Felicity in the morning....

I haven't been posting very much lately with the dolls, but yesterday, early in the morning as the sun was beginning to come up, I found Felicity in the parlor, attending to her correspondence, with Marigold Finch, waiting to fly her tiny missives to Finch Express to the dolls they were intended for.

It was early morning, and the sun had not yet risen, so Felicity had lit the candles on the desk and had just finished writing and sealing her letters when I came in. After that, it appeared she had gathered up her basket and was going to go check on the hens and gather eggs.

Enjoy the photos!

More Correspondence from Miss Ashton....

 

Miss Ashton was once again writing to her dear Friend Penelope,who lives in England. Alot has happened lately at Pumpkin Hill , as well as the Academy has a new pupil, so let's peak over Miss Ashton's shoulder while she writes....

May 28, 2011
Dear Penelope-
Much has been happening -where to begin? My new pupil, whose name is Kit, has arrived, & what a handful! Thankfully, we haven't begun formal classes yet at the academy! She dislikes school but loves learning new things. She also loves to write, and I frequently find her writing in her journal book at my desk. I might have found the young lady who could report on our activities at the Academy, my dearest Penelope, and maybe influence Becky & Felicity to read more.
Spring has come and I have been baking again! Dearest Penelope, could you please send me your receipe for cherry cordial comfits? I used our fresh cherries from the orchard to bake several pies. We were thinking of having a bake sale to raise money for the Academy's school supplies that are still needed...So I have been busily baking for days now. The girls have been such a big help, especially my newest pupil Kit.
Must run now dear, and prepare the scones for tea! Sincerely , Ashton Browne

While Miss Ashton has been writing to Penelope, her new pupil, Kit, loves to come into the study and write in her journal. Kit is new and is more 'modern' than the other girls, and dislikes school intensely. But she adores reading and any sort of writing, and loves Miss Ashton's study- it is the one place she knows that the other girls will not read her stories or journal.

Other residents of Pumpkin Hill have been busy at their correspondence as well, such as Annabelle from the The One Sixth Scale Dollhouse . Annabelle is a 12 inch French Fashion reproduction doll.

Here is Annabelle with her letters, neatly tied with ribbon, ready for Marigold Finch to deliver them to the other dolls.

Have a wonderful weekend!

~Lisa

Surprise lesson from Miss Ashton....

As Miss Ashton promised Becky, she had a surprise that wasn't eggs, in her basket. Miss Ashton's surprise lessons are so enjoyed by the girls, they squealed with delight when they saw tiny chicks in the basket.
Dottie was the first, and the most shyest of the girls, so she got to hold one of the chicks first. "Hold her gently dear, she won't hurt you. " Dottie was pleased and very gently held the little newly born chick while Felicity looked on.
"Girls, we are going to talk of spring traditions and a little bit of Easter traditions as well today.  So what are traditions or symbols of Easter or Spring that you think of first?" asked Miss Ashton

"

"EGGS!" said Gracie, "..that's how we got these cute little chicks!"

"Very good Grace. Are eggs also a symbol of Easter?" asked Miss Ashton.

Dottie spoke timidly. " Maybe eggs are what we think of at Easter because we gather them to decorate?? and chicks come from eggs??"
Miss Ashton was pleased, & quickly thought that her dearest Penelope was right in her advice in her letter. "Very good Dorothea!! You are correct on eggs are a symbol of Easter, and we do decorate them!"
Dottie was holding the chick, and so was Gracie. Becky & Felicity looked on fascinated. Becky asked" When will we decorate the eggs Miss Ashton?"

Miss Ashton had placed some items on the table. " Well girls, I thought today we would actually hold one of the symbols of Easter, and of spring, in our hands today. I have some easter dye kits so we can dye our eggs soon, maybe in art class after we learn how to gather the eggs, and boil them-- so that will beour spring art lesson. "
All the girls exclaimed- "Goody!"  Becky squealed- "I love decorating easter eggs!"  Miss Ashton smiled. " We have a few more things before the art lesson, but today I thought we would learn how chicks are hatched, "
"Miss Ashton, what are those books?" Felicity inquired.
"They are books on bunnies- another symbol of Easter. One is the tale of Peter Rabbit, and the others are about rabbits and mice as well. Rabbits or bunnies are another important symbol of Easter, so I thought we would have some nice stories about bunnies at reading time."
"We have a bunny, I have to feed him" Gracie said. and rolled her eyes
"No you don't, I feed him more," countered back Becky.
"Now, now girls, we all feed the buny." said Miss Ashton soothingly.

Miss Ashton bustled about the table, and prepared to open the storybook on Peter Rabbit."Now girls, you may hold the chicks while I read, but let's be quiet and we will have a short storytime before our art lesson"...and she began to read the tale of Peter Rabbit first.................................................

Later that evening......................

Miss Ashton wrote to her friend Penelope, in England....

