Happy Mothers Day!

May is a wonderful month for me. It is Mothers Day and I have three wonderful children and 8 grands. It is my birthday and I turn 50 something later this month. It is my anniversary and I have been married 39 years on the 26th. Yesterday we went to town and dropped by the Salvation Army. Look what I found! Almost cheaper than dirt! It is a stone plate. I put some garlic and a fly screen on it and here it is...

Today we did yard work and went to pick up our trailer to load the limbs and this was at the backdoor.

It is a half rusty pierced candolier. I have hung it in the settle for now. I love candlelight and really appreciate my hubby for this gift. I want to use it as a bedside light in the guestroom one day after I get a hanger for it. I am so blessed and wish every mother a special blessing. Pam

At the End of the Day...

...it is so nice to kick off your shoes, stick your feet in the edge of the spa, rub them (Or have him rub them.) with some spearmint oil and slip on some clean white socks.

I am spoiled!



These are the display shoes on the guestroom hearth. A lady's late 19th century pair, a man's Civil War brogans and a beautiful pair of leather-wool-wooden soled child's boots.

It's also good to read God's Word, forgive someone, call a friend, share some popcorn and breath really deep for tomorrow is another day.

Amish White Bread Recipe

A request was made for my recipe and here it is. It really is so easy and so delicious. Enjoy!

2 cups warm water
2/3 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil (I use olive.)
6 cups bread flour

In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast.

Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam. Mix salt and oil into the yeast mixture. Mix in flour 1 cup at a time. (I use the dough hook on my Kitchenaid.)

Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth.
Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat leaving seam side down. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes and divide in half. Shape into 2 loaves, and place into two well oiled 9x5 inch loaf pans, seam side down. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen about 1 inch above pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F. (175 C.) for 30 minutes.

Allow to cool before slicing. (If you can stand it!)

I don't know who to give credit to for the receipt but it is wonderful. Today I took one half of the dough and rolled into golf ball size balls and placed three balls in each oiled muffin cup. Made the most beautiful Cloverleaf mufins. I took a half dozen to my elderly neighbor who is fighting Cancer and she was thrilled as bread is her favorite thing to eat right now.

The grands ate the rest of them with butter and honey! I even had enough left to form a smallish loaf for the girls and they had a wonderful tea party of bread and tea.

It is a good feeling to make a simple staple with my own hands and I had a great day making bread with and teaching my grands. It is easy and delicious. The flavor is 1000% better than a bread machine to me.

Darn it!

That's what I try to do, especially on our period stockings. The picture shows my sewing kit spread out in preparation for darning one of hubby's cotton stockings.

The use of a darning egg is crucial so that you get the proper 'bend' in the repair so that it is more comfortable. I simply pull the stocking over the egg, use my thread to make a warp a bit larger than the hole and then weave the thread the opposite direction following the original weave of the fabric. Not difficult and gets better with experience. It is such a simple pleasure to repair something of value rather than tossing it on the trash heap.

I have pictured my ebony wood darner, a blown glass egg which is also known as an encourager egg that is placed in the hens nesting box. I even have a sweet potato! Sothron girls used whatever they had on hand for a repair. Also pictured are assorted wool and cotton threads, some needles and iron snipping scissors.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to this small corner of my world.

Darn it!

What in the world will I do...

...with all this wonderful Amish White Bread?


I can't remember where the recipe came to me but it is my 'all time favorite'!

I have made bread for years and it takes a lot of training and judgement to make good bread but I found this receipt and it was perfect on the first try!

Here it is pictured with some creamy butter and a vintage bread knife. When it came out of the oven, my grandson, Frank and I ate half the loaf right on the spot with butter and homemade blueberry preserves.

Homemade bread really helps to make a home.

Blessed Easter and Passover!

Here is a picture of what keeps us motivated.  Eight grandchildren!  We had our Easter egg hunt on Saturday because our three children go to different churches in different parts of our state.

