Mrs Carter's Opportunities Come Calling And Saucy Flirts

Good day, dear friends,

Are you having a happy and fulfilled day thus far? I made a small pot of jubilee tea, biscuits with homemade clotted cream and homemade strawberry preserves. Last week I picked 20 pounds of strawberries at the farmstead ranch (remember I was on Fox News). Did you see part 2 of my video on ye olde YouTube (channel: Raquel Margaret Carter) where I cooked and canned the strawberries? The little videos I've been making have been "Take Joy" moments, and I've relished in curating them. On Instagram, I'm incorporating (Beyond the Page) where I go live and chat with my sweet friends over there. It's lovely, and I would be tickled if you came to call too. If you enjoy our old-fashioned way of ye olde blog and would like to stick with that method, I've also managed to cover that score. As you see, I've embedded the videos here on ye olde blog (all of the highlighted blue words are links).

I hope you enjoyed my post on Stillwater. Since that post, I've been curating little calendar dates and focusing on old and newly reimagined traditions each month. Today, I began sketching up the calendar, and I'm starting with the month of April (no fretting, I'll have a whole year). I'll start chucking those events into the blog, so you can download the calendars to print and have all your little nittens in one place. They'll be all sorts of ideas and celebratory days. I'm tickled conch shell pink to begin having small gatherings in honour of Stillwater Society (our petticoat philosophy). This year April is a big month because of Sawyers book launch, in which I plan to make a real go of it. So it will stand in future as well; whenever one of my books release, those months will be most notably a more significant event. But not to fret, I'll have all of this here on the blog in detail so we can celebrate each month together. It's living and loving the small things in the simple ordinary days of life.

In April, we will have A Victorian Eastertide. I, Mrs Carter, will invite friends over for a backyard procession in the afternoon. The little women will don their hand-sewn dresses and bonnets, and the little gentleman in their 19th-century trousers and braces. It shall be a promise of renewal for all, offerings of hope for the bereaved during the years of reconstruction, picnic lunch on the lawn, Mrs Carter's Hot Cross Buns and olde fashioned amusements. The April celebration will concur with a press release for Sawyers book launch. Those who attend will pay a small pence and collected admission prices will contribute to more gathered celebrations and the erecting of The Carter Settlement.

A few things currently at play; if you've not been watching my YouTube channel, I do believe you're missing out. As I'm just at the genesis stages, I've created a few things to coincide with my authorship, artistry and Victorian lifestyle. Do you know the channel on YouTube where Mrs Crocombe/ The Victorian Way cooks and explains all things, Victorian? Whereas I think it's a dandy series, I wanted to play on that narrative but create 'quite literally' a real version like myself, living out a Victorian portrayal of life. I will focus on my Victorian lifestyle, my authorship and my artistry. All things Victorian clutched into one. How refreshing. Swim on over if you'd like to have a little natter with me. In this latest video of IG live, I speak on The Tale of Sawyer Lamb, Beyond The Page, and more about Stillwater®️ Petticoat Philosophy.

On the weekdays, I have been spending my time mainly on illustrations for The Tale of Sawyer Lamb, writing, researching and, of course, reading. My novel (Deceit and Dissension) is fierce with the quantity of research that's getting on, rather fun, no less. I also outlined my autobiography (The Little Mermaid's Transformational Tale). I will be publishing several books this year, and I feel so utterly appreciative that I'm on this current momentum. The post She loves me, She Loves Me Not really created a humming effect for my blog stats. Again, just as the Stillwater post went through the roof, so did the friendship one. I had several ladies in my hometown text and (direct message) me on Instagram. I've made plans for tea at The Tilted Tea Cup (our local tea room) and have gone to tea with two of the ladies last week. I also met two on different days at our local pub for a bite to eat. Genuinely, I feel all things are falling into place with Stillwater and the little grassroots society we're creating here in our little village. I believe it will be a vast success, and I can't wait to see all the changes occurring.

Do you recall the 19th-century British novel I'm currently writing; Deceit and Dissension? I've been crafting my outline around my protagonist Elizabeth Margaret Robins and organising my narrative. I've been reading copious amounts of books about the royals, mainly about Princess Margaret currently. The reason being, as you may recall, she had a near-decade ongoing affair with Roddy Llewellyn, the landscape gardener. Oh my, how telling. I believe this affair is showcased on The Crown. Unfortunately, I haven't watched The Crown, have any of you? Should I order the streaming service? I've been reading a few secondary sources: Princess Margaret and Lady in Waiting.

(A little history: When her long-standing affair with Roddy Llewellyn, a landscape gardener 17 years her junior, was exposed in 1976, she lost public sympathy, and her volatile marriage finally ended in 1978, the first divorce in the British royal family in 400 years.)

At the weekends, I've been working on organising Jeffrey Shawn and my belongings into plastic container bins. Then, when it comes time for him and me to get on, we'll be ready in a jiff.

