Giving Thanks

Wishing you most heartfelt blessings and all the dearest joys

As we go from this time of giving thanks...

And pass into a season of giving of ourselves.

Emma & Johanna

Childhood, an honest confession

I was the sort of child who grew up emotional, and dreamy,

the sort of little girl who was fond of taking large pieces of

silky fabric out to the w i d e field,

and running about for an hour with the wind and her dreams.

My struggles with falling asleep at night

were remedied with my ever present imagination,

and the fairytales that were birthed from it,

the young girls in their long hair and medieval gowns

racing through my dreams on color-coordinated horses.

Thus, when I watched for the first time, the film,

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood,

and met Olivia de Havilland's enchanting Maid Marian,

my girlish heart was thrilled beyond words.

My dreams of wedding gowns turned medieval...

My favorite artwork were soft portraits of chivalrous knights and fair ladies,

and Tennyson's Lady of Shalott took me by storm.

The Maid Marian weekend at AmandaBethOnline is unfortunately over.

I wanted so to do something for it... and with my sisters,

almost managed to.

I discovered the perfect model...

Assembled the wardrobe...

And called the photographer.

Grace wore a crisp white cotton blouse

whose high neck and sleeves are trimmed with cluny lace,

found at Bealls.

Over it, she wore a floor length black dress,

With a length of black brushed lace for an elegant cloak.

For trim, we added a deep green ivory dotted scarf,

inherited from our grandmother,

and cluster of crystalline flowers in amethyst and silver.

Grace's hair required little.

Her burnished curls are like spun silk...

... And with a few quaint braids and sprigs of dried lavender...

...she is, suddenly, with her glowing brown eyes...

the dreamiest of Rapunzels.

But... time took its course and ran away on winged feet.

We could not catch it.

Thus, this cannot count as an entry in

AmandaBeth's Fashion Week,

But, with such a model, and such a photographer,

and such a history as mine, steeped in the romance of Marian...

Who can resist?

Photos by Johanna Ramsey.

Sketches by Emma Ramsey.

A Day at Rambellwood

Morning... early....

an angular girl swings a wicker basket onto her hip,

and climbs the stairs to put away the laundry.

She grins when she catches sight of the camera.

Mid-day, with rain sliding down the windows...

Warmth pervades the kitchen...

and potato soup awaits our cold limbs.

Afternoon, and the children skip outside...

Followed covertly by a blue eyed photographer.

The wind whispers against trees laden with light...

While the sun turns the children's heads to gold...

And leaves jewels of light in their sparkling eyes.

The day melts away,

fading with the sound of children's laughter

and the dimming of the yellow sun.

- Emma

Another Kind of Heaven

It has happened once again. I have caught a glimpse of what is

beyond thrilling.

Truly! I have had dreams, of walking into an antique store...

Stumbling upon a room laden with vintage and antique

dresses, hats, gloves, shoes,

and jewelry...

Well, mostly dresses,

Gorgeous vintage dresses in all the most beautiful colors,

On sale!

Only this time, Johanna went,

and I heard not the splendid tale until after the fact.

She was beyond rapture. Her camera was very busy.

There was only problem.

We could have none of it.

Everything was much too small.

Emma

Lantanas and High Tea

Orange and gold...

Sweetness and joy.

The wonder of life.

Psst....! This happens to be our 100th post.

For my Dearest

My dearest companion, my closest friend, the sister of all my struggles, Johanna Sue, turns 17 today.

She is a more than talented photographer.

She loves children, loves her family, loves taking pictures of them.

She, like the waves that crowd the shore, yearning to touch it, presses towards her Heavenly Father, and touches His heart.

She is a friend you can always trust, a friend who advises and encourages...

Faithful beyond the meaning of the word.

She sings like an angel,

Acts, with talent and energy and passion,

And loves,

With all her heart.

And, can I say? She is absolutely, undeniably, beautiful.

Happy Birthday dearest!

Emma

and all the Ramsey Clan

Photo credit to the following:

Molly Pearce

Cate Pearce

Keslie Smith

Grace Ramsey

Sam Ramsey