#Windsor Oaks

[maypoleman1]

29th January

Herne the Hunter

Source: Herne the Hunter on Craiyon

On this day in 1906, the ancient tree, Herne’s Oak was replanted in Windsor Park, Berkshire. According to legend, Herne was a skilled hunter who saved the life of King Henry VIII by placing himself between the monarch and a charging stag. Herne was made Henry’s chief huntsman as a reward, but jealous gossip ultimately led to the hero’s dismissal from the king’s service. A distraught Herne then killed himself. But his story did not end there. In death, Herne transformed in a giant stag-masked hunting god, and has haunted the woods of Windsor Park ever since, leading phantom hounds in a never-ending pursuit of spectral stags. Herne was believed to be real enough, appearing in Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor to terrify a drink-addled Falstaff. The unwary are advised to flee at the sight of Herne, whose bow has been known to seek human victims as well as the creatures of the forest.

Herne is almost certainly a Tudor memory of the Celtic god of the Underworld, the winter deity, stag-headed Cernunnos. The god’s manifestation, like that of Herne, is best avoided by mortals.

[mysterious-secret-garden]

George Cruikshank - Hernes oak from 'The merry wives of Windsor', V, 1857.

[autotrails]

American Auto Trail-Louisiana Flatwoods (Perryville to Oak Ridge LA)

American Auto Trail-Louisiana Flatwoods (Perryville to Oak Ridge LA) https://youtu.be/LjXpVpGdiSQ This American auto trail explores a natural region of Louisiana known as the Flatwoods.

[dean-boese-universe]

So in this episode Laura, Krys and Dean discuss Valentines Day, mostly in Krysta's corner before we dig into the life of Harry Oakes. We discuss his life, how he discovered his fortune, how he met his young wife and became a British Citizen and earned the title of Baronet as he settled in the Bahamas. The Bahamas was governed by the Duke of Windsor, the former King of England Edward the VIII and his American wife the Duchess of Windsor. We learn about his murder, how someone attempted to set the body on fire using insecticide and then we discuss suspects, the bungling of the investigation and so much more in this man-history-can-be-weird episode of the Family Plot Podcast!!

[periodoakantiques]

NEW STOCK - THIS MAGNIFICENT ELIZABETHAN TABLE IS IN REMARKABLY ORIGINAL CONDITION, IT HAS A THICK TOP AND LEAVES EXTENDING WHEN OPEN TO 115” AND 61” WHEN CLOSED.

[ddejavvu]

hotch loosening his tie and undoing a few buttons to eat you out on his desk at the office, having to take his tie completely off and push it into your mouth to keep you quiet 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

this post is 18+, minors dni.

"Jesus Christ." Is your lover's careful assessment of the mess between your thighs, glistening as it clings to your skin and covers an expanse that reaches far beyond the lacy hem of your now-ruined panties.

He inspects you for a moment, runs a thick thumb through the slick steadily streaming from your weepy cunt, and smears it lower over your thigh instead of licking his finger clean.

"I need to take off my tie," He muses, fingers flying to the windsor knot to loosen it, "You're already such a mess that it would be stained the second I started."

"Can I have it?" You whine, craning your neck to stare down at him where he's kneeling between your legs. The chilled oak of his desk bites against your bare skin, but you're slowly warming it with the fever of desire you find yourself in. You reach for the tie, pleading, and Aaron sets it in your trembling fingers.

"Oh god, it- it smells like your cologne," You realize, breath shaky as you smother the silken fabric against your face, breathing in the scent of Aaron where it clings so potently to the fabric, "Hurry, Aaron, please-?"

Your hips writhe slightly as you squirm atop his desk, but his hand never comes to hold your waist in place.

"I have to unbutton my shirt, too." He murmurs, and you hear the rustling of fabric that lets you know he's already two buttons in, "Are you trying to stain all of my clothes, honey?"

You whimper softly against the fabric of his tie, and finally- finally one of his rough hands glides up your leg, starting at the ankle and ending near your throbbing core.

