Eyes in shades of purple

 

     There are no photographs of Madame Rosalie de la Val, an émigré to America during the French Revolution and a major character in my historic romance novel. This fact leaves me free to create her physical characteristics in my image.

     Madame is a very strong, very unusual, woman. I visualize her being petite, with black flowing hair and violet eyes that change shades, or colors, according to her mood.

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     Within three months of her 1791 emigratioon to the United States she became an independent land speculator, participating in a playing field that included General Henry Knox, Colonel William Duer, General Henry Jackson, and William Bingham. They themselves were involved in the whirlwind of land speculation following the American Revolution, which included large tracts of land in Hancock and Washington counties, Maine.

     She skillfully, artfully, and very business-like, maneuvered through this field, in spite of the fact that

Discovering Hardy Lavender

    

     WHAT IS THIS PLANT?

     Laundresses once hung their linens and clothes on its branches.

     Archeological evidence shows it was used in the ancient Egyptian, Phoenician, and Arabian mummification process.

     King Charles VI of France sat on seat cushions stuffed it.

     It was once called “Four Thieves Vinegar.”

     What is it?

      The answer to all the questions above is lavender.

     The likely root of the word lavender is Lavare, a Latin verb meaning “to wash.” This root gave way to laundresses once being called “lavenders.”  Another possible root is the Latin word “livendulo,” meaning livid or bluish.

     Used in the process of mummification, excavators found unguent-filled jars, containing something resembling lavender, at the opening of Tutankhamen’s tomb.

     England’s King Louis XIV not only enjoyed the scent of lavender that was emitted from the seat cushions he sat on, he enjoyed bathing in lavender-scented water. French royalty Charles VI demanded lavender-filled pillows wherever he went.

     During the 17^th century Bubonic Plague in London, grave-robbers, caught