Of course, we miss having them all together on Easter Sunday, but our hearts are filled with joy knowing that they are all in their own churches worshipping and serving the risen Lord!

The eggs and bunnies are fun, the meal and fellowship is sweet, but these children all know why we celebrate this day. It is the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  It is the celebration of hope. It is a time for reflection on what Father God has given to us through His Son.

May your Easter or Passover be a blessed one with family by your side and God in your heart.

Frank and Pam

Tasha Tudor Inspiration

A post on a forum inspired me about Tasha Tudor and I got my books out last night.  I have a few old ones but most are newer books.

I didn't realize I had so many of her wonderful books. I especially love the Heirloom Crafts book.

Hubby bought me this one for an anniversary gift several years ago. It is Pumpkin Moonshine, Tasha's first book in publication. This is a 2000 edition.

I was so surprised to find that it was signed by the author. Isn't Frank a darling? I was so excited I jumped up and down and read until midnight!
 
Like Tasha, I like to think of myself in 1830, a simple time where life seems slower, more kind and it completes me.
 
Blessings,
Pam

How Do You Make A Boiled Egg Primitive?

...like this.  They are displayed in a sponged yellow ware dish on my old cutting board along with a vintage pewter salt shaker.

Here's a close-up.

And another.

Frank and I are preparing for an Easter musical at our church and we set the table for the Last Supper scene. Frank insists that the men eat at the table for the visual effect and we make these 2000 year old Chinese Tea Eggs.

I even plan to use the shells in an art project as I can't bear to throw them away!

If you want to make your own, here's how:

Boil your eggs.
When done, gently tap them with a spoon all over.
Place them back in the water in their cracked shells.
Add 1/4 cup soy sauce, 3 TBS. of loose tea, Chinese Five Spice (Or your own concoction of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg) and some salt.
Simmer two hours.
Remove from heat until cool.
Peel and serve or leave in shells in the original egg container in the refrigerator for a few days.

They are delicious and...they look prim enough for The Last Supper!

One Of My Favorite Things

I recently posted a repro doll my hubby gave me and thought I would post this one, too.

Estelle is one of my favorite things. She is named after my paternal aunt and Estelle is a wax over paper mache' English doll. She was made in the first half of the 1800's and has a slit in her head on the top where her real hair ringlets are inset. She has wonderful glass eyes and her hands and fingers are a finely woven fabric. Estelle's shoes are stitched of leather. Her dress, I believe, is not original but is vintage lace. She sports a pink satin belt and a golden brooch.

Her face is crazed from years of humidity and cold but I love her just the same. She was another anniversary gift from Frank. He knows how to treat me right!

It pleases me to save these dollies and to protect them, much like God saved me and protects me with His Spirit.

If you are tattered and torn and crazed tonight, know that the peace of God will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Birthday To Me...(Well, it isn't my birthday!)

...this month, or next month, but hubby got me this wonderful early gift. I feel like the luckiest girl on the planet!

As a reenactor...my name is Rheema Rispanti. I was born in 1810 in the olde country of Rumania. We migrated to the United States and my wonderful grandmother, Anna Christiann, made this doll for me patterned after those dolls she had in the late 1700's. I have named her Anne.

Here is her perch on the guest room washstand. She likes it here among the woolen curtains and coverlets, the grainsack pillow cases and the porcelain bowl.

I just love the detail of her little fingers and hands. I am used to hardworking hands for a woman's work is never done on the homestead. Anne plays a wonderful harpsichord with her long, delicate fingers.

Anne's little face is scarred and worn, not perfect by any standards, just like me, but she is loved.

I do hope you have enjoyed this little trip with me. Frank got the 22 inch doll on eBay which was made by artist Daun Rochelle of Florida. If you get a chance to own one of her dolls, go for it! The quality is amazing and Anne will have a permanent place in my home and in my heart.

I guess a girl can have a birthday everday if someone loves her as much as Frank loves me!

A Taste O' Ireland!