Here's one of the books I have taken to reading, and It's quite lovely.

I hope your weekend is splendid and I'll see you tomorrow.

 

Most affably yours til my next swim, Raquelxxx

Are You Constantly Dependent And Sucker Fish Stuck With Detached Mates {I'll Shed Some Scales On Why This Happens}

My dear friends, and Mermaid Junkies, 

I am so happy you're here. I have the most fun thinking about all of the loveliest topics to cover on this here ol' blog.

I have to tell you, there is nothing more exciting than thinking about what to write, and how to try and inspire you, my darling pod. That would be you dear ones! Have I told you that my first love is writing? I'm sure that I have, I tend to state that on repeat to anyone with a listening ear. {smile} I am so appreciative for my most beautiful dreams coming true. But that's not why I'm writing to you today.

My Beatrix Potter'ings At Carter's Cottage, Book Release, And Splendid Intentions

My dear friends,

Let us have some tea. I am going to make some scones from a receipt that I found. However, I intend on changing it up a bit. A few of the ingredients that I will properly use will be rose water, rose petals and the nut selected will be pistachio. I am naming the scone Merrymaid Scarlette Rose Tea Scones. If however, they are a splendid tasting scone I will add them to the menu when I get my very own tea room {MerryMaid Scarlette Rose's Bakery and Tea Cottage}.

Diary | Why A Victorian Christmas And My Daily Thoughts This Week

My Dear friends, 

To begin this post, I first wanted to tell you that I published another new podcast episode. I publish podcast episodes every Tuesday, in which I named them "Tales on Tuesday." Cute, huh? You can skedaddle to my sidebar and tap the podcast link. If you don't mind, and you have a free minute, I would love it if you gave me a review on iTunes. It really improves my analytics and increases my ability to get more advertising. Yes, in which, that means I get paid. It's how I make my living, ya'll. So, thank you in advance, dear friends. 

Pleasurable Elements About Tasha Tudor {And Apple Torte Recipe}

My dear friends, 

I thought today would be a lovely time to spend a few minutes sending out some inspiration in consideration of living a joyful life. To relish in the simple, quiet moments of what I am presently pondering.

Pottering About With The Stafford's

My dear friends,

I am still in my nightgown, sitting up in bed with our snuggly down feather blanket, very excited about the Autumn season upon us. I have been resting since arriving home yesterday from all of the scheduled events of a funeral. I have heard that funerals mentally and physically wear you out, I believe that sentiment wholeheartedly.

A Victorian Author Reading At Whistle Stop Gardens And Tea Room

I promised an oath that I would show you photographs of my mermaid author reading at the tea room.

I have had a few more; however, I was so caught up in the twirling tizzies I forgot to take pictures.

The Art Of Creating A Delightful Cottage Bathroom

My dear friends,

Might you pour some tea and let us visit. It's been dribbling rain for hours on the beautiful coast of Florida, and the chicken ladies are bathing in the puddles. I think they love the opportunity to root as the rain has a way of creating an upwelling of worms. I do love it so, as it gives me a lovely excuse to write and just relax with my Beloved gardener.

 I have been longing for a few years to actually write up this tiny post, but for some reason, I've not done it until now. Perhaps it's because I had wanted to wait until I did both bathrooms and make it a much longer post, but I digress.

I love doing little things to the cottage, and I have been thinking that if I started posting my projects, it might inspire me to create more and motivate me to get going. I spent the first year of living here at the cottage and did several things and then I just tapered off.

 I began by plastering the walls with sheetrock all-purpose joint compound. The walls had a 70's wallpaper, but instead of removing the wallpaper, I just plastered over it. I used a 4.5 gallon for the whole bathroom.

The light is original. I removed it, spray painted it, then replaced it with Edison bulbs that i picked up from Walmart. 

After I covered the walls with compound, I then painted over the whole room with some flat white paint from Sherwin Williams. I then washed over the entire room with a watered-down umber craft paint.

The mirror was found in the storage room when I moved into the cottage, so I just added some boat rope and hung it. The linen fabric is some stash leftover from a sewing project. I already had the mermaid hook, so i hung it for a towel hook.

The bath is super tiny, and there is no room for a cabinet for towels, wash clothes or the like, so I found this old crate at an antique store for 5 dollars and thought it'd work for a towel holder. I can fit 6 towels. On the back of the toilet, I placed a basket with rolled wash clothes and hand towels. I have a rule about towels. I only use white. They'll always match no matter the decor colours and style, and they can be bleached, which makes them smell wonderful.

Some pretty flowers to liven your day wherever you may be.
All in all, I spent about 12 dollars on the whole bath update. The $12.00 was for the Edison bulbs. I had 3 already and just had to buy one.

I shall write again soon. May you have a lovely holiday season.

Most affably yours til my next swim, Raquelxxx