A Fairy Tale Story--and Wedding

I don't normally use this blog for family news, but I'm making an exception today. . .

For there couldn't be a prouder Aunt. . .

We "headed for a wedding" on Saturday--

 my youngest nephew's marriage to a lovely young lady. 

Mary is a beautiful person--inside and out. . .

Shannon made a wise choice.

It's a fairy tale story of two people who have known each other for over 17 years--

who have dated though out high school--
who have shared their faith in the same church--

who have gone through college together--

and who have now chosen to spend the rest of their lives
--together--

whatever the future holds. . .

It's also the story of a father,

who loved his daughter so much, 

he personally designed and stitched her wedding gown.

This same father, along with his wife, 

watched their daughter grow in love for my nephew.

And, even though there were tears in his eyes,

he very graciously gave his daughter's hand in marriage--

With his special blessing and love to them both.

We all shared our love and blessings to the happy couple. . .

Shannon and Mary Duncan

married Saturday, May 19, 2012

Salem United Methodist Church

Conway, AR

 

And, so, another chapter in their fairy tale begins. . .

Recipe for Grandmother's Buttermilk Pie

There's a story passed down in our family that Granddaddy Magers never drank anything stronger than buttermilk. And, that his favorite dessert was buttermilk and cornbread. Even though they lived inside Dell city limits, they had a barn out back for the milk cow, Mom's horse, and the chickens, not to mention numerous barn cats. Until the 1950s, Grandmother milked that cow everyday and made butter when it was needed. Of course, the liquid coming off the butter was saved for Granddaddy. Grandmother kept a special pitcher she poured the thick, rich liquid into--always the same pitcher. Once it was filled, she used the remaining buttermilk in her daily cooking.

One recipe handed down to me was her Buttermilk Pie--

Buttermilk Pie

or Buttermilk Coconut Pie

by Alice Ruddle Magers, ca. 1930

Melt 1 T. Butter. Add 1 cup Sugar and blend well. Whisk in 3 Eggs. Then whisk in 4 T. Flour. Add 1-2 tsp Lemon Juice and 2 cups Buttermilk. Pour into an Uncooked Pie Crust and bake at 375 degrees until set and edges begin to brown.

To make a Buttermilk Coconut Pie, add 1/2 cup coconut before pouring into the uncooked pie crust.

Absolutely delicious. . .

 

Be sure to put this recipe together the way it's written, or your pie won't as be as light as it should be. Believe me. . . I learned the hard way. . .

Grandmother's pie was featured at: Hickery Holler Farm

Linking with: * Homestead Barn Hop * Share Your Cup Thursday

Around The Farm. . .

busy this week with the keeping room renovation and "heading for a wedding". . .so, i grabbed my camera, walked out the back door, and quickly snapped these. . .

ya know. . .sometimes i keep my head down and work for way too long. . .and miss the blessings around me. . .

Vintage Pattern for Retro 50s His & Her Plates

During the 1950s, it seemed that every--I mean "every"--kitchen in Dell had a pair of these charming his and her plates hanging on the wall. One reason for it was a Vacation Bible School at the Baptist Church the summer of 1958. As our craft project we each made a set of these cute plates to surprise our Moms with a gift. I had a hard time sneaking bits of fabric and trims out of my mother's sewing room without her knowing. I also had a hard time keeping it a secret. I think Mom probably suspected, but she never let me know.

That summer, we flooded the town with his and her plates to hang on kitchen walls.

It never ceases to amaze me all the different combinations of fabrics, rickrack, and trims that make each plate unique--with personalities of their own.

I've collected these his and her plates for years, mostly found in thrift stores and flea markets. I can't pass one up, because I know each and every one of them were made with love and care. And, because they are truly charming hanging in the kitchen, bath, or bedroom.

The patterns below came from the original Vacation Bible School project in 1958. I found them in a box of my old keepsakes and thought I'd share them with you. . .

Directions for making the retro plates are simple--

Gather together: white plates, paint or other trim for the edges, fabric scraps, felt scraps, trims, white glue.
Paint the edges of the plates--or, try gluing rickrack or other trim along the edge.
Print out patterns--right click and save image to your photo file. Enlarge or reduce, if necessary, and print.
Cut fabric pieces and glue with the white glue. Try using Shabby Chic type fabrics or the bright popular fabrics of today for a different look.
Add embellishments. Personalize your plates so that they are unique to your tastes.
Add names, dates, whatever you like.

