Behold: The perfect doll-sized tea set for the merry month of May! My daughters--and Raggedy Ann--were very pleased with this find!
December 7, 2007. Updated: Please see the comments--Martha discovered this set now comes with a frightening warning label.
After two Cottage Garden performances of A Midsummer Night's Dream, the children had the honor of presenting the show at a local Museum and formal Garden. As you will see from the photographs below, the setting was perfect for our frolicking fairies, with lush lawns, a glassy pool, and even a Greek Theatre.
Titania and her attendants were a page out of an Arthur Rackham fairy book:
Oberon, Titania, and Puck:
Sprinting Sprites:
Misunderstanding rages:
Hermia restrained:
Mischievous Puck and Hapless Bottom:
The cast at the Greek Theatre:
A Woodland Fairy:
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My friend, Almamater, of the lovely blog, Soul of the Home, was kind enough to write:
Absolutely gorgeous! I hope you will offer more commentary on how all of this was organized...how often were rehearsals, how were roles assigned (auditions?), etc. A hearty congratulations to ALL involved with the production!
Many thanks for asking, Almamater! Here is the long version, told I fear, in about as many words as the unabridged play itself:
In late September of 2005, we collaborated with four or five families to put on a skit called "Comus." My friend Kari had read that this play is presented every year at Ludlow Castle on the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel and thought it would be a wonderful tradition to begin with our children. Kari wrote our version based on a fabulous picture book adapted from John Milton's original work by Margaret Hodges and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. Kari directed, MacBeth created the scenery, and I hosted the practices and performance. We called ourselves "The Front Lawn Players," with a humorous tip of the hat to my front lawn. Our oldest cast member was then about twelve. The skit, which took six weeks to prepare and perform, was so enjoyable and successful, that we planned to repeat it as a yearly event.
Then in the Summer of 2006, Kari suggested we try instead an adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream from the out of print book, Shakespeare for Young Players: from Tens to Teens by Gertrude Lerner Kerman. She assigned parts to the original Front Lawn Players without audition, expecting to prepare and perform in the same six week time frame as Comus. From start to finish, the play would have taken about twenty minutes to a half hour to complete. Puck was the central character in the abridged version, and my daughter Margaret, the perfect eight-year-old imp for the role, learned her lines in a day. This made Kari wonder if we might not be able to do a longer version, particularly when we realized that the play had not only been cut down in the abridgement, but also altered significantly in form and language. Who wants to perform Shakespeare that isn't really Shakespeare?
The other mothers and I were all for performing the full length version, but this changed matters significantly. We would not be able to work in the planned six week time frame, but would need the entire school year to practice and learn the parts. One or two cast members could not make the commitment and dropped out, but we managed to fill all the roles with children from our local homeschooling group. We met weekly at our house from October 2006 to the time of our performances in May, with all the mothers helping to bring the production together. Mary Smith and a group of the children designed and created the wonderful costumes. MacBeth and another contingent worked on the sets and program. Caroline, Mary Ellen, Tracey, Julie, Tricia, Patrice and Patty helped behind the scenes with everything from sewing and snacks to props and baby-holding. The talented Libby Derham, Ryan Barrett, and Sean Tuffy provided the music. It was an amazing collaboration and group effort with each person offering something unique and necessary.
In the end, we performed twice in the Cottage Garden and once in the gracious setting pictured above. Each and every time, the cast was applauded by a large and appreciative crowd. It was amazing to see these young children put heart, soul and effort into their performances. The cast lived and breathed Shakespeare for a year, and what an experience it was! [Does anyone remember six-year-old Marie's Spoons from last year?] From October to May, the children grew into their parts and soared, putting on a memorable and heartfelt performance defying their young ages (averaging about ten, with the roles of Puck and Nick Bottom pulled off by two nine-year-olds). The Museum was only too happy to host the final production, welcoming us with open arms and even sending a PR person to photograph.
I cannot stress enough what a delightful, edifying, and worthwhile project this was for all of us, and the children--already close friends--are as affectionate toward one another as cousins after this shared experience. Best of all, everyone in my house from thirteen to three is able to quote Shakespeare and quote it well. Maureen, our three year old, makes a plucky miniature Puck if ever there was one!
From now on, my prayer is that Springtime will always mean Shakespeare in the Garden!
My view is no doubt colored by the sweeping strokes of mother's admiration, but, to me, the children's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream was the most magical, memorable, and magnificent performance imaginable. (I am, after all, the mother of Titania, Hermia, Puck, Cobweb, the changeling boy, and the littlest fairy!)
