FIELDS OF LACE !

A Field of Queen Ann's Lace in the  Missouri Country.

Seems to be endless.

A Close up of this beautiful flower.

Along Highway 79.

  There are advantages and disadvantages to living  in the country, miles from no where. Last time I went to the city, St.Louis, I remarked at how beautifully landscaped everything was, from McDonalds  to Homegoods. Here we are lucky, if everybody mows there yards on time. I miss that landscaping beauty. But, Mother nature, more than makes up for this.Where in the city ,can one find,a field of wide open, blooming Queen Ann's Lace?   I have a motto,"Nothing Becomes of Nothing, So, Make Something of Everything." I  have this needle pointed and hanging in my kitchen. I try and live by it most of the time. When I am driving down the road, to the grocery store or on a buying trip, I always look at my surroundings. It makes the trip go faster, brings some beauty to my mind and I love finding things that make me smile. On my last trip to the city, I could not help but notice, how the Queen Ann's Lace had made the road sides and pasture come alive , and it  looked to me, like Fields of Lace. I knew at that moment, I wanted to do a blog about it's beauty. So off I went this morning,at first light, to capture some of that  wonderment. I planned a little ahead and stopped by my Antique shop and picked up a few things. I have a wonderful ceramic bust of a lady, who could be, Queen Ann? Who's to say? The other day I   purchased a wonderful French  folding screen and a Chinese Chippendale Bamboo Chair, both of which, have been living in my car for a few days,as it has been too hot to take them out.  When I made it to the first Queen Ann spot, Out came the bust, not once, did I think of the chair and screen. After shoots at that destination, off I went to find the next patch. Off on a side road, where I could pull over easy and get out of the car ,and not worry about getting run down, people drive like wild crazy people here, I parked and when I opened the door to get out, I spotted the chair and screen, and I thought, why not? I guess one can pretend that they were placed there, waiting for the arrival of Queen Ann herself ,to come  and view the beautiful lace.

My Motto.

Is this Queen Ann? 

She Rules the Fields.

     Queen Ann's Lace is the common name for the wild carrot. Other names it is often called is, birds nest, Bishops hat,and lace flower. It is a flowering plant in the family of, Apiaceae,native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia and North America. The domestic carrot is a cultivates sub-species When you pull up,the Queen Ann's Lace plant, it's roots smells like a carrot. .It is a biennial plant, meaning it blooms every other year.It grows up to 3 feet tall and blooms from June to August. The blooms  are round and white when they first  bloom and look like a lace doily.When the go to seed, they contract and become a concave and look like a birds nest. There is a tiny dot of a bloom in the very center ,that is red.
   The root of the Queen Ann's lace is eatable when very young, but soon becomes woody. A tea spoon of crushed seeds has long been used as a form of birth control.Tea made from it's roots has been used to eliminate kidney stones and rid people and animals of worms. It's seed have also been used to remedy hangovers. The thick sap was often used as a cough remedy in earlier times..

I loved this old  forgotten fence, look beyond it and see the entire field of Queen Ann's Lace.

    Queen Ann's lace was introduced and naturalized in North America and it got this name, as the flower resembles lace.It was soon named ,after Queen Ann of England, who was a expert lace maker. The tiny red flower in the center of each flower, is used in nature, to attract insects. In theory, it is to represent blood, where Queen Ann pricked her finger with a needle.
   The USDA has listed it as a noxious weed and it is considered a pest  by farmers in there fields and pastures. It's seed have been said, to be able to lay dormant in the soil for 2 to5 years. And it  grows almost anywhere, even in solid rocks. It is well tolerate to low moister or flooding. Large patches of it can be found in fence rolls, along the river or creek banks,. road sides and pastures.
   Seed and plants are now available at some plant shops. It is hard to think, one has to buy it ,when it grows so wild in nature.But more and more people have introduced it, to there city gardens.
   I love it, I look forward to seeing it bloom, more and more every year. It is a rite of passage, for the coming of summer. It is wonderful for cut flower  arrangements. One thing you have to remember, cut it in the early morning, use a sharp knife or scissors, and put in warm, almost hot  water, for several hours, before you actually want to use it. It tends to droop when first cut, the warm water, makes it drink and it will soon lift it's head up. Shake the bloom and if it drops a lot of flower dust, I would not pick that one, as it it is older and will not last as long. Like all cut flowers, when you take them out of the water to rearrange, cut the stems with a fresh cut each time, as they create a film across the stem  when out of water, and to drink, they need a fresh cut. If done properly they can last for a week or more in a cut arrangement. They are perfect for a summer wedding and look beautiful with red roses. I like it much better than Baby's Breath.

We are ready for Queen Ann, to come set and view the beautiful lace.

Have a seat and just enjoy the beauty.

   If you live in the city, try and take a ride in the country soon, as these beauties will soon be gone till another season. In the meantime, enjoy them here on my blog. Stop by any time for a tour,at  My Old Historic House. I will leave the lights on  and Sissy Dog will meet you with a jump and a kiss. Heck, I'll even cut a big bunch of Queen Ann's Lace, because you  all are a comin by for a visit. ENJOY!
 

Growing out of the rocks along the rivers bank.

