'DINNER WITH THE PIGRIMS 2'~NOVEMBER, 2011

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www.thecountryladyantiques.com

Adam and Mary's 'summer of 18thc. tea parties' PART3, anniversary, and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'~

Here I am at our tea party the opening day at Tate House, Portland, Maine, in June 1010. I am waring a dress toile print in light yellow and shades of blue. My gown is a closed front, en fourreau style...

Today is our anniversary. We are planning our 18thc. tea party celebration, and I have just chosen the menu, and done my shopping. We had tentatively planned our picnic for tomorrow, but the weather may be a bit 'iffy' and we don't want to take any chances. I am making what I can ahead of time and freezing, and we plan to now play it by ear, possibly having our anniversary celebration in a week or two.

 I am making MUSHROOM SANDWICHES, CURRIED CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES, SPINACH SQUARES, PISTACHIO MINT MERINGUES, AND LAVENDER COOKIES, ICED TEA WITH MINT, AND FRESH FRUIT. I will be posting about our 18thc. anniversary picnic after we have it, and will include lots of photos.  We will be in York Maine for our al fresco tea, and then may possibly tour some of our favorite historic sites there. I plan to pull out all the stops and wear the sacque back gown a la francais, the hat I made, my scalloped lace kerchief, and to bring my white fingerless gloves and lace parasol.

I have given you the 2 cookie recipes in past posts, and here will share one of the other recipes with you, along with a New Hampshire recipe from 'Tea with Miss Rose'.

Sesame originated in Africa and was first planted in the United States by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello. The use of sesame seeds in New England kitchens was well established by the mid-nineteenth century.

NEW HAMPSHIRE SEED COOKIES~

3/4 c. hulled, toasted sesame seeds (*hulled seeds found in Asian markets)

1 1/2 sticks softened UN salted butter

1 1/2 cups tightly packed brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/4 c. flour

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 325. Toast sesame seeds in a heavy skillet over low heat. Remove to bowl and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, with mixer cream together butter and brown sugar. Sift together flour and baking powder. Blend into butter mixture. Add 1/2 c. of the seeds, and the vanilla; blend thoroughly. Form dough into 1/2" balls (chill dough if it is too soft). Dip ONE SIDE of each ball into remaining seeds. Place seed side up on un greased cookie sheets, leaving space for cookies to spread. Bake 10 to 15 min., until cookie edges are slightly browned. Cool on wire racks. Store in airtight container or freeze. They can be frozen for a month.

MUSHROOM TEA ROLL UPS

1# fresh mushrooms, including some shitake or other 'exotics' along with white mushrooms, chopped fine.

1 stick of softened unsalted butter (plus extra for coating bread)

1c. light cream

3 tsp. sifted flour

3/3 tsp. salt

2 tsp. chopped fresh chives

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 and one half loaves THIN SLICED  bread ( I am using oatmeal or whole grain-Cut crusts off bread. Roll with rolling pin if not thin enough-bread must be thin.)

Melt butter in a large skillet. Saute mushrooms over low heat apprx. 8 min. until juices re-absorb. (I strained them also to make sure all liquid was gone). Set aside. In a bowl combine flour and cream, and add to the mushroom mixture in pan. Cook over low heat until thickened. Add salt, chives, and lemon juice. Mix, and cool to room temp. Butter one slice of bread. Spread with some mushroom mixture. Roll up jelly roll fashion. Slice each roll into thirds. *(This is best made the same day, or a day before and refrigerated. Make the roll ups the day you are serving.)  Delicious.

Tonight I plan a simple anniversary dinner of fresh catfish sprinkled with lots of 'Old Bay' and grilled on the BBQ, then put on whole wheat kaiser rolls with tomato slices and tartar sauce.  I made homemade broccoli-cauliflower-red cabbage-carrot cole slaw,  fresh corn on the cob, and my individual 'molten chocolate cakes' as a special treat. Our wedding cakes were similar, and we love this recipe. I serve them warm and melt-y with whipped cream and fresh strawberries on the side.

