Dear Subscriber,

Was it really a month ago that I wished you all a "Happy New Year?"  Now it seems I need to say "Happy Valentine's Day!"  I'm just not ready to see hearts and candies in the stores...  On the other hand, we've committed to taking advantage of the break in the weather that has been promised for next week to scoot up to our favorite French restaurant in Annapolis (Les Folies, if anyone in the area wants to know) for a combined Valentine/anniversary dinner.  Last year we planned to visit for our anniversary, which is March - and finally made it in September!  Ah, well...

I'd complain about the cold weather, but I don't live in Chicago, and I suspect anyone in the Midwest would not have the least bit of sympathy with our temperatures. But my cat is definitely not pleased.  She continues to remind me that indoors, all I need to do is adjust a switch, so why is it so difficult for me to maintain the outdoor temperatures to her satisfaction? 

You may get another short newsletter from me a bit later in the month, as I'm about to start work on a selection of Easter cards that will soon be available on Zazzle.  (And if I'm not ready to accept that it's almost Valentine's Day, you can imagine how unready I am to embrace the concept that Easter is just around the corner!) 

Cold weather may lead to a bit of cabin fever, but "staying in" makes it all the easier to keep caught up on Victorian Times - so here's what we have for you in February:

• Village Life in the Olden Times (English Illustrated Magazine, 1892) A look back at the "quaint old days" in the country in the early 1800's.
• Cooking at Sea (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1886) A two-part feature on the challenges of preparing meals for the passengers of an ocean liner, while dealing with the difficulties of rolling seas and a small galley.
• A New Art of Conversation (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1876) A most extraordinary paradox is "the low standard of ordinary conversation, as contrasted with the intelligent and enlightened character of the age we live in," and what to do about it.
• Recent Escapes from Gaol (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1896) How prisoners have found ingenious hiding places, created disguises from cleaning rags, picking locks, and that old stand-by, scraping away the mortar with one's dining utensils.
• Notes by an Artist Naturalist (The Girl's Own Paper, 1892-94) Beautifully illustrated monthly series by artist Fred Miller on the flora, fauna and lore of the season.
• February: St. Valentine's Day (Illustrated London Almanack, 1855) A rather humorous look at the celebrations of this ancient holiday, including the attentions paid to members of the clergy by eligible ladies.
• What to Cook and How to Cook It (The Girl's Own Paper, 1897) Recipes for the month.
• The Evolution of the Cycle (The Strand, 1892) The bicycle transformed Victorian society (and women's independence). But first, someone had to transform the bicycle - and not all attempts led to success!
• Daisy Work (The Girl's Own Paper, 1894) A charming and simple embroidery technique.
• The Habiliments of Grief from a Commercial Point of View (Godey's, 1863) A humorous look at the business of marketing mourning clothes and accessories.
• Petty Cheating (Leisure Hour, 1868) On the many ways you might be prevented from getting your money's worth in a Victorian market, barrow or stand (or even from your trusted delivery boy!).
• Fiction: "Too Much of a Good Thing" (Peterson's, 1866) In this case, the "good thing" is family members, which our hero can't seem to escape even by running off to sea!
  

Visit http://www.victorianvoices.net/VT/issues/VT-1902.shtml to download  this issue!

Or download it directly from DropBox:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tm6yq79fvs9mzhz/VT-1902.pdf?dl=0

DON'T MISS VICTORIAN TIMES QUARTERLY #18!

The latest volume of Victorian Times Quarterly is now available on Amazon, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.ca.

Victorian Times Quarterly #18 includes the contents of the October, November and December 2018 issues of Victorian Times.  This issue brings you the conclusion of "Aunt Mehitabel's" visit to post-Civil War Washington, along with glimpses of such rarities as the sea serpent, some whimsical guesses about the future of fashion, curious foot gear of the ages, and a man who creates artwork from orange peels!  This, of course, also brings you our complete 2018 Christmas issue, which offers tips on entertaining and decorating, a look at holidays throughout the world, and a lovely special art feature depicting "the children's Christmas" as envisioned by the leading black-and-white artists and illustrators of the age.  (Plus, don't miss our lovely holiday fiction piece, "A Glut of Turkeys.")  This volume has loads of fantastic art!

To find out more and access the ordering links, please visit http://www.victorianvoices.net/VT/VTQ/VTQ18.shtml

Have a happy Valentine's Day - and stay warm!

Your Intrepid Editor,
Moira Allen

editors@writing-world.com