"You are? You want me to walk back out there with a dirty tie? That's bold." He assesses, "Our coworkers are profilers. It would take them, oh-" He smears his thumb close- this close to your slickened mess of a cunt, and your thighs shudder like a sob, "Ten seconds to figure out I'd just been on my knees between your legs. Is that what you're going for? You want everyone to know you're spread-eagle over my desk?"

"Aaron," You plead, desperate and pathetic, "Please?" You crane your neck down to watch him once more, and he's the picture of sin, thighs strained against his slacks, cock pressing even tighter against their fabric. There's three buttons undone on his shirt which reveal a mass of dark, wiry hair and which prevent the collar from being soaked in your pre-release. There's contentment and something dark, something sadistic and sinister in his eyes as he kneels before you, unquestionably dominant despite the position he's in.

"You're good at begging." He observes, his voice calm and collected, "And at making a mess. I'd tease you more, but if you get any wetter, I'd have to strip completely to avoid getting dirty. And we don't have much time before the team realizes that there's two agents missing and only one locked door. So lift up your hips, honey- there we go," He pats at your thigh and slips his hands beneath your hips when you lift them, elevating your core before he buries his face in it, "And try not to make too much noise- bite down on that tie whenever you have to scream."

[akeyphoto]

An acorn or “oak nut“ on an oak leaf. Because of the tannins, acorns are poisonous to dogs and other small animals. #nature #oak #oaknut #acorn #brown #moody #leaf #maldenpark #windsor #yqg #autumn #fall (at Malden Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClckbposQN2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hleavesk]

(source: washington post | 14 nov 2022)

For years he has been teased for being a royal “tree hugger” who communes with plants. But with a new official portrait released to mark his 74th birthday on Monday, Britain’s King Charles III seems content to embrace his nature-loving reputation.

The image shows the new monarch leaning against an ancient oak, in a creamy autumn light, on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

With the release of the birthday snap, Buckingham Palace announced that he has added to his long list of royal titles and become Ranger of Windsor Great Park, guiding the day-to-day stewardship of one of the country’s oldest landed estates.

His 2010 book “Harmony” is a 336-page manifesto on how humanity’s greatest problems are rooted in our disconnection from nature. He has established foundations “to promote holistic solutions facing the world today.”

“I happily talk to the plants and the trees, and listen to them. I think it’s absolutely crucial,” he told a BBC interviewer in 2010. His courtiers have confirmed he often gives a leafy branch “a friendly shake to wish it well.”Perhaps the photo released Monday is his sly response: “So what?”

[hometoursandotherstuff]

This was one of my "You Never Know What's Going on Inside a House," posts. I just came across it and it sold in 2022 (that's how long I've been doing this blog.) You've heard of the House of Windsor, well, this is the House of Windex. It deserves another look, and good luck to the current owner. It's a 1979 build in Oak Brook, IL. 4bds, 5ba, 4,256 sq ft, sold for $699k + $450mo. HOA. They took quite a loss- Zillow said it's worth $1.503m. So, let's see what they did to lose so much money on the sale.

It starts out nicely enough with gold trim. Look at the gold banister with lucite balusters.

Large living room with an interesting fireplace and a mirrored wall. I like the fireplace, except for that big white rectangle.

The dining room has gold mirrors added. Also a very large space.

But, when we get to the kitchen, it's completely mirrored- the cabinetry, fridge, island and backsplash.

Isn't this crazy? I don't know about you, but it's so hard to get things completely streak free.

Large half bath is gold mirrored.

The primary bedroom has a mirror bed and it looks like it's a mix of gold and silver mirrors.

This is a dressing table area with closet space and to the right is a walk-in closet.

Check out this bath. I'm getting dazed and confused in this house.

Off to the side of the bedroom is this nice sitting area with doors to a terrace.

This is nice and it looks like it stretches to another bedroom, too.

Look at the decor in this bedroom.

