Out and about…at least my body was!

Victorian at Heart went to the old fort for our end of summer outing.

Shirley wore 1850’s, Lottie wore early 1860’s, I wore early 1870’s (which I ran around telling everyone was late 1860’s) but, look at  the expression on my face…. I was quite clearly strung out from the excessive heat.  I forgot the icepacks I usually wear under my hats to keep my brain functional.

In spite of the heat, it was a pleasant afternoon wandering around looking at things.  The big house, which is the highlight of the place, was shut down for renovations which was too bad. But the smaller houses were charming as were the workers.

Here are a few of the better shots.  Please excuse all the crazed, uptight expressions I am sporting.

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Video montage…

Hope this works…. A game of Graces.

A game of hula-hoops

A game of button spinny thingy(?)

Picnic in the park

In spite of my procrastination on Saturday, I did manage to get my crap together and was prepared for my outing on Sunday. We went to Birds Hill Park for a photo shoot at the old Kudlowich Farmstead.

It was built in the 1930’s but has crumbled to the point of “looking the part” for our purposes.

I wore 1840’s, Shirley wore 1850’s and Lottie wore 1860’s.

A nosy neighbor shot…

Then we went to the barn.

The path between the barn and the house made for some nice shots.

After the photoshoot, when went to the picnic areas.

Shirley got her birthday gift.

And Lottie got her REALLY LATE Christmas gift!

Then we played games before heading home.

 

Robbed again

We went for a train ride on Sunday.

The Prairie Dog Central Line really needs to get some Mounties guarding the train.  I think this is the 5th year in a row we’ve been robbed!  There was a sheriff but I think he was in on it. 

We were riding to the next town, enjoying the view and each others company.

Suddenly the train was stopped and we saw masked riders.

They boarded the train and robbed us.  They claimed they were donating it to cancer research but I think it went to the desperado’s whiskey fund.

Poor Lottie got the worst of it.  She was so destitute it was like seeing Anne of Green Gables waiting and forlorn.

 

The missing outing

I have gone over and over my blog trying to find the outing that I wore my 1860’s Silky Skies dress.  I can’t find it.  So I’m hoping I am showing you new material and not boring you with a repeat!

According to Facebook, this event happened days after I started my new job which may explain the total brain fart that seems to have happened.  And according to these photos, I wore Silky Skies and Lottie wore her 1880’s ensemble.

Shirley wore an 1850’s ensemble.

It was a lovely summer day, perhaps a bit bright, so we took a lot of photos outside.

It is cold and white out there so I am missing all those flowers!

Before going inside, a nice fellow passed by and offered to take a group photo.

Then it was inside to view all the pretty things.

And learn a few things about our local history.

I always find staircase photos fun!

Perhaps I like them because I know how challenging it is with our modern stride to look graceful on stairs!

Outing to the St. Boniface Museum

Shirley and I went to the St. Boniface Museum this weekend.  It was my chance to wear something new and Shirley’s chance to wear something she hasn’t had enough opportunities to wear.

For the most part, I was pleased with how the dress looks on but there were some issues with the jacket not sitting right.  I think the problem was the corset is the wrong era (and not small enough) so the “girls” were not smooth enough.

See how it rides up.

Before leaving home, I got the hubby to take an “at home” photo.

Corset cover required!  As well as a more appropriate corset!  The hoops need work too but I will acknowledge that they didn’t fall off this time, and I finally have them short enough that I don’t step on them (unless the ground is really hilly).

The St. Boniface Museum was built in 1847 and served many purposes.

1847 – 1956 Under the auspices of the Grey Nuns, the convent served as Western Canada’s first hospital, orphanage and seniors’ home. It was also a school, initially for both girls and boys; Louis Riel was a student here. Eventually, the Sisters operated a boarding school for girls.

Louis Riel was a Metis person (Aboriginal and French parents).

He was not pleased with how his people were being treated by the Canadian Government and he led a rebellion that set up a provisional government which ultimately started what became the province of Manitoba.  He is now known and honored as the founder of my province but at the time, the ruling class were not pleased with his actions and he and his supporters were imprisoned and he was hung.  Canada is a great country but it has some ugly skeletons in its closet…the treatment of the aboriginal people is one.

Because of his connection to the convent, many artifacts of his life and death are preserved in the museum.  There is also many artifacts related to the Metis peoples…

…and, of course the Catholic Church in Manitoba. 

The nuns who ran and used the building for a century are represented as well.

Different displays were set up to represent Victorian and Edwardian rooms.  (It really is a big place!) 

I loved the dishes from the above table and the nut cracker on the near by side board.

They had several nice examples of spinning wheels that makes me think I need to get back on mine!

Shirley and I had fun trying to photograph ourselves in the mirrors.

 

When I got home, I played with my phone app and made a few special pictures just for the heck of it.

Apron: I couldn’t resist

A few weekends ago, the hubby and I checked out a few antique shops. We made a stop at The Old House Revival Company, which is a multiple vendor shop that has old house fixtures, furniture, knickknacks and clothing for sale.  I saw many things I wanted…many of which I could afford, but I couldn’t justify them.  Except for one thing.  An apron that was beautifully trimmed and starched to near cardboard crispness.  That I couldn’t resist! 

I will find a way to make this useful.  Perhaps, dear Victorian at Heart girls, I will host a costumed tea this winter.  You will come to my non-Victorian home and pretend you are my Victorian girlfriends come to tea and a hand sewing/knit session.  May be we will get really authentic and watch a Victorian themed movie!

Are there any apron experts that can tell me what the best time period would be for this apron and if there is anything I should do to make is more Victorian.  Did they have the neck strap or was the bib just pinned on?