Tuesday, June 26, 2012

~TAKE JOY~ TASHA TUDOR~PART #1

Take a turn off the beaten path, follow down a dusty dirt road...
Seth Tudor, son of Tasha, and Winslow Tudor, son of Seth, await our arrival...


We are a group of twenty or so and are quickly gathered together at the "Rookery" a home base to the Tasha Tudor and Family business...we are divided into three groups and assigned a leader- ours is Seth; Seth's wife Marjorie, and their son Winslow lead the other two groups.


Friendly banter soon filled the air as we plodded along field and trail leading to Tasha Tudor's beloved Corgi Cottage. Seth opened an old wooden gate, and the world of Tasha Tudor was at our fingetips...Corgi Cottage is a timber frame New England style cape home. It is adorned in weathered clapboards and moss covered cedar shakes, built by Seth for his mother forty years ago. Upon entering the home you soon have the feeling that Tasha is home, perhaps out working in her garden...her china teapot and cups are waiting, everything appears to be left just the way she would have had it, or as the books about her portray...The rooms are small, cool and dark, indeed the feeling of a chipmunk's nest. We are respectful of her home and belongings, however, it is not a museum and we were allowed to "touch". Once in her kitchen, I stand at Tasha's sink, I gaze out the window as my hand touched the old hand pump, her tin kitchen still placed in front of the fireplace...her art work space, along with pencils, paint and brushes set by the north window, also a small bed for napping...down a narrow hallway we discover the room that holds her loom, treaded and left just as it was when Tasha passed away. A steep narrow stairway leads us to the second floor where two small bedrooms and an adjoining alcove are found. The bedrooms lovingly decorated with the style we reconize as "Tasha Tudor" We return downstairs and soon discover that Tasha had a real bathroom (flushing toilet) her dressing table set with all her lovely antique brushes, combs and hand mirror. Wild flowers placed in vases are scattered throughout the house. There are shelves from floor to ceiling filled with books and smalls. Tasha Tudor was a collector of many items, among them being books, beds, old photographs, antiques and dishes. Every nook and cranny of Corgi Cottage is filled with items that delight the eye...


Next we are taken into Tasha's bedroom, a small room, bright with the afternoon sunlight. This room too is filled with antique furnishings, her bed is adorned with a white quilt, there are bed curtains and window treatments that coordinate. This is the room that Tasha Tudor passed away in. Seth speaks so lovingly of his mother, to the world she was known as Tasha Tudor but, to her family.... Granny...

15 comments:

Primitive Stars said...

Hello Julie, oh how amazing it must be, to walk in her home just the way Tasha liked it,I have goosebumps now. Wonderful you shared this beautiful time with us,great pictures. Blessings Francine.

Holly Hills Primitives said...

Sounds like your day was a success. Was it everything you hoped it would be? Sounds so peaceful and lovely. Dawn

Farm Girl said...

How lovely Julie!! I am so happy you had such a nice time. Did you get choked up, I did just reading your post about your visit. I am so glad you got to see something that you have wanted to see. The woods look beautiful. I can't wait to read more about your trip. Thanks for sharing.

Denise said...

I am drooling and maybe just a little jealous that I am not there with you......your descriptive writing along with the memory of the photos from the book that I have makes me feel like I might be following behind you, LOL. Thank you for taking the time to share your wonderful visit. A trip to Vermont Country Store and King Arthur Baker's Store are both on my list of places to visit in New England, isn't amazing how we forget all the wonderful places we have in our own big backyards. Looking forward to Part 2.

Julia said...

Thanks so much for the lovely description of Tasha Tudor's home. This must be a very special moment for you.
Hugs JB

Jenny wren's nest said...

Oh wow what a awsome tour, I would choose Tasha Tudor over Disney world and day.

Cathy Schultz said...

Did you do the Saturday afternoon tour? I was in the Corgi group and enjoyed reading your account of the tour. It was storming when we toured the house and it was too dark inside to see everything I wanted to see--especially the kitchen.

We also went to The Vermont Country Store and King Arthur Baker's Store--on Friday. :-) On Thursday we went to Webster, NH and tracked down her house there! I wish I'd known about the places Natalie's Blog told us about Harrisville and Petersborough--the two villages she used as models for Corgiville on Thursday when we came through the area. I didn't read her Blog until that evening. Oh, well....next time!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing, it sound so wonderful, she was such a talent and inspiration! Julie

NanaNor's said...

Hi, I have loved Tasha Tudor's work for a long time and think it is incredible you got to visit her cottage and meet her son and family. What a wonderful experience; thanks for sharing it with us- I feel like I got to go through her house too.
Noreen

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Oh how fun...I can't wait to read more about the visit. Dropping by from Kim's blog, Field of Dreams

Wyoming Focus said...

Oh I am so excited to hear of someone that love Tasha Tudor as I do. I would love to go to her home/museum - It is added to my bucket list. Our two corgi's are named Winslow and Tasha after Tasha Tudor and family. I have several books of hers and The Corgi Fair. Thank you so much for sharing your visit. I see her place through your eyes. I love your Blog. Kay

Pondside said...

I am imagining it all as you lead us on a mind's eye tour!

Melody said...

I feel like I was there too, what a wonderful tour! How utterly amazing you were INSIDE Corgi Cottage *sigh* Lucky Lady! :))))
I would have loved to see her art table... I picture her there drawing, with her partially defrosted and "posable" field mice...(I love my Tasha DVD's, that part always give my husband the shivers... and then he goes to check our freezer for suspicious pacakges, just in case...)I'll stop babbling now... thanks for sharing! :))))))

Mugwump Woolies said...

What a great day this must have been! Magic!
Robyn

Sassafras and Winterberry said...

This sounds like such a special place. What a blessed life she created for herself.
Hugs,
Courtney