We have the 1935 black and white film version of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', which we think is absolutely magical, and the best one I've ever seen. We both love it, so we are watching it tonight.

Adam, at a tea picnic we took last summer~

A letter from Amy Tudor, and memories of Tasha...

Many months ago I posted a story about my serendipitous and unexpected meeting with Tasha Tudor years ago, and what she said to me. (http://anhistoricallady.blogspot.com/search/label/Tasha%20Tudor).  Recently, several readers read it, and commented to me, so I put a link to the post in the sidebar of this blog.

This story is dear to my heart, and is a memory I will always treasure. Miss Tudor has touched the lives of countless people, bringing joy and whimsy to everyone.  She was an inspiration all of her life. Many years after our chance meeting, I was widowed, and came alone from the midwest to New England, and thus began my story---"the big adventure of my life". I have talked about my experiences in past posts as well. I like to think that if Miss Tudor had ever come here for tea, she would have loved my tiny, ancient cape, my inexperienced and fledgling efforts at a true New England garden, and my story as well...

Today, I received this  incredible letter from Amy Tudor, who had just found my blog, and my post about meeting Tasha. Adam and I intend to go to Vermont this summer to meet Amy and the Tudor family, and see the Tasha Tudor museum. Amy's letter is so unexpected and appreciated, and brings my own 'Tasha story' full circle. 

Here is Amy Tudor's letter to me~

May 24, 2011

Dear Mary,

Having just read your blog post about Tasha Tudor (google kindly alerts us to all mention of Tasha Tudor online!)  I feel I simply must make your acquaintance!  I very much enjoyed your writing and photographs on your site and find it very obvious that you are very knowledgeable about the authenticity of Tasha’s beloved antiques, history, etc!  Most importantly, I’d like to make sure that you are aware of our new Tasha Tudor Museum which is still very young and growing a greater clip than we can keep up with!  I think that you now live in Maine ?  I’m grew up and Maine and still have family, now in the Portland area. 

 

I would love to meet you and show you our starter site if you are ever in the Southern Vermont region!

 

I remain eager to make your acquaintance.

Sincerely,

Amy

 

Amy Tudor

General Manager

Tasha Tudor and Family Inc.

www.tashatudorandfamily.com

Director

Tasha Tudor Museum

PO Box 2546

974 Western Ave

Brattleboro VT 05303

www.tashatudormuseum.org

I encourage everyone to visit the above websites for which I have provided links, and to visit the museum when it is open.
Through her books and her lifestyle, Miss Tudor has left a legacy that will continue to delight all ages for many, many years.
I am pleased that I also have a precious memory of kind words from a grand lady~

UPDATE~2012~ We were hired by the Tudor family to present our 'DRESSING A COLONIAL LADY' program for the museum in Vermont. On a lovely evening in July 2012 we presented our very popular program at a large church hall that had been reserved for the occasion.

*(The newspaper is incorrect---I am not employed by the Tudor museum.)

The event was open to all by reservation, and we had a most wonderful time presenting 'DRESSING A COLONIAL LADY' and meeting everyone. You can read about our program that evening HERE.

You can find out more about our costumed historical programs and house tour teas on our website HOME page, as well as on this blog.)

A finished 18thc. wig, and the 17thc. goldwork coif~

I finished the wig for my customer, Mistress K., last week and shipped it off to her. I was very happy with the way it turned out, and with my hand-stitched side tendrils. I did send it along with a rose silk ribbon bow I made, and a pale pink ostrich feather, as small gifts for her to possibly adorn her new wig with on occasion. I took these photographs before I shipped the wig~

This photo above is most representative of how the wig looks. I took the photos below with a flash, and it causes the wig to look 'shinier' than it is. I love the wig because it really does look like human hair~

Here finally are photos of the 17thc. goldwork coif that the fantastic Bonnie made for me. She put my monogram on the back, and I was just thrilled. The embroidery on this coif is so detailed and beautiful, and Bonnie and her business, thistlebees.com, go above and beyond to please. Her prices are so reasonable, and she makes the custom things you dream up. My husband needs a new 17thc. collar, and this summer we plan to have her make us one.

