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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: 01debbie on Monday 10 December 07 09:49 GMT (UK)
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Having recently been re-acquainted with a good old fashioned hot water bottle, (& wondering how I've ever coped without it!!!) I was wondering which other items from the past are still used reguarly by Rootschatters?
Debbie :)
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My favourite oldies are fountain pens. :)
Anne
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Some recipes, from my mother,and those the children [they are both over 30!]
used to enjoy.
Also a letter opener my father was given in the fifties.
Kooky
oh and a glass bell bauble and an angel doll both older than me, that will be on my Christmas tree next week! :D
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My Gran's knitting needle guage (even if it is in Imperial measurement!)
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My great grandmother's dining table and chairs, some of her cutlery and lots of her recipes
Karenlee
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Still use my grandmother's Christmas cake and Christmas pudding recipes.
I still have some 1lb loaf bread tins too that were grandmother's and they are a lot stronger than the ones you can buy today.
Christine
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I was still using a "Thornto Pickard" plate camera untill a few years ago, I had to make my own photographic emulsion to coat the plates with. I finally gave up using it because of those messy procedures and it now sits on my desk.
I also still use an old wooden jack plane like the ones we used at school woodwork - it is far more useful than an electric plane.
But of course when on the farm over in the Philipines we use many olden day impements including a single blade plough pulled by water buffalo, a well for water and hand tools for harvesting rice. It's so strange to see these implements being used alongside laptops and mobile phones.
Denn
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My mother-in-law's wooden spoons, rolling pin, potato masher, cutlery (and still have a few un-used canteens that she got as wedding gifts), her sewing things (and until recently her treadle sewing machine), dining room chairs that belonged to husband's great-grandfather, Queen cake recipe that husband's mother got from her grandmother, other family recipes, my grandmother's sugar shell which always sat in the sugar bowl on her kitchen table, and lots of old Christmas ornaments (oldest from 1901).
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I don't use anything fom the past myself, but my dad still has a lot of stuff from when he was a kid in the 1960s and we also have this little booklet from when my grandad did national service in Malta and what is now Yemen (he was a driver in the RAF).
Stephen :)
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My Wife ;D ;D ;D She still looks as good and runs as smooth as she did forty years ago :D :D
Ken
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My Wife ;D ;D ;D She still looks as good and runs as smooth as she did forty years ago :D :D
Ken
But do you?;D ;D
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Do houses count? If so, then our house is definately from the past - it was built in 1893.
Stephen :)
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Do houses count? If so, then our house is definately from the past - it was built in 1893.
Stephen :)
I don't see why not Stephen!! I wonder who lives in the oldest one...maybe that should be a new thread :D
I'm not so sure about wives though Ken :o
Debbie :)
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Imperial measurement and weights most of the time, and i still prefer the old £sd even though it was more complicated.
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But do you?;D ;D
I wish you hadn't asked, I was only after brownie points. ;D ;D
Ken
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;D ;D ;D
My nans glass rolling pin made in the glass factory my ggrandad and his dad worked in. My nans knitting needles and baby knitting patterns.
My MIL still has cutlery in use that belonged to my ggrandfather (I have my eye on those ;) ) and the prize possession that the next baby christened will wear its 3x gr grandfather's christening gown 8)
jc
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Having recently been re-acquainted with a good old fashioned hot water bottle, (& wondering how I've ever coped without it!!!) I was wondering which other items from the past are still used reguarly by Rootschatters?
Debbie :)
Definitely the hot water bottle. I always thought an electric blanket was rather a SCARY THING. I mean, you're laying on loads of wires producing ELECTRICITY for gawd's sake. One slight break in those wires could lead to...well....a shocking experience at the very least, couldn't it???
Not to mention sleeping enveloped in an electric field.
Maybe it's me and my paranoia, but I always thought this was a REALLY BAD THING. Like living next to an electricity pylon.
I got rid of my electric alarm clock for the same reason.
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My grandpa's toasting fork and my daughter now has his steel for sharpening knives.
Nanny Jan
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I also have my grandad's steel, my grandma's baking tins (which are better than today's) and I love my hot water bottle.
Crystal
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Mum gave me her old glass jelly moulds, which I use for posh do's.
We're having people round for an old fashioned meal at the weekend, so I will use them for a blancmange. Remember blancmange?! ;)
I also use an ancient cherry stoner. Very effective, but juice sprays everywhere, and after stoning 1/2 pound of cherries, it looks as if I am a mad axe murderer, covered in blood :o
meles
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Remember blancmange?! ;)
meles
Oh yes!!! I have happy memories of birthday parties when the rabbit shaped blancmange would appear briefly, before wobbling into a non distinct shape!!!
Debbie :)
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Oh yes! I'd forgotten that blancmange animals quietly slid into road kill after 15 minutes. :-\
meles
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I have my great aunts Neatette kitchen unit along with her old tall boy and my grandmothers tall boy, all the ideal sized pieces of furniture for the size of our house. I also have and very carefully use my grandmothers mixing bowl although I get very worried each time it gets used in case it gets dropped.
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Welcome to Rootschat 4kni - and you have reminded me - I use my grandmother's mixing bowl too!
meles
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My husband (85), my nans china Jug, nans thimble,a glass scrubbing board and myself.
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I've just remembered another one, a bottle opener belonging to ggrandfather.
Its been well worn :D
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By whom?! ;D
meles
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I now have my late Grandma's steel and carving knife, also I have her old metal jelly moulds :D these are very small individual ones, so as children we used to eat the jelly straight from the mould, metal spoon and metal mould, my mum used to cringe at the noise :)
Jane
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A 1916 singer sewing machine,one with a handle, it just purr's along :)
Eilleen.
