Lovely old recipe book

 Good morning all.  I don't know why I bothered to go to bed last night.  I was so tired by 9 p.m. I went up, but came down again at 12.30 and was STILL awake at 4 a.m. with shoulder pain that paracetamol didn't touch.  My neck and shoulder were aggravated when I had my MRI scan, and lifting boxes (I couldn't let Pam do it all) yesterday made it bad again.  This morning I can barely croak, so have clearly picked up a bug over the weekend.  I had to cancel my asthma review appointment and put it back a week. 

Anyway, here is the interesting old recipe book I bought yesterday.  A quality book with marbled end papers and margins, made and sold by Pawson and Brailsford, Sheffield.  I have found Edith Davy in the 1901 census at 10 Belvedere Road in Scarborough, which is a lovely big period house - the sort you need money to own, and the use of this expensive book means they were comfortably off.  She was born in Sheffield in 1865 and married to Charles, a retired mechanical engineer.  Age-wise, she would probably be Ruth's grandmother.  Anyway, from Scarborough they moved to Devon, and in the 1911 census they are living in Knoll Cottage, Woodbury, Devon and a Maude Hosford (born Leeds, 1870, DiL, widowed, private means) and her son William 8 (b. Kensington) are staying there/visiting.   I have found a picture of the beautiful manor house Ruth/her family  lived in (now divided up into flats).  Ruth Eleanor Hosford doesn't appear to have ever married.  She was born 2nd November 1910 and died 13th May 2005 - so made it to 95.  Her death was registered in the Torridge area of N. Devon and she is mentioned in Companies house 2002-05 as a director at a Barnstaple address, along with various of the Hartnoll family.

There is a picture from the paper of Afton, the little hamlet on the doorstep of the manor house.

This page from Vogue magazine was slipped into the front of the recipe book.  A little snippet of history.  Can't find out anything about Sheila Eastleigh, let alone the enigmatic "Sue", but doesn't Mrs Eastleigh look a kind lady?  Perhaps that is Sue in the photo too.

 

The first recipes in the book.  There seemed to be a lot of ones using breadcrumbs, so perhaps these were 1920s/30s recipes - the other ingredients were too difficult to source in wartime.

This must have been a much earlier recipe, note the instruction to cook it "over the fire".

I think the earlier writing is Edith's, and have included this page as she seemed to have made these recipes, owing to the splashes on the pages.

Towards the end of the book the hand changes, and is similar to the writing that put the address and year 1950 on the front page.

Of course, the moment I saw a Totnes address I thought of all my dad's family tree hefted to that area (and around Dartmoor) so knew the book had to stay with me. It "had my name on it". . .

Right, going to lie down on the sofa now, and have a Time Team nap . . .

Time for another wander round . . .

 

It poured today, torrentially at times - with pausing into drizzle at others.  It REALLY affected the footfall and I had plenty of time to go for a wander around.  Several of my dealer friends who had been doing this Fair for many years were absent - although one was having a knee op.  The two "posh" buildings were half empty.  As the Fair has been bought out by another company, they are clearly a new broom sweeping clean. This would appear to be the same for the catering pitches - NONE of the ones which had been there for decades were there, but two or three brave individuals had filled spaces, but who wants to pay £13 for a Greek snack lunch?  Or £7.50 for a burger in a bun?  However, the date did clash with important Fairs in the South - Ardingly and Detling, and dealers who are permanently on the road, moving from Fair to Fair, would stay down south and not bother to come up to Wales only to go back again a day or two later.  The back sheds (where I am) seem to still be well supported with dealers, but there were noticably less outside stalls and NONE at the far end which has always been full to bursting with spread-out stands and vendors sleeping in their vans by them.  Disappointing for folk visiting. . .  I sold 3 things all day . . .

A really unusual European painted bed head.

A beautifully hand-made christening gown.  Every stitch and pin-tuck sewn with love.

Above and below, good displays of Ceramics - Clarice Cliff below.

Several photos from a friend's interesting stall.  Unusual patchwork quilt below.

Lovely wholecloth quilt with good hand quilting.

Finally a fabulous smock.  I always fancied making one of these and have a book about it, but it's one of those pipe dreams we all have occasionally.  

Whilst I was browsing their stall, and nattering, my eye fell on a lovely old hand-written recipe book, many from the 1940s/50s.  I asked the price, and it is now mine.  I will write about it tomorrow, when I have done a bit more research on the lady who it belonged to.  

Meanwhile, I have my asthma check and my 2nd Shingles jab tomorrow morning.  Hope I don't get any side effects.

When I ask for help

 Looks like a menagerie doesn't it?! The Giraffe, of course, sold . . .

 . .which is something I hate doing, friends are only too glad to lend a hand. I was "carp" at lifting today as I haven't been gardening much this summer so my muscles aren't very toned, and I had a bad night's sleep last night 😔 and was tired before I started.  The chap who is my regular next door neighbour at the Fair unloaded heavy things for me and put my tables up, bless him. They are unwieldy at the best of times.

