Homemade Faster: the housewife disaster

Happy Victoria Day

This day often marks the start to the summer season. Here in Canada it is a statutory holiday that always falls on a Monday and makes for a 3 day long weekend. A lot of people are away camping for the first time in the season and others spend the weekend getting their garden planted. We spent some time by our fire pit bbqing homemade burgers and toasting marshmellows. The boys worked on their fort and I of course had to work at work (I'm a server for a popular chain of restaurants and I work every weekend). We did local things like movies and swimming. But none too exciting.

I got to thinking that I didn't know much about Queen Victoria or why we celebrate so I did a little research and thought I'd share with you. I have had such and obsession with female English monarchs. I think my grandma shares a close resemblance to Queen Elizabeth II especially in the younger years...maybe that's where it started. I think all little girls imagine themselves as princesses.

Anyway, I found this amazing self portrait of Victoria that she did of herself when she was just 16. It reminds me to never throw out the kids artwork and to display it all over the house as it truly is a work of heART when it comes from someone so innocent and without the knowledge of what lies ahead.
Victoria was the only child of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, the fourth son of King George III. Both the Duke of Kent and the King died in 1820, and Victoria was raised under close supervision by her German-born mother Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld until she was crowned Queen at the age of 18 in 1837. Queen Victoria married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (ewwwe!!!) and they had 9 children.
The Queen wrote in her diary after her first night of marriage:

I NEVER, NEVER spent such an evening!!! MY DEAREST DEAREST DEAR Albert ... his excessive love & affection gave me feelings of heavenly love & happiness I never could have hoped to have felt before! He clasped me in his arms, & we kissed each other again & again! His beauty, his sweetness & gentleness – really how can I ever be thankful enough to have such a Husband! ... to be called by names of tenderness, I have never yet heard used to me before – was bliss beyond belief! Oh! This was the happiest day of my life.

How romantic is that? I bet Albert tenderly cried afterwards too, right?

And here are all of them, Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and all 9 kids with not one looking at the camera. Even the royals have off days with their children.

Isn't this one sweet of the Queen with her eldest daughter?

Prince Albert died in 1861 of typhoid fever. Devastated, Queen Victoria mourned the next 40 years until her own death in 1901. She wore black and seldom made public appearances. She reined for 63 years which subsequently made this time the Victorian era. This era was a time of industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom.

flickr

Victorian home in Trinidad

Homes like these went up like crazy all over the US, Canada, Caribbean and Australia. Around where I live these homes are very expensive to buy. Have a look at the insides of the well-to-do. Moulding was used in a abundance as was wallpaper, heavy drapes, guilt mirrors and framed art and soft cushy furniture. People had big families and liked to entertain them in style.

Tissot

Victorian parlour 1850's

Henry Treffry Dunn

Nowadays people still like to have their homes inspired by the Victorian Era. And modern culture has definitely improved things a lot. Out with the heavy drapes and in with the light and bright. Nothing speaks to me more than a successful mix of styles in a comfortable, clean , well organized room. Breezy, airy, simple and most of all, influenced by the way you live, the people you love and history.