1812: The war that we don't remember much about

History was not my forte when I was in school. Actually, I dreaded history as much as I did math. The teacher gave facts in such a mundane way that I lost interest early on.  I remember talking about the various wars, but I don't recall ever discussing the War of 1812. Not ever. But it could of happened on a day that I laid my head down on the desk and drifted off until the bell rang. 

I didn't really become interested in history until I started researching my family's lineage. Now I know a lot more than I ever did.  When a friend from work told me about the re-enactment that takes place in La Fontaine, Indiana every autumn, I jumped at the opportunity to learn something about a war that I knew little about.

In a nutshell this is the three main points of the war: 1) Americans would be kidnapped, the ones with English accents, and would be impressed to serve on the side of the British. 2) The British interfered with American trade and France. For some reason they wanted us to pay them a tax in order to trade with the French. 3) Finally, the English stirred up Indian warfare.  

One of the good things that the British did was that they blocked slave ships from coming to the United States and any slave who escaped to Canada was considered free.  

On June 1, 1812 war was declared, lives were lost, and the Indians were defeated. Then the move westward began.  

My nephews and I sat and watched as the re-enactment took place and I wondered if there could have been another way of settling the differences. 

For some reason each people group thinks that they are supreme and expect the rest to bow down to them, which causes a lot of strife. 

And yet, war is still prevalent in our world today.  

This reminds me of a quote many use from Rodney King, "Can we all get along?" 

Austen Land

Today, I visited a tent while at an 1812 War re-enactment that brought me back to a place in time that I have grown to admire.  It was in the early 1800's that my favorite literary author was producing her memorable collection of novels. Jane Austen has a strong following still today. Women love to dress up, men too, and imagine themselves living in another place and time when life was simple and a lot less stressful.  

As I walked thru the door of the tent I felt like I was in an Austen novel.  I had two young boys with me who would have rather been outside watching the soldiers, and I couldn't savor the the moment as long as I would wish to. But I was instantly drawn in like a moth to the flame.  The hats were lovely, large, decorative, and elaborate.  

Not only were there hats but dresses too.  Those delicately made garments enhance all that is female. I ran my hands over the smooth fabrics and longed to be able to wear one, even if it was just for one day.

When I turned the corned a lady was wearing a straw hat that she was determined to purchase. One of the ladies companions was holding up a silk dress in hopes that it could be paired with the straw hat. 

The owner advised the customer that straw should be worn with a more casual dress such as a linen or muslin and then the owner noticed that I was watching her with my camera in hand.  She posed without having to ask.  

I enjoyed this brief moment of genteel life in the middle of a war raging all around us. The name of the shop I visited was Regency Remembered and they have a Facebook page if you are interested in looking at some of the things she has to offer.

"Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure."  Jane Austen

School Again and Busyness

A few years ago, I bought a lovely picture of sunflowers by a local photographer Camille Cruz. The picture was on display at the main library. When I saw it I wanted to replace the picture that I had hanging above my fireplace.  The rich yellows and deep orange went well with my living room. 

But it was something more that she shared with me that has stuck with me all of this time. She told me that she took professional photography classes at the local college.  Camille felt that these classes contributed to her understanding of photography and helped to establish her footing in a very competitive market. As you know, there is always room for improvement in anything that one may want to venture into, even if it is for part-time work.  Besides, who knows what the future may hold. We have pictures of what we want for ourselves in our minds and sometimes it is not what we are doing currently or we want a little extra income. 

Last October, I decided to put myself out there in the world and offer my services to whoever would want their portraits taken.  I enjoy bringing beauty into the lives of my clients. However, I get into situations with light that I somehow wish were ideal instead of trying to figure out how change the settings on the camera to meet my needs. So, I struggled. There were times that the exposure would be too dark, too light, grainy, and so forth. I spent a lot of time watching Youtube videos but I still lacked the knowledge that was needed to exceed.  