This batch is making a picture frame for the Mighty Mississippi.

Out the rolling car window.

There is no end in sight.

And the true meaning of life in the country, Sissy Dog  and her two best friends, Shotgun and Basil.

RED

Red Wallpaper Boarder in the Two Formal Parlors.

Red Gigham Curtains in the Kitchen.

Red Smocked Satin Valances in Library.

Oriental Rugs are Everywhere.

    What can I say? I LOVE RED!!!! It has not always been my favorite color, but, always has  been a favorite color to decorate with. But, now, it is  my very most favorite, of all colors. How can any one not love red? Several years back, I had a  client that I decorated for, he and his wife and me, had done up several houses in St.Louis. I had not even noticed, but I guess I always used red in these houses.They moved to California and I was sad to lose there friendship and there decorator business  One day, out of the blue, I got a call,  It was Mr. Richie, and he started out by saying, ("Richard can you come to California and, PUT A LITTLE RED IN OUR LIFE?") Well off I went, and yes we used some red. Since then I traveled to South Carolina to do another house for them, and ,we used a lot of red.Even the front door.
     Red is one of the primary colors of light. There are three primary colors, red, blue and yellow. From these three colors all other colors are made. Add white and you get a shade of these colors. Add black and you get a tint. Mix them together and you get all others colors. White is the absent of all color and black is the presence of all color. Add all colors together and you get brown. SORRY, the old art teacher  is coming out there, but , never hurts to have a lesson!

Antique George Washington Toile Chair in Kitchen.

Skirt under the Kitchen Sink.

Needlepoint Trivet.

Up River Parlor Chair and Oriental Carpet.

18th Century Lady in Red Dress.

    The world RED comes from the Old English word, "read",which meant blood. In the English language the word red is associated with the color of blood, flowers and fruit. Fire is also strongly connected ,as its the sun and the sunset. After the rise of Socialism, in the mid 19th century, red, was used to describe  revolutionary movements
     Red is a symbol of courage and sacrifice, an example of this , can be found in flags of many nations.
     Red has been used as a symbol of guilt, as in the Scarlet Letter. "A"
     Other symbolisms are: sin, pain and passion. The Bible says,"though your sins be scarlet, they shall be white as snow." Red has long been  connected to sin.
     Red is  associated with lust, love and beauty and connecting  to all these, is the red rose. Men often find women more attractive when they are wearing red.  The Red Rose is the one most often purchased at the florist, because of this association of the color red.
    Several phrases have been tied to the color red. "Caught red handed", meaning caught in the act of murder or blood shed. "Red Blooded", is some one who is robust,virile and top notch.
    In  some religions, red, represents, Satan and the 7 deadly sins.
    The Greeks considered the color red as a symbol of love.
     Red catches peoples attention and can be used either in a negative or positive way. Several studies show that red carries the strongest reaction of all the colors. Because of this, red is often used to get peoples attention. The best examples are, the Red Cross and the Stop sign.

19th Century Child in Red Dress.

Base of a Victorian Rocking Horse.

  Red  has been a popular color in decorating for most of all  time. The Victorians were great lovers of red. If you ever say the movie, "Molly Brown",where she decorated her Denver house in all red,  it gives you a feeling of how, the Victorians, did love that color. Red has made a comeback in the 21st century. Almost every home we see or visit has a red room, red wall or red somewhere. A lot  of this has slowed down with the latest decorating trend, all white and the absence of color. I for one,  Love Color, and why not, make it RED?I even have a red ceiling. It takes a special person to use a lot of red. It can be read in many different ways. Some will love it, while others will have a smart remark or two. Most of all, I decorate for Me. Of course, I want others to like it.,and what people think, means a lot., especially when you want to get a job in the decorating field. Having an old Victorian, Historic home, has made it easier to use a lot of red, but does not have to be the case. Red is a warm color. If you have a room that always seems cold, paint it red, and it will warm up. If you feel afraid to use red, paint a wall, it is only paint, and can be covered up very easily. Live with it awhile and see. If that is too drastic, use a red Toile or another red print and move in slowly.  And if you don't like Red, just don't use it.

Dining Room Carpet. 

Cut Velvet Throw in Ladies Parlor.

Needlepoint Lambrequin  on Mantle in Gentlemens Parlor.

Red Card Chairs in Library.

19th Century Lady in Red Dress.

    Today I am showing a lot of Red, from My Old Historic House.Please enjoy the pictures and maybe someday you can come by for a real tour. I will leave the lights on and Sissy Dog will meet you with a jump and a kiss, of course,wearing her red collar.

Valances from Double Parlor Windows.

Needlepoint Victorian Fire Screen, Ladies parlor.

Ruby Red Luster

French Gold Gilt Love Seat in Hall with Red Silk Damask covering.

Res Entrance Hall Ceiling.

Lee Jofa Toile , Entrance Hall Wallpaper.

 My Closet, see I even Wear Red.

Victorian Wedding  Dome.

Needlepoint pillows in Ladies Parlor.

Second Floor hall Chandelier.

Dining Room Dish Closet.

Tassels on Double Parlor Valances.

Details, Wallpaper, Double Parlor Ceilings.