...as I was collecting the items for our traditional St. Patrick's Day meal, I stumbled across this wonderful specimen...

It is what mama always called an Irish Potato but this one is special...it is in the shape of a heart! Here I have pictured it in a bed of clover, but tomorrow this 'heart' will go into the boil pot with a corned beef brisket, some carrots and cabbage to celebrate the love of family and the country that gave us part of our rich heritage.

Frank and I both celebrate our Irish Heritage through the Burke and O'Neill families.

Erin go bragh!

Here Came Peter Cottontail...

...hopping down my bunny trail! And here is what he left.

I don't do a lot of Easter decorating. Closer to that time I will open the Holy Bible to an appropriate scripture, set up a candle on a stand along with a beautiful bisque china lamb that I have. I just wanted to set out a few Easter things for the Grands and thought you might enjoy.

Here's Buddy and Sissy Bunny. They stopped for a minute in the old vegetable carrier on the toy trunk.
















A feathered nest basket holding a spiced egg in the Jelly Cupboard.
















My Williamsburg sheep. He is my favorite.
















Mr. Rabbit running with a basket of daisies across the Jelly Cupboard.















Sharing a homespun egg among some crockery.
















An ostrich egg with a resin bunny and a velvet flocked bunny on the right.
















Guarding the carrots on the Dining Room table.
















Homespun eggs on a trunk.
















I like to move the bunnies and chicks around for my granddaughter so you might see some more later.

Thanks for looking.

Remember...the eggs and baskets and candy are nice and fun but only One Savior has given His all that we might live whole and complete.

A New Bowl, A New Day

Last Saturday we went to town. Remember folks saying they would 'load the younguns up on th' wagon and go to town'? We live about 40 minutes out of a larger city and gas prices have forced us to limit our town going. Anyway we stopped by the Salvation Army store and I found this wonderful pewter bowl to go along with my repro and vintage pieces. I think it looks wonderful decked out with dried pomengranates.

I am tired of 'collections' of things and am really trying to eliminate those groups of collections. I use everything that I own for theater, reenacting, school and church productions, holiday meals and celebrations. I just love using original things, as long as they are not going to get damaging wear. The new pewter fits the bill for serving without the danger of lead poisoning!

The goblets are vintage as is the little footed cutting board. The candlestick was made by one of the Meaders family potters. The towel is a real huckabuck and does not get used.

Well, it is a new day too. I love new days, new opportunities. I especially love sunrise and the light that it sheds on this new day God has given us. Between us, my next favorite time of day is dusk. The day is done, the sun is setting, birds are scampering for their nests, my mind is at rest, my soul is at peace.

Well, gotta get the laundry finished and work on supper. Thanks for stopping by for a little visit.

Blessings beyond what you can ever imagine.

I'm 'LEAP' ing for joy!

Well, it is leap day and I hope it is a good day for you.

I try to find God's blessings in every day. In fact, I live for every 15 minutes. I know if I can make it 15 minutes, I can make it another and on and on. I know that sounds silly to some but when you have a limited short-term memory, every 15 minutes counts.

Yesterday we came home from school and look what was left at our back door.

A wonderful aged and weathered cotton gathering basket. No, the girl didn't come with it but she is the greater prize, our wonderful, full of life granddaughter. She is in there to show you the ample size of the basket.

An older couple of friends just left this basket at the door. Someone had given it to them years ago and it was just 'in their way' in their tiny storage building. In fact, they said, "Do you want that old thing?' when hubby called to thank them. (They had told us they had a basket they thought we might like.)

God's blessings abound for me. Part of Hubby's test results came back clear of Cancer, I am grateful that we can pay our bills even when it seems impossible sometimes, our Father just seems to care for us in a special way. He always has and always will!

Just wanted to share my joy with you today.

Blessings~
Pam

I Won An Award!

Tricia from Hillcresthome Prims nominated me for The Versatile Blogger award and I am so appreciative.

I am to list seven things about me that you probably don't know.