Here are a few scenes:
"Full of vexation come I with complaint against my child, my daughter, Hermia."
"The course of true love never did run smooth."
Titania and her retinue of sprites.
"Set your heart at rest. The fairy land buys not the child of me!"
INTERMISSION:
The fairies' lunch hour.
The three inseparable First Communicants, this time arrayed as fairies, were caught on the scooters once more. When MacBeth saw me running off to get this shot, she quipped, "You can bill it as 'The Scooter Photos: Pagan Edition.'" (I hope you will agree that this line was too funny not to repeat.)
Many more photos to come, but I must start our day!
St. Louis de Montfort, pray for us!
St. Gianna Molla, pray for us!
As from the house your mother sees You playing round the garden trees, So you may see, if you will look Through the windows of this book, Another child, far, far away, And in another garden, play. But do not think you can at all, By knocking on the window, call That child to hear you. He intent Is all on his play-business bent. He does not hear, he will not look, Nor yet be lured out of this book. For, long ago, the truth to say, He has grown up and gone away, And it is but a child of air That lingers in the garden there.--Robert Louis Stevenson
Imagine my cheer to find this vision of yarn and flowers and shoebuttons lovingly arranged in a basket the next day. Marie was smiling broadly, but announced with a note of indignation that someone had tossed them into the bottom of a toybox and she had only just uncovered them that morning. I settled down to nurse Eileen, gladly gazing on as Marie and Maureen flitted to and fro gathering blossoms to bestow upon the happy party.
Dearest, dearest, Raggedy Ann, please do not hurry off, but linger in our garden a while longer, for this mother's heart is not yet ready to part with you . . . or with childhood.
The talented and enthusiastic children of our Immaculate Heart of Mary Homeschooling group honored our dear Saint Francis in a memorable way. Remember those charming but bare houses, clustered round St. Francis like a tiny European village by the side of a mountain? Well here they are awash in the vibrant colors of childhood:
I hope I won't sound like too much of a name dropper, but there happens to be a lovely young lady from the Bonny Blue House on the right in this next photo and the sweet niece of the Castle of the Immaculate on the left:
The children were only too happy to let me snap photos highlighting their craftsmanship. Each Franciscan birdhouse featured a darling bird perched in front:
and our dear St. Francis in the back. I explained to the children that this adornment turned the birdhouses into roadside shrines, reminiscent of the ones gracing so many roads in Europe:
Here are a few samples:
A pair of best friends made these twin birdhouses:
But those weren't the cutest twins at the party, not by a long shot. These two darlings were:
And their mother, my pal Mary Ellen, looks slim and fabulous already! Having seven children certainly agrees with her.
As if this weren't enough, in keeping with our St. Francis and the animals theme, the wonderful MacBeth Derham arrived toting a large bag of fat acorns to entertain and edify the children with her amazing Squirrel Project:
I know St. Francis would be pleased!
"As sailors are guided by a star to the port, so Christians are guided to heaven by Mary."
--St. Thomas Aquinas
In True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, St. Louis de Montfort advocates complete Consecration to Jesus through Mary. This stalwart Marian saint sets forth a series of prayers and practices in preparation for the Consecration, including the daily recitation of the Ave Maris Stella, a prayer to Our Lady under her title "Star of the Sea":
Ave Maris Stella
Hail, bright star of the ocean,
God's own Mother blest,
Ever sinless Virgin,
Gate of heavenly rest.
Taking that sweet Ave
Which from Gabriel came,
Peace confirm within us,
Changing Eva's name.
Break the captives' fetters,
Light on blindness pour,
All our ills expelling,
Ever bliss implore.
Show thyself a Mother;
May the Word Divine,
Born for us thy Infant,
Hear our prayers through thine.
Virgin all excelling,
Mildest of the mild,
Freed from guilt, preserve us,
Pure and undefiled.
Keep our life all spotless,
Make our way secure,
Till we find in Jesus
Joy forevermore.
Through the highest heaven
To the Almighty Three,
Father, Son and Spirit,
One same glory be.
Amen.
St. Thomas Aquinas' explanation of the title "Star of the Sea" for Our Lady (quoted above) should resonate with all of us. Mary is, after all, the "true north," our guiding star, forever and unfailingly leading us to her Son during our sojourn here on earth. Through whatever life my bring, we need only turn to her, trusting that she will never cast us adrift.