Anyway, Tam and Rosie arrived after lunch and I had a quick look at the outside tables but I was very unimpressed - not a thing I would have liked in my home. Lots of it seems to be house clearance.  I took Rosie with me in her pushchair to give Tam a break . Then my friend Pam arrived and stayed to help me load the car with a few things I needed to take home, so I could fit everything else in tomorrow and she will help me pack up then. It's free after 3 p.m. I am so grateful.

I'm resting now and about to take a couple of Paracetamol for my sore neck, where I have a small area of arthritis which got upset when I had to have my arms above my head for the MRI scan last week.

As always it was good to see old friends and customers and make new ones. I am all chatted out :) 

Back home now and resting. Tam's just taken Rosie up to bed so I have some peace again and am watching Fake or Fortune, about a Rodin drawing this time.

Hope I get a better night's sleep tonight. Enjoy your weekend.

 

A Walk Around the Fair

90% set up.  K's stuff to go out tomorrow, and a selection of paintings I have here.  Reluctantly offering my favourite horse picture, dated 1913, but I can live without it, and need to carry on the downsizing exercise and moving things on.    Shattered now though, and will rest this evening and hopefully sleep well.  Thank Goodness it's not a 7 a.m. start like it was with the last folk who ran it - they added an hour either end where we had to be with our stands, so they saved on two hours' Security payment. . .

LOTS - and I mean LOTS - about half each front (expensive) hall - of empty stalls, for whatever reason.  The back sheds are fairly full though, so perhaps people have moved there, as perhaps it's the the cheaper option. Or have just decided it's not worth it for them to come here.

I had a walk round once I'd done my stand, and here are a few of the things on offer.

My friends' stand - still a few things to go out.  They specialize in Wemyss ware and Llanelly plates.

A pretty European cradle with a folksy design.

Some nice things on this stand.  Keith and I loved it when we dealt in period furniture.

Another stand with all sorts on it.  Looking at the chest of drawers, I get the feeling that the handles and key escutcheons are far too big.  We have Georgian chests of drawers and the handles are a good bit smaller, so possibly these are covering where it was "modernised" with round wooden knobs in Victorian times.  Each would have left a big hole on removal.

Another nice setting.  Those gate-leg tables sell so cheaply at auction now. . .  Yet they are so practical as fold down to just the width of the central legs.

Royal Worcester I believe.  Several display cases full.  OK as long as customers want Royal Worcester . . .  A lovely display but eggs all in one basket springs to mind.  You can't say that of my stand!

Oh my goodness, if Keith had been there he would have been over and asking the price!!  The legs are a . . . later! - addition and look like they've been made of drainpipes!

Someone's late lamented Jersey cow, taxidermied!

Some interesting treen here.

A few quilts for your delectation on a friend-from-the-old-days stand.

An example of what many of the backsheds stands look like, bits of everything . . .  Hah, mine looks like a menagerie this time!

Right, off to sit down with a glass of water now.  Hoping the weekend goes well.

All packed up

 

Isn't this gorgeous?  I spent a while this morning looking at a You Tube film from Quilt Canada 2025.  Oh goodness, some truly AMAZING quilts on display.  Here is a traditional one, which my sort of thing.  The modern style designs don't cut the mustard for me.

Then this amazing fox.  I was trying to work out how it was done - I think it was raw-edged fabric piecing, probably fused on . . . (Just zoomed back on the computer to check).  Incredible detail. It won an award of Excellence.

Those are the only two photos I took as I was entertaining Rosie at the same time and couldn't get to the screen to take any.  May add some more later.

Anyway, Tam and Rosie are on their way home now, and will be back to help at the weekend, as I am doing the Fair.  Now I am feeling better, I daren't NOT do it as it costs a big chunk to do and it would help to get a bit of spending money for NZ.  I will take things very easy - Tam did all the hauling and lifting today.  I gesticulated!  I can rest tomorrow morning and go down after lunch and set up.  They have porters there to help you unpack and I have a very good neighbour next to me at the Fair, who will also carry anything heavy for me. 

I have a tasty chicken mince, mushroom and tomato bolognese for tea tonight (from the clever guts cookbook) and have tried to free up some room in the freezer for blackberries, by getting out a mince/rice dish for weekend eating.

My new printer is working again (Canons will NOT accept the close copy ink, it has to be Canon ink - won't buy one of those again.)  Tam has booked all my accommodation for my middle week in NZ, staying around the Queenstown area.  Pretty expensive, but it's just the once.  She's booked my seat on the Trans-Alpine train back to Christchurch too, and persuaded me I should fork out for a meal whilst I'm on it (me being careful with the pennies was going to buy sarnies!)  So, just the bus links and we will fork out for a Flexi-link card so I have more freedom.  

