My apologies for all the spasmodic posts. I have been telling you I have been working on my iPad since my PC died! Guess what I now have a MacBook Pro (on loan, I am learning its nuances) and I am in heaven!!! In addition, Facebook decided it wanted a separation from Word Press….I think I have figured that out as well, we shall see, I know a lot of my readers follow me on Facebook.
What have I been up to, well, the Fall semester at Columbia College Chicago starts Labor Day week so I am in syllabus revision mode, doing that wasn’t an option on my iPad. nenasnotes The Fashion Book Club is fully booked for the next few months with extraordinary authors and books. This month is NORELL: MASTER OF AMERICAN FASHION by Jeffrey Banks, too exciting for words.
You are going to be very impressed with the Profiles I have to share with you on nenasnotes in the next few weeks and zillions of books to recommend some really good ones. I will continue my Wednesday musings and my collections stories as well. Not only does Labor Day bring the new school semester (and on my mind’s eye calendar, the new year!) but also brings us a month of Spring 2019 fashion from New York, London, Milan and Paris, I will give you my thoughts on what I see as the major trends.
Can’t get enough of me….Sally Schwartz, the extraordinary guru of The Randolph Street Market has commissioned me to write two monthly posts, one on fashion trends and one on collectibles, for the RSM newsletter. All new, nothing has appeared on nenasnotes. July and August have been posted if you are interested go to their website to read Denim, Blue and White, Prints in Fashion and Vinyl (records)! And for more of RSM mark your calendar for next weekend, August 25 and 26 from 10 to 5 each day, a perfect way to spend a special day in the City hunting for treasures. Of course you can also follow me on Instagram and Pinterest, just saying!
My photo, taken by my dear friend, Tom Mantel, from my current scrapbook entries, all others from Pinterest photo credit unknown.
I must begin this review by saying I am most certainly not a fan of the current Russian regime, in fact I am appalled by it. I was fortunate to visit this extraordinary country and meet its gracious people in 2002 (I will do blog posts on the amazing trip in the future) when it was just learning to embrace its new “freedom” from Communism, well, I’m afraid, that was short lived. Since I’m not a political commentator nor do I like to express negativity in my posts, I shall not bore you with my opinions on how I feel about the Russian government and its involvement in our affairs, but rather turn to the grandeur of the Romanov’s in the 19th century and their ultimate demise.
Tsarina Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark)
I found The Romanov Empress to be a fascinating read from cover to cover. The detailed research done by C. W. Gortner is extraordinary. He has, changed some dates and anglicized many of the Russian names, but I felt, having read a lot about the time of Nicholas II and Alexandra and, of course their execution but not much about his parents, he gave us a precise story. I have always been fascinated by Russian history and by now you are aware of my passion for historical novels….this detailed intriguing story did not disappoint me, in fact it makes me want to find more novels and non-fiction about this period in time. I was aware of the intermarriage of the European royals, but this telling put these marriages in perspective. The world, in all ways, was at a major turning point and now, a century plus years later, is still in turmoil. Can we change our destinies, I doubt it, but shouldn’t we learn from history or are we destined to keep making mistakes!!!! Oops, seems a bit deep doesn’t it….perhaps Tzarist thinking! Let’s get to our story….
It is basically a love story of a man and woman who happen to rule Russia and their children and their children’s children. It is also the story of a very strong woman, “Minnie” (the Tsarina), who was instrumental, to a great extent, in forward thinking of women’s rights as well as preserving, above all else, the Romanov dynasty, which she supported, in all ways, until the very end. We learn about her sister’s marriage to Bertie, The Prince of Wales, Queen Victoria, the Russian court, exquisite descriptions of the social protocol of the time, the fashion, much from Charles Frederick Worth, the art, the jewelry, oh the jewelry, and, of course, the palaces. And mostly the pride in upholding the centuries of Romanov rule and then seeing this regime destroy itself….so very sad! Do I recommend the book, yes, yes and yes.
Tsar Alexander III, Tsarina Maria Feodorovna
St. Petersburg late 1900’s
I will definitely read more of Gortner’s novels, I’m considering his Mademoiselle Chanel as an upcoming nenasnotes The Fashion Book Club selection
This post is generously underwritten by an anonymous sponsor who is an avid reader. My everlasting gratitude. Contact me for sponsorship opportunities.