Not surprisingly, the talented crew of the S/V Mari Hal-O-Jen has a special devotion to Our Lady under this title, honoring her with a vibrant maritime mosaic fashioned entirely from pictures of the sea or sandy beach. Although we live not far from the ocean, I first heard of Our Lady as "the Ocean Star" listening to the late, great Frank Patterson's incomparable compilation of sacred music, Faith of our Fathers. His rendition of the hymn, "Hail Queen of Heaven," is as haunting and deep as the sea itself:
Hail, Queen of heav'n, the ocean star.
Guide of the wand'rer here below!
Thrown on life's surge, we claim thy care.
Save us from peril and from woe.
Mother of Christ, Star of the sea,
Pray for the wanderer. Pray for me.
O gentle, chaste, and spotless Maid,
We sinners make our prayers through thee.
Remind thy Son that He has paid
The price of our iniquity.
Virgin most pure, Star of the sea,
Pray for the sinner. Oh, pray for me.
Sojourners in this vale of tears,
To thee, blest advocate, we cry.
Oh, pity our sorrows, calm our fears.
And soothe with hope our misery.
Refuge in grief, Star of the sea,
Pray for the mourner, Oh, pray for me.
Throughout the day, I often find myself praying or singing the words "Mother of Christ, Star of the Sea, pray for the wanderer, pray for me" and knowing with complete confidence that she always will. If you are unfamiliar with this hymn, but would like to sing it around the May altar with your children this very night, let the exquisite choir of Saint Clement's Church in Chicago, Illinois be your guide: Hail Queen of Heaven.
As you listen, try this simple craft project:
Mary, Star of the Sea, Decorations
Materials
Star shaped wooden plaques from the craft store
Assorted shells
Acrylic paints in blues and whites
Paintbrushes
Glue
Small image of Our Lady
Blue ribbon (optional)
Instructions
Using several shades of blue and white, begin by painting an ocean scene on your star. When this is dry, paste a small image of the Blessed Mother to the center. (You may even want to paint a small ship adrift in the ocean to show that Our Lady guides us through life's troubled waters the way the North Star guides sailors at sea.) Now glue assorted sea shells around the edges to complete the nautical look. A piece of filmy blue ribbon will allow you to hang your decoration on the wall, always reminding you of Our Lady as our faithful and constant guide.
_____
Step One: Paint the water a medium blue.
Step Two: Paint a deep blue night sky.
Steps Three and Four: Use pale blue or white to add foam and waves on the ocean. Arrange shells around the star. (If we had had more shells, we could have bordered the entire star with them.)
Step Five: Paint a bright white star in the sky. Using the brush to fleck smaller stars dotting the horizon would add visual interest as well. (It is important to do this after the shells are in place so you know exactly where it should appear.)
Step Six: Paste a picture of Our Lady to the center.
Step Seven: Add a ribbon for hanging.
Optional Step Eight: We had an extra scallop shell, so we used it to create a "compass" pointing to Our Lady.
What's that you say? You do not have a star-shaped plaque or shells on hand and can't get to the craft store?
Improvise the plaque by cutting a star out of cardboard, cardstock, or even the inside of a cereal box! Replace the shells with painted pasta shells, or leave them out altogether, painting a pretty border on the edges instead. If you do not have an image of Our Lady, consider painting your own image of the Blessed Mother or perhaps the blue and white lettered symbol of the Star of the Sea as a fitting centerpiece.
Do not forget to leave your projects on the May altar as a tribute to Our Lady. The children might enjoy processing in with the crafts while singing "Hail, Queen of Heaven," a hymn I am sure they will love and remember well into adulthood.
__________
Materials cost per project: Less than $1, not including paint and paint brushes. It would have been even less expensive if we'd collected the shells ourselves!
Marie, age 6 (rousing her half dazed mother at 6 am with several ragdolls in tow): Good morning!!!
Mom (muffled): 'Morning, honey.
Marie: Did you hear any strange noises from Agnes and Theresa's room last night?
Mom: No, why?
Marie (alight with enthusiasm): We all had so much fun! Margaret and I snuck into their room to play Besieged Castle. Agnes' bed was the safe inner court of the castle, and Theresa's was the outside wall where we battled with the enemy!
Mom (amused, but trying to sound disapproving): Is that so?
Marie: Yes, and Raggedy Ann was there too. So were all my ragdolls.
Mom (interested): Poor Raggedy Ann! Was she very frightened?
Marie: Oh no, she was too busy pouring molten lead on the besieging forces.
[Here are the brave defenders now. Have you ever seen a more rag-tag bunch of warriors?]
