the Fighting Arts of the Orient. It is a huge help that she is able to command a carriage on her own. I do not know what we should do otherwise, for I should not like to employ a driver. They are so often of a crass nature. And Irish.
Well, I must end here. Your sister needs some small help with her mathematics, and then we must away to the hated market. Do let me know if you think I should attempt the pie.
With much love,
Mum
Monday, October 19, 2015
19th October
My Darling,
I was thrilled to hear of your successes with your assignments - especially in Social Anxiety 901! The carriage ride home last night was uneventful. It was much easier for having seen the detour signs in time to make use of them. We have not witnessed any more of the personal rockets since that one fateful night, nor did we see any of the lit transports. I do hope you are able to capture some of those in a photograph some time.
Your brother continues his education in the commanding of the horseless carriage, and I am thankful that this is the final week, because it has made life more than a little hectic. I look forward to having less on the daily docket when he has done with the classes!
I do not know whether you saw the final form of the fungus I was working with last night, so I shall append two photographs here. The Little People seem very pleased with it. Perhaps this means that they will be making less mischief now. We shall see.
I shall encourage your youngest sister to post a letter or two to you. Shall I make this method of communication available to her as well? Be certain to check with the parcel mistress for your package. I do hope that she has processed it by now. Sadly it only contains the necessary physick powders we discussed. Perhaps next time will bring something more interesting. Do let me know if you require anything else!
If you find time to write about your adventures in The City, we would be delighted to read about them.
All my love,
Mum
I was thrilled to hear of your successes with your assignments - especially in Social Anxiety 901! The carriage ride home last night was uneventful. It was much easier for having seen the detour signs in time to make use of them. We have not witnessed any more of the personal rockets since that one fateful night, nor did we see any of the lit transports. I do hope you are able to capture some of those in a photograph some time.
Your brother continues his education in the commanding of the horseless carriage, and I am thankful that this is the final week, because it has made life more than a little hectic. I look forward to having less on the daily docket when he has done with the classes!
I do not know whether you saw the final form of the fungus I was working with last night, so I shall append two photographs here. The Little People seem very pleased with it. Perhaps this means that they will be making less mischief now. We shall see.
I shall encourage your youngest sister to post a letter or two to you. Shall I make this method of communication available to her as well? Be certain to check with the parcel mistress for your package. I do hope that she has processed it by now. Sadly it only contains the necessary physick powders we discussed. Perhaps next time will bring something more interesting. Do let me know if you require anything else!
If you find time to write about your adventures in The City, we would be delighted to read about them.
All my love,
Mum
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)