Tam has been jotting down Rosie's vocabulary, and including short sentences, it runs to 88 words!  A few words are said once and forgotten, but most learned completely.  She also says "eyes" to Tam in the morning, meaning she wants the curtains pulled so she can see.  To have made that connection so young is pretty Amazing.  She also sings now too and remembers tunes and is pretty spot on with the pitch.  I think she may well have the musical gene in the family.  She is now insisting on walking downstairs with her hand against the wall, and not being held by us.  She is also trying to jump off the ground :)  

Well, this won't do.  A quick meal and then some rest time with the tv.  I have been enjoying old Fake or Fortune programmes, not all I saw first time round.  You learn so much about paintings through this programme.

Well, THAT'S a turnaround . . .

 Today I feel amazing!  I have energy, my tummy's a bit flatter and enjoying my cucumber water.  No fizzy drinks (be gone, Diet Coke) and no alcohol.  Any sore bits in my diverticular area are not sore now.  I looked out my clever guts diet cookery book and have been to T*sco and the Health Food shop to stock up.  Should have remembered that Lidl sell Chia seeds as they are WAY cheaper than the HFS . . .

Autumn Hawksbit

As Tam and Rosie were heading this way, I made Chocolate Apple Cake before breakfast and it is SO light.  Best I've ever made.  I had a small piece after my lunch.

One of the things on my shopping list was a good Cider Vinegar with Mother.  I had it with my tuna salad for lunch and it was a revelation - SO much flavour - 100% better than the vinegary T*sco own brand, and I could happily take the daily 1/2 teaspoon on its own and look for more. I got shallots too and will be making cider vinegar pickled shallots soon.

Hopefully mending now.  Will keep you posted.

Sensible food shopping and some restful You Tube tv

 

As you can see, it rained a bit this afternoon - came down in torrents in fact.

I needed to do a grocery shop today to get some more gut-friendly food in.  Lidls' came to £21 which included the meat for the week (King Prawns, Turkey Steaks and Turkey Mince), though the steaks and mince will make meals to go into a 2nd week, mixed nuts, Greek Yoghurt, Mushrooms and veg.  Then to T*sco, and as I shouldn't be eating much red meat now, I saw there was an offer on Linda McCartney veggie burgers and sausages, both of which I like, so those have gone in the freezer and will do two weeks too.  I also got my Wild Salmon Fillets there and 500g will do several meals too.  A nod to Christmas with the tins of chocolates on a special offer so I got Quality Street, either as a gift for friends or for us over Christmas. With cat food, frozen spinach, 500g of blueberries (some to freeze), reduced strawberries etc it came to £42 in Tesco, but that did include half price cat sachets as the box was damaged. Most of it will do me a fortnight.

Above, a swift peek at my new neighbour's veg plot - two long rows of Courgettes which have been doing amazingly all summer.  Below, one of the several who Got Away! This one up to my knee in length and an even bigger circumference.

I had to go to the Health Food shop to see what they had, and hooray, some Wholemeal Self Raising Flour which seems to be like gold dust these days. Then across the road to the school charity shop and found a fab pale bluey green polka dot skirt for just £1.  It's a soft jersey one - so will travel to NZ like a rag! - and made by Cotswold Collections - retailing at £79 :)  Didn't I do well?!  As it was suddenly (where did August go?) pension week again I also indulged myself in a cookery magazine.  Haven't bought a cookery mag for a year or two and this had some super recipes in.

When I got home though, I felt BUSHED.  My heart rate had shot up and I spent the afternoon on the sofa, watching You Tube channels on tv.  A Time Team I don't remember seeing (couldn't sleep so watched it laying down, more listening than watching).  Then to the Homesteading Family channel, to learn about making a natural antibiotic herbal salve using Bergamot, Yarrow and Comfrey.  Then to Azerbaijan to my favourite channels (CLV and Kand Hayati) where my heroine was chopping up MOUNTAINS of home grown vegetables to bottle.  Blimey! I finished off with Kate (the Last Homely House) out in her garden. Heart rate and breathing both very steady after that.  The Azerbaijan one is SO relaxing.

Peppers.

Grated carrot, shredded white cabbage, chopped cucumbers, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, red peppers, bunch parsley, garlic cloves, which were then layered into big Mason jars and had a spiced sugar/salt/peppercorns/water  - heated up - and apple vinegar mix poured over them. Obviously of a strength to prevent Botulism as the family were all still standing!

I had my tea at lunchtime as I got myself a lovely pasty from the Bakery which hit the spot.  They make theirs with a meaty gravy in, so they aren't all potato and carrot and a titchy bit of meat like many commercial ones.  I have been drinking water regularly, pepped up with a slice of Cucumber which makes it a lot more palatable.

I won't be doing much tomorrow and then Tam and Rosie are here again for a couple of days, and back at the weekend.

I think we had a lot of rain overnight as it woke me several times, where it was being flung at the windows.  I had my cat comforters, as always, and they have been and are still on the sofa this afternoon.

Enjoy your day.