1-I have played piano for 49 years. Started when I was 8 and trained in the Classical style. Now I play everything from gospel to ragtime to classical to lullabyes for my sweet grands. I also teach piano.

2-I suffered a double brain aneurysm in 1997 and give God the praise for my healing. I have short term memory loss but each day is a gift for me.

3-I built two 13 foot Blackfoot Native American teepees!

4-In my lifetime I have made dozens of dolls and give each one a name before it leaves my home. Many of the names are actual ancestors names.

5-I enjoy researching 19th century recipes and cooking them on my late 19th century wood cookstove.

6-One of the simple thrills of my life is going to my chicken coop and gathering the daily eggs. It is a blessing from the Lord,...and my three little hens.

7-I enjoy collecting American Country primitives in original finish and love researching and executing old, worn finishes on my projects.

Now you know a bit more about me. Hope I didn't scare you too much!

Many things are faked...

I have lately noticed the trend in collecting artificial fruit and vegetables. The vintage stone fruit that is carved from stone and has a dusty appearance is quite in vogue now, and has an 'obscene' price tag to go along with it as one of my friends states! I recently sold a set of wooden carved fruit that was painted and I primmed it to perfection. My choice is in the picture above, paper mache' fruit and veggies. This is a vintage collectible and is still readily available and at a respectable price.

I love the different characteristics that the paper offers, a bit torn, a bit worn, a scuff, a scratch, a peel of the peeling. To the far right is one of my favortie pieces, it is an open pomengranate. Today I picked up the bunch of a dozen carrots for under $4. They aren't paper mache' but they look really good with my collection. Just thought I'd post and maybe inspire someone else to begin a collection that is eye pleasing and easy on the pocketbook.

Another friend commented that life is full of fakery and isn't that so true? We try to hide our fat, disguise our bad breath, cover a flaw, direct the eye away from a definite fault. I always try to be true to my friendships. What you see is what you get! And I always try to 'do unto others as I want to be treated'. What a wonderful plan to live by.

A news report recently spoke about having a day called RAK Day, Random Acts of Kindness. All day just do random acts of kindness for people all day long. Might not catch on nationwide but I plan to do it at least once per month. When doing for others, truly, we don't have time to be fake or artificial.

God sees our hearts and records our every move. I think He would approve!

Storage in Trunks

We live in a Victorian home and though it is wonderful here, it is also authentic in that there is very limited storage. The few closets are small and for collectors of things there has to be other sources of hiding places.

The stack of trunks at the foot of my new bed is one idea you might be able to use in your own home environment.

The bottom trunk is one that my hubby gave me in 1973 as a wedding gift. He refinished it and lined the inside with white satin and braid trim. It houses my wedding mementos, a really neat place especially for those things I love.

The leather trunk above it holds part of our 19th century toy collection. Many of the things we handmade after extensive research. It is easy to grab it and go to the next reenactment or living history event.

Being a reenactor 0f 19th century life we have to be prepared with many of the activities of the period. The next trunk up is a wonderfully grain painted box with a glass knob that my husband painted. It houses our collection of period school supplies. Text books from about 1830-1880, an abacus made by my husband, a clay slate for children to learn their lesson, a metal lunch pail, an old school bell and vintage slate and graphite pencils. We portray the school Master and Mistress.

The brown box, third from top, is my writing kit. It houses vintage pen nibs and a mother of pearl pen, quills, walnut and poke berry inks, a sander, a vintage pen knife and proper papers and stamps dating to the Civil War era. I use it to write children's names at venues. They love to see their name written with ink and quill.

Above that one is a yellow painted cigar storage box. My mama worked for the tobacco company and would stack hand rolled cigars into the boxes for curing. It houses authentic Civil War items that we have collected and a few Indian artifacts.

Last but not least is the small box at the top of the stack. It is a modern black box that has HOME printed on one side. My daughter gave it to me at Christmas and it houses our own address stamp and ink pad. I love it.

