Niggles

Good day, my dear darling mermaid hearts, 

I am so happy to be back to writing to you once again. My heart feels so light and so delighted.

 

"I cannot rest; I must draw, however poor the result, and when I have a bad time come over me, it is a stronger desire than ever and settles on the queerest things." -Beatrix Potter.

Jeffrey Shawn and I have done a tiny bit of gardening. Last evening, as we were watering the corn, we noticed the beautiful golden corn shooting its magical silk, and what a wonder. It is so rewarding growing a lovely garden of flowers and food. 

I have been repainting the cottage walls a pretty green (which I call a little English sweet pea), which reminds me of England and the lovely, quaint, cosy cottages in the countryside. I have it halfway completed. It has been quite busy here, as I have also been working on completing Mum and Dad's little guest room. I built some faux beams; however, those still need to be installed. 

However, I did finish the faux wood technique on all of the trim work, baseboards and crown moulding. I found this pretty light from the Facebook marketplace for $25. It looks as if the original owners turned it into a plug light by adding a lamp kit. However, I disembowelled the entire lamp and removed the kit. It may not look like much, but it is rather stunning and Victorian in its glory. I can't wait to place her in Scarlette Rose Cottage, as it will suit very well. 

I spent last week removing several pieces of furniture from the cottage; therefore, I don't feel so squeezed tightly like Scarlette Rose in the hole of a cypress tree. It was a much-needed pursuit as there was a little bit of a niggle where I thought I needed to release negative energy. I meditated and then sat and painted more on The Tale of the Christmas Bunnies. I have focused on keeping things in my life relatively simple and calming. I am devoted to a simple old way of slow living, and I've made it a purposeful pursuit.

Have a lovely evening. I will chat with you tomorrow. Toodle-Pip!

Most affably yours til my next swim, Razz

 

It Is My Pleasure To Explain Why I Began Creating The Carter Settlement (aka Carter Village) Seemingly In Reverse And Rather Indiscrete

As many of you know, I have aired on the side of incautious in the past. However, I feel my heart prompts me to write this and begin regardless of where my stems take me.

Keeping My Head Above Water And Merry Mermaid Musings

Hello dear friends,

The weekend came and went like a shot.

I have a nice little post for the blog about some sprinkled ways to help you dear folks like me that have also lost someone very special to your heart. But alas, I didn't want to come with hefty feelings of woe on a Monday. So I feel that sharing tomorrow might be a better selection for posting. So shall we have a chat and a cuppa and talk about the weekend.

Hilaria Baldwin's Accent, JLo & ARod Scandal {Let's Get To The Truth}

Hello, Darlings,

I had a gay ol' time in recording this podcast episode. I hope you'll enjoy it. 

I wanted to approach this in another way, other than the traditional type of celebrity gossip, we've heard no end. 

Cheers!

Most Affably Yours Til My Next Swim, Raquelxxx

 

My Tasha Tudor Lifestyle Of Slow Living And Establishing My True North

I laced up my black working boots, layered my underclothes (petticoat, bloomers but no corset today,) and placed my shawl upon my shoulders. I then gathered my basket of painting goodies and followed the cow path to my little chicken coop that now rests at my folks to spend the morning hours with my beloved chickens and one rooster. May, my one and only Plymouth Rock loves to hop onto my back and perch. I don't mind just so long as she doesn't make a mockery of me by doing her business. I've been lucky thus far, so no worries as of yet. Let's hope to keep it that way.

I enjoy taking notes of my hens; believe it or not, if you haven't had chickens as pets, they are quite personable. I always tell my relations, I cherish my hens and rooster for they are my golden geese (smile). I write stories about them, and profit immensely. It doesn't seem an equal trade. I'm fairing far better than my barnyard fowl. They do, indeed have splendid lives. They are cared for superbly well; I nurture them as if I would like unto my children. (Well, you know I mean, I've yet to display real clothing on them, only in my stories of anthropomorphism). They receive quite the luxury and will never be disposed of, although my older three no longer lay eggs. I assure you they will all be taxidermied when they have been laid to rest from biological casualties. I would have taxidermied Polly (my black Austrolorp and most favourite); however, the graphic way Polly was destroyed gave me no option for her preservation. I like taxidermy, and it was quite a popular recreation in the Victorian era. I want to taxidermy my pets because I plan to exhibit them sufficiently to display my legacy as an author and illustrator at The Carter Settlement bequest.

Do you care for taxidermy? I know Tasha Tudor and Beatrix Potter both enjoyed the idea similarly. To me, it's another form of art and preservation. Do you recall Tasha had a freezer full of casualties that she would semi defrost and pose them for painting? My most favourite was her Edgar Allen Crow (black crow) that she'd place atop her Christmas tree each year instead of an angel. Tasha was such a delight. I suppose that's why I adore her so immensely. Ever since I was in my teens, I've dreamt of living as Tasha, and now it's come to be.

