I've been doing a little research into dinner parties and food for a particular section of Tilly's Temptation. That reminded me of the Supersizers Go... series, the Regency episode in particular. I've linked the full video below for your enjoyment. ♥ 

​I have to say, the Jugged Hare is horrifyingly fascinating to me for some reason. It's a little like a train wreck; I just can't look away. I also enjoy the cook, who is incredibly funny. And, of course, Giles and Sue are absolutely hilarious. 

​"It's good, because you get sweetness, and then suddenly you get salty cow."
 —Sue describing Parmesan ice-cream

I love how they intersperse this with historical tidbits. It makes for an all-around enjoyable bit of research for anyone interested in the English Regency.

Incidentally, when hubby and I first watched this years ago, we realized his favorite snack (cheese toasted on bread) is actually Welsh Rarebit. As soon as we saw this, learning that English Rarebit includes red wine on the bread, we tried that too. He prefers the Welsh version. LOL 

What did you find to be the most interesting aspect of this video? 

(If you enjoyed the video, be sure to click over to YouTube and give it a like.)

I was going to do a post on Regency pets and I still will, but I have to do a little more research, and it's already Wednesday. To that end, let's talk about artificial anchovies. 

OK, when I first went looking for a Regency topic for today's blog post, I wasn't hunting for smelly little fish. No, I intended to post about one of the most important members of a Regency household, the housekeeper. 

It was while I was reading about this position, learning about all the many, many things that falls under a housekeeper's jurisdiction, that I stumbled into the recipe section of The Servant's Guide and Family Manual. I almost spit my drink when I saw the following recipe...

Artificial Anchovies.

"To a peck of sprats put two pounds of salt, three ounces of bay salt, one pound of salt-petre, two ounces of salt prunella, and a few grains of cochineal. Pound these articles in a mortar, and sprinkle the powder over each layer of sprats. When the jar or pan is full, press the fish down hard, cover them for six months, and they will be fit for use."*

On that note, I will say thank you for stopping by and have a lovely evening! ♥

*I found this recipe in The Servant's Guide and Family Manual (1831), p. 17. You can get the Google e-book HERE.

Hello, my lovelies! It's Wednesday and that, of course, means it's time for another Regency Wednesday post. It's been a while since we've pored over gorgeous clothes, so let's take a look at some Regency fashion. ♥

  Plate 19.—Morning Dress.
  A loose robe of fine cambric or worked jaconot muslin, over a petticoat of the same, flounced with French trimming; long full sleeve, confined at the wrist with treble drawings, and ornamented with corresponding trimming. The robe, or négligé, of demi-length, is confined at the top by a narrow collar, or gathered into a Vandyke ruff, and is worn with a coloured silk handkerchief, tied carelessly round the neck, and is fastened down the front with bows and tassels. A mob cap, composed of net and Brussels lace, decorated with a cluster of flowers, and bows of satin ribbon. Hair curled in the neck. Slippers or sandals of pale tan-coloured kid. Gloves en suite.*

*Taken verbatim from Ackermann's Repository, 1815, p. 242. Get the Google e-book HERE.

I just love the bird. I think it's time for me to do some research into Regency pets. What do you think? 

As always, thank you for stopping by. Have a lovely day! ♥

It's that time of year again, my lovelies! It's time for the annual Summer/Winter Sale over at Smashwords! All of my books have been enrolled in this sale (except Gertrude's Grace, which is only available on Amazon at this time). Some of my books are half off and some are free now through July 31. That's right! For a whole month, my books are on sale.

​Here's the breakdown: 

50% OFF (reg. $2.99 each): 

• Honor
• Betrayal
• Deception
• Intrigue
• Heartless
• Redemption

FREE: 

• My Lady Coward (always free)
• Forgotten, and other Heartless tales (reg. $2.99)
• The 11th Commandment (always free)
• Death Becomes Her (reg. $0.99)
• The Dragon's Birth (reg. $0.99) 

If you've never tried one of my books, now is the time to do so. Each book links to its individual page on Smashwords. These prices are only good on Smashwords and only by using the coupon code(s). DO NOT FORGET TO APPLY THE CODE(S) IN YOUR SHOPPING CART. 

And remember, my books are not the only ones on sale. Many, many indie authors choose to enroll their books, so take a moment to look around. 

