Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Upstairs, Downstairs - Kinda

This is the final week of my indentured servitude on the farm--till spring, that is. I had a wonderful time hearth cooking today. The children were lovely, along with their teachers. It's days like this that make me glad to be here. Just a few snaps of the house when I was free to wander. Yeah, farm livin' is the life for me. Or at least interpreting it.











18th century medicine cabinet. Something you might find in it is a purple concoction: Pick wild violets, boil them in a sugar syrup, and viola. Cough syrup.



Turning flax into linen is a skill I hope to learn in the future. This girl needs a change up from candles and cooking. Just sayin'.

20 comments:

Unknown said...

I love the fabric on that bed. It's PIN MONEY!!!!

Jodi said...

JoAnn, it's SOOOO pin money!

Julie @ OnePennyJumblePacket said...

Gorgeous photos! Love the bed and cradle. The flax thingy (technical term) looks very interesting, too.

Julie @ OnePennyJumblePacket said...

BTW, when I first saw your post title, I thought we were having another one of our weird synchronous moments because I just started watching that series Upstairs Downstairs. If you haven't seen it before, I highly recommend it for filling all the winter days when you're not cooking on the farm.

Jodi said...

Julie, do you mean the flax thingy that looks like a weapon of torture? If so, it's called a Heckle. I've heard it's where we get the term, "to heckle" someone. You drag the flax stems through it to shred and collect the fiber.

Upstairs Downstairs, sounds like a plan--If you're referring to the 70's version. I didn't care much for the new one.

Leslie said...

I think learning to turn flax into linen would be a fascinating occupation! (And perhaps less hot than standing over a boiling kettle in the summertime heat!) Love that red medicine cabinet.

Julie D said...

Heckle! Love it!

Yes, we just started watching the 70's version. Did you realize that it was created by the same woman who created The House of Eliot? I also watched THOE based on your recommendation. I loved it. John thought it emasculating. So far, he's digging Upstairs, Downstairs.

amy said...

i want to live there. ok?

Southern Gal said...

We missed the hearth cooking at our local museum and archives. We didn't even make it to the Revolutionary War Days. We need some history tours soon! I've always wanted to know how to card wool and spin it.

Amy said...

I think you've got the perfect job, as long as you get a change up come spring, of course:)

Jodi said...

Amy, ok :)

Jodi said...

Southren Gal - come visit!

Jodi said...

Amy, I do love my job, but a change in routine is nice sometimes. There's so much to learn there.

Anonymous said...

fun!!!! :) i know the teachers and students appreciate you!

mountain mama

Janie Fox said...

I love it all. I wanna sleep in that bed with the curtains.

Nancy said...

Is there anything you don't want to learn? I love that you're so curious!

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

I often wonder what their lives were like, those early American ancestors of mine. Cannot really fathom it, and wish we had something similar here to go and visit for a good look!

Emily said...

I LOVE that photo of the forest from the window - it looks just like something from The Village :) And that recipe is fascinating. I wish medicine bottles still looked like that!

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

Do they do retting there too? Linen is a tough process. I've seen it done, never done it myself. I love hearing about all the things you do!

Jodi said...

Kristi - retting as in soaking the flax in water before beating and heckling? I believe so. I've heard spinsters talk about it, but I haven't personally seen it done.

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