Puppy!

February 2, 1780

I did a silly thing today. I attempted to visit F&R and ordered my carriage for that purpose. The courtyard of Sully was swept by my servants, but the streets were not as well ordered, and my carriage became stuck in the snow. It took several men to push it out of the bank, and I never made it to my destination.

I wanted so badly to speak to them because T- is on his own journey. After only two days with the Ferme they have sent him through the snow to Lille, and he has not clearly told me what is the cause for this urgent mission. I miss him dearly already, and I fear for him. It seems that every small triumph has it's cost, and oh I have an ill feeling.

Olympe, Comtesse

February 1, 1780

Such a week as we have had! I am recovering from a terrible head cold that came upon me on Wednesday last, but I was not the only one to stay in my home as Paris has seen snow such as it has not had for many years. One wonders if the Almanacs predicted such a heavy fall.

On Friday we received a note from Msr. Poisson that a clerk position with the Ferme Generale was available, and so Thierry went to see them. He began work with them Monday and finds it very dreary, but it is work and he has hope that it may lead to something better. This, of course, means that we will not be leaving Paris after all. I admit that I am both relieved, and also saddened not to be seeing my dear Auvergne, but with all of the snow the roads would be impassable as it is.

This afternoon Comtesse de Rochechouart came to visit, and she said that she will be at home on Thursday and that I should come by then to take my puppy home. I ferverently wish that she were at home tomorrow so that I could go all the sooner, but she will be out. I am delighted at the idea that soon my Reinette (for so I have decided to call her), will be home.

Olympe, Comtesse

On hiatus

I will be on hiatus briefly due to real life issues. Talk to you soon!

And I Quote...

"Personal beauty is a greater recommendation than any letter of reference."

- Aristotle

January 25, 1780

The weather has warmed slightly, for which I am very glad as it makes it ever so much more bearable to be out of doors. I even went for a stroll in the park with T- this morning, and he teased me about how soon I could bring my very own puppy here. Of course that implies that we will yet be staying in Paris after the puppy becomes mine.

This could very well turn out to be true, as one of our contacts in the navy may be willing to sell a commission, and T- may just be desperate enough to let me buy it for him. I am attempting to negotiate secretly, but T- is very good at sniffing out secrets so he will probably discover the plot before I can purchase it behind his back.

Maman seems to be missing Paris, or at least not to be enjoying home very much, since her last letter to me was full of scathing criticisms about my choices and expenditures. It iritated me so that I have not been capable of responding for more than a week. I wonder how my brothers are faring; though in truth I almost never have a letter from Andre in Ferney, so there is nothing unusual in that.

The staymaker is behind on my order, but the wait will be worth it I am sure, as no one fits me as well as he does. I tried a new style with my hair yesterday when the hairdresser was here, but was not pleased and ordered a wig instead. I expect that once we leave the city for Auvergne I will not be ordering any new things for quite a while, so I am taking advantage of the opportunity to do so now.

Today I wish to finish some embroidery while T- reads to me, and then we will have F&R for dinner and some cards. A quiet and peaceful day, awaits overall.

Olympe, Comtesse

The Countess' New Clothes- False Rump

Proof that some kind of progress is taking place, I just finished a false rump. Made in nearly the exact same way as a bumroll (which is an earlier version), this is a crescent-shaped pad tied around the waist and used, particularly in the last quarter of the eighteenth century to hold out the skirts in the proper shape. With the decline in favor of the pannier or pocket hoop, the false rump, cork rump, or rump pad helped to create fullness in the back, while maintaining a smoother and straighter silhouette in front.

I haven't found any documentation yet on just how cork rumps were fashioned, though one assumes that the material indicated was somehow involved. This one is made of black and red brocade that I had leftover from a previous project. It is stuffed with scraps of fabric, rags being an authentic method of doing so.

Still at work on that pair of stays, though it is hanging in the sewing room while I work on projects for friends.