Daniel Deronda

Daniel Deronda is a novel by George Eliot, first published in 1876. It was the last novel she completed and the only one set in the contemporary Victorian society of her day. Its mixture of social satire and moral searching, along with a sympathetic rendering of Jewish proto-Zionist and Kaballistic ideas has made it a controversial final statement of one of the greatest of Victorian novelists.

The novel has been filmed three times, once as a silent feature and twice for television. It has also been adapted for the stage, most notably in a production in the 1960s by the 69 Theatre Company in Manchester with Vanessa Redgrave as Gwendolen Harleth.


















It was again remade in 2002. Obviously - it is a period type movie with all the pomp that goes with it... amazing costuming, backdrops and history! Period Movie Review ( http://periodmovies.blogspot.com/2006/08/daniel-deronda-2002.html ) gives this movie 5 out of 5 stars!! I have put this down on my Santa's List (aka husband!!)as a stocking stuffer for me!
























Have any of you seen it?

Israel Sidesaddle Association..

....and a bit of information found on Lady Anne Blunt on their facebook page!
















Lady Anne Blunt, in Bedouin attire, with her favourite riding mare, Kasida

Lady Anne Blunt 1837-1917 Granddaughter of the poet Lord Byron, Lady Anne Blunt was the first European woman to explore Central Arabia, and is considered the saviour of the pure-blood Arabian horse.
Lady Anne Blunt lived most of her life in the shadow of her awful husband Wilfrid, an adulterous cad who pranced about spending her money willy-nilly. He even moved mistresses into Crabbet house; Lady Anne seemed to put up with all this and was more or less content to stay out of theLady Anne, unable to tolerate what she termed an "oriental" lifestyle, left him. The Blunts agreed to a formal separation and the Stud was divided. Lady Anne signed a Deed of Partition drawn up by Wilfrid. Under its terms, Lady Anne kept Crabbet Park and half the horses, while Blunt took Caxtons Farm, also known as Newbuildings, and the rest of the stock.

Following the separation, Lady Anne spent several months each year at her Sheykh Obeyd estate near Cairo, a 32 acre (129,000 m²) apricot orchard the Blunts had purchased in 1882 and set up as a breeding farm for the horses they owned in Egypt. Her daughter Judith lived full-time at the Crabbet estate with her own husband and children. Finally, leaving the stud under the management of Judith, Lady Anne left England permanently in October 1915 and spent the remaining years of her life at Sheykh Obeyd.

Legacy limelight while her own achievements - 2at least in the eyes of modern-day Arabian breeders - far outweighed those of her husband.
Add a caption
Lady Anne Blunt, in Bedouin attire, with her favourite riding mare, Kasida

In this photo: lady anne blunt, kasida

Go and Visit Brita's Blog...

at:
http://2manytomatoes.blogspot.com/

If you are a gardener, you will be blown away!! Even though her garden is "at rest" right now... just scroll down and look at some of the summer photos. Just beautiful!!

I Was Crying Like a Baby..

I have learned to live minute by minute over the last 2 years... I fall to pieces if I try to plan too far ahead because there is always the risk that something planned will have to be cancelled. That is so disheartening. For some odd reason a lot of people think I have it all together... Boy are they all WRONG!!! I just want you to know that I have some really crazy bad days .. where I have to fight off depression and tears all day.

Anyway - back to the story... today has been one of those bad kind of days. I could feel it the minute I opened my eyes. Don had to leave for work early and today he has to work "bell to bell" which means open to close. There is no rhyme or reason to all of this .. since I do have things to do today.. but it still was a struggle to get up and going. Once in motion, I did feel better. I fed the animals.. which I love to do. I wrapped some gifts for my daughter and her family. They will be leaving tomorrow for their new home in Mississippi. Then I heard my dogs barking. It was our mail lady. She was driving up our driveway. I ran down to meet her and she handed me a rather large parcel.

I walked back upstairs before I opened it. To my complete surprise, the package was sent from Brita, a Saddlebred, sidesaddle enthusiast and the most gifted gardener I have ever met! I carefully tore the wrapping away to reveal this treasure. The second I saw it Brita, tears were falling down my cheeks.












I curled up in the corner of my sofa and carefully thumbed through this magnificent book. Your generosity has gone beyond what you could have imagined.. All the hours I spend in hospital rooms and waiting rooms, I lug along a back pack with no less than 3 books. Some to read, some to entertain and a very special few that just allow me to get lost in my own imagination and dreams for the future. That is what this book represents to me... time to explore my dreams and something to make the time fly when it would other wise grind to a halt!
















Brita... I just cannot thank you enough.
Julie

OK - The Inside of Equus Villa..

