1895 Hotel Thanksgiving

Women Preparing Thanksgiving Dinner in a Big Kitchen, c.1890


Hotel Jones Menu*
Thanksgiving, November 28th, 1895
Winston, N.C.


New River Raw Oysters
Iced Olives
Celery

SOUPS
Oxtail Broth
French Medication

ROASTS
Beef Fricandeau
Roast Loin of Pork with Apple Sauce
Roast Spring Lamb with Mushroom Sauce
Baked Ferris Ham
Roast Turkey with Chestnut Dressing
Prairie Chicken Steamed

ENTREES
Spaghettie a la Italiane
Veal Patties
Mock Duck
Pressed Chicken
Fricasseed Rabbit with White Sauce
Oyster Short Cakes

VEGETABLES
New York Boiled Dinner
Corn Pudding
Hot Slaw
Scalloped Tomatoes
Potatoes Surprise
Perfection Carolina Yam
Green Peas
Turnips with White Suace
Lima Beans

RELISHES
Pickled Peaches
Mixed Pickles Chow Chow
Cranberries
Tomato Soy
Watermelon Pickles

PASTRY
Salted Grapes
Cheese Straws
Cream Cheese
Larabee's Snow Flake
Crackers
Deception Pumpkin Pie

DESSERT
White Citron Cake
Coconut Layer Cake
Fruit Layer Cake
Plain Cake

JELLY
Cox's Gelatine with Whipped Cream

ICES
Pine Apple Ice Cream
Lemon Water Ice

FRUITS
Malaga Grapes
Bananas
Layer Raisins
Layer Figs
Apples
Florida Oranges
Mixed Nuts

Coffee
Oolong Tea
Milk
Belmont Water


People Dining in a Hotel Dining Room

*From Korner's Folly Cookbook, described by it's author Beth Tartan as "a culinary counterpane, little bits of information, like squares in a quilt, ... fitted together to give a glimpse of life in an American village."

Photo Shoots

© 2009 Brian Deputy Photography

Brian did a still life photo shoot recently for a competition. This particular entry was for the food category. While he was working, I decided to shoot the shooter.

The morning prior to this, Bri got a call for his first real estate photo shoot. He was awfully excited . . . so were we. The reality was that the process involved shuffling tons of baby toys out of camera range before he could actually take the shots. At least he went into the job with lots of experience! lol

© 2009 Brian Deputy Photography

Milk for the Cat

When the tea is brought at five o'clock,
And all the neat curtains are drawn with care,
The little black cat with bright green eyes
Is suddenly purring there.

At first she pretends, having nothing to do,
She has come in merely to blink by the grate,
But, though tea may be late or the milk may be sour,
She is never late.

And presently her agate eyes
Take a soft large milky haze,
And her independent casual glance
Becomes a stiff, hard gaze.

Then she stamps her claws or lifts her ears,
Or twists her tail and begins to stir,
Till suddenly all her lithe body becomes
One breathing, trembling purr.

The children eat and wriggle and laugh;
The two old ladies stroke their silk:
But the cat is grown small and thin with desire,
Transformed to a creeping lust for milk.

The white saucer like some full moon descends
At last from the clouds of the table above;
She sighs and dreams and thrills and glows,
Transfigured with love.

She nestles over the shining rim,
Buries her chin in the creamy sea;
Her tail hangs loose; each drowsy paw
Is doubled under each bending knee.

A long, dim ecstasy holds her life;
Her world is an infinite shapeless white,
Till her tongue has curled the last holy drop,
Then she sinks back into the night,

Draws and dips her body to heap
Her sleepy nerves in the great arm-chair,
Lies defeated and buried deep
Three or four hours unconscious there.

~ by Harold Monro ~

Oh, the Drama

Several weeks ago Brian and I were privileged to witness a dramatic presentation very loosely based on the story of Moses; the presentation was coordinated by Bridget to complete her unit study on Ancient Egypt.

The lines were ad-libbed. I'm afraid photos can never recapture the magic for you, but I post these so the memory lives on for me (and because I promised my sister I'd share the silliness). I did refrain from showing pictures where the actors were doubled over laughing because - let's face it - everyone looks goofy caught in mid-laugh. There was much laughter; my photo selection was severely limited.

Act 1

Setting: The home of baby Mo'-sis

Mother: played by Brittany
Father: played by Joshua
Aaron: played by Jonathan
Miriam: played by Bridget
Mo'-sis (because one sis is never enough): played by Megan


Act 2

Setting: The banks of the Nile River

Princess: played by Brittany
Two armed guards: played by Josh and Jon
Miriam: played by Bridget
Mo'-sis: played by Megan

Mother and Father share the sad news with Miriam and Aaron.
[Mother had apparently been ironing. ;o)]

Aaron helps ready the basket that Mother built with Fischer Price.

As Miriam stands guard over the baby,
she laments and sings lullabies - at the same time.

The princess discovers the baby.

The princess and her guards pull the basket out of the Nile.

"Aaron"

"A palace guard"

"The princess"

"Mo'-sis"

"Miriam" celebrating her sister's rescue.

Pepperoni Pizzas

Just for a moment I actually considered take out,
but instead we stayed in.
Good decision.

Time to Stand and Stare

Leisure
by William H. Davies

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.


Leisure?? . . . Well, perhaps not the title for me, but the sentiment of the poem I much agree with. Life about the domain is very full indeed; but it is sweet and rich, and I do my best to absorb every precious minute of it.

My days brim with responsibilities and work and chores, but those weights are lightened by the laughter, hugs and "I love you, Mommy"'s. I find such joy and contentment just gazing at my children, watching them interact with each other and seeing them bloom. When I watch them I am humbled beyond anything I can verbalize; humbled by the grace of God that in His generosity, love and compassion He would pour out such great blessings in my life. It is all so undeserved.

Here's a bit of beauty dancing from the last few weeks. . .

























So when you don't see me around here very much, I'm just taking time to stand and stare.

And so it begins again . . .

. . . the counting of days. Monday morning Brian documented Day One since this was Jon's first official day of official counting. His very last first time . . . so to speak.

8th Grade

5th Grade

2nd Grade

Kindergarten

Carefree