​Happy reading, my lovelies!! ♥

I've been shamefully neglecting my blog of late, and my site in general. We were without internet for a while, which made blogging rather difficult. Then we had internet and I still didn't post. So sorry. Please forgive me and enjoy this selection of fun Regency slang. ♥

Martinet. 
A military term for a strict disciplinarian: from the name of a French general, famous for restoring military discipline to the French army. He first disciplined the French infantry, and regulated their method of encampment: he was killed at the siege of Doesbourg in the year 1672. 

​Natty Lads. 
Young thieves or pickpockets. Cant. 

​Ninny, or Ninnyhammer. 
A simpleton. 

​Ottomised. 
To be ottomised; to be dissected. You'll be scragged, ottomised, and grin in a glass case: you'll be hanged, anatomised, and your skeleton kept in a glass case at Surgeons' Hall. 

Peckish. 
Hungry.* 

​*Taken verbatim from the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Get your free Kindle edition HERE.

For today's Regency Wednesday post, I've decided to re-post one I did on my old blog. The original post was from October 5, 2011. 

Beau Brummell was born June 7, 1778. I figured today was a good Wednesday to re-post this. Enjoy! ♥ 

Thank you so much for stopping by! To read more about Brummell, check out the Wikipedia article HERE. 

I missed Regency Wednesday last week and then, due to an internet outage today, I almost missed it again. I apologize both for the lateness and the simplicity of this post, but I hope you enjoy these slang terms from the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. ♥

Heart's Ease. 
Gin. 

Ivories. 
Teeth. How the swell flashed his ivories; how the gentleman shewed his teeth. 

​Jail Birds. 
Prisoners. 

​Keelhauling. 
​A punishment in use among the Dutch seamen, in which, for certain offences, the delinquent is drawn once, or oftener, under the ship's keel: ludicrously defined, undergoing hard-ship. 

Lubber. 
​An awkward fellow: a name given by sailors to landsmen.* 

*Taken verbatim from the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Get your free Kindle copy HERE. 

​Thank you for stopping by and have a lovely week! ♥ 

Time for another Regency themed post. For this week's post, let's take a look at another Regency profession, thanx to the handy Book of English Trades. Enjoy! ♥ 

  "THE BRAZIER makes kettles, pans, candlesticks, and other kitchen utensils, of brass,  which is not a simple metal, but compounded of copper and zinc, in certain proportions: if the proportion of copper be greater, the compound is pinch-beck. Copper alloyed with tin, makes bronze, bell-metal, &c."

There are more details in the book. Grab it free from Google HERE. This particular profession starts on p. 40. ☺

Thank you for stopping by! ♥ 

I'm pressed for time today, and I know how much my readers enjoy the bits I grab from the 1811 slang dictionary, so here are a few more for your edification. Enjoy! ♥

Curtails.
Thieves who cut off pieces of stuff hanging out of shop windows, the tails of women's gowns, &c.; also, thieves wearing short jackets. 

​Day Lights.
​Eyes. To darken his day lights, or sow up his sees; to close up a man's eyes in boxing.

​Elf.
A fairy or hobgoblin, a little man or woman.

​Fortune Hunters.
Indigent men, seeking to enrich themselves by marrying a woman of fortune.

​Garnish.
An entrance fee demanded by the old prisoners of one just committed to gaol.*

​As always, thanx for stopping by! ♥

*Taken verbatim from 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Get the free Kindle book HERE.

Hello, again, my lovelies! Wednesday's here mean a Regency themed post. For today's post, let's take a look at The Old Bailey. I clipped an image from the June 1814 edition of Ackermann's Repository. There's quite a lengthy description too, but I've not included all that here. Enjoy! ♥ 

 The Sessions-House, separated from Newgate by a tolerably spacious yard, though not an inelegant modern building, is not equal to what a stranger would expect to find in the criminal court of the metropolis of a rich and mighty empire. It is built of stone and brick, the entrance being in the front which faces the prison. Here sessions are held eight times in the year for the trial of offences committed in London or the county of Middlesex, before three of the twelve judges, the lord mayor, the aldermen in rotation, and the recorder. The sheriffs also in general attend. The juries are composed of householders for offences committed in the city, and of freeholders and leaseholders in Middlesex for the county."*

It goes on for a few pages after that, explaining the history of the Sessions House and then going into some detail about Newgate Prison. And as is the case with many historical writings (and modern, lol), the author puts a bit of his own opinion into it. All in all, interesting reading.

Thanx for stopping by! Have a lovely week! 

*Taken verbatim from Ackermann's Repository, June 1814, p. 345. Get the Google e-book HERE.