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Mum and Dad's dinner service, which we kids clubbed together to buy for their Silver Wedding anniversary, always comes out on special occasions. Unfortunately a serving dish has lost it's lid and I can't find a replacement. :(
It is a very 1950's/1960's style In yellow and grey sylized flowers, red rose hips and black thorns.
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Mum and Dad's dinner service, which we kids clubbed together to buy for their Silver Wedding anniversary, always comes out on special occasions. Unfortunately a serving dish has lost it's lid and I can't find a replacement. :(
It is a very 1950's/1960's style In yellow and grey sylized flowers, red rose hips and black thorns.
Hi Stoney,
Not sure if they have it but it might be worth checking out this site;
http://www.replacements.com/china/manu/m.htm
Good luck!!
Debbie :)
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Actually Stoney...let's try an English website LOL :D
http://www.platemates.co.uk/?id=manufacturer&manufacturer.id=18
Debbie :)
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a turn table, 8-track player, cassette deck and VCR
I do have my great grand dad's pocket watch (and presentation papers that accompanied it) but that's not in use. ;D
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A 1916 singer sewing machine,one with a handle, it just purr's along :)
Eilleen.
Did you know that you can still buy those things? I think they are made in India, but can be bought in the Philippines. Also many people in the P.I. still use an iron that is filled with charcoal.
Denn
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dennford. do not mind using the sewing machine ,
but an iron, what's that ??? ???
Eilleen.
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Actually Stoney...let's try an English website LOL :D
http://www.platemates.co.uk/?id=manufacturer&manufacturer.id=18
Debbie :)
No luck on the English site or the other one, unless my un-named pattern is one of the ones without an image - just my luck! :-\
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dennford. do not mind using the sewing machine ,
but an iron, what's that ??? ???
Eilleen.
Heavy
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Two cake tins that someone made years ago for my gran. They are really thick metal and solidly made, so good for making Christmas cake, the outside doesn't burn before the middle is cooked. I also have her recipe book which she started writing at the beginning of 1900s. Many of her recipes are back in modern recipe books.
That's about it, I'm the exact opposite of a hoarder, so have hardly anything old in our house.
Lizzie
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I have an old stone hot water bottle
originally used as lemonade bottles
Elaine
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Having recently been re-acquainted with a good old fashioned hot water bottle, (& wondering how I've ever coped without it!!!) I was wondering which other items from the past are still used reguarly by Rootschatters?
Debbie :)
Definitely the hot water bottle. I always thought an electric blanket was rather a SCARY THING. I mean, you're laying on loads of wires producing ELECTRICITY for gawd's sake. One slight break in those wires could lead to...well....a shocking experience at the very least, couldn't it???
Not to mention sleeping enveloped in an electric field.
Maybe it's me and my paranoia, but I always thought this was a REALLY BAD THING. Like living next to an electricity pylon.
I got rid of my electric alarm clock for the same reason.
I'm glad I'm not the only one with a complete terror of the electric blanket .... I think it sounds too much like electric chair! :o
Carole
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Mum's rolling pin and some of her baking tins, odd bits of cutlery that were Grandma's, Mum's sewing basket and button tins, Christmas baubles that were mum's and some that were Grandma's, mum's food mixer (she died in 1981) and a cherished collection of real silver 3d bits that I put in the Christmas pudding. Oh, and a garden roller made by my grandad (d.1925) who was a blacksmith.
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Aunt Wins beautiful treadle Singer sowing machine, must be from the 1930s
It is the most beautiful piece of furniture as well as being a joy to use. Once I inherited that I slung the electric one.
Oh, and Mums darning mushroom, comes in handy for a lot of little sewing jobs.
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My DNA! ;D
Stephen :)
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Only reason I got rid of old treadle Singer was that it didn't work well anymore and even after having it serviced I had bother (it was suggested problem was using cotton thread but the machine was built long before synthetic threads were used).
My mother had an old darning egg and a few years ago I asked her for it whenever she would be finished with it (my sister doesn't mend anything so wasn't interested)- next package there it was and I use it constantly.
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Actually Stoney...let's try an English website LOL :D
http://www.platemates.co.uk/?id=manufacturer&manufacturer.id=18
Debbie :)
No luck on the English site or the other one, unless my un-named pattern is one of the ones without an image - just my luck! :-\
This is a piccie - just in case anyone might come across it! :-\
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Stoney, is there a maker's name or pattern on the base?
Kooky
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Stoney, is there a maker's name or pattern on the base?
Kooky
Hiya!
It just says : GLO-WHITE Alfred Meakin, England.
One of the websites I looked at (suggested on earlier reply) had a few pictures missing - so for all I know it could be one of those! The dinner service would have been bought 1967 but I don't know if this was a contemporary design. :-\
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I am still using my Nana's rolling Pin and the scales she gave me for a wedding present nearly 50 tears ago
Elizabeth 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
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Well I'm blowed, I'm still using the scales my dear old Dad gave me for a wedding present and that is just neatly 40 years ago... They were very advanced and modern... metric and well as propper weights.
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Up until this year (when we broke it) I slept in my GGrandmothers bed and I still use the rest of the bedroom set now
I make gravy in my grandmothers gravy boat and use the carving knife, steel and fork that were my grandads to carve the meat (well OH does - he wont let me near sharp things lol)
I know theres a lot of other things around the house - will have to think a bit longer
Willow x
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I am still using my Nana's rolling Pin and the scales she gave me for a wedding present nearly 50 tears ago
Elizabeth 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Mmmmmmm...Elizabeth, those cakes cooling on the side look good :)
Isn't it interesting that most of the items mentioned, are kitchen utensils? All handed down, all well used & well loved.