1938 caddying for all the top players in the PGA, my Father, Ivon (that was his signature on his artwork and what everyone called him) in his glory. Next to Ruthy and Nena, his wife and daughter….it was his life and he excelled at it, but then he was a natural born athlete. Being the daughter, and only child of a major jock, I learned at a very early age if I wanted to spend special time with my Daddy, I needed to love sports as well. I can assure you I have no athletic prowess what so ever but do love to attend or watch sporting events, especially football (my favorite) and golf….I spent many hours walking golf courses as well as going to see the Bears and Cubs, with him, we were “North Siders” after all!!!!. As much as he loved playing he never wasn’t there for his family. He would play early matches and be home early….he even played with colored balls in the winter. We would stop at the golf range to hit a few buckets of balls on weekends, it was across the street from Indian Boundery Park, we were there all the time. In addition, I went with him to play the Evanston Community Course, now Canal Shores Golf Course on Central Street, a course, I thought was fairyland with its water features and charming set up. Still there after a century and being rehabilitated,
He was working on plans and a patent for a new driver that he felt would revolutionize the sport when he died suddenly in 1957.
A mocked up photo (I can’t imagine what he would have done with today’s technology)….fooling around while taking the sport very seriously, same year 1938.
He won so many trophies year after year the organizations retired them. For years he had been asked to go Pro. He finally decided he would and we would relocate to Texas, having spent many summers, when I was a child, in Midland with relatives for my health, it seemed the logical location. Having said good bye to our friends we left for West Texas and Daddy would go back to Evanston and sell the house, etc. All I can say is when we stepped off the train we realized we were making a very big mistake, stayed for 2 weeks and came back home!!!!! The golfing didn’t stop, but the thought of going pro did! He didn’t regret his decision at all.
And one very similar to those Daddy won…photo found on Pinterest.
One year he had a custom hand-tooled leather golf bag made at a Midland saddle shop, known for their fabulous boots (yes, I had them in white!!!!) I gave the bag and all his wooden shaft clubs to a dear friend who adored my father and golf….wonder if he still uses them!!!!! Below a similar bag I found on Pinterest
A few more photos of him in action…these from 1929, he was so young…center photo from 1938…love that he is perfectly dressed, I can’t recall many golfers in blazers, shirt, tie and pocket square….oh, did I mention he was a fabulous dresser….I loved going shopping with him to help add to his wardrobe (did that with Mom as well….)
And here with some of his chums, circa mid-1940’s….love the cap (not really) and not my favorite photo of him….but here you see one of his trophies. They were stunners. Many sterling, some silver plate, all engraved. One of our housekeepers decided she liked them so much she decided to take them! Sad but true….at least I can picture them in my mind. A bit of golf history…it seems it’s origin is China, not Scotland, although it is most certainly the Scots who can lay claim to it’s popularity.
Part of a Ming dynasty scroll “The Autumn Banquet”, being exhibited at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum March 21, 2006, shows participants of an imperial court spend their pastime on ‘chuiwan’ similar to the modern day golf, in which the players hits a ball and drive it into a hole. The scroll, which is exhibited for the first time outside mainland China, has sparked a controversy of which country invented golf. REUTERS/Bobby Yip
A few golf paintings of Scottish and English scenes and golfers.
From the oldest golf club in England, Royal Blackheath Golf Club, Henry Callender,Love this by Norman Rockwell.
What you say, where are the ladies…..here you go, can you imagine playing any sport in these garments….seriously!!!!!
All the photos of Ivon from my scrapbooks all others unless, otherwise noted, found on Pinterest photo credits unknown.
FROM NENA’S RECIPE BOX
DADDY’S SATURDAY NIGHT CREPES
1/2 cup flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
4 eggs
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup water
4 shakes Angostura bitters (Daddy always included bitters in his recipes, it’s what makes all the difference!!)
Usually does 6 crepes in an 8-10 inch pan…move in a small pan best to serve immediately.
Either mix until fluffy or put into a blender. He always used a cast iron skillet generously buttered. Pour thin layer into hot pan…let get golden then quickly flip. All goes quickly…first crepe is usually a throw away.
I always liked mine with butter and sugar then rolled, Mom and Dad often did jam. We also did a creamed chicken or shrimp (or lobster) filling for savory crepes. I like to do a cream filling with salmon caviar for a starter at a formal dinner party….my wine of choice, champagne or my new favorite Haute Couture Bubbles (served at the nenasnotes The Fashion Book Club). Enjoy!