Sunday, May 25

This week in the Civil War: May 25, 1864

Fighting in Georgia

Union attempts to begin taking aim at Atlanta intensified this week 150 years ago in the Civil War. Fighting erupted on May 24, 1864 around a place called New Hope Church in Georgia as forces under Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman squared off with Confederate rivals under Gen. Joseph E. Johnson. The fighting at New Hope Church was intense and Union attackers were bloodily repulsed. Skirmishing continued through the rest of that day. More fighting erupted on May 27, 1864, in the same general area of Georgia with the Confederates repelling a Union attack, leaving a large number of dead and wounded.


Sunday, May 18

This week in the Civil War: May 18, 1864

Grant's Overland Offensive in Virginia continues

With the bloodletting of hard combat at Spotsylvania Courthouse in Virginia now receding, Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant marched a considerable Union force to the North Anna River as he prepared to again confront Confederate forces led by Robert E. Lee. Grant's Overland Offensive was continuing, with both sides tracking each other in an area of rain-swollen rivers and streams north of Richmond, seat of the Confederacy. On May 23, 1864, fresh fighting erupted and raged for hours during the next two days at various locations. At every turn, Lee, sought to repel the shifting Union forces and vex Grant's bid for a quick victory.


Wednesday, May 14

The Nancy Drew Philes

Greta Garb-oh!
Momma, my BCF (Best Chum Forever) Clementine, and I are proud to present Momma's latest collection, inspired by the famous girl detective herself: Nancy Drew.
 

More than 170 Nancy Drew books have been written since The Secret of the Old Clock was first published in 1930. The publisher began revising the books in 1959 to make the books more modern and to eliminate racist overtones.

(How did they eliminate the racism? By eliminating all non-white characters!)

Anyway, the covers of six of the original 56 books were used for a now discontinued fabric panel. Momma created six aprons from one fabric panel. (Five of the six are for sale. I shall keep the apron and dress that does not sell.)

The six available bookcover aprons are:

  • 1) The Secret of the Old Clock
  • 2) The Hidden Staircase
  • 4) The Mystery at Lilac Inn
  • 5) The Secret of Shadow Ranch
  • 25) The Ghost of Blackwood Hall
  • 26) The Clue of the Leaning Chimney

Remembering the yellow bookspines of her childhood, each dress is made from licensed yellow and blue Nancy Drew fabric with yellow cotton accents and rickrack. These dresses are sized to fit 18 inch dolls and will fit both the plumper, older Pleasant Company dolls (think Bess) as well as the slimmer, modern (George!) American Girl dolls.

Each auction includes one fashionable '50s frock and (Hannah Gruen approved) apron only. Clementine and I, Peggy (Momma's dressmaker mannequin), our boots, and other accessories are not included! 


 

Tuesday, May 13

Get a Clue with Nancy Drew

Greta Garb-oh!
Grandpoppa is having heart surgery today, but Momma wanted to share this before she left.

Isn't Clementine adorable?

Momma will have five similar Nancy Drew dresses and matching (different!) bookcover aprons this week in her Etsy store. 

Sunday, May 11

This week in the Civil War: May 11, 1864

Fighting in Virginia, Sherman on the march

The New York Times reported on May 11, 1864, that Grant's Union army in Virginia was engaged in hard skirmishing at the Spottsylvania Courthouse. The dispatch said while no all-out battle had been fought, shooting was intense and wounded Union soldiers were being brought out via a supply train for medical care. The Times added in a subsequent dispatch two days later that Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Potomac was in "superb condition and spirits - in fact, was never before in any such condition" amid the renewed fighting in Virginia. Added the pro-Union newspaper: "We are going on to Richmond, depend upon it; at least, some more formidable obstacle than has yet appeared will have to present itself to stop us." That obstacle would be a Confederate army with considerable strength to fight on for many months to come. Elsewhere, Union Gen. William T. Sherman marched out in early May 1864 from Tennessee toward northwestern Georgia with the ultimate aim of capturing the city of Atlanta.



Sunday, May 4

May the Fourth be with you, always

This week in the Civil War: May 4, 1864

The Wilderness, start of the Overland Campaign

The Union’s Ulysses S. Grant opened a major offensive against the Confederates this week 150 years ago in the Civil War. It would be known as the start of the Overland Campaign, a bloody offensive that would yield staggering casualties from the first day as Grant’s forces attacked a Confederate column early on May 5, 1864. The fierce fighting would rage for hours in dense woodlands, interrupted only by nightfall before the battle would rage again at dawn on May 6, 1864. In the end the battle by tens of thousands on both sides would prove a tactical draw. Still, Grant refused to retreat — marking the start of more fighting ahead in 1864 and the dawning of the bloodiest campaign in U.S. history.