Stoney, maybe you could start a new topic for 'missing crockery pieces' or soemthing. I'm sure you're not the only one!!!
I've seen mangles covered in ivy etc in gardens...anyone still use one? I can remember vividly helping my Mum, Gran & next door neighbour to feed the sheets through...happy days ;)
debbie
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A Google of Alfred Meakin turns up some interesting pages,
http://www.chinasearch.co.uk/china/meakin_gallery.php
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I am still using my Nana's rolling Pin and the scales she gave me for a wedding present nearly 50 tears ago
Elizabeth 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Lol I hope thats a spelling mistake Elizabeth
Willow x
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I am still using my Nana's rolling Pin and the scales she gave me for a wedding present nearly 50 tears ago
Elizabeth 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Mmmmmmm...Elizabeth, those cakes cooling on the side look good :)
Isn't it interesting that most of the items mentioned, are kitchen utensils? All handed down, all well used & well loved.
Stoney, maybe you could start a new topic for 'missing crockery pieces' or soemthing. I'm sure you're not the only one!!!
I've seen mangles covered in ivy etc in gardens...anyone still use one? I can remember vividly helping my Mum, Gran & next door neighbour to feed the sheets through...happy days ;)
debbie
Mangles - yes, I remember using one of those! We didn't get a twintub until 1967 so washing was done by hand in an old metal tub with a posser! Then we used to take it in turns to feed the washing through the mangle rollers - I always used to hate feeding the first bit through!
We used to hang the washing on a pulley in the kitchen, unless it was good weather outside.
I'm not quite old enough to say that I used a flat iron (we had a Morphy Richards electric) but we did have them around, used as doorstops, I think!
We also had a couple of cobbler's lasts - my Dad always used to mend our shoes; stick-on soles with a very strong and heady (and possibly now illegal!) glue, and he used to hammer "segs" into Mum's court-shoe heels!
Coo, I'd forgotten about those lasts - they got left behind when we moved, along with the flat irons and a large stack of old 78rpm records (Goons, Stan Freeberg, Spike Jones and his City Slickers........wish I had access to them now!)
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I am still using my Nana's rolling Pin and the scales she gave me for a wedding present nearly 50 tears ago
Elizabeth 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Lol I hope thats a spelling mistake Elizabeth
Willow x
Now that was a silly mistake and here's me made my New Years resolution to do a spell check on all my mail it could well be 50 tears away :'( :'( :'(
Debbie the cakes are something I made up myself
A Dundee recipe and added a jar of sweet mincemeat
Had a slice for my tea and is very tasty
Elizabeth
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One of my jobs was winding the handle of the Mangle.
Denn
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Hi Denn
WOW!! Thanks for the piccie...it instantly brought back the pain of trapped fingers between the rollers!!! ;D
Debbie
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Never mind Elizabeth its not new year yet so that resolution doesnt count
My sister has my mums glass rolling pin which she was brought when she was married 45 years ago. Mum always threatened my dad that if he misbehaved she would hit him with it. Dad always said he had to behave because he wouldn't only get beaten he'd get lacerated to death too!
Willow x
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And I always remember the fire under the copper. When Grandma finally got a washing machine (hand operated) we kept the copper and used to use it for the annual wine making - elderbery, blackberry, parsnip, carrot and much more - that must be what heaven is about.
Denn :D :D
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Hi Denn
WOW!! Thanks for the piccie...it instantly brought back the pain of trapped fingers between the rollers!!! ;D
Debbie
Thankfully I never did that, do you remember the dolly sticks used for washing clothes (sometimes called podger sticks)?
By the way, sorry if I dissapointed anyone but those pics were of a mangle and copper in a museum - I only wish I had them in my place.
Denn
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I almost wish that I not read this lovely thread!
All those memories, I remember all of them ugh! Does that make me old?
My Great Grandfather's Clock presented to him in 1898. It still keeps good time and stands on my mantlepiece.
I also have 2 huge dishes which we use every year for the Christmas Turkey and ham. The big one takes up to 30lb of bird, the smaller one is used for ham. They belonged I think to my G.G.Grandmother.
Rabbit B ;)
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What a wonderful thread. I have my g grandmother's cow-shaped creamer. My dad used to pour milk into our oatmeal with it and now my kids love the same. I also have a set of four plates. We haven't determined yet if they were my great grandmother's or great great's. I also have a doll carriage, doll bunk beds, and a child's rocking chair that have been handed down through 4 generations now. My mother has loads of stuff, mostly kitchen things, that belonged to her grandmother (her mother was DEFINITELY not the cook in the family :D). And I have a lovely leather-topped coffee table that belonged to my grandmother.
Kath
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my nans barometer
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Oh dear Toni* just noticed your avtar now I have the song stuck in my head!
pum pum pum.... pum pum pum.....
Willow x
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:D Denn :D Parsnip Wine, my dear little Mum's favourite, and quite deadly when she made it :D
WOW! Rock on...or more likely after a glass...Roll on :D :D :D
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Paula,
Your Mum's parsnip wine reminds me of the time that my Mother made it ready for Christmas one year! She corked it tightly and there were some very loud bangs in the middle of the night when they all blew up! It was in the wartime, and we all thought it was another raid! :D
;D ;D ;D ;D Made a dreadful mess! But was very funny!
Rabbit B ;)
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Stoney, I don't know how to say this but.......
my nan had exactly the same dinner service! as soon as you described it I recognised it.
now what happened to it :-\ I know I inherited lots of odd bits and pieces everytime they downsized and I do remember the serving dish too. Next time I'm over my parents house I shall have a mooch in their garage. How annoying just to lose the lid.
jc
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My Grandma's wedding ring, which I was married with. Her aspidistra stand and hall table. My mother's rolling pin.
