Our home is a meticulously and historically restored 18th century cape in pristine, move-in condition. It features 3 fireplaces, a 'beehive' oven, and many more original features. It is a dream home for those seeking a true, period early New England house~ Judy Condon photographed our home in May and it will be featured in one of her upcoming books.

Our wonderful 18thc. cape is in eastern New Hampshire, not far from Brookfield, Wolfeboro, and the Maine border, in a beautiful area.

PLEASE GO TO 'TOUR' PAGE TO SEE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE PHOTOS OF THE HOUSE. KINDLY EMAIL US FOR AN INFORMATION SHEET ON THE HOUSE, IF INTERESTED.

Adam just built me the twig fence as a suprise. He built another style enclosing the herb garden. Go to TOUR page.

It was so hot when Adam was building the fence. I loved it so much, I wanted to make him a special lunch---homemade chilled watermelon soup, a tomato, red onion, and mozarella salad with balsamic vinegrette and fresh basil from the herb garden, and a salad of grapefruit, kalamata olives, avocado and lime!

YUM! Mary's homemade fresh strawberry pie in a shortbread crust, made with our own strawberries!

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Our dear friends, the renowned Peter and Nancy Cook hold a 'spinning bee' at their wonderful 18thc. home, 'Tare Shirt Farm' in Maine. Each year, spinners from all over New England come and gather on their beautiful grounds for spinning contests and tours of their little 1760 cape and barns, grounds, and gardens. We were invited to attend, and had a marvelous time! We took many photos to share with you. PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE MARKED 'TARE SHIRT PHOTO GALLERY'.

Here we are at Tare Shirt Farm, June 20, 2009. What a wonderful day! CLICK ON THE LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE TO SEE MORE!

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We were asked to appear at the 2009 season opening of the c. 1760 Tate House in South Portland, Maine. It was a perfect June day, and well over 200 people came to tour the house and stroll in the recreated period gardens. We had a picnic on the front lawn with china and pewter brought from home. Here in the following photos, we enjoy miniature tea sandwiches of Mary's homemade 'Chicken Salad with orange marmalade' on cranberry-orange bread, rose petal sandwiches with rose butter, fresh fruit, Mary's homemade lavender lemonade, chocolates, and fresh strawberries, among other delights!

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OUR UPCOMING PROGRAMS...

Saturday, June 13th, we went to the Strawberry Festival in Topsfield Mass., and then to Ipswich. Here we are in front of the 1799 Heard House in Ipswich.WE WILL BE PRESENTING OUR " DRESSING A COLONIAL LADY" PROGRAM AT GILMANTON, NH HISTORICAL SOCIETY JUNE 23RD AT 7 PM, AND AT THE HEARD HOUSE IN IPSWICH MASS. JULY 15TH.

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WE WERE HIRED TO PORTRAY GEN. WOLFE AND 'MISS LACEY' FOR 4 EVENINGS OVER MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AT THE HISTORIC WOLFEBORO INN GALA EVENT. General Wolfe was the hero of Quebec during the French and Indian war, and died there on the plains of Abraham in 1759. The town of Wolfeboro, NH where the inn is, was named for him that year. Following are photos taken the four nights of the event. Although Adam is in his English military coat of the period because Wolfe is most recognizable from paintings wearing such a coat, Mary is giving the guests at the inn an 18thc. fashion parade!

The Inn is on Lake Winnipesaukee, which is just beyond the lovely gazebo.

Mary, posing in our own yard, just before leaving for the Inn.

Mary wearing an irridescent moss green silk petticoat with a 'sleeved waistcoat' of printed India cotton in a replica 18thc. floral, which is laced up the front over a matching stomacher, with raspberry silk ribbon. She made her hat, and the back had pale green and raspberry flowers and ribbons.

Mary wearing her English style 'gown en fourreau' in an authentic period floral print.

Mary makes custom designed, one-of-a-kind 18thc. style straw hats. Here is one of hers, showing the back with the nest, butterfly, and dragonfly!

Mary in the flower garden right outside our door.

In the gazebo at the Inn, with Lake Winnipesaukee just visible behind us.

Here Mary is wearing the robing portion of her print en fourreu gown over an irridescent rose silk petticoat. She has drawn up the gown back in the 'polonaise' style.

Mary makes all her hats, and this one has a 'ruched' band and bow of fabric that matches the gown. She found irridescent sheer rose ribbon that exactly matched the petticoat. The back of the hat has a tiny birdsnest with eggs, dragonfly, and a butterfly glued on it as well!