Welcome to my home! This is what you would see as you entered the front door. Since we are having Thanksgiving dinner at Joy's house this year, I have just finished putting up the Christmas decorations.















Yes - that is an exercise bike. We have a solid black chair and ottoman that needs to be recovered - so until it is done.. I moved the bike into its place. Do you think that makes me use it more..... yeah right...















This is a huge wall unit I built to house close to 1000 books - both mine and many inherited. It is 24 inches deep and the rows of books are 2 or 3 deep. Guess what? I still need more room for more books! I built a small desk into the far left side to break up the monotony of the look and put an overhead light above it. I love love love to build stuff!















This is the right side of the wall unit. I put a dog house on the end for Chrissy. She used to hide her favorite toys in there more than she ever slept in it though.















Here is a close up of the window seat. There is storage under the seat as well as a compartment beneath the display shelves on the right. I am so thankful that I had the idea to build this wall unit before we finished the barn construction because I was able to get the electrician to install a fixture beneath the curtains. Yes - I made the window seat cushion, curtain's and cornice board.















I bought this buffet (cheap!) at an antique shop and refinished it to black. Love it!! The painting above was the single best E-bay find for me. It cost more to frame it than to buy it!















I love my kitchen. I designed the cabinets with the X design in reflection of the X's on the exterior of the barn. I should have cleaned up a bit more before snapping these shots..but you get the idea!















This is the one full bathroom that we have upstairs. There is a 1/2 bath downstairs inside the climate controlled laundry room. Notice the cabinet design. The X motif is carried throughout the house as are the colors of black, taupe with accents of red. I made the decorative shower curtain and the silhouette prints on the wall.
















Right past the bathroom is the hallway.















The walls are lined with large shadow boxes that I made for both sets of my Grand Parents, my Parents and Don's Mother. Each one of these is very special to me.















At the end of the hall, there are 2 doors. The one on the right goes to our spare bedroom which currently is stuffed full of my daughter and grand children's things since they have been staying with us... so sorry - but I think we will keep that door SHUT! On the left is our master bedroom.

















Our Bedroom. I made the shelf above the windows. As you can tell, I have a lot of cool nick-knacks! Most were inherited.. which is the best kind because they come with memories!!















...and this monstrosity of a TV... yeah - Don won it and I could not stand his pleading...begging ... crying ... to have it in our bedroom...Haha .. JJ! But in all honesty - it is so large I could not sleep for 3 nights with it on. It kind of swallows our whole room. SHHHHH - don't tell Don I told you that!














Now, if you notice, there is a door on the backside of our bedroom. That room was intended to be for Don. A sports room... a big TV room ..a place to house his weights and exercise equipment. Well, what it was suppose to and what it actually is - is quite different! It has morphed into a catch all room for extra stuff and a cat... that I do not get along with! This room is soon to be remodeled. Anyone want a cat???

A Book I Want..& a Bit About Me..

Judging by the number of e-mails I have been getting from people who tell me they have just discovered this blog - I can easily assume that there are a few new readers. Hi!!! So just in case you don't know.... I am kind of different. (snicker snicker) I have always said that I would rather have one really nice thing made to perfection than 10 mediocre things. Well, that theory was put to the test when we bought our farm. I designed our barn. Here it is from the outside.














Originally we were only suppose to live here for about 5 years - but life happened! We have now been living above our barn for 9 years. Don and I love our cozy little barn house...and that says a LOT since he was the guy whose fantasy house was (and I quote) the largest house on the smallest lot with plastic grass! Wow - has he changed!

Anyway - back to the story. I am detail OBSESSED. If you doubt me - look at the interior of our barn. I spent 4 hours yesterday power washing it. I just love the feeling I get after my little barn is all clean.


















Sooo - now that you know what a NUT I really am, would it surprise you that I am foaming at the mouth over this book?

Out of Print Books ~ Part 2

When I started this journey.. everyone and I mean EVERYONE who had any experience in riding aside told me to try and get my hands on this book written by Mrs. Houblon. It appears every once in a while on e-bay and usually costs around $50.00 If you can find it for less then that, you have found yourself a bargain.
















Although I have not read the following books, I would indeed love to own them one day!

!

Out Of Print Books...

..That I would love to own!


















I have read this one. My instructor Kelli owns it and she lent it to me.

May I Present Babette Cole and The Legover Ladies!

Meet Babette Cole!


















She is a Children’s author and Illustrator. Here are 2 of her adorable books!


















She is also the promoter and partial sponsor for the Legover Ladies riding team and she was kind enough to allow me to publish the following information it. Please visit Babette on her web sight :
http://www.babette-cole.com

















"World first for Babette's Team"
Horse and Hound article
Patey Hay’s Legover Ladies are Jenny Torrance – (Jen on Paddy), Babette Cole – (Babble on Scrappit), Emma Brown – (HotlipsEm on Pip) and Francis Elson – (Skin on Bruno)..
