I first was introduced to Tasha at the age of 13 or so. I'm nearly 50 (well, next year, I shall be), and I was captivated by her life, so I set out to become like her in many ways, I think I've become quite successful at it. The conundrum that I see women face in not realising their imaginations into displayed measures. Women compare and evaluate their lives based on others' acceptance. It seems so often they snatch a hoe handle on their desire. Still, then when confronted with real-life and living in the tangible world, they begin to wilt in reluctancy. This is only because of one's wavering confidence. Precisely why I created a cosy place to land; my blog. In travelling to my blog, It is a happy place for women (and men too). The world is in forlorn shortage of a diverse site of acceptance and tolerance of differences in one another. My blog is that place for many. I know it's received this way because I have numerous women visit me and send me emails of encouragement and feel-good sentiments. This is how the world is when women stand alone firmly (first and foremost) and then gain enough personal strength to stand alone in the world. This is the secret to creating a revolution of beautiful ladies who are loving, bold, confident and kind. And the virtues I just rattled off do not equate to being a particular, race or creed. It's merely a woman that loves dressing and living her life in the olden ways, with a mindset of awakening. We all must come to at some point in life, an awakening. A woman's requirements must be the priority, and that doesn't mean either-or, it means that she must place her desires, needs, and love of self before anyone else's. Can you imagine the impact this would make on our world? Influential women are sharing their truth with confidence and delight. Now that is a phenomenon! 

Raquel's Book 

I would be delightfully honoured if you would impose my name in the suggestion bin of your local bookstore, and inquire of your friends to do likewise. Perhaps query of them to sponsor a presentation/signing, or as your library to choose my book as a Community Reads Project. I also am available for author readings or as a lecturer instructing women with the pragmatic keys to creating a life they joyfully and creatively love.

Most affably yours til my next swim, Raquelxxx

The Art Of A Quarterboard And The Naming Of Homes {An Olde British Nautical Tradition}

I'm so happy to be back after a week of working on a vast paint job. I'm not sure you had seen my stories last week on Instagram, but I'm finished now, and I realised something beautiful after having gotten that job. I realised that I don't like working for other people. As kind as they might be, it takes me away from my dreams of authoring my books, painting and working on The Carter Settlement. The money isn't worth it to me, regardless of how good the pay is, I'm now going to be saying no to all of them. I look at it like this; if it's not bringing my career forward, then I'm out. It's that simple. 

How I Use Beatrix Potter And Tasha Tudor's Philosophy To Manifest My Dreams

"Life isn't long enough to do all you could accomplish. And what a privilege even to be alive. Despite all the pollutions and horrors, how beautiful this world is. Supposing you only saw the stars once every year. Think about what you would think. The wonder of it!"

— Tasha Tudor

Cartering About And Mr Sir Barbaric's Zucchini Bread {The Beatrix Potter Way}

The Beatrix Potter Way!

Everyone should have a hero! Don't you agree? One that they look up to just well enough to inspire them to reach for the stars and their hearts desires. We all can find ways of discovering those lovely souls that inspire and expand one's way of thinking. That's precisely what Beatrix Potter does for me each day. I find each day that we are surely capable of finding our happy place? We find something that pleases the punch out of us and milk it for everything it's worth. That's also another way the law of attraction works and brings our desires to us tenfold. Everyone pretty much knows that if you find joy in something and you keep practising that thing that brings you joy, it grows and becomes more substantial and durable.

How To Dress Confidently Like Tasha Tudor {And The Truth Of Why More Women Don't Dress Old-Fashioned}

What makes a person considered an expert in a particular category? Or better yet, why do we listen to certain people about some subjects and consider others unfit to give their opinion, much less do what they suggest.

As young as I can remember, I have been different. In which, I have always dressed, acted, and found happiness in all things, regarded as' different' than other girls. In elementary and middle school, I dressed like Laura Ingall's Wilder. {I've made that clear about a billion times on this here ol' blog. I know. So save the eye-rolls, why don't cha. Err... Oh, God! Did that come off smart ass-ery, if so, I apologise? You know I didn't mean it that way. If anything I was letting you know I am fully aware I state the obvious and continuously repeat myself.} I had one friend say to me in 7th grade that If she were to give me a makeover, I would be sooo cute. {Does that mean even back then I was a weirdo? Possibly. Yes. Who are we kidding here?}

The Art Of Naming Our Mermaid-Esque, Victorian {The Scarlette Rose Cottage}

A few days back, I posted about how Jeffrey and I are converting a one-room little vacancy on my folk's property into a little itty bitty cottage for The Carter Settlement. Its the beginning of my dream coming to fruition in the having of a real non-profit foundation. I'm not entirely sure what will transpire when we find our forever property; however, I'm living in the now and enjoying this process extensively.