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WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS FOR OUR 2009 17th CENTURY HARVEST DINNER HELD AT OUR HOME IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

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We are living history reenactors. Adam is a graphic designer, and Mary an antiques dealer. We are also public speakers, and present a number of different programs to clubs, historical societies and museums. We reenact several different time periods, from c. 1660 through the 1770’s, at various living history events.

Our most popular program is called ‘DRESSING A COLONIAL LADY’. Due to the wonderful reviews we get, New Hampshire Humanities Council has contacted us about applying to have this program on their list. At present, we get our speaking engagements and appearances through the flyers we send out, but mostly from word of mouth, and have excellent references from historical societies and clubs throughout New England.

We are gratified to see how much interest there is in how our ancestors dressed and lived life every day, over 200 years ago. Men, women, and children seem to love this program very much! When we arrive, Adam is in full colonial attire of the mid 18th century, and Mary is dressed only in a long white linen shift---the basic undergarment of colonial women, regardless of social status. She wears long cotton stockings with leather buckled knee garters, which were quite often home made, as ours are. Layer by layer, her husband Adam helps her to dress in a typical day gown of a middling woman of the 1700’s. The audience will learn that women’s clothing of the period never had buttons---only tapes made on a tape loom, and why it was necessary for her to have assistance with the sometimes difficult and restrictive clothing. Adam jokes that that is why there were not any “minute women”!

When we arrive, we bring many articles of women’s 18thc. style clothing items. We have small printed tags with the name of each item. We place these items, with tags, over one or two tables. After the program, the audience is invited to come up and look and handle, and ask about the various items. During the program Adam first laces Mary into ‘stays’. These, as well as the period gowns were custom made for Mary, from 18thc. patterns, and are stringently historically correct. All hems that show were sewn by hand. The ‘stays’ are followed by ‘pockets’, tied around the waist, a ‘hiproll’ or ‘bumroll’, and an under-petticoat of heavy linen. Depending on the style, the dress itself is actually several pieces, and can consist of a stomacher, petticoat, the robing or gown, or a short jacket, and a ‘modesty piece’. After all that, there is an apron, a cap, and a straw hat! Depending on the weather, Mary may wear a long wool hooded cloak and a pair of ‘mufftees’.

The audience will learn the purpose of all of these items and more.They will learn what a ‘huswife’ and a ‘bodkin’ are, and what they were used for! Mary’s shoes are also period-correct. The audience will come away with a real appreciation for how an everyday woman of the period would dress, and still perform her duties and chores in clothing that is so restrictive, that they as 21st century people cannot imagine wearing! They will learn why ‘stays’ were so important and that a garment would never fit without them, how valuable textiles and clothing were in the 18thc., and much more. During the program, all are invited to ask any and all questions. We feel this program is a fascinating first hand look into another era, and our audiences seem to as well!

We both have extensive backgrounds in living history, and in colonial life, and the clothing of the period. Because we reenact battles and 17th and 18th century life at historical events for museums such as Ft. Ticonderoga, Old Sturbridge Village, Saratoga, Ft. Pemaquid, Quebec, and many others, it is very important that we portray in our actions and our dress, life as it was at the time, and we have considerable experience at doing that. We have also had roles and bit parts in films, such as the documentary on King Phillip’s War, “The First Patriots”, and “The War That Made America”, on PBS.

We sincerely hope that you will visit our website, www.thecountryladyantiques.com to learn more about us, and that you will contact us if you are interested in booking a DRESSING A COLONIAL LADY program!
Sincerely,
Adam and Mary Spencer

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~Comimg Soon~

A BOOK ABOUT OUR HOME AND LIFE

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We have a hard-cover book about our home and our life currently in the works! Titled 'COME THROUGH A NEW HAMPSHIRE DOORWAY', it is a feast for the eyes, and will contain many new photographs of our home and our 'little piece of heaven' here in rural New Hampshire. Pictures and text about our lives as living history reenactors are included, as well as some of our favorite recipes, and more. It is a small slice of a New England life we want to share with you! We will be selling the book through orders on our website this year~

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Adam and Mary Welcome You.

The Country Lady Antiques Specializes in good old-fashioned New England furniture, early lighting, hearth iron, folky paintings, early textiles and more. Emphasis on original surface whenever possible.

email us at:

countryladyantiques@yahoo.com

Adam and Mary’s 18th century wedding, May 27th, 2007.