We are the only side saddle team on the Team Chase circuit.

Ten years ago Babette Cole founded Red Fox Letsgo Ladies. They were Babette Cole, Emma Brown and Hannah Pickering. The only three ladies in the world brave enough to do it!

Since then Emma found us sponsorship from Patey Hats and the team has got a lot faster and more daring! In fact we are usually too fast. Novice classes often have a bogie time (a good hunting pace) and the winning team is the closest clear round to the time, first three horses count.



















We are usually much too fast for these. "All comers" or novice speed classes are our best competitions and we have been in the ribbons many times. BUT on Oct 1st 2006 we made history by WINNING the Belvoir Team Chase, All Comers speed class. 2 miles of up to height (about 3ft 6in) timber and five foot hedges! No other all side saddle team has ever one a national event before!

We are very lucky to have such good horses. They are very brave. They have to balance us we can’t balance them.

All of us represent our individual hunts Jen – the South Notts, Babble – the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale, Skin – the Fernie, Hotlips Em – the Quorne.

Babette and Scrappit hunt side saddle regularly with the B.S.V. infamous for it’s mud and meaty hedges. Scrappit is only 15 hands but has learnt to surf over the mud so that he can fly the wide hedges down here in Dorset. He now thinks team chasing in the Midlands is a piece of cake!

....And Finally....
At the Belvoir team chase a fortnight ago, the Patey Hats Legover Ladies team (right) became the first all side-saddle team to win an affiliated chase.

Emma Brown, Jenny Torrance, Frances Elson and Babette Cole won the novice speed class, run over a substantial, up–to–height hedge and timber track on Garthorpe racecourse.















All four are accomplished all–round side–saddle competitors – and also hunt side–saddle regularly in Leicestershire and with the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale.

"It’s so exciting," said founder member Emma, an HGV lorry driver by profession. "We’ve been team chasing for several seasons and have been in the ribbons many times, but it is hard to win a class. You need well–balanced horses that are good jumpers to do this side–saddle."

Excerpt from Horse and Hound

And Another...

Reader sent me this:

Hi there,
My name is Caroline Mosley, I live in Scotland with my hubby John and I am the proud owner of 2 horses. Ellie is a 5yo TB mare and is due her first foal in July next year, by an Irish Draught. My other horse Jack is an Irish Sport Horse who I event (pic attached). As well as eventing I have just taken up side saddle with him. I bought myself a brand new saddle last week (pic attached) and can't wait for the winter to be over so I can get going with him. I hope to compete at the Royal Highland Show next year. the only thing I have to show me doing side saddle is the first time I sat on my friends horse (my second ever go at SS) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoGVwosaQug

Ps - also FYI, there has been a programme on the BBC in the UK called Downton Abbey featuring a hunting party with the ladies riding side saddle,


















I asked Caroline about her beautiful saddle and this is what she told me:

I bought my side saddle from a master saddler in Wales, he made it on a new side saddle wide tree and for a competition a few years ago. Since then it sat in his workshop on display until he decided that he should sell it.

Anyway it was on ebay and I bought it probably for half what it is worth! It fits my horse really well (bit of flocking movement required) and the only thing I need is a stirrup leather making up (it has an owen stirrup fitting). I am very excited about it as I only thought about trying side saddle when I watched the class at the royal highland show last year and i remembered that I'd always wanted to try it - so I bought a lesson for my birthday and since then I've just caught the bug!
* * * * * * * * * *

Yeah Caroline!!! I am so excited for you!! .. but sad that you have to wait until next Spring to really get started riding aside.

NOTHING Thrills Me More..

..Then getting a message like this one, where someone who read my goofy blog was inspired to also try riding aside!!! I am so excited for you Laura!! I started this blog as nothing more than a catalog of information to assist me in learning how to ride. As it grew, I started to delve into some of the history and culture of it all. I am so glad others have enjoyed it too.

Laura, you have no idea how much your little "I did it!!" message means to me. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you one of the newest sidesaddle riders, Laura! Go and read more about her adventure at http://twospookymaynards.blogspot.com/

Glove Clips

Just like the sidesaddle skirt clip I featured last year, this is another small Victorian ladies accessory that adds a touch of elegance to her wardrobe!



















These can still be found in antique stores, estate auctions or on E-bay..




















But the best part is the variety of them..























Sterling, Brass, Gold Plated or in 14K!




















Wouldn't it be wonderful to have something like this that you knew your Great Grandmother used!