Easter 1962

Ocean City, MD

Missing my mom and dad this Easter

In celebration of the occasion of my birth

Post Script: More about Carousels of Paris and my other books here - https://kayewilkinsonbarley.com/books/

More here -

 https://www.kayebarleymeanderingsandmuses.com/2020/03/latest-carousels-of-paris-newsletter.html

and here

https://www.kayebarleymeanderingsandmuses.com/2020/03/latest-carousels-of-paris-newsletter.html

Do you treat yourself to a gift on your birthday?

Sometimes I do.

Mostly though, I just call it a birthday gift because it might cost a little more than I would normally spend on something for myself.

Some little luxury that I can rationalize a hundred different ways.


I dd treat myself to a little birthday "to me, from me" gift this year.  I'll be turning 71 next week and my gift arrived today.


want to see it?!


it's beautiful!



But first you get the story that goes with it.


I am, and have always been, a lover of carousels.


Beginning with the old Trimper's carousel on The Boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland.

I fell in love with it when I was a little girl, and love it every bit as much now as a big girl.

Then, in my 60s, I had my first visit to Paris.

And, I fell in love with the carousels in Paris.  


Donald and I have spent a lot of time during two trips taking pictures of some of these carousels, 

Trocadero

Bercy Park

Bercy Park

Luxembourg Gardens

Tuileries Garden

Eiffel Tower

and, many in the Musée des Arts Forains 

And hoping to get back to Paris 'cause there are still a few carousels we haven't seen and photographed yet!



Falling in love with Paris means falling in love with ALL things Paris, including the monuments, the cafes, the shops, the parks and the history of each of them.


As it happens, I also fell in love with Hermès scarves which are out of my price range.  Some of them, in my opinion, ridiculously so.  

I looked at some vintage designer scarves at a Parisian flea market/brocante and alas, no bargains to be found there, for sure.

But, during all this looking, I happened across a particular scarf that I fell head over heels in love with.


I'm a person who loves research.  Going into a research rabbit hole is one of my favorite things.

The Hermès rabbit hole is full of fun things.  


There are several Hermès scarf artists, and many of the scarves have their own story to tell, representing everything from the original equestrian theme to French history and cultural themes, each scarf with a title all its own.

(Warning!  Beware of fakes!  https://eluxemagazine.com/fashion/how-to-spot-a-fake-hermes-scarf/ but remember, not ALL Hermes scarves are signed by the artist - https://carredeparis.me/2019/06/27/are-all-hermes-scarves-signed/ )

The scarf I fell in love with is  Les Clefs du Notre Enfance (The Keys of Our Childhood).


After a couple of years of searching on-line at used clothing and accessory shops and auctions, including Etsy and Ebay, I finally spotted one at Poshmark and joined its "watch list."  It was priced a bit lower than many I'd seen.  One reason for the lower price is that the iconic orange Hermès box was not included.  Believe it or not, that means a great deal to a great deal of people.  Not to me.  

After several months, the price went down, as did the shipping price.

I kept watching.

It went down again. 

Not willing to try my luck any further, I sent in a counter-offer which was accepted.

Yay!!

And here it is - Happy Birthday to me!  

Title: Les Clefs du Notre Enfance (The Keys of Our Childhood)

 "The child is father to the man" is a way of saying that the adult's personality is shaped by childhood experiences. Like Orsan Welles' Citizen Kane, who in his final breath called out for a childhood treasure, we are ail haunted by happy ghosts from the farthest reaches of our past. Whether it be a miniature tram, an English hydroplane or a rocking horse, toys are truly the "keys to our childhood'. 

Artist: Loic Dubigeon

Year(s) of issue: 1991/92

Measurements: Approx. 35" x 35" (90cm x 90cm)

Material: 100% Silk twill

Wishes do come true!

These  photos don't begin to do it justice.

you can see more Loic Dubigeon's Hermes carres (squares) here: https://carredeparis.com/collections/loic-dubigeon 

Dubigeon resided in the commune of Derchigny, in the Domaine de Wargemont, a residence once inhabited by the famed Pierre-Auguste Renoir in the late 19th century. His paintings and lithographs were frequently exhibited, especially at the Galerie d’Ophir in Eure.

The Dieppe Museum owns four of Dubigeon’s works, including “Car Ferry” and “Falaise à Berneval,” both oil on canvas, and two watercolor maquettes used to create postage stamps. His artworks are occasionally posthumously sold at the renowned Drouot auction house in Paris.

Sadly, the world lost this visionary artist on January 27, 2001, in Hennebont. Yet, Loïc Dubigeon‘s legacy endures in his paintings, illustrations, and of course, his timeless designs for Hermès, each piece continuing to captivate and inspire generations of art and fashion enthusiasts.

And, there's a pinterest page - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/549720698239392051/?lp=true

If you're able to find one, it was produced in different color ways

Note:  A helpful way to help you authenticate your Hermes scarf:

https://youtu.be/3aC1YAQ5n9s

AND/OR

 https://youtu.be/I_nocEpUXrg

Post Script: More about Carousels of Paris and my other books here - https://kayewilkinsonbarley.com/books/

Ocean City, MD - Another walk down memory lane

We don't always get to Ocean City when we go home to Maryland.


This time, we did.

And I was a happy girl.


Ocean City is a huge part of my childhood.


I've written about it here - http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2010/10/little-run-down-boardwalk-of-memory.html


And Brandon Seidl did a guest spot here about Trimper's Haunted House in Ocean City -
http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2009/11/putting-price-on-priceless-trimpers.html


Trimper's is, and always has been, a cornerstone of Ocean City, MD


My first stop after parking the car in the inlet parking lot at the very end of The Boardwalk is always going to be the old Trimper's Carousel.

(This from http://www.trimpersrides.com/history.cfm)

" . . . 1912 purchase also adds to the historic significance of Trimper's Rides. It was that year that Daniel Trimper purchased a massive carousel from the Herschell-Spillman Company in North Tonawanda, NY. It was 50 feet in diameter with a uniqueness derived from the only other carousel made by the firm at that time having been sent to Coney Island, and that one was later destroyed by fire.

The merry-go-round's forty-five animals, three chariots and one rocking chair were driven by a steam engine; rides originally cost just a nickel. One-hundred years later, the ride (now electrified) costs you four tickets, or $2.00 - unless you buy the discounted package of 40 tickets for eighteen dollars, and then your ride only costs $1.80. Classified as one of the oldest still operating carousels in the nation, generations of families come every year to ride their favorite animal. Smaller children tend to prefer the horses but many choose their own steed from among a menagerie of a cat, dog, frog, rooster, deer, goat, lion, tiger, ostrich, pig, dragon, et al."


The carousel is believed to be haunted - http://chesapeakeghostwalks.com/trimpers-carousel/. I only learned about this recently. I've never noticed a ghostly Mrs. Trimper while riding, nor have I caught a whiff of her perfume, Crystal, but I'll keep an eye out and my nose a sniffin' from now on when I do ride. I can't think of a more magical place to haunt, and I love that this is where Joanne Trimper has chosen to stay for her eternity.

You can read more about Trimper's here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimper%27s_Rides



We spent some time doing one of the things I most wanted to do this trip. Play in, ride on and photograph Trimper's. 

Especially that beautiful, magical carousel.

Does anyone ever actually capture anything in one of these?

And, after Trimper's there's the rest of Ocean City . . . We, however, did only a smidgen of it.

We walked, and shopped, and ate, and did a lot of people watching, and ate, and walked and did it all again.