Woke up this morning at 6:30 to loud traffic, birds chattering, and squirrels noisily squabbling. Ordinarily, these noises would be muted by the sliding glass door. But the door was open all night to let in the cool breeze, because our air conditioner isn't working.
Though we were up early, I skipped my exercises, as I usually do on Sunday. Since thunder threatened a storm, I didn't bother with a shower, either. Mother came over around 9 a.m. and put a beef roast into the slow cooker, with onions, carrots, potatoes, and a few zucchini and yellow squashes that wouldn't fit into the steamer last week.
We all spent the rest of the morning being lazy...reading the Sunday newspaper and watching the progress of storms on TV. Thunderstorms were more prevalent in the southern part of the state this morning, but predictions were for possible severe weather in our part of the state later this afternoon and evening.
Lunch was good, served with more of the sourdough bread. Mother went home afterward, and Hubbie and I attended a program at the museum at 2 p.m.
Museum staff were glad to see Hubbie there, though the program was aimed mainly at women. He was the only man there, but he ended up enjoying it.
The two women who presented the program are members of the Daughters of the American Revolution. They both live in towns an hour to two hours from us. Both were dressed in colonial costumes...one in the fancy dress of a well-to-do woman, and one as an indentured servant.
The women placed the many layers of clothing on a dress form, beginning with a shift, which was worn both as a sleeping garment, and as an article of underwear. Next came intricately embroidered stockings, and then stays (like a corset), a very heavy item. The women brought an example of one of these garments for us to inspect.
Over this was tied one or two pockets. These pockets were also often embroidered items, though they would not be seen. They were fairly large, for carrying scissors, pins, needles, thread, eyeglasses, and other things a lady might need.
Then came the hoops (oval shaped in Colonial days), a gown petticoat (intended to be visible), gown, stomacher (a decorated triangular panel that filled the bodice), cap, mitts, and apron. Aprons were worn both indoors and outdoors to protect outerwear, which was rarely if ever washed. Colonials were not known for their hygiene.
Women did not wear underwear. Contrary to common belief, they didn't wear pantaloons...these were worn only by shady ladies. Colonial women were forbidden to wear pants, so no pantaloons. Men and women both wore shifts as sleepwear and underwear...for months at a time without benefit of washing. Ladies carried scented handkerchiefs to keep from having to smell the odor of unwashed men (though they themselves must have stunk to high heaven, since they rarely bathed either).
The presenters also brought along caps, mop caps, straw hats, and one unusual looking accordion pleated rain hat that acted as an umbrella over the high wigs of upper class women.
There was also a very pretty full-length cape with hood. That's a garment that could be comfortable and pretty even today.
The program lasted about an hour, after which refreshments of cookies and apple juice/white grape juice punch was served. I brought samples of the brownies, chocolate chip, and sugar cookies to Mother, who had stayed home to hem a couple of pairs of her jeans.
I also bought a "Conflict" card game at the gift shop (only $6), which was designed as part of statewide sesquicentennial events commemorating the Civil War. It's a simple game that simulates Go Fish. The various colors of cards feature information about residents, politicians, and military personnel in our area during the Civil War.
Back home, we relaxed for the rest of the afternoon. Around 5 p.m., a thunderstorm cropped up, but it must have skirted us, because nothing came of it. However, TV weather predictions are for the possibility of storms throughout the evening.
Tonight, we watched the 2009 Lifetime Movie Network feature, "A Sister's Secret." A woman, Katherine, returns to her hometown to try to save her father's paper mill, but runs into trouble when she meets up with a woman, Jane, from her past, who is the twin to a man who committed suicide when Katherine broke up with him. Now Jane blames Katherine for everything bad in her life and wants to take revenge.
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