Use plate holders to hang on the wall. . .

Instant charm. . . 

Linking with:

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a daily cup from Mrs. Olson

Plans For The Keeping Room

As I've said before, I'm drawn to the primitive look of the 18th and 19th centuries, but when it came to renovating our keeping room, I hesitated using the drab colors of that time period--not because I don't like them. I do. But, the keeping room/kitchen is long and narrow.  The darker colors might make the room appear smaller.

I've always liked the lighter, whiter side of primitive decor that's so popular these days. But, how do I fit it into our keeping room that doubles as a pioneer settler's home during our workshops on open hearth cooking?

I thought for a long time on this. Finally, I hit upon an idea that makes me happy and fulfills our goals at the same time.

Since we're all about cotton, I'll base my color palette on those neutrals--white, browns, grays. The primitive cabinets that we'll move into the keeping room will get a white wash look to them, and I'll accent it all with the staples of a cotton farm--denim, burlap and unbleached feed sacks. While the pioneer woman of the early 19th century may not have used a white wash on her furniture, her grandchildren may have. I'll display the white ironstone for our daily use and change it out to red ware for our workshops. Pieces of pottery will fit in with either choice.

I was excited. . .and began to collect inspiration from many sources. . .

from Country Living and Country Home magazines (above). . .
from  A Fine Farmhouse
and Faded Charm Cottage
and French Country Cottage
and many others on the net.

 from: Karen Ledour at Old Timer's Mall in Missouri

from the look of old sheds like this one from Country Living magazine,

 and old weathered siding on a farm house along the road. . .

 from my own stash of denim

 and unbleached feed bags. . .

from my plans--years ago--to checkerboard the floor. 

The ideas just keep coming. . .

When will we start?

NOW!!!!!!!!

First a fresh coat of paint. . .

Then we'll move in the primitive cabinets and place them along the wall. . .

It feels so good to finally have a plan. Now, I'm motivated to complete the project.

I'll keep you posted on our progress. . .

Linking to:
White Wednesday @ Faded Charm Cottage 

A Real Country Kitchen

Remember the post Early Farm Kitchens?
Look what I found in some of Daddy's photos. . .
This is a real country kitchen--typical of the ones in the shotgun houses here on the farm. Brings back memories of my visits to several of those families during my early years. . .

Open shelves of canned goods, a kerosene lantern for light, eggs stored in a wire basket, oil cloth for the table.  Notice the ice pick hanging on the side of the ice box. . .

A wood burning cook stove, iron skillets, a Hoosier cabinet. Obviously, this kitchen had no electricity.

  

I have no clue how Daddy got these photos--whether he took them or not. If they came from any of you, please email me and let me know. I'd love to know the location of this house/museum.

In the meantime, we'll all just enjoy them. . .and the memories they may bring to mind. . .

I'm Sharing this post with: Rural Thursday

Back To The Past

A few weeks ago, we were all about the 1950s. 

(Retro 50s At The Old Greyhound Bus Station)

Yesterday, we were living in the 1830s.

Do any of you get the idea that we like to dress up and play?

Yep, you're right!

We traveled as early pioneer hunter/trappers to

Parkin Archeological State Park Thursday

to join other living history interpreters for Arkansas Heritage Month. 

Conquistadors, French fur trappers, sawmill workers all demonstrated 

their daily lives for several groups of students--one group arriving from Tennessee. 

At our "camp", they experienced pit fire cooking, grinding with an Indian grinding stone, a taste of freshly dried pumpkin seeds, weaving a rag rug, and a demonstration 

of 19th century firearms.

They had tons of questions and seemed to totally enjoy the hands-on experience.

We had a great time, too. The day was over before we knew it. 

Luckily, we snapped a few photos before our visitors arrived, 

or I wouldn't have these to show you--

Ben as "Hernado DeSoto"
Doesn't he look just like a Spanish conquistador?

John as a Cherokee hunter/trapper,
known as Chief Big Knife.

Cooking on the fire.

Rosemary "Prairie Chicken," basted with "Bear Grease."

Weaving on the loom. 

Move over Annie Oakley?

You still have time to join in the fun.

Interpreters will return today and tomorrow--

May 11-12. 

Everyone's invited. . .
And, you can tour the Indian Mounds while you're there. . .

For more information about the park:
Parkin Archeological State Park