Rabbit Holes Aplenty, New Discoveries And Delightful Adventures

My Dear Friends, and Mermaid Junkies,

Where to begin? Before I get to rambling about, I thought to tell you where I have been. My email was compromised to the most considerable degree, and so I was not remotely capable of signing into anything online. It's still not entirely repaired, but I shall do the best I can with what I have. I have been itching to get back to my blog. I have the story in its entirety in my draft folder. The whole bits and bobs of it, however, for this morning, I wanted to impart the lovely sentiments, and not dwell so profoundly on the negative. I've admittedly had enough negative with my email that I shan't revisit it still.

My Beatrix Potter'ings At Carter's Cottage, Book Release, And Splendid Intentions

My dear friends,

Let us have some tea. I am going to make some scones from a receipt that I found. However, I intend on changing it up a bit. A few of the ingredients that I will properly use will be rose water, rose petals and the nut selected will be pistachio. I am naming the scone Merrymaid Scarlette Rose Tea Scones. If however, they are a splendid tasting scone I will add them to the menu when I get my very own tea room {MerryMaid Scarlette Rose's Bakery and Tea Cottage}.

I Am The Next Beatrix Potter {According To Abraham Hicks}

Good day, Dear friends, 

I had the jolliest of a good time during holiday. I have now returned with an ingenious, most important, way to account for even more expansion with my online diary/blog. I also spent the better portion of 2020, carving out a more accurate depiction of what I desire for my spiritual voyage. My desire has continually been that I want you to come, settle in with me, have a cup of tea and chat.  However, I also have the desire to bring thought to a new Sphere. There are many delightful websites that cover the topic of spirituality. However, I myself was beginning to grow bored. Have you? Now, don't mistake me, and I'm admittedly in tune with everyone having their own journey, it just seems that once folks get to a specific place with the law of attraction, if they don't manifest large desires, they become disillusioned. They begin to believe that the LOA doesn't work. Also, as I was contemplating this for myself and receiving feedback from others, it tuned me into the frequency of wanting to expand in my knowledge even further to uncover why this was transpiring. If not for myself, but to also share with you. As I was in meditation a few days in a row, I came upon a video that set me right. I realised what was happening and why some folks would complain of manifestation barriers. I know I have discovered the answer. I want to share a few categories that many who know or semi~practice the Law of Attraction tend to fall into. 

Diary | Why A Victorian Christmas And My Daily Thoughts This Week

My Dear friends, 

To begin this post, I first wanted to tell you that I published another new podcast episode. I publish podcast episodes every Tuesday, in which I named them "Tales on Tuesday." Cute, huh? You can skedaddle to my sidebar and tap the podcast link. If you don't mind, and you have a free minute, I would love it if you gave me a review on iTunes. It really improves my analytics and increases my ability to get more advertising. Yes, in which, that means I get paid. It's how I make my living, ya'll. So, thank you in advance, dear friends. 

A November To Remember, And My First Storybook Character Taxidermied Mouse

My dear friends and Mermaid Junkies, 

Now I'd like to tell you a little story about why I have returned to calling many of you Mermaid Junkies. 

Oh, wait, before I get going, let us have tea, shall we? I'm having a cup of earl grey creme'. I was scouring the Martha Stewart website last evening in search of a variety of new scone recipes. I bookmarked a blueberry-buttermilk recipe. I was enlivened because it pertains buttermilk. I tend to favour a receipt that has buttermilk, as it seems to taste a bit better. To me, anyway. What do you prefer?

Pleasurable Elements About Tasha Tudor {And Apple Torte Recipe}

My dear friends, 

I thought today would be a lovely time to spend a few minutes sending out some inspiration in consideration of living a joyful life. To relish in the simple, quiet moments of what I am presently pondering.

Transforming My Life Into A Victorian Lady

My dear friends,

As I have contemplated about what to write, I thought that to keep you abreast of what manner of pursuits I have been experiencing is a delightful way to share on this here ol' blog. For some reason, I feel more connected to you ladies in this atmosphere. I'm curious if I'm the only one. For us to be real friends, we must share life experiences, yes? 

Everyday Life As Of Late

My dear friends, 

Won't you pour some tea and let us have a visit. I hope you have faired well. The gardener and I were indeed lucky again with the case of hurricane Dorian. She decided not to make a visit, and I am feeling rather appreciative. 

Mermaidlings, Little Women, The Tale Of Sawyer Lamby, Victorian Hat Pins And Potterings

" When they said, "There's no such thing as mermaids" I nearly fell off my dolphin."

My dear friends, 

Pour some tea and let us have a visit. I am having a cup of earl grey with cream and an orange and cranberry scone. I have a new little tiny tea and cookies book, sent from a friend a time ago, and think that I should at least attempt to make some of my very own scones. Have you ever tried to make scones, there is rest assuredly a tricky little secret to such tasty morsels?

How A Mermaid Writes And Illustrates A Storybook

My dear friends, 

Well, I've done it! You may have noticed that in a bid to become the world's most popular blog consisting of the words Victorian and mermaid, I managed to go through my posts and rename them- at nausea! I'm well aware, it may seem like a bit much. However, I am always, a bit much, and you know this about me already.