Hanging Out The Clothes

An illustration from one of my old picture books for children. I love the flowering trees used as clothesline posts. Notice the high brick wall to "hide" the laundry, especially the undergarments. Randolph Caldecott was the illustrator.

See all of my old posts about this illustrator and MANY more examples of his delightful artwork. I love each and every one and you will too. Enjoy. xo

Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds

click photo to enlarge

This iPhone photo snapped from my third floor window doesn't even begin to show the number of blackbirds flying into the woods. What a sight to behold at my cottage this afternoon. Blackbird pie is not on tonight's menu.

click photo to enlarge

This happy family appears to be thrilled to see such a pie on their dinner table. Here is another Randolph Caldecott drawing from one of my antiquarian books illustrating the nursery rhyme Sing A Song for Sixpence.

After Dinner Drinks at Mousey Hall

After a pleasant dinner with Miss Mousey, Froggy and Mr. Rat enjoy drinks and pleasant conversation. Froggy appears to be doing a little courting too. Don't you love the wonderful fireplace wall? Randolph Caldecott's illustrations always gave the animals small mansions with fine antiques and he dressed them in the finery of the day. 

Randolph Caldecott Illustrations are So Charming

This was photographed from one of my antiquarian picture books by R. Caldecott (1846-1886). It is a scene from 'A Frog He Would A-Wooing Go' that couldn't be more charming. Mr. Rat and Froggy are on their best behavior while being entertained at Mousey's Hall by Miss Mousey herself.

Hanging Out the Clothes

It's always a wonderful day when you can hang out the clothes. I did a white load today and they dried very nicely in the sun. I worked some more on cleaning out the garage too. I put another pile out at the curb for trash day a week from Monday. Webster supervised and was so happy being outside all afternoon. It was after 8pm before we all had dinner. A very productive day indeed.

This illustration is a scan I made from one of my antiquarian books:

R. Caldecott's Picture Book (No. 2) ~ The Queen of Hearts

Antique Caldecott Picture Book For Your Reading Pleasure

AN ELEGY ON THE GLORY OF HER SEX MRS. MARY BLAIZE by Oliver Goldsmith -- Illustrated by Randolph Caldecott This is one of the more difficult to find of Caldecott’s Shilling Picture Books Published in London & New York by Frederick Warne & Co Ltd. Color and black and white plates Printed in color by Edmund Evans Ltd, London. 1885 First Edition.

Bye, Baby Bunting | illustrated by Randolph Caldecott . . .

Bye, Baby Bunting!


Father's gone a-hunting.
Gone to fetch a rabbit-skin,


To wrap the Baby Bunting in.


One of the numerous uncolored sketches.

I scanned these images from another of my antiquarian children's books:'The Hey Diddle Diddle Picture Book by R. Caldecott' published in London by Frederick Warne and Co., Ltd. (the same company that published all of the Beatrix Potter books).

I absolutely love the 19th century illustrations by Randolph Caldecott. Click any picture to enlarge. Aren't they wonderful?

Today, The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. The Caldecott medal honors the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published in the United States during the preceding year. The name of Randolph Caldecott, the famous English illustrator of books for children, was chosen for the medal because his work was deemed to best represent the joyousness and beauty of picture books.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend. I hope you enjoyed today's story. The illustrations get better and better, don't they? ♥Rosemary

Hey Diddle Diddle . . .

Hey, diddle, diddle,
The Cat and the Fiddle,


The Cow jumped over the Moon.
The little Dog laughed to see such fun,


And the Dish ran away with the Spoon.

I scanned these images from another of my antiquarian children's books: 'The Hey Diddle Diddle Picture Book by R. Caldecott' published in London by Frederick Warne and Co., Ltd. (the same company that published all of the Beatrix Potter books).

I absolutely love the 19th century illustrations by Ralph Caldecott. Click any picture to enlarge.

Tea or Wine left this comment on my earlier post about this wonderful artist: "These are lovely illustrations from a simpler time in children's literature. The watercolors are soothing and soft. Today, Caldecott lives on as each year an American picture book is awarded the Caldecott Medal for excellence in its illustrations."

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day. ♥Rosemary

Wonderful illustrations from an antique story book . . .

The King was in his Counting-house,
Counting out his Money.


The Queen was in the Parlour,
Eating Bread and Honey.

The Maid was in the Garden,
Hanging out the Clothes;
There came a little Blackbird,
And snapped off her Nose.

But there came a Jenny Wren
And popped it on again.

I scanned these images from one of my antiquarian children's books: R. Caldecott's Picture Book No. 2 published in London by Frederick Warne and Co., Ltd. (the same company that published all of the Beatrix Potter books).

I absolutely love the 19th century illustrations by Randolph Caldecott. The rooms of the little king and queen are so nicely decorated down to the last detail. The fairy tale pictures on their walls are just wonderful. The architectural design of the house and walled gardens delight me too. Click to enlarge.

These stories are a pleasure to read because they set your mind spinning trying to imagine living in such a special place. Enjoy.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day. ♥Rosemary