Elaine
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We have my mother-in-law's very old wall clock on the lounge wall. It still keeps perfect time..or at least I think it does. We stopped winding it up because the tick toc was so loud, and the lovely chime, chimed every quarter of an hour, so when we were watching a thriller on TV, and it came to...'and the murderer is....' BONG BONG BONG... >:(
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Grandfathers seven day clock; great grandmothers hand made lace edged hanky with her initials on it (for best !); recipes handed down; lots of furniture; dozens of books ... oh and parts of my house are from around 1580 !
On a more personal note, I'm still using the same heart, lungs, kidneys etc I was born with ... but oh ! not all the teeth !
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Oh dear Toni* just noticed your avtar now I have the song stuck in my head!
pum pum pum.... pum pum pum.....
Willow x
dilly ah
lol, i was trying to explain it to my kids who didj't get it so i looked it up for them!
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Toni*
I think I have the 7" record somewhere - your quite welcome to it lol
Willow x
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My Grandma's wedding ring, which I was married with. Her aspidistra stand and hall table. My mother's rolling pin.
Elaine
This has just reminded me that I am wearing my G.G. Mother's wedding ring, [my original ring is now on an old letter of my initial, made of diamonds from a Victorian stickpin, of the type worn in ties. It was always very unlucky]
Changed it for G.G.Mother's 20 years later. Good move problems solved! ;) Luck changed for the better! If ever I am daft enough to wear it now, I have a really bad day. Shame 'cos it is a pretty ring! :( Golden wedding next year so I am glad I changed it!
Mother was married with Her G.G.Mothers and my Daughter was married with my Mother's. :D
Hope you can work that out folks you are welcome! I can't!! Too tired to try! ;D
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Saying that my GGrandmothers wedding ring is on my little finger - forgot that one lol
Willow x
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Not the past but is this the future
My son daughter-in-law and three children have been to Florida and guess what they brought me back
Now I have to ask how much ingredients do I use to fill these two tins
Its Santa and I know one family will be wanting a Santa cake made
??? ??? ??? ??? ???
And who is going to make it
Elizabeth
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Another angle
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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I have seen these and they are adorable when they are made. I've seen Santa completely decorated with frosting and then I have seen it with just a dusting of confectioner's sugar (the route I would take :P) and both were lovely. It is a lot of cake, though
Kath
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How much sponge mixture?
Fill both halves with water and measure how much water you have used. Then pour the same amount of water into a cake tin 8 - 9 or 10 in and see which one it fits the best. Then use a recipe for the right size cake tin.
I have a M&S recipe book that will give you the ingredient portions for different size cake tins if you need it.
ps timing might be difficult as the depth of sponge varies in the moulded tin :-\
jc
I have done a teddybear one in the past where I use piped butter icing.
Or you can use the ready roll icing and colour or use water based, non-toxic paints, which can be effective.
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Brilliant JC. :)Who knew Rootschat would be so great for so many different things.
Kath
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Last year I bought a 1940s 2nd World War "Utility" coat from a 2nd hand stall. Lovely blue wool and a beautiful shape. When it's cold and wet out I put on this 65 year old coat and a hat and stay warm and dry... the rain just seems to roll off it. It's the comfiest coat I have ever had.
They certainly knew how to make quality items in those days. Can you imagine any modern day item of clothing being such good quality and lasting that long? ::) ::)
Milly
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Re cake, just remember that 2ozs of butter sugar and flour = 1 egg therefore do 4 ozs of everything and 2 eggs and so on! I put a couple of pounds of fruit, nuts and cherries,brandy soaked in 6ozs and 3 eggs, that makes a huge Christmas cake. Don't forget the mixed spice and brown treacle!!!
Re the old things it was nearly cold enough for me to wear Mum's old musquash coat, made long before the fur lobby was bothered about wearing fur! It is so warm! Years old [as am I] and very cosy! it is too ;D
Rabbit B :D
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Brilliant JC. :)Who knew Rootschat would be so great for so many different things.
Kath
Kath
This is why I posted the photo of the cake tin JC the water sounds a good idea
I was going to make a sandwich mixture
I thought of making the mixture 8ozs of each
When I make my chocolate and sandwich cake I use 600s of each if you read me
I used to make the grandchildren the snow man but I gave the tin away now I have a much bigger tin of Santa
If I have time I will have a bash see how it comes out he maybe land up with his head off or something
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
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Milly I think your coat will be a good one by the sounds of it can we see it
Talking of things lasting ,my husband and I started going out together on 5 .12 .1956 :D :D
it was near xmas so he bought me a card and present
This is the first and may I say last xmas card I have had from him
It has 3d on the back and it comes out every year
Hubby always Say's he buys quality it last longer
The family think it funny even the grandchildren
Elizabeth
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That's a family heirloom ... tresure it, and keep it in the acid free !
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Milly I think your coat will be a good one by the sounds of it can we see it
Talking of things lasting ,my husband and I started going out together on 5 .12 .1956 :D :D
it was near xmas so he bought me a card and present
This is the first and may I say last xmas card I have had from him
It has 3d on the back and it comes out every year
Hubby always Say's he buys quality it last longer
The family think it funny even the grandchildren
Elizabeth
What a beautiful card Elizabeth,
They knew how to make them in those days. MY OH was doing his National Service in 1956, he sent me some lovely ones from Cyprus, but I didn't keep mine sadly the dog tore them all up! He kept his though, and they are still as lovely as the day I bought them.
My stock saying is that you only get what you pay for! That card proves it. 3d was worth a lot more in those days.