April 5th, 2011

Dearest Penelope-
I hope this finds you and your family well, and in good health. I took your advice to heart, and just had to stop the day to day work and take a moment and thank you for your very sound advice. Dorothea (Dottie, as the girls call her) is beginning to come out of her shell and it such a joy to watch! You were so right to remind me of our schooldays and the teachings of Mademoiselle. Thank you again!
As to the school's progress...it is coming along. My order for the school supplies has arrived, so each young lady has an art supply kit, composition book for writing, writing tablet, and activity booklet as well. Two desks have arrived- they are used, but my school is on such a tight budget and it is so hard in this rural area finishing and refurbishing the schoolhouse which had been boarded up. I look forward to your next letter- Sincerely, Ashton Brown

Miss Ashton at her correspondence

Now that Miss Ashton is home, and settling back in, she decided after the first part of the surprise lesson to attend to her correspondence  since arriving from her trip to Paris & England, where she traveled with her dearest friend from her school finishing days, Penelope.  Penelope lives in England, so Finch Express was busily sorting the letters as that correspondence needed attending to quickly.

Miss Ashton's study is one of her favorite places at the Academy, and only occasionally does she invite anyone in- so after picking some pear blossom for her favorite vase from Egypt, she settled down toread Penelope's letter and write her own reply, as Marigold Finch of Finch Express was waiting to send it.

Here is Penelope's letter to Miss Ashton-

March 28, 2011

Dearest Ashton-

Your visit sparked so many memories of our good times as young girls at Mademoiselle's! Do yu remember the tea where you spilt tea on his Lordship of Bath, & he asked you to the ball??I applaud your efforts of introducing to your pupils to the finer literature with one overall lesson- Mademoiselle would be proud! Yes, my dear mother has been under the weather recently. She is a terrible trial sometimes, my dear Ashton, but Mother can be SO trying. I foresee dearest Mother living with William & I, though William does not object, I know it is trying his patience.I would love to visit but I do not know when a steamer will be leaving. William may have to travel to London for his business. I cannot leave Mother at this time with her illness. I am hoping my sister, Ellen can stay with her if I decide to travel to see you. As to your newest pupil Dorothea, dearest Ashton, do not rush. Better to let the other girls welcome her in and draw her into conversations. Remember that girl at Mademoiselle's? She let her settle in on her own- she was so shy- just like your Dorothea. I must end my letter, regretfully dearest Ashton. All my love & friendship-   Peneleop

Miss Ashton thought a moment before picking up her pen to reply. She noticed Marigold sitting on the letter tray. "Thank you Marigold for getting this letter to me so quickly, you do not know how much it means to me to hear from my dearest Penelope. "  Marigold squeaked " Of course I do dear. Take your time writing your reply- it will go via Carrier pigeon tomorrow at the central drop off point in Pumpkin Hill'. "Thank you Marigold!" said Miss Ashton, and she began to write.

Here is Miss Ashton's letter for Penelope in England-

April 4, 2011

Dearest Penelope-

I have arrived safely home and it was such a surprise for the girls! Becky, one of my pupils, was so happy to see me- it brought a tear to my eye! I had thought of myself as just their teacher, but I am so much more, and it makes my heart glad. I must tell you, dear Penelope that with April coming I have planned my spring plantings and also the lessons for the girls. How is your dear Mother? You had mentioned whilst we were in Paris that she had some health problems. Please let me knowif there is anythinbg I can do.  Thank you for sending my items from your home. I had left, I am such a goose for forgetting! My lessons are based this month & revolve around the Easter story & traditions, the coming of Spring, and all the lessons will encompass biology, history, grammar, arithmetic, and of course, the Easter Bible story as well. Thank you dearest Penny, for your very sound advice as to how to help my newest and dearest pupil, Dorothea, she is so very shy. I look forward to your reply! All my love & friendship- ~ Ashton Brown

After Miss Ashton had finished the letter, she was thoughtful. The rest off the surprise lesson would be with the rest of the ways, and she was thinking of how to draw Dorothea out ofher shell and to participate with the other girls in the lesson. Miss Ashton sighed- Penelope was right, Mademoiselle seemed to handle these little trials so much better than she herself did now.

Sighing regretfully, she stood up and blew out the candles on her desk. "Well, back to work. Thank you again, Marigold" and she left the room.

* I hope you have enjoyed getting to know Miss Ashton a little better, and also her refelective nature. Stay tuned for more on the surprise lesson which Miss Ashton has gone to work on preparing, as well as attending to her garden- it is too pretty to be inside, so she says today. To keep you enjoying this storyline today- here are some more pictures of Miss Ashton's study & her desk*
~ Lisa

The top of Miss Ashton's desk and pictures. The portait of her grandmother hangs above her desk. Pictures of the Madonna & Baby Jesus, and the Apostles also hang over her desk. The candlessticks are brass candlesticks, which sit on the candlestands.  Marigold delivers the correspondence on her silver letter platter on top of her desk. The beloved vase she brought from her travels in Egypt is filled with pear blossom.

The interior of Miss Ashton's desk, and her letter to Penelope, just written today. A few more letters are put into the cubby holes, and extra stationary awaits more correspondence.
I hope you have enjoyed the pictures of Miss Ashton's study!