Archive for December, 2007
Nearly Winter Newsletter
In lieu of blogging today, Amelia sent out her masterfully crafted Wren’s Nest Nearly Winter Newsletter. For now, it’s the closest thing we’ve got to a traditional newsletter. Team Wren’s Nest prefers to save paper, postage, and time rather than communicate with you in the “real” “world.” Plus, we woudn’t know where to start with a traditional newsletter anyway.
If you don’t get the newsletter and you’d like to, shoot me an email: lain [at] wrensnestonline [dot] com.
If you do get the newsletter and you’d no longer like to, what’s the matter? How can we help you?
If you do get the newsletter and by chance have a question, comment, concern, or suggestion, by all means leave a comment here and we’ll try to appease you next quarter.
Happy weekend, and we’ll see y’all at our Victorian Christmas on Sunday.
Categories: Birthdays, Gussying up, Technological Advances |
Wren’s Nest Part of the Southern Literary Trail?
I’d rather not jinx anything, but the Wren’s Nest may very well sneak into the fledgling and soon-to-be-awesome Southern Literary Trail.
Their website right now looks a little like the Wren’s Nest’s website, stylistically speaking, circa this time last year.
That is to say, um, spartan.
The idea for the trail centers around linking 20th century southern writers through themes, geography, and–hopefully–tourist dollars. Since Joel Chandler Harris was indeed alive and publishing in the 20th century, I say count it! After all, the transformation of writing in Georgia from Br’er Rabbit to The Color Purple is pretty significant if I do say so myself.
Here’s (a little) background on the Southern Literary Trail. Of course, more information will be posted here as it develops.
Now, if only someone would get my Civil War to Civil Rights Trail idea off the ground.
I’m looking at you, CCHRP.
Or maybe you, Amelia Trace. You’re practically synonymous with ATL.
Categories: Birds of a feather, Brer Rabbit, Really?, Southern Literary Trail, Trails: Historic and Imagined |
Victorian Christmas This Sunday at the Wren’s Nest
In case y’all were curious, the Wren’s Nest is hosting its annual Victorian Christmas party, this coming Sunday afternoon. What better day to celebrate than Joel Chandler Harris Day.
Look, it’s decreed by the governor. You’ve been urged to celebrate. Beseeched, even. Why not do so at the Wren’s Nest?*
We’ll have birthday cake, tours, storytelling, stuff for the kids, and more Victoriana than you’d ever hope to see.
And not only is it auspicious–did I also mention it’s free?
Nope, free!
Even more free than twenty-six little ones, and yet even more free than a dime-piece for the wee children. See you there!
*Your only reasonable excuse is that you’re bundled up with a Duck and Herring Pocket Field Guide, hot off the presses.
But more on them later. In the mean time, if you want to become their friend on MySpace**, you can do so here.
**The Wren’s Nest totally would be friends with the good ducks and herrings from Duck and Herring Co. on MySpace, but, um, the staff of the Wren’s Nest doesn’t know how to make a MySpace page.
Well, Miss Nannie might, but she’s not telling. Sigh.
Categories: Birds other than wrens, Events, Victorian Christmas |
The Christmas Shakes
Nope, not a reference to Lain on December 25th. Rather, Nannie’s excited physical state that accompanies the Christmas season (she doesn’t even drink coffee!).
(Nannie is shown here fluttering her eyelids to best entice the camera.)
Apparently, her grandson inherited the Christmas shakes. He had to be calmed for 15 minutes each year on Christmas morning. Reminder: Nannie is so awesome.
Why does Nannie have the Christmas Shakes on this, the first day of December? Because we’re gussying up the Wren’s Nest, Victorian Christmas-style!
Photographic evidence below:
Asian Cajun Catherine cracking wise while sitting on our crazy painted carpet in the dining room.
One of these volunteers announced to us that she hates doing this sort of thing when she doesn’t get credit for it. To this we responded, ” Hey! This is where we live! Stop being mean. Also, you do realize we’ll sign anything. Seriously.”
Monkey Arms McGee here was brought in to get to the top. Awkward? Yes.
In the end, they brought in someone far less hesitant. You can see his devotion/trepidation through the body language, displayed via rumpus-jutting.
Here’s the decorations boss, Ida Beth, shown with all the Christmas carnage. What a great day for a tour!
Here are both of the Asian Cajuns stylishly making a centerpiece in the dining room. Allegedly it looks better now that it is completed, but I refuse to verify this claim, preferring to remember it as it once was.
Docents Jeri and “Christmas Shakes” Nannie decorating the piano. You should come over and meet them. They’re far funnier than anything I’ve got, though Jeri claims she’s not funny. Nannie is quite comfortable with her personal level of hilarity.
So! Neat, right? Right. To get a taste (literally- wait for it) for yourself, you should totally come to the Wren’s Nest next Sunday, December 9th, for the Victorian Christmas extravaganza. It’s also Joel Chandler Harris’ birthday! Which means cake!
The details, conveniently clustered:
Sunday, December 9th. 1:30pm to 4:30pm, with cake at 3pm. If you think you’ll be able to make it, please RSVP to lain@wrensnestonline.com. And because we like you, it’s all free. We’ll have activities for the kiddies, and family fun abound.
Hope to see you there! Er, here!
Categories: Birthdays, Bravery, Events, Gussying up, Victorian Christmas |
Basement Photo Extravaganza!
Hello, folks. I’m back.
Travel to my home state of Chicagoland coupled with a not-fun illness kept me out of the Nest for quite some time.
It’s been hard on all of us.
But since I am such a brave and admirable person, I’ve jumped right back into the thick of things. Well, not really “things” so much as the basement.
Yesterday Lain spent some time in our creepy cellar doing things like seeing if he would need both hands to count all the lawnmowers (verdict: almost).
(A mere sampling of our lawnmower goods.)
Today we went back, armed with a camera, to document what a mish-mosh storage space looks like if it has been continually used… for 100 years. Neat, right?
Thus, on with the totally non-cohesive photographs!
Do you know this family? We don’t. But we have about 100 snowflake-things with their lovely mugs on ‘em. If it helps with identification, the t-shirt on the little one in front says “Pizza Pizza”.
Remember 1996? The Olympics were here, and apparently there was plenty to learn about cauldrons of hope and the like.
These old-timey things are here to remind us that the basement used to be the kitchen area, replete with other cauldrons. Or pans. Or… footed plates. Anyone? Little help?
He was bizarre to stumble upon, I tell you what.
Does your basement have random bunnies scattered among the rubble? Do you even have rubble?
This is the (in)famous haunted lithograph. Allegedly the knobs started turning by themselves during a ghost hunt. Gack!
Almost as scary as ghosts? The fact that it looks like these four wood planks are holding up the entire house. Tread lightly, indeed.
This plaque didn’t quite make our literary walk of fame. Though Kate totally dominates the basement.
Matt’s lair. Note that we have only one outdoorsman, but approximately 14 different rakes.
How neat is this?! Obviously the basement is the perfect place for it. Any antique fixer people out there?
And finally, our most logical basement tenant. Apparently Joel Chandler Harris was really into pool noodles.
Categories: Failed Attempts at Looking Reputable, Really?, Shirking Responsibility, Whoops! |