Dance till you Drop (literally)

As much as I *love* to dance, I don't believe there is any amount of money that would ever persuade me to do what desperate couples were doing in the 1920's & early 1930's. 
During an awfully difficult economic era, The Dance Marathons were endurance competitions that became a fad in which couples danced until they dropped (literally) for a chance to win cash prizes if they were lucky to be among the last of the contestants on the floor. Times must have been tough for people to be dancing in these contests for as long as they did (some lasted months, yes, MONTHS) to beat out their competitors. The marathons also served as a form of cheap live entertainment for the many, many people who made up the audience. Kinda disturbing, isn't it?



Dancers were automatically disqualified if either partner's knees touched the floor.





Dancers were usually given 15 minutes every hour for rest/bathroom use/etc. I cannot imagine how many people must have felt like they were going crazy after such an odd sleeping pattern. The exhaustion must have been unbearable!



I'm on a history kick lately, and this is the library book (below) I found myself absorbed with this week. This youtube video makes me sad to watch, but it shows actual footage of some of the marathons that were held in the U.S. I couldn't believe the parts where dancing couples would just suddenly FALL DOWN, sometimes toppling over their partners. How horrible! There's also a movie based on the marathons called "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" starring Jane Fonda. Find the trailer here.

PC: flickr

The Red Rose Girls

We've been taking many trips to the library during these summer days as a result of Lukas being off of school now. Last Thursday we spent nearly 4 hours there after I became lost in this beautiful {true} story of the 3 women known as The Red Rose Girls. Some of their names sounded familiar to me because they're artists, but I never knew the story behind their work.

Elizabeth Shippen Green, Violet Oakley, and Jessie Willcox Smith were three artist friends who made a pact with each other to live together forever. During the time of their lives together at the Red Rose Inn, (the early 1900's) the women were highly prolific and created some of their BEST work. The woman "tending" to the roses in the picture below is Henrietta Cozens, another friend of the three, and the keeper of the house and all other domestic responsibilites. Love this picture!

I found the story particularly interesting because of the pact they had made with one another. What if one of these women wanted out eventually? That very thing happened when Elizabeth Shippen Green met a young man and married. But it wasn't without grief that she moved away from the close friends she thought of as her sisters.

Violet in her studio (below) became famous for her murals and work in stained glass, while Elizabeth and Jessie were both appreciated for their illustrations.

I couldn't help getting caught up in the story of these three women! I found the unconventional way they chose to live most of their lives (especially for the era) very interesting. Imagine having no domestic responsibilities and being able to be creative all the day long, all while having the support and inspiration of a few creative dear friends! 

P.C. Villanegativa, wordpress
Smithsonian

Please Bury Me in the Library

I have a confession to make: There exists one item, one inanimate thing of this world that I love even more than vintage dresses, yes it is true! It is the book. A book. BOOKS. . .

. . . which is why I will be married to my local public library from now, the beginning of fall, until Spring of next year hits and I long to be outside again.

The library is my perfect sanctuary pretty much throughout the entire year, but most especially during the colder months. If I ever get around to finishing my college degree, then one day you will find me in the house of books as a children's librarian. Every aspect of that career consists of things I'm passionate about. Kids, community, promoting literacy, and books of course.

I think that above face creams, the right diet and exercise, and all of the other stuff that's told to us in many popular magazines, LEARNING is what ultimately keeps people young! Having something completely new to delve into at any given moment is what keeps your mind healthy and your heart content. At least, this is what holds true for ME. :)

I just had to write this post in celebration of
National Library Card Sign up Month!

Free adventures, free laughs, free information, free travels, free recipes, free STORIES. . . really, does it get any better than your local public library?

We may sit in our library and yet be in all quarters of the earth. ~John Lubbock


What aisles will you be browsing soon?


Recently checked out. . . ;)

Perhaps I'll finally give it a try *fingers crossed*

Working on this too.

I love having Photography books on the coffee table.

Have always wanted to read this book by Ayn Rand.
A friend suggested it years ago.
Audio books are one of the best inventions EVER!

But, of course! ;)

Ahhh. . . Who knew love came in rows?

No matter what you're looking for, I just know you'll find ↓


XOXO

p.s. the title of this post comes from a rhyming book I read my son once about the love of libraries. I would suggest it to any mama who likes to read to their kids.
(hopefully that's all of the mamas!)