Wonderful Snow Day

We had more snow today than i think i've ever seen, went out in my new dress with my brother and a camera, he got some really great shots of me in the dress

Southern Soldier Boy

SOUTHERN SOLDIER BOY

Bob Roebuck is my sweetheart's name,
He's off to the wars and gone;
He's fighting for his Nanny dear,
His sword is buckled on,
He's fighting for his own true love;
His foes he does defy;
He is the darling of my heart,
My Southern soldier boy.

When Bob comes home from war's alarms,
We'll start anew in life;
I'll give myself right up to him,
A dutiful, loving wife.
I'll try my best to please my dear,
For he is my only joy,
He is the darling of my heart,
My Southern soldier boy.

Oh, if in battle he were slain,
I know that I would die,
But I am sure he'll come again
To cheer my weeping eye.
But should he fall in this our glorious cause,
He still would be my joy,
For many a sweetheart mourns the loss
Of her Southern soldier boy.

I hope for the best, and so do all
Whose hopes are in the field;
I know that we shall win the day
For Southrons never yield.
And when we think of those who are away,
We look above for joy,
And I'm mighty glad that my Bobby is
A Southern soldier boy.

Coal Miners Children

Children in bedroom of their home, Charleston, West Virginia. Their mother has TB. Father works on WPA


Coal miner's children and wife, Pursglove, West Virginia

Kentucky coal mining

Coal Companies provided housing for miners, here are some wonderful pictures
"my children will go, as soon as they grow, for there aint nothing here now, to hold them"

The L&N don't stop here anymore

I heard this incredible song on new years eve, sung by a wonderful singer, i had to find out more about it, here are the lyrics and a little about the history.
The Louisville & Nashville Railroad was born March 5, 1850. Between 1879 and 1881, through the purchase of track in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana and Illinois, the L&N gained access to the coal fields of western Kentucky. One of the L&N's most important expansions came early in the 1900s, when the railroad pushed its tracks deep into the coal fields surrounding Hazard and Harlan in eastern Kentucky. One of the coal mine served was the Hazard Hollow at Hazard, Kentucky near Viper where Jean grew up. This song marks the closing of the Hazard Hollow mine and the fact that the trains not longer stopped there to haul away coal. The L& N is still operating.
song by Jean Ritchie

When I was a curly headed baby
My daddy sat me down on his knee
He said, "son, go to school and get your letters,
Don't you be a dusty coal miner, boy, like me."

I was born and raised at the mouth of hazard hollow
The coal cars rolled and rumbled past my door
But now they stand in a rusty row all empty
Because the l & n don't stop here anymore

I used to think my daddy was a black man
With script enough to buy the company store
But now he goes to town with empty pockets
And his face is white as a February snow

I never thought I'd learn to love the coal dust
I never thought I'd pray to hear that whistle roar
Oh, god, I wish the grass would turn to money
And those green backs would fill my pockets once more

Last night I dreamed I went down to the office
To get my pay like a had done before
But them ol' kudzu vines were coverin' the door
And there were leaves and grass growin' right up through the floor

pictures of Coal towns

texas children

thought i'd already posted this, but i can't see it, so i'll do it now, my painting, Texas children, partly inspired by the film 'days of heaven' and the amazing farm house in that, and the childrens costumes came from old american daguerrotypes with abit of artistic licence, ink and gouach

my painting of lady deadlocks last moments, from Bleak House, the most wonderful story, i did this as a present for a friend, its done in ink and gouach


The woman in Black appears in the moorland graveyard, a spur of the moment peice, done with ink and collage