Treat of the Week: Peach Upside Down Cake

Once again, Bertie and I were treated to a marvelous dessert thanks to my mother’s outstanding baking. This Peach Upside Down Cake is utter perfection. Fluffy, delicate cake, melts in your mouth beneath the flavor or rich, fresh peaches gorgeously caramelized during baking. Served with fresh, stiffly whipped cream, this cake is pure heaven. We have been enjoying a lot of baked goods made with fresh fruit these past few weeks. From delicious cakes and tarts to beautiful blueberry muffins, my mother has been incorporating the fruits of the season into her art. This is, perhaps, the only thing that I enjoy about summer. Suffering through 104 degree afternoons is worth it when the reward is a cake like this one. I just had a piece, too. It’s even better the next day…

Punch's Cousin, Chapter 1

Unblinking eyes, pink where they should be white, wide and dry with the arched brows of permanent bemusement stared at Julian over a bulbous ruddy nose and gin-blossomed cheeks. Julian looked back. He couldn’t help but press his own eyes shut for a second. As the fading orange light of the evening chinked through the leaded glass panes of the tall casement windows of his room, Julian shivered—certain that those eyes which had always been still had finally blinked at him. No, not blinked. It was just one eye. It was a wink. Did those painted red lips—those lips perennially affixed in a grin—pull back into a grimace for just the tick of a clock? No, it couldn’t be.

Julian looked away. Glancing at his writing slope, he flicked his fingers at the stack of correspondence which awaited his reply. The top letter hadn’t even been opened. Sealed with red wax—the red of those lips—and stamped with the Molliner “M,” Julian knew what the letter said without opening it. No doubt, it was a request for money from his uncle. With Julian’s father in France, all of the Molliners in England had silently appointed Julian the financial head of the family. Their requests for funds would have to be addressed to Julian. After all, no one dared write his mother. The Duchess of Fallbridge would never offer her support to anyone outside of the peerage, especially her husband’s family.

Julian’s heart pounded. He fiddled nervously with the diamond ring he always wore on his left index finger. Dealing with people—even via a letter—was too much for him to stomach. When had he become so fearful? At first, staying tucked away in his rooms at Fallbridge Hall seemed like a natural break from the nervous bustle of London. He had come to the country for the air and the bucolic landscapes. That was all—wasn’t it? He’d return to the city one day. He used to interact with people—not comfortably, no—but, he could do it. Now, even the idea of writing a letter upset him.

Again, Julian felt the eyes on him.

“It’s just a puppet.” Julian sided, looking up again at Punch’s large, waxy head. The puppet grinned at Julian from beneath the arc of his puffy, tasseled red hat.

“Good evening, Punch.” Julian mumbled at the figure.

The puppet continued to stare as a shadow passed over it—surely from the play of some cloud over the dimming sun. Its stubby, empty hands seemed lost without the little club it had once used to bludgeon Judy.

Julian sighed. Without even looking at it, he tore open the letter from his uncle. He forced himself to read it.

“You may be Lord Fallbridge, but you are a Molliner first.” Julian read. He could hear his uncle’s voice.

Julian opened the writing slope and put the letter, along with the others which sat unopened, inside. He closed the slope with a loud click.

“Tomorrow.” Julian thought.

Did the puppet move?

His head darting up, Julian once again looked to the thing that always sat in the curio at the far end of the chamber.

“A trick of the light…” Julian thought, drawing in a breath.

A knock at the door startled Julian, causing him to jump in his seat, almost upsetting the writing slope.

Surely, it was one of the housemaids come to tend to the grate. The fire was dying. Or, perhaps, it was the footman come to trim the lamps. Tea wouldn’t be for another half an hour.

The door opened.

“Yes, Jackson.” Julian said, trying to mask his surprise at seeing the butler.

“Lord Fallbridge,” Jackson said in his gentle way, “Her Grace wishes you to take tea with her in the drawing room.”

Julian nodded slowly.

“Shall I come for you?” Jackson asked, awaiting a response.

“No, thank you, Jackson.” Julian forced himself to smile. “I know the way,” he joked.

“Very good, sir.” Jackson replied before retreating from the room.

Julian rose and walked toward the window. As he did, he passed the curio—filled with his many artifacts and prizes…and Punch.

His mother never took tea with him. Never. She preferred to be alone or, on occasion, to take tea with Barbara.

Julian shivered again.

He glanced over his shoulder. There was Punch—grinning, not blinking.

“It’s merely a puppet.” Julian muttered again. He recalled the day—thirty years before—when his father made such a show of purchasing the puppet from that toy shop in Covent Garden after Julian had been so enchanted with the puppet show they’d seen earlier that morning. “Just a memento from my youth.”

Julian walked to the bell-pull to ring for Arthur—the footman, Julian’s valet.

“Her Grace wishes…” Julian muttered.

If his mother wanted him to take tea with her, how could he argue? No one argued with Pauline, the Duchess of Fallbridge. But, if he was to take tea with his mother, he’d have to go down looking his best.

Julian had a feeling his mother was already displeased. He didn’t want to risk further upset by appearing less than perfect.

Julian suddenly thought he’d heard someone laugh. He looked at Punch. Was the smile different? Could it have laughed? No, it was just the scraping of the door as Arthur entered.

Surely, that’s all it was.

