Historically Inspired Costuming: Demelza from Poldark

Historically Inspired Costuming: Demelza from Poldark

I love the color palette of Demelza’s clothes on the first couple of seasons of Poldark. I appreciate the show as a rare one that shows a long term relationship more or less thriving through ups and downs.

This will likely be the first of a series of posts (with a long break between each one, because sewing historical costumes takes FOREVER.) where I share my progress making a Demelza-inspired costume. I’m taking inspiration from the color palette of Demelza’s costumes from the show to make a costume or some mix and match pieces that will be as historically accurate and similar to the show as my time and knowledge allow.

Sister Outsider

Sister Outsider

I have a pile of antiracism books on my bedside stand, and every month when my antiracism book club announces next month’s title, I hope that it will be one of those books. So far, it’s only happened once. Which means I keep being introduced to new books, but I haven’t made much progress on my bedside stand book pile.

A Spot of Tea

A Spot of Tea

The Chaplain is working more. I am walking, sewing, and reading less and parenting more. Quiet time has become an elusive ghost of a former life when I got to be alone for a period of time each day.

It feels like we are all in a constant negotiation for what we need, the kids and The Chaplain and I, and none of us are quite getting what we’re looking for.

So it was as we rearranged our dining room around a new piece of furniture, and my grandmother’s teacups came to the kids’ attention. They asked if we could have a tea party.

A Sweet Collab

A Sweet Collab

One night last week, we broke a mold.

In our house, usually I make dinner, we eat cereal, or the Chaplain orders takeout. There aren’t many variations on this theme, except when the kids step up and make something.

If I do a little dinner prep early in the day, it can give me the push I need to finish the job later so that there aren’t too many “breakfast for dinner” nights in one week (other Mom Didn’t Cook favorites include quesadillas and grilled cheese sandwiches).

On this day, I started some beans to re-hydrate on the stove late in the morning and put two pumpkins in the oven to roast.

I left the beans boiling away and forgot about them.

Historical Fiction for the Dark Days of Winter

Historical Fiction for the Dark Days of Winter

It’s an excellent time of year for a little escapist reading. Here are a few historical fiction titles that take place in times and places you may not have tried.