They turned a standard 3pc. bath into a mirrored wonderland.

This looks like a child's room with a little white car. No kiddy decor here.

Even the nursery is mirrored. When the baby stands up, there will be prints all over that wall. Is that the changing table?

Must be a guest bedroom. Those draperies by the bed. I've never seen such huge curtain rods.

Another mirrored bath with black fixtures.

Mirrors in the rec room.

Even a mirrored pool table.

I guess that you could call this a 4 car garage.

Patio in the back.

There's no data on the size of the lot, but it looks pretty large for a suburban area.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4-Cambridge-Dr-Oak-Brook-IL-60523/4493760_zpid/?

[pwlanier]

FINE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA TABLET-BACK WINDSOR WRITING-ARM FANCY CHAIR, chestnut, maple, poplar, and white oak, the tablet crest supported on ring-turned posts, above a central shaped spindle and four tapered spindles, a scrolled arm, shaped writing board with lower box resting on four supports, and a shaped plank seat, raised on cuff- and ring-turned front legs joined by a shaped stretcher, and plain splayed rear legs joined with offset stretchers. The arm is mortised through the rear post, and each spindle and the front support are mortised through the arm; the box supports are also through-mortised and wedged. The entire chair retains outstanding dry, original rosewood grain-painted surface with red-highlighted gold Neoclassical stencils and banding, and yellow pinstriping. Probably Roanoke, VA area. Circa 1830.

Jeffrey Evans

[world-of-wales]

─ •✧ WILLIAM'S YEAR IN REVIEW : JUNE ✧• ─

1 JUNE - William and Catherine attended the Marriage of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan with Miss Rajwa Al Saif at the Zahran Palace. Afterwards, they attended the State Banquet in Hussein and Rajwa's honour. 2 JUNE - William held a Meeting with Jack Beeton, a crash survivor he helped save while he was with the air ambulance. 3 JUNE - William attended the Men's FA Cup Final between Manchester City & Manchester United. 6 JUNE - William held a Meeting to mark Pride Month. 7 JUNE - He received the Rt. Hon. Sir Keir Starmer MP (Leader of Opposition). 8 JUNE - William was received the Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London as he opened the Oak Cancer Centre at the Royal Marsden. 10 JUNE - He took the salute at the Colonel's Review of The King's Birthday Parade. 13 JUNE - William was received by the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London as he opened Centrepoint's Reuben House housing development. Afterwards, he held a Meeting with Dr. Jayne Brady (Head of Civil Service, Northern Ireland) via telephone. Subsequently, he was joined by The Duchess of Edinburgh for the Screening of "Rhino Man". 14 JUNE - William held a Meeting with the Rt. Hon. Humza Yousaf MSP (First Minister of Scotland) via telephone. Later, he had a telephonic Meeting with the Rt. Hon. Mark Drakeford MS (First Minister of Wales). 16 JUNE - William and Catherine attended the Senior Colonels' Conference and Dinner at Clarence House. 17 JUNE - William took part in The King's Birthday Parade on Horse Guards Parade. Later, he appeared on the Balcony along with Catherine and their children for the RAF fly-past. 18 JUNE - William appeared in Father's Day Portraits released by Kensington Palace with George, Charlotte and Louis. 19 JUNE - William and Catherine attended a Chapter of the Most Noble Order of the Garter in the Throne Room at Windsor Castle. Afterwards, they were present at the Luncheon Party for the Companions of the Garter. Subsequently, they attended the Order of the Garter Installation Service at St George's Chapel. 20 JUNE - William visited St George's Park and was received by the Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire. He wrote a letter to Oscar Burrow congratulating him for his fundraising efforts. 21 JUNE - William celebrated his 41st Birthday. To mark the day, Buckingham Palace released a Birthday Portrait featuring William and The King. He visited Eton College with Catherine and George. 22 JUNE - William received Ms Hannah Jones (Chief Executive, the Earthshot Prize). Afterwards, he held a Meeting at Windsor Castle. He appeared in a video message marking Windrush Day. A special documentary - 'Pride of Britain: A Windrush Special' with an appearance from Willliam was announced. 23 JUNE - William and Catherine attended the Ascot Races. Later, they were spotted at KOKO. 25 JUNE - William launched 'Homewards' and held a Meeting with Homewards Advocates. 26 JUNE - William appeared in a video for Homewards. He embarked on a 2-Day Homewards Launch Tour and visited Mosaic Clubhouse in London, where he was received by the Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London. Afterwards, he was received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset at St John's Church Hall in Poole. Subsequently, William visited Maindee Primary School & Hill Street Housing Development and was received by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Gwent. 27 JUNE - William visited East Belfast Mission in Belfast and was received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast. Afterwards, he was received by the Lord-Lieutenant of the City of Aberdeen at the Tillydrone Community Campus. Finally, he visited Verdon Recreation Centre in Sheffield and was received by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire. 28 JUNE - William held an Investiture at Windsor Castle. 29 JUNE - He was received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk at the Royal Norfolk Show. 30 JUNE - William appeared in a video for Pride Month along with Michael Lister, Alexis Caught and Sharvari Patil discussing mental health in the LGBTQ+ community. He also appeared in a video message for the 2023 Diana Award.

