Just a Little Southern Hospitality: February 2018

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Valentine Memories

The beauty of a Valentine's lunch.

The roses are from my sweetheart. A beautiful shade of coral.

The Rembrandt china belonged to my sweethearts mother.

Valentine Day memories are sweet to savor.

Tablescape Thursday

Grace at Home
Home and Garden Thursday

Home Sweet Home

Saturday Sparks

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 and was regarded as one of America's greatest heroes due to his incredible impact on the nation and his unique appeal. His is a remarkable story of the rise from humble beginnings to achieve the highest office in the land.

Lincoln was married to Mary Todd. A member of a large, wealthy Kentucky family, Mary was well educated. Mary came to Springfield, Illinois to visit her sisters in 1840. After a tumultuous courtship, she married Abraham Lincoln on November 4, 1842.

When Lincoln won the Presidential election, the Civil War was imminent. Before he even assumed office, seven states had seceded, with four more after his inauguration in March. Although Mary had dreamed of a proud entry into Washington, because of an assassination attempt, they had to sneak into the capitol. Her dreams were soon further crushed with harsh criticism, disappointments and more heartache.

“Being under scrutiny as a fashion symbol, the first lady’s popularity was as precarious as a roller-coaster ride – sometimes up and often down, with change in the blink of an eye. Her fastidious attention to matters of dress at first impressed and recommended her to the press," wrote biographer Catherine Clinton. "The rumored costs of her attire became the subject of Washington gossip and prompted bitter critiques by journalists, especially as Union soldiers fell by the thousands, maimed and wounded, dying in camp and on the battlefield.”

"Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker" by Jennifer Chiaverini, is the story about the extraordinary relationship between Mary Todd Lincoln and Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley.

I put the kettle on as I began reading this historical fiction. It's been a walk through a different time, a different age.