Rabbit B :D
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Milly I think your coat will be a good one by the sounds of it can we see it
Here it is at a WW2 railway weekend.... The dress underneath you can barely see is also original late 30s - and that's one of the comfiest dresses I have too.
Milly :)
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Nice photo Milly I have a basket lie that hanging in the garage
I had it for my cookery at school then my husband used it for taking the food stores to his boat 8)
Elizabeth
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Lovely picture Milly,
Love the outfit, could have been made yesterday. it is such a classic style. 8)
Hate to say it but my basket is the same as well, why does it seem heavy these days I wonder? When it's empty too! :-\
Rabbit B :D
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I still use my moms old chip pan ! It is 50 years old and she brought it over to England from Ireland, when Thursday came and the money was running short, being paid on a Friday, we would have our pals round and she would make us chips wrapped up in in wax paper, loaded with loads of salt and vinegar, not like the horrible orange things that you buy in chippers these days that taste like the smell of of "kebabs" ! These chips were cooked in beef dripping and were delicious. Every now and them I have a yearning for me mammys chips and get out her old pan, bu they never taste the same somehow, needless to say It dont happen very often, nobody can make chips like me mammy !
Carol
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You can't beat Mum's cooking, Carol.
My mum used to make the most delicious apple dumplings...Oh to sit down to one again. It was her recipe and she wouldn't share it...wish she had.
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My mum was a brilliant cook - everything home made as money was short and they were bring up three of us
Pies, pastys, cakes, tarts, stews even pork pies
I can cook but she made it into an art form
Still miss her :'(
Willow x
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My mum was a brilliant cook - everything home made as money was short and they were bring up three of us
Pies, pastys, cakes, tarts, stews even pork pies
I can cook but she made it into an art form
Still miss her :'(
Willow x
You hit the nail on the head there Willow :'( :'( :'( :'(
you still miss her
I miss my mother too and I am nearly 70
She died 17years ago last Saturday 15.12.1990
She made great scones
It was a fire oven we had at home and she would just put her hand in the oven to feel the temperature
but I have to say my Nana was a great cook she did everything from jam pickles preserves cakes etc
In fact I still make her Date and walnut recipe and Christmas pudding
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth and Williow, thanks for sharing that. I thought maybe I shouldn't keep thinking I miss my Mum, and she only died 3 years ago. Mind you she'd be telling me to 'stop mithering and get ready for Christmas'.
Wonder what our children will be saying they still use of ours, living in this throw away society?
Elaine
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Elaine,
My dad died 3 years ago and I still miss him every day, always will, and will never apologize for it. >:( He too would tell me to stop all the nonsense, have a drink, and enjoy the holidays.
And I've already told my kids our cookie jar will be THE family heirloom, so don't fight over it.
http://www.janicewise.com/jonal_cookie_jars.html
They laugh at me, but when I am gone, I bet they are fighting over it. ;) (a long long long long time from now!)
Kath
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My mum has been dead over 3 years my dad 9 years and I still miss both of them
I just wish I had started the family tree earlier as my dad would have been chuffed with what I have found out
I haven't got any kids so I don't know who will end up inheriting my stuff but I'm hoping my Wii will be a museum piece by the time I go ;D
Willow x
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Mum was interested in her Welsh ancestry, she would have loved what I have found out, but she would not have loved the fact that her parents were not married until after she was born.
Dad liked history, he would have been really pleased about all I have found about his family, going back centuries with wills to back it up. How he would have laughed that one chap inherited 'a mucke carte with 2 payre lugge wheles.'
But how could I have told him that his father, who he was told died in a fall working on a roof, had really died in an assylum....
I've inherited their enthusiasm, but I'm glad they never found out the family secrets.
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Lovely picture Milly,
Love the outfit, could have been made yesterday. it is such a classic style. 8)
Hate to say it but my basket is the same as well, why does it seem heavy these days I wonder? When it's empty too! :-\
Rabbit B :D
Actually... baskets are another thing from the past I can now see the benefit of. They do get a bit heavy to carry around all day but you can fit all sorts in them, and you don't have to rummage around like with a handbag to find the things hidden away at the bottom, and you can set them down on a table and they stay upright rather than folding in on themselves and hiding their contents. And your sandwiches don't get squashed. (Wrapped in grease-proof paper of course...another recent re-discovery - they taste really fresh and not like plastic!)
:) :) :) :) :)Milly
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I use my woven baskets all the time. One with sort of square corners is kept for grocery shopping- perfect for transporting eggs & veg- and I keep it by the door with re-usable plastic & canvas carrier bags. Also have a newer one which I keep near the stairs and use it to gather up stuff to be taken upstairs or downstairs when I going. Another very old and more fragile one if in utility room cupboard- use it to keep plastic carrier bags tidy. Another old one lost it's handle about 40 years ago and was given a leather strap instead- it's my sewing basket and hold mending, pincushion, etc.
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I think we should have a campaign to re-introduce the proper shopping basket... might catch on now everyone is anti-plastic bag.
I have another darker oval shaped basket that I used to use for cookery at school (in the 1970s) which had previously been my grandmothers.. so it could easily be from 1930s, 40s possibly 50s....and that is still going strong too.
Yet again proving the point that they made things better in the olden days!
Milly :) :)
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I've still got, and use at the supermarket, several African baskets made from papyrus that I bought in the 70's in a market near Lake Victoria. As long as you don't get them wet, they seem to last for ever ! My daughters want them ...
