“And a Sixpence in Her Shoe”

In the past, you have probably heard the saying a time or two: “ Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe.”  The poetic rhyme from the English and quoted in Victorian times seemed to catch on and is still often repeated today. Each item is usually applied to the wedding outfit rather than décor…something the bride would wear. The items serve as good luck tokens to a bride on her wedding day making her attire personal and sentimental.    

The “Something Old” symbolizes the bride’s family. Perhaps a strand of pearls or grandmothers broach fastened onto a hand held bouquet. It does not have to be from a female side…maybe a button from one of the brides fathers suits sewn into the hem of the gown.  

Megan wears her mothers and grandmothers pearls

A “Something New” symbolizes hope for an optimistic future with the marriage. The gown, the veil or even the rings, may be the “New”. “Something Borrowed” needs to come from a happily married woman thereby lending some of her own marital happiness and the item must be returned! The item reminds a bride that she can depend on that friend or family member. A “Something Blue” represents a symbol of faithfulness, love, purity and loyalty. It can be the bride’s garter or simply blue shoes underneath the gown. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color as well.

A sixpence was a coin used in the British Empire beginning in 1551. One sixpence represented six pennies and was last used in 1967. People used to be very superstitious in the middle ages and it was a good omen as a lucky charm. During the early 1600’s it was traditional for the Lord of the Manor to give his bride a piece of silver as a wedding gift. Worn in the left shoe, the tradition of the sixpence as a symbol of good luck continues today. Some families have passed down the same sixpence through the generations to continue the hope for good luck to future brides. It's also nice to seek out a sixpence minted in the year of your parents or grandparents wedding. If not a sixpence then a coin with a meaningful date should do!

Carlea lost her mother at a very young age. Here she wears her mother's wedding dress as she holds a picture of her mother wearing it on her wedding day.

Brides have been honoring the tradition of wearing an old, a new, a borrowed and a blue item during their wedding for centuries. The wearing of these items is supposed to share good luck but most important they express admiration for a few special people on a very special day. 

Pickles in the Pantry- A Mother's Day Tribute

For as long as I can remember, my mother canned pickles.  Sweet pickles, bread-and-butter pickles, dill pickles  - rarely was a meal ever served at our house that didn't include a Mason jar of Mother's homemade pickles.


Not even the smallest step was forgotten when my mother made pickles.  Each jar was properly scalded and readied.  The cucumbers were grown from Mother's beloved kitchen garden, and after they had soaked adequately in the brine that filled an army of crocks and dishpans, they could be packed in jars one by one with Mother's careful hands and tightly sealed.  Each jar truly represented a labor of love.

One particular summer evening Mother and I were together in the kitchen, having just finished washing and drying the dinner dishes.  She was lifting the corner of a neatly placed dishtowel to take another peek at the dozen or so pickle jars cooling on the stove.   Her labor evidenced by a Band-Aid wrapped around a burned finger and an aggravating splinter stubbornly stuck in her hand, she awkwardly carried on her tasks.   At the same moment Mother was raising the dishtowel, the young man who had stolen my heart was sitting nervously in our living room, asking my daddy if he could marry me.

With Daddy's "yes" secured, a fall wedding was planned and the preparation began.  Mother spent endless hours sewing.  Bridal showers were given and thank-you notes written. my future in-laws invited us over for a celebration dinner where of course, Mother brought a prize jar of her pickles for the grand occasion. 

Over the years, my husband taught me to appreciate Mother's treat that I had so long taken for granted.  The homemade pickles were of a bygone era, and I never seemed to find the time or desire to make them myself.  But tuna fish sandwiches tasted better with Mama's pickles, my husband's grilled hamburgers weren't complete without them, and a proper Christmas dinner always included a crystal dish of the homemade pickles.

Right now I have a jar of Mother's pickles displayed in my pantry. I don't know when- or if- I will ever open them.  For every time I look at them, my saddened heart aches for my mother's company.  I think of the wonderful influence she had on my two sons when they were small, and how she wholeheartedly shared my joys and my sorrows.  I'd always felt comfort in knowing that I could pick up the telephone any time to ask her opinion on any subject, and she often kindly just listened to me as I rambled on.  She was dear friend, and I miss the gifts of time and energy she so generously gave.

My childhood gifts to her- a lopsided plaster hand print plate, a dimestore-bought bird figurine, a red rose vase- unfailing assumed a place of honor in Mother's living room.  She owned much nicer keepsakes to display and I never could quite understand why she insisted on displaying my clumsy gifts instead.  But I have a feeling that years from now, even as my mother is long gone, Mother will understand why a blue Mason jar of her homemade pickles still sits proudly in my pantry.  