Each year, we look forward to a May Altar festooned with flowers, candles, crafts, and holy water gracing our family room. Our tradition for many years has been to gather round the altar each night, allowing the littlest children to process in and leave the day's craft projects around Our Lady as we join in a favorite hymn. "O Mary We Crown Thee," "Immaculate Mary," "Hail Holy Queen," "Lady of Knock," "Oh Most Holy One," "Salve Regina," and "Mother of God, Star of the Sea" are all part of our repertoire which keeps growing each year as the children learn new songs. We bless ourselves with Holy Water and say the Rosary, before trooping off to bed for the night. Sometimes we may sit down to read a Marian book as well. The children look forward to this prayerful time almost as much as our nightly "Advent Festivities" in December, and they are never glad to see the altar dismantled and Our Lady put back in her usual place on the mantel when the blessed month finally draws to a close.
As you can see from the photograph above, this year's altar is still a bit sparse. It needs to be moved outdoors for our homeschooling group's May Crowning this week, but, afterwards, we will begin to decorate it little by little, and I hope to share photos as we beautify it for Our Lady.
The title of this post, "A Murmuration of May Altars," was inspired by a recent piece by the always eloquent Karen Edmisten on poetic plurals. I liked the term "murmuration" because it made me think of prayers and hymns lifted from our hearts to the Blessed Mother. The use of a plural seemed fitting because it occurred to me that we should consider sharing photographs of our family May Altars this month. Several mothers, including Dawn, Meredith, Cay and Amy have begun to post images of their statues and altars, and there is even a new blog devoted entirely to one family's tranquil Mary Garden. It is inspiring to see how so many families around the country are taking time to honor Our Lady and pass on a love for her to their children.
If you would like an image or post about your family's May Altar to appear here at Cottage Blessings later in May, please send a private email to aguNOSPAMnther@optonline.net (but remove the term "NOSPAM" from the address--that's a trick I learned from Amy to block some unwanted emails) by Mother's Day, May 14th giving your name, your blog URL, the link to the post containing a photograph of your altar, and your email address. Even if you do not have a blog, please write to me privately to share a photo or family tradition. If you were not planning on erecting an altar this year, there is still plenty of time. Take out the flowers and candles this week and begin a new tradition for your family!
As promised, here are two of today's Marian Baskets. The first was packed by Margaret for her grandmother (my mom) and features a butterfly-shaped cookie, several wrapped packages of teabags and other niceties, a small statue of Our Lady, a large votive candle, sacrifice beads (created by Margaret herself on the Feast of St. Therese), a holy card, and more. Meticulous Margaret even took the time to hand paint flowers onto the weave of the basket:
Theresa's basket, prepared for a beloved Dominican sister, is a riot of ribbon and boasts a butterfly cookie, fancy tea, holy cards, a Luminous Mysteries plaque, St. Benedict cross, and medals. The good sister is going to love it, even if she does receive it a day past May 1st!
Today is the feast the Blessed Virgin Mary's indefatigable servant and champion, St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, founder, missionary, and author of the treatise, True Devotion to Mary.
St. Louis' teachings on Our Blessed Mother are so penetrating that, at the beginning of his papacy, our beloved Marian Pope, John Paul II, took for his motto, "Totus Tuus," later writing:
"The motto is of course inspired by the teaching of Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, who explained in the following words Mary's role in the process of our configuration to Christ: 'Our entire perfection consists in being conformed, united and consecrated to Jesus Christ. Hence the most perfect of all devotions is undoubtedly that which conforms, unites and consecrates us most perfectly to Jesus Christ. Now since Mary is of all creatures the one most conformed to Jesus Christ, it follows that among all devotions that which most consecrates and conforms a soul to our Lord is devotion to Mary, his Holy Mother, and that the more a soul is consecrated to her the more will it be consecrated to Jesus Christ.'"
--Pope John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, quoting "True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary" by St. Louis de Montfort (emphasis in original).
St. Louis was so faithfully devoted to Our Lady that I cannot help but think of his late April feast as her special favor to him, bestowing upon him the honor of heralding the glorious month of May! St. Louis reminds us that now is the time to freshen up our favorite tablecloths, take down vases, decorate pillar candles, and choose our most beautiful Marian statues to create a family May altar in time for Our Lady's blessed month. In the meantime, the young ones in our homes will enjoy creating personal May altars to grace their rooms during this Marian season and always.
Miniature May Altars
Materials:
Small wooden hangable shelves from the craft store
Assorted acrylic paints and paintbrushes
Optional: decoupage tissue, white glue, and a sponge brush
The children began by decorating inexpensive wooden shelves in pastel colors. Agnes chose to adorn hers with roses, lilies, an an "M" wreathed in twelve stars, before decoupaging a flower-flecked "altar cloth" on top. The decoupage was done simply, by applying watered-down white glue to tissue with a sponge brush. "Mod Podge" decoupage medium could have been used to add a glossy coat to the decoupage, but we opted for the simple approach.