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Lovely picture Milly,
Love the outfit, could have been made yesterday. it is such a classic style. 8)
Hate to say it but my basket is the same as well, why does it seem heavy these days I wonder? When it's empty too! :-\
Rabbit B :D
Actually... baskets are another thing from the past I can now see the benefit of. They do get a bit heavy to carry around all day but you can fit all sorts in them, and you don't have to rummage around like with a handbag to find the things hidden away at the bottom, and you can set them down on a table and they stay upright rather than folding in on themselves and hiding their contents. And your sandwiches don't get squashed. (Wrapped in grease-proof paper of course...another recent re-discovery - they taste really fresh and not like plastic!)
:) :) :) :) :)Milly
Hi Milly,
I really must get my basket out again and stop being such a wimp! I used to be so strong, but since I got asthma, I have had a job to walk far, which is why I have not used it often lately, don't use plastic though. I have those posh green bags from a certain supermarket that lets you scan your own things.
I really miss my Mum and Dad too Willow, Dad died suddenly one afternoon in 1973 and Mum in 1999.
Mum was a brilliant cook, she had cold hands so her pastry was light and lovely. We kept pigs and had our own pork and bacon, and rabbits and chicken and goats. The things she made for us during the war out of nothing were amazing, I was always given a party for my Birthday, near Christmas, with jellies using only the juice, from the bottle fruit that she had done in the Autumn, and a cake which she had saved up the sugar ration for. I did it for her afterwards we had a wonderful party on her 80th, all her old friends. She was 85 when she died.
They were both wonderful parents and I was so lucky to have them both so long.
Glad that they did not know what I have found out about the families, although I suspect that they would have laughed!
Rabbit B :D
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Hi Milly,
I really must get my basket out again and stop being such a wimp! I used to be so strong, but since I got asthma, I have had a job to walk far, which is why I have not used it often lately, don't use plastic though. I have those posh green bags from a certain supermarket that lets you scan your own things.
I really miss my Mum and Dad too Willow, Dad died suddenly one afternoon in 1973 and Mum in 1999.
Mum was a brilliant cook, she had cold hands so her pastry was light and lovely. We kept pigs and had our own pork and bacon, and rabbits and chicken and goats. The things she made for us during the war out of nothing were amazing, I was always given a party for my Birthday, near Christmas, with jellies using only the juice, from the bottle fruit that she had done in the Autumn, and a cake which she had saved up the sugar ration for. I did it for her afterwards we had a wonderful party on her 80th, all her old friends. She was 85 when she died.
They were both wonderful parents and I was so lucky to have them both so long.
Glad that they did not know what I have found out about the families, although I suspect that they would have laughed!
Rabbit B :D
Hiya Rabbit B
I lost both my parents by the time I was 40. Two of my workmates lost their parents this year and they are both in their 60s (one was 65 yesterday) and I know I feel jealous at times thinking 'why couldn't I have another 20 years with my parents?' But they were both very ill towards the end and my mum spent 5 years in a wheelchair following a stroke
But I know what you mean. Money was always short when we were growing up and I don't know how they managed at times. They brought up us three plus my dads three sons from his previous marriage and at least they can be proud that none of us have ever been in trouble with the police, we all have jobs and are happy loving people
Maybe that is the best tribute I can give them
Willow x
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OH says the only old thing he uses regularly is me :-\ :-\ :-\
Although I just became a veteran ;D so maybe he's got a point :D :D :D :D
Milly
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Well I'm still using the same old mind that I've had for 62 years now. Can't say it works as well as it used to tho'.
Leonie.
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Hiya Rabbit B
I lost both my parents by the time I was 40. Two of my workmates lost their parents this year and they are both in their 60s (one was 65 yesterday) and I know I feel jealous at times thinking why couldn't I have another 20 years with my parents?' But they were both very ill towards the end and my mum spent 5 years in a wheelchair following a stroke
But I know what you mean. Money was always short when we were growing up and I don't know how they managed at times. They brought up us three plus my dads three sons from his previous marriage and at least they can be proud that none of us have ever been in trouble with the police, we all have jobs and are happy loving people
Maybe that is the best tribute I can give them
Willow x
Hiya Willow,
Well said!! They made that generation tough and no mistake, never any wingeing from any of them. Sorry to hear that your Mum was in a wheelchair, mine was housebound most of the last 10 years. She would not go out in a wheelchair and could not walk far.
I think that we are so lucky to have been young when were were, we had the best time despite the lack of material things!
Don't be jealous, it is a soul destroying emotion, be glad that they are both together again. Your tribute was apt and so true!
A Very Merry Christmas to you and lets drink [water for me] to absent friends and family! :D
All this reminiscing I forgot about the old thing, I still have!! My dear OH we will have been married 50 years next year!!
Rabbit B ;D
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Not the past but is this the future
My son daughter-in-law and three children have been to Florida and guess what they brought me back
Now I have to ask how much ingredients do I use to fill these two tins
Its Santa and I know one family will be wanting a Santa cake made
??? ??? ??? ??? ???
And who is going to make it
Elizabeth
Just a thought - did the tins come with any packaging? There might be a website you could contact for advice/recipes. Worth a try, anyway. Post a piccie of your culinary efforts (if you are able to get a reliable recipe!)
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A ruby ring.
I don't know how old it is, or who first owned it, but it has come down to me in the family. I always admired it as a child, and rubies are my favourite stone. I don't think it's all that valuable, as it's very lightweight. 19th century is all I can say. I often wonder which of the women I have "discovered" was the original owner. It's the only thing we have in our family from that far back. I wear it on special occasions.
A quilt made by my greatgrandmother just before she died in 1949. I use it in the summer sometimes. still in excellent condition.
An Oriental wool rug that will never wear out, apparently, acquired in a house purchase in 1973 from 3 very sisters who were then in their 80s. It was old when I got it, but does not look very worn even now! I'm guessing it must be getting on for 100 years.