Fields of Clover

Faith • Hope •Love • Luck The grounds of Magnolia Hill are carpeted in clover. Search for only a few minutes and you will find a 4 leaf clover. Faith, Hope, Love, and Luck is what a 4 leaf clover has meant through the years. I love this, for that is what a wedding is all about....right?

The spring we moved to Magnolia Hill, 35 years ago, I remember the fields of clover like I had never seen before. Since we have horses, they seem to be in heaven every spring with the fields are full of clover. This year we have had so much rain, that the clover is ever abundant and  the horses are so excited to get out in the pasture.

 It takes a lot to feed a horse this big!

Delilah

Clover on the ground and purple Wisteria in the trees.

I wish you could smell this.... oh my!

Since we are a wedding venue, the significance of the 4 leaf clover seems most fitting....Faith, Hope, Love, Luck.

Look in the lower right corner...see the 4 leaf clover?

  St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, used a Shamrock – which has three leaves – to explain the Holy Trinity – one each for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  For Christians, the four leaf clover may represent the cross. 

  A Celtic Marriage Blessing...

May joy and peace

surround you both.

Contentment

latch your door. 

May happiness

be with you now. 

And God bless you

evermore. 

                                                          -AUTHOR UNKNOWN

The Irish often say that the green hills of the Emerald Isle (Ireland) contain more four-leaf clovers than anywhere else. Hence, the “luck o’ the Irish.”  I think the green Magnolia Hills contain more "luck" than anywhere else! 

Blessings on your day, 

 

Spring at Magnolia Hill

April is one of the most colorful months of all at Magnolia Hill. Now I know what it means to say "spring green".  It is a green like no other time of the year. This week and every week around Easter, our glorious Dogwood tree is in full bloom. Azaelas are showing off their colors, and purple Wisteria sets off a wave fragrant blooms.

An antique trellis supports a white climbing hydrangea 

A popular month for bridal portraits !

The White Dogwood tree makes a lovey backdrop for wedding day.

The Pink Dogwood in front of the Guest House was given in memory of my mother and her loss to Breast Cancer. 

A vintage postcard from my ephemera collection shares The Legend of the Dogwood.

Spring green table decor

"He fills my life with good things"  - Psalms 103:5

A stone path beckons you for a walk to the lake.

The dock is draped in purple wisteria.

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.

A bride and her daddy wait on the carriage to come.

 "Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'"  ~Robin Williams

Make Your Wedding Perfect

Make Your Wedding Perfect

A perfect day is the goal of every bride that walks through my door. Through weeks, or months of planning, we work toward that goal whether the budget is thousands of dollars or a “Do it Yourself” type of bride. Before we start, there are a few things to consider no matter the budget.

Establish A Theme

A wedding is the most important event you will ever plan in your life. A wedding is timeless, so make sure your theme is representative of who you are. Rustic, Elegant Vintage, Rosy Victorian, Laid Back Beach, Rhinestone Bling, Bohemian Whimsy or Traditional Southern… all wonderful themes to work with. Thank goodness for Pinterest to supply a plethora of pictures of inspiration.

The Invitation

The invitation reflects you, your taste and theme. It lets a guest know what, who, when and where. It will give a clue for dress…is it an outdoor wedding and a wrap is needed with comfortable walking shoes, or a formal church wedding?  Consider the guest list very seriously. You don’t want to forget anyone or hurt feelings by not including him or her. Always err on the side of kindness.

Planning Ahead

By planning ahead, you can be relaxed and enjoy your own wedding. Determine all the details, as this will eliminate problems, hazards and embarrassments.  Delegate duties for family and friends are usually delighted when asked to help.

Adding “Something Extra”

My goal at a wedding is to have at least one thing that will generate a “wow” comment.  A moss covered cake table, a monogram wreath on the door, grandmother’s wedding dress on display, homemade jam favors, fireworks…what is a special detail that would be your “wow” factor?

Helen Keller once said, “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.”  That is certainly true for a perfect wedding. 

 

Fireworks add to the magic of the night at Magnolia Hill. 

Blush Wedding

Shades of Purple

This lovely fall wedding was styled around dozens of small details.  The bride asked for an intimate and romantic country feeling for guests. The historic countryside setting and natural environment was easily the focus.  Pulled together details were rustic-vintage elements in the chosen color  "shades of  purple". 

 

 

Guestbook Bench