[camillasgirl]

The Anointing Screen

The Anointing Screen has been designed and produced for use at the most sacred moment of the Coronation, the Anointing of His Majesty The King. The screen combines traditional and contemporary sustainable embroidery practices to produce a design which speaks to His Majesty The King’s deep affection for the Commonwealth. The screen has been gifted for the occasion by the City of London Corporation and City Livery Companies.

The Anointing takes place before the investiture and crowning of His Majesty. The Dean of Westminster pours holy oil from the Ampulla into the Coronation Spoon, and the Archbishop of Canterbury anoints the Sovereign on the hands, chest and head. It has historically been regarded as a moment between the Sovereign and God, with a screen or canopy in place given the sanctity of the Anointing.

The Anointing Screen was designed by iconographer Aidan Hart and brought to life through both hand and digital embroidery, managed by the Royal School of Needlework. The central design takes the form of a tree which includes 56 representing the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth. The King’s cypher is positioned at the base of the tree, representing the Sovereign as servant of their people. The design has been selected personally by The King and is inspired by the stained-glass Sanctuary Window in the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace, which was gifted by the Livery Companies to mark the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2002.

The Anointing Screen is supported by a wooden pole framework, designed and created by Nick Gutfreund of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters. The oak wooden poles are made from a windblown tree from the Windsor Estate, which was originally planted by The Duke of Northumberland in 1765. The wooden poles have been limed and waxed, combining traditional craft skills with a contemporary finish.

At the top of the wooden poles are mounted two eagles, cast in bronze and gilded in gold leaf, giving the screens a total height of 2.6 metres and width of 2.2 metres. The form of an eagle has longstanding associations with Coronations. Eagles have appeared on previous Coronation Canopies, including the canopy used by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Equally, the Ampulla, which carries the Chrism oil used for anointing, is cast in the shape of an eagle.

The screen is three-sided, with the open side to face the High Altar in Westminster Abbey. The two sides of the screen feature a much simpler design with maroon fabric and a gold, blue and red cross inspired by the colours and patterning of the Cosmati Pavement at Westminster Abbey where the Anointing will take place. The crosses were also embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework’s studio team.

At the Coronation Service, the Anointing Screen will be held by service personnel from Regiments of the Household Division holding the Freedom of the City of London. The three sides of the screen will be borne by a Trooper and Guardsman from each of The Life Guards, Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards, and Welsh Guards.

The screen has been gifted for the Coronation by the City of London Corporation and participating Livery Companies, the City’s ancient and modern trade guilds. His Majesty The King is a keen advocate and supporter of the preservation of heritage craft skills, and the Anointing Screen project has been a collaboration of these specialists in traditional crafts, from those early in their careers to artisans with many years of experience.

