Cluck...Old Hen...

With the crispness...in the air...and a near, Frost...last night...I realize...Summer...will be leaving Iowa...soon...

Seems...we didn't have nearly enough time, together...and I am, so very sad...to let her go...

Fall...is softly...whispering in my ear....with a promise...it will be Gentle...

I do love Fall... My Heart...turns inward...I begin to 'Nest'...

Getting the oven going....baking... all the wonderful aromas....that fill the house... Hot Coffee...always tastes just a little better...on a crisp morning...

I wrote on my Simply Iowa Facebook... I feel like writing...in my Iowa Farm House Style Blog...today... and when I visited it...I was enveloped... it's Fall..... I am Home... this, truly is, where my Heart is...

I was unprepared...so...I wondered, what would I say...

Then...I remembered, my fond memories...as a tiny child...on our Farm...

It was my job, at three...to gather the eggs... the old granite ware colander, with a bail handle, is the one I used, to gather eggs...Mom gave it to me, when she moved into an apartment.....

Oh my...the memories...those Old Hens....how they would Cluck, and scold me....when I'd try and get them off the nest.... They would peck my hands... and they would, also keep their eggs... There was no way...I would fight those Old Gals... Mama could do that...thank you very much!

We had some wonderful Chickens... I so enjoyed feeding them...

Ah...Farm Life...it was good...

I'll be posting more, here... as Fall pulls me in...Not every day...like my Simply Iowa, blog... but, as I Nest... and turn inward...to Home...

I'll be seeing you...

Barb C.

"The Modern Cook Book" circa 1892....

I love old cook books... and use them, quite often...{John loves them too...!} I like the way they are written... Here are a couple recipes I pulled out, to try today... and Like 'Em! { I used Mrs.E.'s Crust Recipe...and Mrs. A.L. Fish's Squash Pie Recipe...}

Barb C.

{this is one of 3 of the Squash Pies....I tweaked the recipe a bit... I used 6 heaping tea cups full of squash... 2 cans of condensed milk... a half of a stick of meted butter...7 eggs, and a little more sugar, than the recipe called for... and lots of allspice... cinnamon...and nutmeg... to taste...remember... I didn't salt the squash, until I had it mixed in the bowl... I have never added flour to a Squash, or Pumpkin Pie...or, butter, for that matter... but, it sounds good to me...}

Pies... Iowa Farmhouse Style.....

Here are two Apple Pies, I made this afternoon... I decided to make the crust, this time too.... It's been a long time since I made a crust.... so I got out my favorite old cook books... The one I chose, was written in 1892.{ The Modern Cook Book}  It is great... I also found a wonderful recipe for Squash Pie... I always have tons of squash, of all varieties, from displays, at the Fall Harvest Sale... and by now, they are starting to go bad.... I halved, and seeded, a dozen or so, different varieties, and put them in the massive cast iron pot I use, for such things... and went to town!  I gotta tell ya.... I really like this Squash Pie Recipe!{ I usually just use a pumpkin pie recipe...and use squash} Mmmm...Good! Easy as...well, pie.... I loved it, where it said, 'to every tea cup full of squash, add an egg'... see.... this is Farmhouse Style Cookin'! I added butter, and loads of Nutmeg, Allspice and Cinnamon... to the recipe, as well...{to taste, of course...} I have three baking, now...

These are the Dutch Apple.... They will never win a beauty contest.... but... oh my... are they ever good...I have been baking this pie recipe, since I was 15 years old... These pies are Big...{almost a foot, in diameter...} I use lots of Butter.... Sugar... Cinnamon... more Butter... Raw Sugar.... {I press raw sugar, into the crusts, before I fill them, in all pies I make} I use the hardest, tartest, Granny Smith Apples I can find... If they are sweet, or soft... they won't do....{These pies talk to me when they come out of the oven... you can here them perking.....}

This is our Old Stove... It's wood/ gas combination, but we only use the gas side... the gas oven, is the one on top left... I can bake 3 to 4 pies at a time...or 2 of my Dutch Apple... I love this old Gal... It's tricky to bake with.... no thermostat... and you light it manually...but, once you get the hang of it... it's a breeze...{Thanks Cindy B. {Lady Bug Antiques} I bought this from her, many, many years ago, when my other vintage stove's oven spring hinges broke... that was a sad day...but, there isn't much that can go wrong with this old Darling... no springs... }

For all I have cooked today, I didn't even get a mixer out... Everything by hand... and very little clean up... I'm likin' that!

I really like the Crust recipe... Lots of butter, and Lard.... I tasted a morsel, that fell off the pie plate... and... it's mighty tasty!

{I always roll the crust out, on a floured piece of wax paper... then turn the pie plate upside down, on top of the crust, then flip... much easier, than trying to peel it off of the dough board...}

Feather Bed...

Disgusted... That's what Polly was, this morning, when I took this image of the Rope Bed, with the Feather Tick, on it...When I found this song, yesterday, by John Denver... 'Grandma's Feather Bed', I had to snap a picture of this bed, again... The Old Rope Bed, sits up tall, anyway.... then you throw a feather bed, or'tick', on it... and you are up to nearly 4 feet tall!  I remember my sister Chery, talking about Grandma, and when she would stay with her...on the Farm.... Grandma would throw little Chery, up in the air, and she'd drop onto that Magnificent Feather Bed.... again and again... I wish I would have known my Grandparents.... I have not slept in this bed, yet... it's in Justin's old room.... I'll have to get a step stool, for Polly! Liz was over a while back, and checked it out.... She didn't get on it... she, like me... just stood there...in awe...You want to just jump in... but... you don't want to mess it up....

