Two Very Great Honours

I was very lucky recently, in the space of 2 days I received 2 blog awards. I know everyone says this, but they were completely unexpected, especially as my blog is not a literary masterpiece nor a thing of beauty (my computer graphics skills leave much to be desired). It is just where I post photos of my historical costumes and the events I attend. I started a blog so that I could share my photos and stories of events that I had attended, with people who might enjoying hearing about them. Sadly there is a serious lack of people in my area who have any interest in historical costumes, period dramas etc, so no one who would enjoy me talking endlessly about events and forcing them to look at all my photos!! :) However, I have to admit that there are a couple of people who like tea - I do live in England, so it would be strange if there weren't! I spend countless happy hours drooling over photos on other people's blogs, dreaming of going to an American civil war re-enactment, Colonial Williamsburg and the Fair at New Boston, so I am so happy that there are people who enjoy my blog. :)

Now on to the Thank Yous -

The first award I received was 'The Versatile Blogger' from Quinn over at The Quintessential Clothes Pen .
The second was 'Liebster Blog' from Angela over at The Merry Dressmaker

Both Quinn and Angela are amazing seamstresses, whose blogs are definitely worth a visit if you enjoy looking at gorgeous costumes and photos of fabulous events. :)

Thank you so much both of you. :)

A Regency House Party - Part 2

After spending a lovely afternoon at the castle, we returned to the manor to get ready for the Anniversary Ball.

Over the last few years I have gained a reputation of taking forever to get ready for a ball. Sadly I lived up to it, and when the time came for us to go to supper, I was not ready! However all was not lost. The serving of the food was particularly slow, so after each course Emily ( who wasn't entirely ready herself, and who is a genius at turning my frizzy hair into perfect regency curls) ran upstairs to finish getting ready. 

Emily at supper

Suzy (not sure what she is staring at?!), and other guest enjoying supper.

By the time supper had ended, we had run up and down the main stairs quite a few times but, we were ready for the ball. :)

Avril, who always wears the most gorgeous gowns

And of course I had to take a view of the back. It was made out of a beautiful sari. I really want a sari ball gown!!

Emily and Suzy waiting for the Ball to begin. 

Jackie doing the same

Me at the beginning of the ball.

Emily 

The anniversary cake that was brought out onto the dance floor near the end of the evening. Twas delicious. :)

Dancing. :)

Sadly there was't always enough room or enough willing dancers, for us to dance every dance, so when we found ourselves in such a situation we retired to the drawing room/bar to have a refreshing beverage. 

Here Sandy is reading allowed to us all, with a rather tired Babs falling asleep on her shoulder!

The next morning we had a kite making class, which was such fun.

Not everyone took part. Those who didn't chatted and played board and card games.

Not anything to do with kite making, but I had to add the photo in as I just love the carving on the paneling. 

I actually never got round to taking photos of the class as I was having too much fun. Emily and I were in fits of laughter sticking the plastic straws, that had been provided for us to use in constructing our kites, into our hair making us look like regency aliens. Lol :) I have to admit that I can be rather childish at times!! :)

Here are a few photos that I took of my kite when I got home. 

After making the kites we went out onto the lawn and attempted to fly them. They were made out of plastic straws and paper so weren't the best kites in the world, but we had great fun running up and down the lawn trying to get them to fly!! 

All in all it was a wonderful weekend, and I really hope HRD will hold another house party next year. :)