My coif has a place of honor on display in the built-in wall cupboard in the bedroom of our old house, right next to our 1686 bed. I plan to wear it for very special 17thc. occasions~

My monogram~ M S E

 

 

I have some new 18thc. projects up my sleeve for the near future, and will share them when I start them. Our wedding anniversary is coming up, and as I mentioned in previous posts, we plan to get all dressed up in our best 18thc. outfits, and take an elegant picnic to York Maine for the day. We are kind of playing it by ear, waiting for a Saturday that is sunny and warm, but it will be soon, and I will be sure to post all about our day, with many photos.

'Classic New England'~a green tapestry, and the period. gardens~PART 1

The sign on our 18thc. house.
Below is the river and 18thc. mill just down from our home.

Our house is known as the 'mill house'. This is the c. 1784 mill that is just a few doors down from our home.

Another view of the mill. Oral tradition says our home was built in the 18thc. for the family that originally had this mill, which is only about a couple hundred feet from our house.

This is a little crossroad just down from our house. The house is part of church buildings. The sign on the post is advertising a mini antique show we had in our yard on a summer day!

This is the covered bridge in our town. It was moved, as you can see, and it is awaiting repairs before being put back over the river...

An old abandoned barn down the road...

Our 18thc. center chimney cape in New Hampshire.

The brook in our yard.

"I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk - roses and with eglantine."

This granite stone 'sink' is for sale on the OFFERINGS page of our website...

Take a tour of our 18thc. house and see all updated photos of our period gardens HERE~

Fun with frocks~

 Here are some photos of me finally wearing the new dress, and 'THOSE SHOES'! We had a great time last night with Adam's parents, for Adam's birthday dinner. We went to the new restaurant just around the corner in the old, 1870's train station. The food was amazing, and we all had fantastic seafood dishes.

My hair is quite a bit longer than it looks here. I curled it a little, and then did one of those pony tails where you wind it up and through the band, loosening it, and forming 'rolls' of hair alongside of the tail. Adam loved it.

I mentioned in an earlier post around the time of the royal wedding, that I have been the happy owner for many years of 2 timeless Kevin Simon dresses, as well as hats that I made to go with them. I love her c. 1913 'look', and I wear these frocks in my 'regular life' when I have occasion. (Nowadays, her things are very pricey, and I am glad I got my dresses long ago).  You can see that my taste in hats does not run toward the British 'fascinators'. 

This is my 100% navy silk sailor dress by Kevin Simon.  I got it in the early 90's, and still love it.

I made this hat many years ago to go with the dress. I always get a ton of compliments anytime I wear this ensemble.

I bought these shoes in the 80's from the JC Penney catalog for $19. I have loved them all these years, and they look so adorable with the vintage-looking sailor dress, as well as with a few J. Peterman outfits I also bought years ago, and still wear. I also have a few other really different and cute shoes I wear with this dress...

This is another Kevin Simon creation that is also very circa 1913 in look and feel, and that I also got years ago. It is a tiny cram and black stripe. It has 3 ANTIQUE buttons on it.

This is a very wide brim, eliptical, very fine hat in a toast-color straw, with 3 inch wide black satin bow, and a gorgeous bronze silk rose. I wear it with the dress above, and also with a stunning, Victorian looking suit that has a long straight skirt with a slit, and a magnificent fitted and flared jacked with a velvet chesterfield collar. (I will have to feature that in a future post sometime...)

I have made a favorite for dinner tonight---Shrimp, Watermelon and Avocado Salad. I just took this photo----mmm---Can't wait. I have given this recipe in a past post~

I made Adam the most scrumptious looking dessert. It smells so good, "my tongue is about to slap my brains out", to quote a southern friend. I don't eat sugar, etc., and it's hard, because this looks mouth-watering---its a brownie topped with a chocolate chip cookie layer. It's been a long day of house and yard projects. We're going to eat, and relax watching 'Lark Rise to Candleford'~