I too have an old glass rolling pin from unknown (the idea is that you put ice cubes or chips in it to keep the pastry cold as you roll it out), a sharpening steel from someone who was a butcher 50 years ago, a rocking chair from my grandparents from the 1930s (the only piece of furniture that survived from their large 5-bedroom country home), and I am fairly sure I have a couple of bone knitting needles somewhere, also from unknown, but I rarely knit any more. (Even the older plastic knitting needles are better than the newer ones.)
Interesting question.
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I've got a brooch which was in my grandmothers box of trinkets ... no value ... but I also have a photo of my great grandmother wearing it in about 1870 !!
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I've just been doing a pre-christmas house clean and realised that we still use OH's father's Eubank - floor sweeper thingy. It must be over 30 years old and is still better than the modern ones :) :)
Doesn't make the housework any more fun though.
Milly
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I've just been doing a pre-christmas house clean and realised that we still use OH's father's Eubank - floor sweeper thingy. It must be over 30 years old and is still better than the modern ones :) :)
Doesn't make the housework any more fun though.
Milly
It's many years since I saw one, so I may be wrong but weren't they called "ewbank" - just wondering if my memory is as good as I thought - or as good as Gadgets!
Denn
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Ah - Ewbank...that's it. I knew it was something like that!
:)
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8) 8)
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I have a 3 stranded string of pearls that used to belong to my Grandma, The last time I wore them was in 1985 when I got married as they are very fragile and need to be re strung. The other thing I have is a small circular broach that my Grandma hand stitched in cross stitch. I do wear that from time to time. I have no recollection of my Grandmotheras she sadly died before I was born. The other thing I was given fairly recentlyby my mum was Grandma's cookery book. I haven't tried anything as yet butI definately will. :) :) Lincsbabe
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I've got one of my Mum's Cookery Books.
it's about four inches thick, lots of coloured pictures of the food displayed on silver dishes.
They are the kind of recipes that say, 'Take twelve eggs and a half pound of butter,' and that's only the start.......
Must say, I don't fancy many of the things in there, but there are some jam/jelly recipes at the back that have been very useful.
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That one has to be Mrs Beeton!! Paula, I have one of those as well. Have used it too. |Took a recipe on how to cure ham and bake en croute to a friend who keeps pigs an wanted to do his own gammon for Christmas!
Wonderful it was too.
Rabbit B ;)
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This one is
The Complete Illustrated Cookery
over two thousand recipes and hints on-
housework, kitchen equipment, marketing, vegetable cookery, invalid cookery, pickles and preserves, beverages, carving, table service
Edited by 'Chef'
Associated Newspapers Ltd
1934
Quite fun to read.
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Shortly before she died, my mum passed on to me a handwritten book called "Golden Hints On All Home Matters" written by my grandmother. The date on the title page is 26 February 1895 a few months before she was 18.
It has hints on everything from "How to Remove Warts", through "How to Brighten and Revive Leather Seats" to "Cockroaches Beware" interspersed with lots of recipes, most of which I use today, as they were passed down to me. I don't use the book as it is in a very fragile state. It is a hard-backed exercise book, but all the pages are loose and most of them wearing away around the edges. I have no idea how to preserve it.
Lizzie
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Shortly before she died, my mum passed on to me a handwritten book called "Golden Hints On All Home Matters" written by my grandmother. The date on the title page is 26 February 1895 a few months before she was 18.
It has hints on everything from "How to Remove Warts", through "How to Brighten and Revive Leather Seats" to "Cockroaches Beware" interspersed with lots of recipes, most of which I use today, as they were passed down to me. I don't use the book as it is in a very fragile state. It is a hard-backed exercise book, but all the pages are loose and most of them wearing away around the edges. I have no idea how to preserve it.
Lizzie
Oh Lizzie........how wonderful to have that treasure.....you are so lucky.
I have my grandma's green glass rolling pin. When Ma gave it to me it had a shoe lace tied around one end and this is how grandma hung it on a nail on the pantry door. Ma told me to be sure and keep the shoelace. Boo Hoo......the shoe lace disintergrated about 10 years ago.......Sorry Ma! The rolling pin is now at least 110 years old. :)
Indi
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I wonder if the recipes in old cook books would work with today's food... I have a feeling that the ingredients we have these days are not as good as the old days (like lots of things) - or are more health conscious. And ingredients like flour seem different - I know when I make pancakes I have to put a lot more flour in to go with my half pint of milk than I ever used to...
What do you all think of my theory?
Milly :) :)
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Hi Milly,
I have had much better results with buying flour (on line) from a flour mill in
the Cotswolds.
http://www.fwpmatthews.co.uk/
Depends how much you which to buy at a time, but they do smaller quantities.and I think you can mix and match (not sure ) as I only get bread flour.
So pleased that Mutton is now being sold. At our local farmers market, I used to buy one ladys fabulous beef burgers. She farmed all beef and lamb products. This month I went to stock up, only to find that they had got out of Beef. and now produce only lamb. The latest Foot and Mouth was the last straw, as their farm is only just outside the last exclusion area, as we are .
Spring
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MillyB - Some of the recipes in my gran's book feed very large families. However, I have adjusted them to suit me. I do use farm eggs and fresh farm milk so maybe that helps.
Others are for rabbit, which I have a thing about, although I did eat it once in France. The only reason I'm squeamish about it is that when I was a young teenager, I saw rabbits that had died from myxamatosis and that put me off eating them.
Spring - We had some mutton the other week. Jody Schrechter (the ex racing driver) has an organic farm a few miles from us and we bought it from him. It was delicious.
Lizzie
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I wonder if the recipes in old cook books would work with today's food... I have a feeling that the ingredients we have these days are not as good as the old days (like lots of things) - or are more health conscious. And ingredients like flour seem different - I know when I make pancakes I have to put a lot more flour in to go with my half pint of milk than I ever used to...
