Aug 6
You deserved some bonus pictures from that masterpiece I just posted, Merry Gay Crisis to Ollie and John.
Prev Post | Next Post
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from Malaysia
seen from Maldives
seen from Malaysia
seen from Malaysia
seen from China
seen from Malaysia
seen from Australia
seen from China
seen from Malaysia
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Germany
seen from Netherlands
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from United States
You deserved some bonus pictures from that masterpiece I just posted, Merry Gay Crisis to Ollie and John.
Prev Post | Next Post
Dear Mamma,
Spring is in full swing here. We’re getting plenty of rain, which means as much green grass as the sheep and horse could want. For we have several horses now. Ronan will not tell me how he acquired them, but I know he traded a sizeable amount of money for them. They are very fine horses, but I wonder. He does not tend to make poor decisions with our money though, so I suppose I won’t worry too much.
(Silver & a sheep, c. 1856)
The children are doing quite well. John excels in school like always, though he’s become fond of sneaking off from tending the sheep to meet up with his friends. I’m simply glad he has friends, I spent most of my time with Jane when I was his age. Ronan and I are nearly certain they’re not getting up to much trouble.
(Nicolas Velarde & John Flinn, c. 1856)
Soterra spotted them fishing last week, so I suppose not much harm can come from it. Sarah has taken to singing about the house. Where she learned, I haven’t the faintest idea, but Ronan is delighted. “My desert songbird,” he’s started calling her. If there hadn’t been a thousand other signs I chose right in marrying him, that would be the one.
(Ronan Flinn & Silver, c. 1856)
And all of the children but Rose go to school now. And as nice as it is to be able to focus my time on the ranch, I think I will miss having them all around. Especially as John turns eighteen next year. He has not expressed any desire to attend university, which is likely because he knows Ronan and I cannot afford it, even if we wish we could. Still, he seems content to continue to help out with the ranch, and maybe he’ll find a nice young woman soon. Ronan has talked of building the children houses somewhere on the property once they settle down, to keep them close, but give them space to have families of their own.
(Rose Flinn, c. 1856)
But enough of my rambling, for I hear from Jane that Sofia has had another baby, and yet another little girl at that! I shall write her separately, but give her my best when you see her anyway. It is odd to think that she is about the same age now that I was when I had John, and this will be her fifth!
Give my love to everyone,
Mrs. Anne Flinn
Dated 1856, shipped by Mrs. Anne Flinn from Castaña, New Mexico Territory to her mother, Mrs. Sarah Ávila in Brindleton Bay, ME. Recovered by the Brindleton Bay Historical Society, part of the Hawthorne Family Collection, on loan to the Chestnut Ridge Heritage Center.
Anne, honey, you might be a little delusional about John finding a "nice woman." Also, look at little Rosie!! She's so cute. I also forgot to take screenshots of Ronan playing guitar and Sarah singing, I'm so mad at myself.
(Rose Flinn, c. 1856)
First Letter (1811) | Prev Post | Next Post
Spring meant less time at the schoolhouse and more time working. But John found it quite easy to convince his father to slip away from the sheep for an evening, and he often met his friends by the river below town, when they could get away from their apprenticeships (James had been at the general store for some months now) or tending cattle, in Joseph’s case.
Nicolas was usually consumed with studying for his university exams, but Oliver seemed to have the luxuries of not needing a job to support the family, having no livestock to tend to, and somehow avoiding his father’s expectations for university. So they usually met at the fields near Oliver’s house, and forgot about their duties for a while.
And John nearly always found his mind straying from their conversation, and to the blond haired boy next to him. And maybe, allowing himself to start to hope that Oliver’s mind was doing the same.
I love their little friend group. But oh my god is John smitten it's so funny! My boys <3 (also bonus couple of screenshots under the cut that I didn't end up using but are so funny)
Prev Post | Next Letter
In the first month after Thomas left, life at the Alcott homestead continued much as it had before, though all of them felt the hole where he should fit into their day. Tommy took his father's parting words greatly to heart, and stepped up to see to the farm chores that used to be his father's.
1855 screenshot dump!
The older the children of Castaña got, the more fun going to the schoolhouse became. Maggie and Grace could talk for days, Tommy and Sarah spent all their time with Mateo and Cora Velarde.
John spent quite a bit of time with his oldest friends, James, Joseph and Nicolas, but his closest companion by far was Oliver Morrison.
And John could not seem to spend enough time with him. And by the way Oliver seemed to be able to sit and talk their entire recess, and the laughter that John found so easy to coax out of his best friend, he was not entirely certain didn’t feel the same as he did.
And John was beginning to realize how different that feeling was. Of being unable to get enough of Oliver’s presence, and his laugh, and him. John had never felt that way about anyone.
Prev Letter | Next Post
Patronilla got pregnant again. This woman is too fertile, I don't even recall them woohooing since the last child was born. I just hope she doesn't die.
!WARNING! TW: Abuse, partial nudity, use of offensive language, and period typical homophobia
PLEASE proceed with appropriate caution, here is a link to the next post HERE if you choose to skip.
Winter, 1909