Giveaway Ends Tomorrow!

Just a reminder that the giveaway for one of my full size candles & PrairiePrim Melters ends tomorrow- if you have not signed up go leave a comment at http://clayhillfarm.blogspot.com
or http://thistledewfarm.blogspot.com - hurry it ends at 7pm tomorrow Nov. 1st!

The New Furnace is Being Installed!

The furnace men are installing our new furnace today. I will be glad to see the old one go!
We have been using space heaters for 4 weeks now- it will be good to have a central heat system!!!
Right now my house is full of soot & sooty foot prints!
I know what I will be doing all evening!

Bed Warmers

A bed warmer was a common household item in cold countries, especially Northern Europe. It consisted of a metal container, usually fitted with a handle and shaped somewhat like a modern frying pan, with a solid or finely perforated lid. The pan would be filled with hot coals and placed under the covers of a bed, to warm it up and/or dry it out before use.
After the invention of rubber, the classical bed warmer was largely supplanted by the hot water bottle, which is still widely used. In the late 20th century, electric blankets and then the electric bed warmer were invented to fulfill the same need.

If I am not mistaken bedwarmers like the ones pictured were also used durin the Pilgrim & Pioneer Eras also.

Join Me in this Pledge...

to buy my Christmas gifts all hand mades this year. Hand made is so much better quality than mass produced! and it helps support our economy!

My friends Terri http://clayhillfarm.blogspot.com/ and her sister Melissa http://thistledewfarm.blogspot.com/ have pleged to do this also.

Be sure to visit their blogs and enter their contest- their prize is one of my soy candles and some soy Prim Prairie Melters! You won't want to miss this!!

The Olde Summer Kitchen

What is a summer kitchen you ask? Well...It was a small building back of the house, one room, with wide open windows, and a sturdy screen door.The purpose to a summer kitchen was to save the house from overheating and mess. It also helped prevent the danger of fire in the main house.

The summer kitchen could also be used as a laundry room including an old type wringer washer. Water would be carried in , poured into big copper canners (boilers) and heated, sounds like work doesn't it? Rainwater was saved in a cistern and was ideal for a good washing. Can you imagine washing 7-8 batches of dirty laundry in the same water and one medium bar of home made soap? No fabric softener but one cup of vinegar worked well, still does!

Even in the modern days it would be nice to have an olde summer kitchen- a place to get away form the hussle& bussle of today's busy life.

My Great, Great Aunt & Uncle McKenzie

Oliver McKenzie married my gggrandfather's( Benjamin Franknlin Dow) sister Emily Dow. They are pictured here with their children Ray & Eliza.

I think the photo must be from the late 1800's

I have only seen two photos of Benjamin but Emily does resemble him.

How serious & somber they all look.

Maybe they were not so happy about getting all gussied up in thier Sunday best!

It's Another Great Giveaway!!!

My friends Terri & Melissa are having a giveaway! You can have a chance to win one of my candles and three of my tarts- a chance to try 4 different scents if you wish or choose all the same scent if you have a favorite! Hop on over to http://clayhillfarm.blogspot.com/ or http://thistledewfarm.blogspot.com/ to get the details!
Good luck!!!

True Friendship

I found this on another blog- I could not have said this better- truer words were never spoken!
WHEN GOOD FRIENDS WALK BESIDE US ON THE TRAILS THAT WE MUST KEEP, OUR BURDENS SEEM LESS HEAVY, AND THE HILLS ARE NOT SO STEEP, THE WEARY MILES PASS SWIFTLY, TAKEN IN A JOYOUS STRIDE, AND ALL THE WORLD SEEMS BRIGHTER, WHEN FRIENDS WALK BY OUR SIDE..~*~ unkown

Pioneer Progress!

I found this photo of a pioneer woman doing laundry. Since she is using a wringer washer the first thing that came to mind was how things had changed for her. No more dragging her laundry down to the creek bed!

I am sure she was greatful not to have to wring out her laundry by hand and that her clothes dried quicker!

Baked Apple Slices

8 cups sliced apples
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1.4 cup butter
Arrange apples in a 9x13x2 baking dish
Combine sugar , cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Sprinkle sugar mixture over apples.
Dot wih butter.
Bake covered for 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees.