Storage is important wouldn't you say? Where would all this live if not in their respective trunks? One other storage place is my heart. I love to hide God's Word there that I might not sin against Him. I thank the Lord for my home and for the storage within, for the memories within, for His grace toward me.

I hope you enjoyed this tour of my trunks. I have another for photographs, an early 19th century 6-board chest for the grandchildren's toys, a storage casket for woolens and extra linens, a round top trunk for my children's special childhood things, a Cedar chest and a smallish 18th century glove box that used to be hide covered. Wow! That's a lot of trunks! Lots of memories, too!

Blessings~

God's Blessings Abound

This is my dining Room. The table is the first piece of furniture we bought in 1974. It has indentions from pencils in the top where my children did their homework. Their shoe buckles wore the finish on the bench. I will NEVER refinish it! It is such a memory blessing for me to own.

I have displayed a woven runner, some pewter and bone handled utensils. I have four 1840 plank chairs and a ladderback make-do we built. I love candles and we use them often. They always enhance any meal whether it is a bologna sandwich or the best roast.

I am blessed.

This is a washstand we bought in 'kit' form. Actually it was in pieces when we bought it at auction.

We put it back together, made a missing part, painted the part salmon and then overpainted it with brown and aged it. You can't even tell which part was reproduced.

I use an old porcelain bowl that has a brown glazed ring inside it and a buttermilk pitcher in a brown glaze. Add a piece of brown lye soap and flaxen towels and you have it. I added a small candlestand as a night light.

I am blessed.

We bought this four poster rope bed last year at auction. It is in its original finish and just fits our room wonderfully. I used a feather tick mattress on the ropes and then a down duvet on top of that, old linens, a wool and flax coverlet and the top pillow is an old grain sack.

The rocker is a Vermont Combback Windsor in original finish and a hammered pewter piece of art hangs over the bed. It is the Last Supper and is so detailed you can see the coins in Judas' bag.

I am loving how this room is turning out.

I am blessed.

I am blessed not just with things but with friends, with life, the air I breathe, the food I eat, I am blessed.

God has not overlooked me,...ever, and never will for I have simple, childlike faith in Him. How sweet to live life in the comforting arms of God.

Blessings to you all.

Spring is Coming!

Spring is coming and that means the reenactment season is near. We don't do much in the Summer, a bit more in the Fall and Winter, so I really look forward to the Spring. Everything is fresh, we have bundled up all Winter and it is time to relax in our 19th century clothing. Relax? Oh yes! All of my period clothes, authentically styled, are comfy. Folks knew that natural fibers wore better and were more comfortable. When someone says...Isn't that long dress hot? I want to reply...Not as hot as that synthetic short set you are wearing made of recycled cola bottles! You see I get breezes that most folks don't get!!

Fact is, sometimes it is hot no matter how much you have on or take off!

The biggest part of our joy is that the grandchildren enjoy our hobby along with us. They LOVE dressing and acting out their parts. They will study language, mannerisms and how to wear the clothes so they will be their best.

We play a Reverend and his wife in some situations. I guess that's alright since we are a ministerial couple and we try to serve God in all that we do. In fact, that is our daily goal...to live before God, to help others and to inspire others still.

The picture above was me last Spring, a peddlar spinning and selling her goodes.

Hope we see you 'in the field' someday soon!

Merrie Christmas to You and Your Whole House!

Just a simple note to wish each of you a Merrie Christmas. Pictured is a vignette of one of our gifts to ourselves, a cherry oval box. We don't want to take any gift for granted.

This year we have made the very conscious decision to keep Christmas dear to our hearts and to not let it hide in the busyness of the season.

We are thankful for health, for friends and family, that we can afford some food, for the provision of funds for a few gifts. We are grateful for the laughter of children, for warm beverages on a chilly day, for each egg our hens provide for us. We are thankful for a God who would send His best gift to us, so that we may truly live.

So, with that said, Merrie Christmas to you and to your family. You are a gift to us!