The individual leaves have been embroidered by staff and students from the Royal School of Needlework, as well as members of the Worshipful Company of Broderers, Drapers and Weavers.

As well as heritage craft, contemporary skills and techniques have formed part of this unique collaboration. The outline of the tree has been created using digital machine embroidery by Digitek Embroidery. This machine embroidery was completed with sustainable thread, Madeira Sensa, made from 100% lyocell fibres.

The threads used by the Royal School of Needlework are from their famous ‘Wall of Wool’ and existing supplies that have been collated over the years through past projects and donations. The materials used to create the Anointing Screen have also been sourced sustainably from across the UK and other Commonwealth nations. The cloth is made of wool from Australia and New Zealand, woven and finished in UK mills.

The script used for the names of each Commonwealth country has been designed as modern and classical, inspired by both the Roman Trojan column letters and the work of Welsh calligrapher David Jones.

Also forming part of the Commonwealth tree are The King’s Cypher, decorative roses, angels and a scroll, which features the quote from Julian of Norwich (c. 1343-1416): ‘All shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well’.

This design has again been inspired by the Sanctuary Window in the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, created for Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee in 2002. At the top of the screen is the sun, representing God, and birds including the dove of peace, which have all been hand embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework.

The dedication and blessing of the Anointing Screen took place earlier this week at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, where it was officially received and blessed by the Sub-Dean and Domestic Chaplain to The King, Paul Wright, on behalf of The Royal Household.

[charlotte-of-wales]

“King Charles has commissioned an ornate, three-sided screen that will offer more privacy for his official anointing than any previous sovereign.

On the front is a tree with 56 leaves representing the nations of the Commonwealth. It was blessed earlier this week.

Sustainability – a long-held passion of the king - is a key theme of the design, even down to using poles made from a windblown oak tree from the royal estate at Windsor originally planted by the Duke of Northumberland in 1765 and special biodegradable thread.

The project has been months in the making, involving 150 people and using a stained glass window in the Chapel Royal for inspiration. The blessing ceremony also took place in the chapel.”

via Rebecca English

[thepastisalreadywritten]

The Crooked House of Windsor

This quirky, off-balance structure is famously known as The Crooked House of Windsor. 

It is a Grade II listed commercial building in Windsor, England, dating back 1687 AD.

The structure, which is also called The Market Cross House, was reconstructed in 18th century AD and now stands at “an outrageous slant.”

It has three storeys and bay windows at both the front and rear.

The Crooked House of Windsor is tilted at an awkward angle that seems to defy and even taunt the laws of gravity. But the building has not always been tilted.

The Crooked House of Windsor was originally built in 1592 AD, on the edge of the town’s market  square — thus its older name of the Market Cross House.

Originally, the structure was rented by a butcher because the area used to be the town’s meat market.

The original iteration of this structure spent her first 100 years as a normal, unremarkable commercial building.

That is, until 1687 AD, when the town council ordered the building to be torn down in order to make room for the neighboring Guildhall.

A dramatic legal battle ensued, which resulted in the council being rebuked for destroying the beloved Market Cross House and ordered to rebuild it just the way it was.

The bitter and impatient local council rebuilt the structure as quickly and as cheaply as possible.

Unseasoned green oak was used rather than a sturdier wood. So once the wood dried out, it buckled and warped.

Eventually, the house settled into its characteristic lean that you see today.

But there is an alternative hypothesis as to how the house became crooked.

Some historians point out that the structure remained at a straight angle up until 1820’s.

This was because it was sandwiched in by adjoining buildings, which would have supported it.

However, when these buildings were demolished in the 1820’s, the house had no side support and began to buckle and twist.

Evidence of this theory can be seen in an oil painting housed in the neighboring Guildhall.

During the Late Victorian period, when the painting was done, the Market Cross House was a beer shop known as Royal Standard.