Class assignment picture

We have been working overtime with my job for months and I now have the funds to take the classes.  A few weeks ago, I began my first class.  There are nineteen people who started the same time as myself and should finish with me. I don't know their stories yet but should by October next year.  We all have reasons for wanting to continue or begin education in a specific field.

Class assignment picture

My only concern is time, which I have little of. I still want to do things that I enjoy. I would like to take a weekend and go on an adventure without worrying about homework, housework, or gardening.  Somehow, I believe that it will all balance out.  At least, that is what I am hoping will happen.  

What it is to be Human

"You can't buy life." He said.  That tiny sentence touched me.  We spend our lives working, sleeping, eating, loving, etc... I just watched a  program Called Human by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. He spent three years travelling the world collecting personal stories from over 2000 people and compiled a 3-part documentary on being human.  Each of us has a battle. Most of the time we think that we are in it alone, but we are not.  It is beautifully done and for me it was emotional to watch. I cried as I listened to the stories of poverty, hardship, wanting love, and never knowing it. I thought about my struggles and realize that mine pale in comparison to those that told their story.  Part 2 & 3 are on Youtube. 

"Life is like carrying a message from the child you were

 to the old man that you will be."

Getting back up is living...

"There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy.  Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living." 

Quote by 
Jose N. Harris

Fork You!

No the fork did not want to run away with the spoon 

and the spoon got all bent out of shape. 

A friend and I went to a wine tasting event in a small town a few months ago. We happened to come on a day that a lot of vendors were there selling their wares.  I love anything vintage and my eyes were drawn to a booth loaded with sparkling silverware. The artist re-purposed old silver plate eating utensils by stamping them with cute sayings or curling the tines of a fork and making something naughty. When I saw the above fork, I laughed.  The artist' mother said that I must have the same sense of humor as her daughter. She said it is a pickle fork, but it is more than that, it is a statement. It took me a couple of minutes to decide whether to bring it home or not.  After all, who really needs a fork that is vulgar? But I couldn't leave it there. I thought that I may eventually give it to my brother. Once I brought it home the fork has not left my house but has been displayed in my kitchen window since. 

Jayne Smith (no relation) of Back Space on Facebook makes the most adorable forks, spoons, and knives.  If you are interested in looking at other things that she does just click on the link above. 

Chicken Wire Dress Form

I love Pinterest and have a lot of different ideas out there in Pinterestland waiting to be tried.  A couple of years ago, I built a raised bed flower garden.  I have thyme, sage, chives and six roma tomato plants that came up on their own. Currently, the flower garden is not in accordance to Feng Sui and looks like it will topple over on its side at any moment. I have been working on the back yard for a while and it is nearly to my liking.  But it lacks art. 

I have driven by homes with the most beautiful gardens you can imagine and I am envious.  So far I have three stepping stones, a few colored bottles hanging on a metal trellis and nothing else.  Then I found projects that can be made with chicken wire on line. I had some left over for when the neighborhood cats thought that I had made an extremely large litter box just for them.  They were pleased, I was not. So, the excess sat in my garage for two years.  Then I saw a dress form made out of the wire.  I loved the idea and this weekend I made one.  The hardest part about this project is twisting the wires together. But if you have a wire cutter and needle nose pliers you are set, a pair of work gloves is a plus.  Twist the wires with the pliers and then curl them to look like little buttons. 

I used 48 inch chicken wire but you can use any size that you like.  I found a picture of a dress form and tried to copy what I saw.  Overall, the project took me about 2-3 hours.  I bought bright pink spray paint because I thought that it would show up better in the yard.  Then decorate with whatever you like.  I found some artificial flowers and an old necklace that someone gave me.  These dress forms would be great at Halloween decorated with cheese cloth and wide skirts.  There are tons of ways to shape them and decorate.  I have been eyeing a corset.  It looks a bit more complicated, but am willing to give it a try.  Final note, use stakes to anchor in the ground.  

Sunset

I wanted to see a sunset this evening, but I had to drive beyond the wires. In the city they are everywhere. I needed open spaces and the ability to see the horizon. Hurriedly, I drove to the next county and I parked the car. Then I waited. The rays of the sun broke through the clouds and I witnessed the grandeur of a sunset. There is nothing as beautiful as this.

