Partly work and partly play
You must on St. Distaffs Day:
From the plough soon free your team;
Then cane home and fother them:
If the maids a-spinning go,
Burn the flax and fire the tow.
Bring in pails of water then,
Let the maids bewash the men.
Give St. Distaff’ all the right:
Then bid Christmas sport good night,
And next morrow every one
To his own vocation.’
— St. Distaff’s Day; Or, the Morrow after Twelfth-day
In many European cultural traditions, women resumed their household work after the twelve days of Christmas and this day was called Distaff Day.Women of all classes would spend their evenings spinning on the wheel. During the day, they would carry a drop spindle with them. Spinning was the only means of turning raw wool, cotton or flax into thread, which could then be woven into cloth. (Information taken from Wikipedia).
Well today is a cold one in Québec… -22C and tonight will be -32C… brrrr! This postcard was sent to Montreal, and Chi Mai received it yesterday so here it is on her blog. I painted the same scene twice, yesterday’s post in Winter and this one in Spring. These were photographed by Brian, a high school friend. I am so much looking forward to Spring at the moment.
Paper: Saunders Waterford CP 140 lbs.
Colours: Aureolin Yellow, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Alizarin Crimson, French Ultramarine
Fountain Pen: Platinum Desk Pen EF DP1000AB
Ink: Noodlers’ Lexington Grey
Painting to see : Peindre pour voir 