What do you all think of my theory?
Milly :) :)
Hi Milly,
I use my GGMother's recipes with modern ingredients. They all work a treat! Organic flour and eggs are the way to go! I use it always! Makes brilliant bread too!
I am a huge fan of Farmers markets too Springbok, and go to ours every month for my stock of meat! Lovely organic minced beef, makes wonderful beefburgers. I just fancied one the other night an knocked them up in no time. Lovely bun Slice of cheese and all the other trimmings. Worked a treat!
I love Rabbit, but have eaten so many in the course of my life that I cannot face another! They were our staple diet during the war and when the children were growing up! Never made pets of the meat rabbits though. Or the pigs! I would not be able to eat anything I was friends with!
Rabbit B :D
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This one is
The Complete Illustrated Cookery
over two thousand recipes and hints on-
housework, kitchen equipment, marketing, vegetable cookery, invalid cookery, pickles and preserves, beverages, carving, table service
Edited by 'Chef'
Associated Newspapers Ltd
1934
Quite fun to read.
My mum has the same recipe book and I also love it, very easy to follow and the recipes are the classics and not mucked about by the so called "celeb" chefs!
My SIL borrowed it years ago and then "forgot" to return it :( eventually it turned up when brother and SIL went their separate ways 4 years ago and it was returned to mum :)
Jenny
The thing I miss most is the smell of my nan's kitchen there was always a lovely smell of homemade baking. Perhaps I should do more baking o give my granddaughter the same lovely warm memory
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This one is
The Complete Illustrated Cookery
over two thousand recipes and hints on-
housework, kitchen equipment, marketing, vegetable cookery, invalid cookery, pickles and preserves, beverages, carving, table service
Edited by 'Chef'
Associated Newspapers Ltd
1934
Quite fun to read.
My mum has the same recipe book and I also love it, very easy to follow and the recipes are the classics and not mucked about by the so called "celeb" chefs!
My SIL borrowed it years ago and then "forgot" to return it :( eventually it turned up when brother and SIL went their separate ways 4 years ago and it was returned to mum :)
Jenny
The thing I miss most is the smell of my nan's kitchen there was always a lovely smell of homemade baking. Perhaps I should do more baking o give my granddaughter the same lovely warm memory
Hi Jenny,
Get a breadmaker, I have a P***s*c, lovely smells brilliant bread and there is always home baking going on! It is cheaper too
Rabbit B ;)
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Just reading thru' these again and noticed Lydart mentioned a brooch. I have a brooch that belonged to my G-grandmother, it has 'Edith' engraved on it and was given to my mother who was also Edith. Tomorrow I'm going to wear it so I can then say I still use it. I do still wear my mum's wedding ring tho', that's from 1936 and I also wear a gold locket that my dad gave to her when I was born. (that was 1945)
Leonie.
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Can I just move round your house Rabbit? you don't live very far away ;D ;D ;D
Jenny
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Can I just move round your house Rabbit? you don't live very far away ;D ;D ;D
Jenny
Hi Jenny,
Not much room to stay over the holiday, because the spare room is full of all the things that I have removed from elsewhere to make it look nice! ::) Our house is very lived in!!
However by all means nip over after Christmas!
Rabbit B ;)
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Talking of things lasting ,my husband and I started going out together on 5 .12 .1956 :D :D
it was near xmas so he bought me a card and present
Elizabeth I have this same card, somewhere, my mother kept it for years and years...I think it used to be in a little cedar box she kept hankies and mementoes in...
I have just turned the house upside down looking for it, but no joy. It may have gotten pitched :'(
But looking at the card that shows in your post (but when you quote a post, no pictures are included in the quote :-\) it was like looking at the face of an old friend...SO familiar, the carolers and the steeple and the lamp post and the outline of the trees! I couldn't believe it when I saw it!
If I ever come across it I'll scan it, and then we'll have a matching pair :D
Cheers,
China
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my mum and dad live in the same house her great grandparents did - with some of their furniture - side tables g/father clock chests of drawers,pewterware- which is probably the oldest thing she's got in fact my mum motto is if you got one that does the job don't buy a new one - explains the 1950 twin tub she had up intill recently oh and a christening gown which is 120 years old and been worn by at least 18 babies. wonder what the next generation will hoard nothing probably or may be lots and lots of CD and DVD that will need specialist equipment to play- otherwise if my two are anything to go by nothing- that many change now the first grandchild has arrrived may be they'll start getting slightly sentimental and keeping thing Even if they don't look good. i love old things had a lovely time this summer in place called bygones in torquay and I'm only 44. but things ain't wot they used to be is they
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No they ain't what they used to be
I can't get a DVD player to work longer than a year
Absolute rubbish! >:(
:D
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I have embroidered bits and pieces from my grandmother, g-grandmother and x's grandmother. I have x's grandmother's sewing box, too, which she gave me because I was interested in handcrafts. She was a great one for tapestry.
I have my grandmother's jewellery, all of which, as her only grand-daughter, she left to me. I am sure some of it belonged to her mother, but can't prove it. I wear some of it, particularly some earrings, a diamond ring, and a faux silver bracelet with pale blue stones. I love looking through it. Most of it is costume jewellery, but there are three sets of pearls in there. I don't wear them as I am afraid they might need restrung.
Nina
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I've got some pretty but very fragile glass Christmas baubles that we had when I was a child ... they may have been grandmothers. I don't use them for fear of the cats breaking them !
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I've got some of the glass Christmas ornaments my grandmother's father bought her from FAO Schwartz in New York City in 1901 for her first Christmas.