Looking for your face

From the beginning of my life

 I have been looking for your face

 but today I've seen it.

Today, I've seen the charm

 the beauty

 and the unfathomable grace 

of the face that I was looking for.

Today, I've found you

 and those who laughed and scorned me yesterday

 are sorry they were not looking as I did.

I am bewildered by the magnificence of your beauty 

and wish to see you with a hundred eyes.

My heart has burned with passion and has searched forever

 for this wondrous beauty that I now behold. 

I am ashamed to call this love human

 and afraid of god to call it divine.

Your fragrant breath like the morning breeze 

has come to the stillness of the garden.

You have breathed new life into me. 

I have become your sunshine and also your shadow.

My soul is screaming ecstasy.

Every fiber of my being is in love with you.

Your effulgence has lit a fire in my heart and you have made radiant for me the earth and sky.

My arrow of love as arrived at the target 

 I am in the house of mercy

 and my heart is a place of prayer. 

Rumi

Castle Chateau La Roche

"Chateau La Roche was built as an expression and reminder of the simple strength and rugged grandeur of the mighty men who lived when Knighthood was in flower. It was their knightly zeal for honor, valor, and manly purity that lifted mankind out of the moral midnight of the dark ages, and started it towards a gray dawn of human hope." from the forward, "Chateau La Roche" booklet. 

It was a glorious day. The sky was bright blue with puffy clouds. This day was ordained to be an adventure. And it was. 

My nephew and I decided to visit a castle in Loveland, Ohio called, "Chateau La Roche. It was named after the original in France. 

Harry Andrews built this castle from the ground up. From his youth he was fascinated with Medieval times, dreaming of knights, castles, and chivalry.   He bought a plot of land along the Little Miami River, northeast of Cincinnati, so that he could invite his Sunday school children over and have small parties. The boys were able to camp, fish, and slept in tents. Eventually, Harry called his group the Knights of the Golden Trail. The tents eventually decayed and Harry built the boys two small rooms to stay in, which were called stone tents. This was the beginning for Castle La Roche.  But let me back up to the beginning of his story.

Harry was a WWI veteran and served as a medic. During his enlistment he contracted spinal meningitis and was declared dead.  He was moved to the morgue. Harry's records were marked "deceased" and sent to Washington.  As the doctors began working on his body they decided to use a new drug called adrenaline. The doctors pierced his heart, gave Harry a punch, and his heart began to beat again.  

When Harry revived, he was paralyzed and blind. After a while his sight was restored but not fully and Harry ended up wearing glasses. Six months later his fiance married another man before news reached her that he was not dead after all. Harry never married and avoided women altogether. 

In 1927, Harry purchased his land and in 1929 began building. All of the bricks are made of concrete and quart sized paper milk cartons were used as the mold. The total cost to build this work of art was around $12,000 and 23,000 hours of hard labor. 

The castle has electricity, water pump, oil-burning furnace, running water, sewers, and a telephone. 

We came not knowing what to expect. I was taken in by the feeling of times past. The castle was simply decorated and a couple of the rooms were blocked off that still contained memorabilia of the previous owner. I tried to capture what I could, but sadly it was very limited. 

Life was not easy for Harry and it was spent toiling the land and building a place that he always dreamt of.  He not only built the castle but created the most beautiful gardens I have ever seen.

 The garden area pictured here reminds of the movie " A little Chaos" with Kate Winslet that was released recently. There is enough room for about 30-40 people to sit and watch a theatrical performance where I was standing.  

I could have sat there for hours listening to nature and enjoying the view, believe me, I wanted to very much.  

After exploring every possible inch of the property we headed for home, but not until I convinced my nephew to pose one last time before we left. It was priceless!

 Oh, when I read the words manly purity in the brochure, I burst out laughing.  We know that is just a fantasy. 

The Chateau La Roche is located at:

12025 Shore Road

Loveland, OH. 

Ph# 513-683-4686

Admission: $5.00 per person