Oh the Exasperation!

I am so frustrated today. My ISP is changing their email program and my email is currently not working at all! I have grown so accustomed to it I am totally lost!
If you would like to contact me or wish to place an order you can email me at primdolly2000@yahoo.com
Looking forward to getting email!

Confedreate Tee Pees

This is the Confederate tee pees & tents at the Civil War re- enactment about 6 weeks ago.

I had not realized that US trrops would have used tee pees but given the time period it does make sense- learn something new everyday!

Great Fall Vintage Graphic

I just love this great vintage Fall Graphic!

and best of all it is free! You can get one for yourself at http://skullblossom.blogspot.com

She is one great gal!

Just a Reminder....

The Octoberfest 20% off sale ends at Midnight tonight.

Order any product in Applejack & Peel, Grandma's Cinnamon Rolls, or Cloves and get 20% off of your order.
Use code OCT20
http://www.brandyannescandlesandprims.com/

My Basset Hound Molly

I had a request for a picture of my Basset Hound Molly. This was taken when she was a year old- she is now 3 years old. She does not hold still enough for pics very often!

Even though she frequently gets in trouble - all is forgiven when she snuggles up next to me for her belly rub!

American Gothic- A Classic

I am sure most of you are familiar with this painting- it was used in commercials years ago. It has always been one of my favorites- simple living for sure!

It was painted by Grant Wood in 1930. Grant Wood was born in 1891 and died in 1942.

This should make you Smile!

At least it sure made me smile. I am a Basset Hound owner so maybe I am partial but who can resist these sweet faces!

If you need Sweet Annie...

I still have some left. I am selling it for 6.50 per bundle with 5.20 priority shipping.You can order this by email prairieprim@comcast.net

Ships to U.S.only.

The House That Grandpa Built

Well not my grandpa but my husband's. It was built in the 1930's so it is 70+ years old.

It is unique in some ways being built out of stone dredged from the Elkhorn Creek which is not far from where the house is.

It has two arched doorways that I truly enjoy. It does have a fireplace that several years ago was converted to gas- unfortunately the gas co. says it is not safe to use- so no rosy glow for me!

This picture was taken two winters ago

Pumpkin Table Runner

I rarely have time to sew between working my day job & pouring candles & tarts for my website http://www.brandyannescandlesandprims.com/ at night but did make time to do a pumpkin table runner this year. It was made from a heavy black & white homespun large rectangular napkin and appliqued with prim pupmkins. The center pumpkin has a little mini pumpkins print

Octoberfest- 20% off Sale

From now until midnight October 9th get 20% off any of our candle & tart products in Applejack& Peel, Grandma's Cinnamon Rolls, or Cloves.
Simply enter code OCT20 for your discount.
http://www.brandyannescandlesandprims.com/

The Religion of the Pilgrims

While doing some more research I ran across this article on the religion of the Pilgrims:
The Separatists, or Independents, were English Protestants who occupied the extreme wing of Puritanism. The Separatists were severely critical of the Church of England and wanted to either destroy it or separate from it. Their chief complaint was that too many elements of the Roman Catholic Church had been retained, such as the ecclesiastical courts, clerical vestments, altars and the practice of kneeling. The Separatists were also critical of the lax standards of public behavior, citing widespread drunkenness and the failure of many to keep the Sabbath properly.
Referring to themselves as the Saints, the Separatists believed that they had been elected by God for salvation (see Calvinism) and feared spiritual contamination if they worshiped with those outside of their congregations, often referred to as the Strangers.
In 1608, a community of English separatists decided to escape persecution by moving to Holland, an area long known for its toleration. Dutch society was so welcoming that the Pilgrims, as they had come to be known, eventually feared that they were losing control over their children. In 1620, they set out for a more remote location that would allow them to protect their community. This effort resulted in the founding of Plymouth Colony.
Other contemporary religious dissenters, the Puritans, believed that the Church of England was badly in need of reform, but could be salvaged.
My 10th great grandfather Eduoad Bompasse was known to have emigrated to Holland and to have been part of this religious group.