This photo below shows what the girls' four projects looked like after painting. (Back row: Theresa (age 10), Margaret (age 8); Front row: Agnes (age 12), Marie (age 6))
The next group shows what each painted shelf looked like once adorned with a Marian statue, holy water bottle, crucifix, rosaries, and scapular (or, in Marie's case, a bouquet of flowers). These photos were taken in our dining room, but, each of the girls will have a May altar mounted over her bed from now on. We usually say our family Rosary at night, so the beads will have a handy home, as will their scapulars. I am glad to think of my girls looking at the Crucifix and Our Lady of Guadalupe at eye level as they doze off to sleep, perhaps after a blessing of holy water from each individual bottle. It is difficult to make out from the picture, but each girl chose a distinct holy water bottle with images of the cross, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Grace, or Our Lady of Lourdes.
Agnes':
Theresa's:
Margaret's:
Marie's:
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Cost per project: 97 cents without paint and other decorations; about $1.50 each with paint, brushes, glue, and special decoupage tissue. The adornments for the altar may be found around the house. If you do not have a small statue of Our Lady, a holy card mounted on cardboard would work every bit as well.
Other ways to improvise: If you do not have time to run to the craft store for small paintable shelves, use something on hand to create a similar effect. Even an upturned shoe box will look beautiful when covered with a piece of pretty fabric, statue, flowers, and a bowl of holy water. The main joy of the project for my girls seems to be that each one has an altar all her own right near her bed. Six-year-old Marie looks forward to keeping hers adorned with fresh spring flowers, and, for a setting so small, an empty film canister would make the perfect little vase!
On Tuesday night, six-year-old Marie came to me, her features twisted in an attitude of abject misery, with the bitter report, "None of my sisters played with me at all today. All I did all day was math!" (Lest you feel too sorry for the overworked little tyke, her math lesson had taken place eleven hours earlier and lasted all of fifteen minutes--besides, she loves math!) Now, it was almost 8 o'clock, and I suspect her bout of sorrow was a mixture of exhaustion and the fact that her sisters had spent the last two hours before bedtime immersed in the game, The Settlers of Catan, recommended at the award-winning blog of my best friend, Lissa. Poor Marie was feeling left out to say the least.
Not wanting her to go to bed in the throes of despair, I comforted, "Oh, Marie, I'm sorry you didn't get to play much today. We should have a tea party with your dolls tomorrow. Would you please be sure to remind me? I'd love to play tea party with you."
In an instant, the color returned to her cheek and the sparkle to her eye. She ran off like a shot to retrieve her tin tea set, calling over her shoulder, "I'm going to put it at the foot of my bed to remind us." As if the all-night clatter of tea cups would not be enough to cement our plans, she returned with her diary and a fat navy blue magic marker. "Mommy, would you write something down for me?"
"Sure, Sweetie, what would you like to say?"
"Dear Diary, I am going to play tea party with the dolls with Mommy tomorrow. Martha and Raggedy Ann and Night [Marie's stuffed dog] and the big baby who has no name and Raggedy Andy and the tiny Raggedy Ann baby will all be invited. Love, Marie"
Smiling at the entry with evident satisfaction, Marie closed her diary and carefully laid it next to her tea set. It struck me that she was like the businessman in town for a crucial meeting, setting his alarm but requesting a wake up call from the front desk. I was half expecting her to tie a piece of Raggedy Ann's yarn hair around her finger as well. She kissed me goodnight with an air of complete contentment.
Surprisingly late this afternoon, Marie remembered our plans. We sat on the floor as she served tea from empty cups and muffins, scones, and chocolates from empty plates. Her brother, Patrick, kept tossing his tea cup in the air and baby Maureen, though trying to be ladylike, upset Marie's elaborate display more than once. Still, it was a merry party I wouldn't have missed for the world, and, more importantly, our hostess beamed throughout.
As time goes on, I am realizing more and more how important and unrepeatable these moments are with the children. I have been trying to say "yes" when they let me know they want my company. "Yes" when Patrick requests to sit on my lap while he watches a Kipper video, "yes" when Theresa asks to read me three chapters in a row of "Howliday Inn," "yes" when Agnes slips downstairs to have a chat past bedtime, and "yes" when Margaret needs me to choose the colors for her latest artistic masterpiece. Nothing could be more important or worthy of my time.
It is an honor to be on the A-list of such great people.
