Tea on Blennerhassett Island

Hello Everyone,

There is nothing like stepping back in time and taking in America's past.  Nestled on an island in the middle of the Ohio River is the Blennerhassett Mansion.  Near Parkersburg, West Virginia this estate displays a timeless house that gives us a glimpse into America's frontier.  Although the island has a beautiful and placid atmosphere, its past is shrouded with mystery and a turbulent past.
Built by Harman Blennerhassett and his wife Margaret, they settled on the island in 1798.  Harman was a wealthy Irish Aristricrat who was trained as a lawyer and liked to tangle himself in political affairs.  Accused of a military enterprise with Aaron Burr in 1806, President Thomas Jefferson accused both men of treason and imprisoned them in the Virginia State Penitentiary.  Although both men were aquitted, there lives wer largely ruined.

The esquisite mansion burned down in 1811 leaving the outlines of a once beautiful but lost past.  However, modern archaeologist rediscovered its foundations in 1973.  The Blennerhasset mansion was carefully rebuilt to display the architectural history in the 1990's.

Any historical charm and environment can make tea and a picnic quite inviting.  Watching tour guides dressed in time period costumes gives the imagination quite a stir when invisioning how many picnics and tea parties might have been cherished on that landscape in times past.  We wanted not only the pleasure of learning a slice of history, but to feel engaged also.  We packed up a few tea and picnic items and placed them into a backpack.  Next, we were able to select some wonderful tea flavors and food items from our breakfast at our hotel.  Finally, we stopped and purchased some sandwhich items and chips that would complete a picnic and tea combination.  After touring the Blennerhassett Mansion, riding a horse drawn wagon, and renting bikes to tour the island, we laid out our tea and picnic display right in front of the mansion and enjoyed a delightful lunch.  I can't even tell you how wonderful it was to indulge in the quite treat.  When it was time to leave, we walked back to the river boat, the Island Belle, and enjoyed the lovely river tour back to Parkersburg.  This trip was an all around wonderful experience and I hope it has inspired you to do the same.

 

God Bless,

Trina Belle

American Folk Art

Hello Everyone,

A wonderful way to both decorate and bring a piece of American history into your home, is to use American Folk Art. Long before technology and the "selfie age" we now have become accustomed to, there was a country with newfound independence.  Like us, these new Americans wanted to catch their images for future generations.  Although these paintings were not known for the quality of fine art, they were used to depict social status and power among the new colonists.  Mostly created by self trained artists who were artistically innocent, these paintings give us a glimpse into the old ways of life in simplicity and imagination.

 

These are a few American Folk Art prints I have hanging throughout my house.  I have become very fond of them and have even gave each picture their own nickname. You can usually find these already framed prints in local Antique stores fairly inexpensive.  In fact, it is hard for me to go through an antique store and NOT find a couple pieces of folk art.  I have also noticed them being used quite frequently in many Colonial decorating magazines. Therefore, I suggest keeping your eye out for some classic American Folk Art if you are looking for a way to bring old world Colonial charm into your home. It will definitely do the trick!

God Bless,

Trina Belle