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Kate and Luisa came by this morning. We weeded the garden and picked the last summer vegetables. There were several nice, but green, tomatoes. Now, the root vegetables are stored in the cellar and there are herbs tied up and strung from the kitchen ceiling. My cottage smells like sage and thyme! Lovely!
After lunch, they had fun playing with the maze puzzle book I found at my place in the city. Some of the mazes were very difficult! When I go back to my flat, I must find the word search puzzle books.
I am glad I have the girls, they are such a big help!
I went to the city today today to get the silk fabric that Queen Margaret requested for a new ball gown. She is partial to red and there was a lovely crimson brocade with chrysanthemum flowers. I am very glad to have my little carpet for these short trips, I can't imagine going by cart anymore!
Everything looked in order at the shop and at my flat, although the plants needed water. I found a book of mazes in my library that the girls might like. I really enjoyed doing puzzles when I was young! I also found my father's book about Venice. I always enjoy Venice, it is such a lively city.
I ate supper with my niece and nephew and their boys. They are doing a fine job with our family business! I returned home with Queen Margaret's lovely silk cloth, wrapped in dark red velvet and tied with a scarlet ribbon, fit for the queen! I'll present it to her at the castle tomorrow.
One of these days, I will have to show Luisa how to use my magic carpet. I am tired now, I think some chamomile tea, a few pomegranate cookies, and an interesting old book are just what I need!
This morning I was looking for my heavy winter sweater (the green one that I knitted last fall) when I came across this wonderful drawing. Well, well, well, I never realized how much Luisa resembles me when I was a girl. She will be delighted to see this drawing. It was created by my father's friend. I remember that summer day very clearly. It was terribly hot and humid in the port city where we lived. My father said, "It's too hot here, let's visit Hans and Julia!" We all climbed into the cart and set off for the cool hills out side of town.
Hans lived in a comfortable cottage with his wife Julia. He was an artist and she was a potter. They had a studio and another building that was actually a big camera. My father said it was a new invention called a Camera Obscura. The camera building was a big box with no windows and a narrow door.
When we arrived, my brother and I changed our clothes and headed to the pond for a swim. It was heavenly! The water was cool and the sun was warm. We splashed and played for hours. Then, we had lunch at a long table in the shade of a huge old tree. Usually, when we visited Hans and Julia, all of their children and grand children were there and the table was crowded and noisy. That day it was peaceful. We ate fresh tomatoes, cheese and crusty bread that my mother had baked that morning.
My father asked Hans if we could see the big camera. We walked to the small building and when we got inside, it was dark except for a small hole on one wall where light streamed in. When I turned to the opposite wall, I saw something amazing. There was a picture of the hills outside glowing on the wall. It was upside down, but they were clearly the same hills and trees. Hans told me to go outside and sit in the grass and to stay very still. I sat quietly. After what seemed like a long time, my father and Hans came out holding a drawing. It was me! Hans had copied my image using the camera! Magic!
We spent the afternoon picking raspberries from the wild bushes near at the edge of the woods. As the sun was getting low in the sky, we all sat in the soft tall grass and ate bowls of the sweet red fruit with fresh cream. Then we said our goodbyes, and I thanked Hans for my portrait. It was a wonderful summer day. Now where is that sweater? There is a chill in the air.