Goal for the Day: Create a Time Capsule

Sometimes what we consider the most commonplace of objects and events become—over time—the most meaningful. We are defined not only by our major accomplishments, but what we do each day. Today, as you go about your business, take a moment to preserve the day. If you have a small box, a bag or even an envelope, take some things that represent an instant in your day and set them aside. This can be anything as simple as a paperclip or a note that you’ve scribbled or even a print-out of an email. Perhaps your child drew a picture today. Maybe you tried a new recipe for dinner. Make a note of what happened today and set it aside. Slip your mini-time capsule into a drawer or cabinet. When you stumble upon it again in a few years, you’ll be surprised how interesting the details of today seem. This is an excellent way to remind us that everything we do today shapes what we will be doing tomorrow.

Object of the Day: Antique Painted Hand Fan

While Central Air is much more effective, the hand fan is decidedly more attractive. The first European hand fans date to the Sixth Century. Over time, fans developed from simple pieces of thin wood or feathers on a long stick to more complicated and artistic designs. The artistry of the hand fan reached its pinnacle in the Eighteenth Century.


The “sticks” of the fan (the attached supports which hold the fan’s material) were made of wood, bone and sometimes metal—often inlaid with precious materials such as Mother of Pearl or decorated with crystals or gemstones. By the Nineteenth Century, sticks were often made of celluloid. During this time period, fans were often hand-painted with pastoral scenes, landscapes and scenes of court life. Painted on silk, canvas, cotton, or even on feathers, these scenes were often highly detailed and masterfully executed.

I’ve collected nine fans over the years. I display all of them in special cases. This particular fan—signed by the artist Velan—dates to France in the mid-Nineteenth Century. Expertly painted by Velan with a landscape on the reverse and a courting scene on the front, this fan is in perfect condition. Its black celluloid sticks are delicately engraved with a typical pattern of the period which has been filled-in with gold. Displayed in a two-sided glass case built by my father and ebonized by my mother, this fan is one of the central artifacts on display in my living room.

I enjoy the look of these painted fans, but especially, appreciate the intimacy of them. Again, these are objects that were carried by individual people throughout the course of their daily lives. The fans served to bring comfort to them, but also had another purpose. During a time period with strict social codes, many women used the fans as a subtle way of communicating with their friends and potential suitors. A fan raised a certain way; tilted to one side, or fluttered in a particular manner each communicated a different sentiment or desire.

Fans such as these are very collectible and can be found—often already in display cases—in antique malls. Occasionally, a fan can be found in its original box. Though not particularly useful to us today, these fans are a peek into the lifestyle of a beautiful era long past.

Sunday Viewing: The Young Victoria

The Young Victoria is a lavish and beautifully produced, romantic drama, starring Emily Blunt as the future Queen Victoria. Following her budding romance and subsequent marriage to Albert, the film chronicles Victoria’s life both before and after her coronation. Cleverly juxtaposing her growing attraction to Albert with her confusion over who to trust in the early-years of her monarchy, The Young Victoria humanizes the idea we have of the woman who lent her name to an era.


Produced by Martin Scorsese; Sarah, the Duchess of York; and Graham King, the film takes some license with the historical facts, however that’s forgivable in creating a drama based on the life of a historical figure. Filmed around England (many places doubling for their more famous counterparts), the picture is lush with magnificent costumes and sumptuous sets.

The Young Victoria is the perfect film to settle down with for a cozy Sunday afternoon. You may find that there’s a lot more to Queen Victoria than what we’ve seen in those images of the frowning dowager.

Goal for the Day: Bring the Outdoors In

With the temperatures rising and no relief in sight, spending long periods of time outside isn’t really an appealing idea for many of us. However, you can bring the outdoors in. A quick trip into your yard with your garden shears can result in some beautiful arrangements in your home that you can enjoy in climate controlled comfort. You can cut flowers, leaves, branches, even vines to bring in. Simply arrange them in a vase (changing the water every few days) and you have an inexpensive flowers arrangement that will remind you of the good things about nature without having to sweat for it.


If you don’t have a yard to poach clippings from, a trip to your local grocery store or Target will do. You can often find inexpensive cut-flowers at Target where you’ll find a surprisingly good selection. Or, for the cost of cut flowers, you can pick up a lovely plant that will last much longer. Your local home improvement store or garden center will have an assortment of house plants. Placed in a nice container, and you have a beautiful and healthy accent for your home.

So, bring a little green inside. You’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel.

Object of the Day: Bristol Glass

Blue and White Bristol Glass With Painted Folliage

After three centuries of popularity, Bristol Glass is still being collected by antique-lovers and glass aficionados. Originally made in the 1700’s in Bristol, England, this semi-opaque, opalescent, mold-blown glass comes in a variety of colors ranging from the most common milk-glass to white, blue, green, amethyst, pink, amber, orange and other hues. Because Bristol glass is mold-blown (meaning the glass blower uses a pre-made mold to shape the glass), the designs can take on very complicated forms. Often ruffled and scalloped this glass with its irresistible sheen was extremely popular in Victorian homes.

A green Bristol Glass Vase

Often painted with nature scenes, foliage or delicate, gold patterns, Bristol glass was used for many objects that were mainstays of the home. Dresser sets, glasses, vases, pitchers, flower pots, salt cellars and ring stands were among the most common uses. If you collect Bristol glass, be sure to display it in an area where it is not in direct sunlight. You don’t want the painting and colors to fade. A beautiful addition to any décor, Bristol glass can be found at many antique stores. I very much enjoy having it around the house for the warmth and color that it adds.