The structure you see in the painting below doesn’t look nearly as crooked as what we see today.

Whatever the cause, this idiosyncratic beauty has a place in the hearts of many locals and is beloved by photographers around the world.

Over the centuries, The Market Cross House has hosted a butcher’s shop, a brewery, an antique shop, a tea house, and most recently, a jewelry store.

Another unique thing about the Crooked House of Windsor is a “secret” tunnel passage from the basement that purportedly connects the building with Windsor Castle.

This passageway was allegedly used by Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) to sneak out and meet his mistress, Nell Gwynn.

The Crooked House of Windsor last went on the market in 2015 for £1.5 million.

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

Today, Wikipedia told me...

That the legend of Herne the Hunter might have been made up out of the whole cloth by Shakespeare, for his play The Merry Wives of Windsor. He could have also been relating a local town legend, but his version is the first one we have in writing:

Margaret Page: There is an old tale goes that Herne the hunter, Sometime a keeper here in Windsor forest, Doth all the winter-time, at still midnight, Walk round about an oak, with great ragg'd horns; And there he blasts the tree and takes the cattle And makes milch-kine yield blood and shakes a chain In a most hideous and dreadful manner: You have heard of such a spirit, and well you know The superstitious idle-headed eld Received and did deliver to our age This tale of Herne the hunter for a truth.

(Act 4, scene 4)

Anyway, I'm going to take this opportunity to thoroughly recommend Merry Wives. It's another case where the general consensus of "Literary Shakespeare Scholars" and I part company; generally, it's considered one of his "lesser plays," and not very good.

It has a feel very much like an episode of "I love Lucy." I can't help but wonder if it's held in low regard because:

A) There's not a lord or king in sight, B) it''s very self-aware of its genre as a farce, and C) the plot is thoroughly driven by a pair of middle-aged, married, women (and we even get to learn their first names!).

...Considering who, generally, have been the arbiters of taste, regarding Shakespeare, for the majority of the last 300+ years.

I usually like to recommend Shakespeare plays to people by way of professional performance. But this play is so rarely performed. The closest I could find was this version by college students in 2012 (uploaded to YouTube in April, 2020, by the Texas Shakespeare Festival, since live, in-person, performances weren't happening that year). ~2 1/2 hours. Auto-generated captions. Content Warning for fatphobia in the original script.

Link to an HTML of the full script online, from MIT.edu.

[firstprince-ao3feed]

My sheets are ablaze (I've screamed his name)

by boyinluv13 “Did you call for me?” Henry asked quietly, stepping into the study where his grandmother was sitting before the big oak desk in front of the tinted window that made it impossible to peer inside from the outside. Next to her was his older brother Philip and on the chair before the desk, him. Alexander Claremont-Diaz, his future husband, turned around in his seat to look over at him, considering him with a darkened gaze. “Yes, Henry,” his grandmother said in one of her practiced voices when she was concealing the disdain of unwanted guests. “Mr. Claremont-Diaz here is going over the details for your wedding next week. And he has raised a… reasonable concern.” “Mr. Claremont-Diaz here, wants to make sure he's getting what he's been promised. And that means, Henry,” Mary trailed with an arched brow, “that you are indeed a virgin.” Or Henry is an omega who's lived locked away because his grandmother is ashamed of him. But once Alex met him, he proposed an agreement Mary couldn't refuse. But Alex likes to get what he's being promised. So a week before the wedding he comes to the Mountchristen-Windsors' asking for proof his future husband is a virgin. Words: 4563, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Red White & Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston, Red White & Royal Blue (2023) Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: M/M Characters: Alex Claremont-Diaz, Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, Queen Mary (Red White & Royal Blue), Philip Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor Relationships: Alex Claremont-Diaz/Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Arranged Marriage, Possessive Alex Claremont-Diaz, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Medical Examination, Not really scientific though, Alex does the exam and gets distracted, Oral Sex, Not Beta Read, we die like Mary hopefully will in the near future via https://ift.tt/lpmay17