I have a friend to go see this morning... and... I'm already running behind... what's new....

Hope Everyone has an Amazing Day... and Safe Travels...

Barb C.

Cranberry Relish....

What you need....

3 lbs. Granny Smith Apples...{or....any tart, crisp apples you like!

4 medium oranges...

2 lbs. Cranberries...

1 and 1/2 cups Brown...

1 and 1/2 cups White Sugar...

8 ounces of Nuts....

{ I like Walnuts... I used mixed nuts, this time, and they are Great!}

Wash all the fruit well... I even soak everything in a little fresh lemon, then let it all dry...

I chop the Cranberries first, in the blender... a handful, at a time... then the nuts... then stir the chopped Cranberries, nuts and sugar together.... {The Cranberries start dissolving the sugars, right away...} Then, I core the apples, leaving the peel on... and chop...in the blender... then, the Oranges... I simply cut the ends off,

 {seed if not seedless} 

Then, I quarter them, and chop, in the blender...peel, and all! {it's best to use an orange, that has a thinner skin.... the white, fleshy part, tends to be bitter...}

This makes about 8 to 10 cups... Mmmm. Mmmm! 

I Love this relish! It's Great with Turkey and Stuffing, and is mighty tasty with Pork, as well!{it keeps for several days, in the fridge and actually tastes better, if you can make it a day or two, ahead! It's so Festive, 

 I always serve it in a pretty footed glass Compote, or a White Ironstone Bowl... it's become a

 Holiday Tradition....

{ I only use vintage serving pieces... because, that's all I have....I think food looks like Grandma made it, when served in them... and I like that... Some of my old bowls, have cracks, and if they are leakers.... they only hold dry stuff...but, they still find a place on the table...When I talk about amounts.... well... I'm one of those, "a pinch here, a dash there... a dollop of this, and yes.... butter, the size of an egg"... I don't own a measuring cup, or measuring spoon.... so.... tweak to your heart's desire...and taste, taste...taste away! This is the way I grew up, and observed Farm Women, in their kitchens... It's all about how you, and your Family like it... Just have fun!

I'll be posting some of our other Holiday Favorites, this week... our Thanksgiving 'Soul Food!'

Barb C.

{I'm going to try and use the hand crank food grinder, next time... I think it may take less time, than with the blender!}

Auctioning Off a Lifetime.......

Spent the day, Saturday, at an auction, in the small town of Norway, Iowa... The woman selling her possessions, was 87 years old...and, attended the auction... After the sale.... I was hurrying, trying to get everything gathered up, and loaded... as I was sorting through quilts, and rugs... she came walking up to me...asked if I needed a hand, folding the quilts, so they wouldn't touch the ground...I told her, I would really appreciate a hand... The old quilts were quite worn...all of them, wool... She told me, her Grandmother had made one of them... and her Mother, the other one.... She said, they were sure warm.... It was important, back in those days, to have warm quilts...she said.

She had lived in the Old House, her entire life...She is a tiny woman... but strong... I was amazed at everything she had saved, over the years.... Others said that too... I reminded them... it seems if you lived through the Depression... You valued things... every thing... from string, to buttons... to jars of screws... pencils...scraps of fabric....paper... You simply didn't waste... after all... waste not...want not...{ I heard this, over and over... growing up... my Mother is 90}

I will be keeping, for a while, one of the quilts... and put it on the Old Rope Bed, John and I put in the spare bedroom, today... I'm finally getting a little done... I'll take a few images, as we get it together...

My heart is a little heavy, for the Charming Lady... I can't imagine watching your life, be sold at auction... Folks digging through your things... it didn't really sink in, until today, for me... I wonder how she is doing... today....

Barb C.

{This room is 10x14... The Old Rope Bed,{early to mid 1800's} fits perfectly... I'll be adding an 1840's chest of drawers, and maybe a chair, or two... but... lot's of wall coverings, and simple draperies... I have been saving them, for just a room like this... They are vintage, with a tatted edge...and wonderful...

It was hard not jumping into this wonderful bed....{I love the posts... they are nearly 7 feet tall} It still has everything original, a rope bed should, but the side rolls have been notched for slats, and will take a 3/4 size box, and mattress... I then added a wonderful, plush, down, vintage ticking, with it's original mustard and blue removable casing. Then, used the darling, quilt, that mixes a Log Cabin Quilt, and beautiful Floral border... The masses of pillows came from the same home, as the Ticking... They are all feather and down filled...{they are all at least 70 years old, and the Ticking, over a hundred...} I am asthmatic, and have been, for 40 years... yet, the Ticking, and feathers have never bothered...I sleep with them, and love them...This Old Bed is a Mile High.... On the foot board, I have 2 of the Quilts {comforters} from the auction... I think they are happy to see the light of day.... and yes... they would keep you warm...

I have a long way to go on this room... I'll keep you posted...}{ Polly was sad, she had to stay down... oh dear...}

Sweet Cheeks... Mmmm ...Cookies....

This is a new endeavor, my Sweet Little Pal, Audrey has taken on.... What a Whirl Wind! Full time Mom... Wife... Job... and... now this.... Her website is scrumptious...Go Visit!

Audrey used to be my photographer...for the shows... She even scooted down to Nashville, a few years back... and covered Heart of Country... Audrey has always had a passion for old stuff... She started collecting, when she was in High School...so much for young folks, not liking antiques!{ Audrey is borrowing some of my Gnarly Vintage Upholstered Chairs, for a Family Photo Shoot... How Cool Is That!}

Audrey brought me samples... oh my.... I am proud to say... I'm watching my sweets... and only ate one... One delicious, melt in your mouth...cookie... Wait til you see her Cup Cakes... oh my....