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Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Patty and Holly, no, Holly and Patty

I've just got to say thank you for the nice comments on my last post, and Gale, who had never left a comment before...thank you so much! Your comment sure touched my heart.

The Holly trees are beautiful this year...

and were even prettier a few days ago. Poppy has reminded me every day..."you better get a picture of the holly berries before the birds eat them all".

First the Robins came...hundreds of them filling up on the red berries before moving on. Now the Cardinals fill the holly trees but that's okay.

Back when we cleared a spot in the woods to build the cabin, we intentionally left all the holly trees and all the cedar trees...

and in the dead of winter when other trees are bare, the hollies and cedars are dark green and beautiful. The green trees in the background are hollies and cedars too.



You probably remember my cousin Patty, don't you? Patty, who gave me the old cupboard, and the old pie safe, plus many many other things too numerous to mention...well, Patty called me last week...
by the way, this is cousin Pat and her husband Mike, (the nice looking couple on the left).  Anyhow, Patty said, "every morning I get up and get started on something. This morning I decided to sit here and read this old church cookbook."  

It's one of those cookbooks put together by members of the church. This church is located in a small community called Ether ...
near where my mother Jewel, and Pat's mother Agathel, were born and raised...along with their sisters, Aunt Bass, Aunt Berlie, Aunt Martha, Aunt Ruby, Aunt Macie, and Aunt Eva, oh and brothers, Uncle Henry and Uncle Charlie.  these folks...
Front row is Aunt Eva, Jewel (mama), Aunt Martha, Aunt Bass
Back row is Aunt Macie, Aunt Agathel (Pat's mom), Aunt Berlie, Aunt Ruby, Uncle Henry, Uncle Charlie

So the old cookbook contains recipes and tips from relatives and friends from all those folks. The main thing Pat called about were the hundreds of tips and ideas listed in the back of the old cookbook. "I've just got to share these with you", she said. Some are really good, some a bit strange, some funny...

Not sure how easy these will be to read...Oh, I would be overwhelmed if someone put all this in front of me to read so please...




Some of these are pretty amazing. It's easy to tell there were no microwave ovens around at the time. Patty thought this would make a good blog post...and I agree. 

Better get up from here...looks like some of the sweetie pies around here played too hard today...




Sorry about the raggedy old couch, it's just so darn comfortable. One of these days we may get a new living room suit. :)

Love,
Henny

PS.. Debby, just saw your comment for the first time too. Thank you so much!

37 comments:

  1. I love old cookbooks, they often have such interesting tip and hints in them and I enjoyed reading the ones you have posted here. Your holly is pretty and it must be fun watching the birds taking their fill of the berries.

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  2. One finds such interesting recipes in old cookbooks not to mention many good tips.
    Your mother came from a very large family. Can you imagine having ten children? When I was growing up our neighbours had 13 kids but some had already left home. Still I was fascinated by that family. They were really nice too.
    Smokey sure sleeps in unusual positions some of which look less than comfortable.

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  3. Everything is so interesting, Henny, from the holly to the family, the cookbook and the pets! I enjoyed it all!💖

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  4. We had two cookbooks like that at our church in Nebraska. I was in charge of compiling the second one. That was before computers! I had to type the entire thing out to send to the printer!
    I really enjoyed reading those hints and advice. They are great and so are the photos of your relatives.
    Such sweet pictures of your fur babies. They look so comfortable and you certainly don't have to apologize for comfortable couches. Isn't that what we have them for? I love them. :-)
    Blessings and hugs,
    Betsy

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  5. Hi Henny- I've never seen a Holly Tree before- only leaves and berries on Christmas Cards. Best Wishes. KEV.

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  6. It was a joy to see the holly and the cedar trees. The cookbook was amazing, what a delight to read through all the tips.

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  7. Baking powder cans... hmm... I am guessing it came in big metal cans back then?

    I love the way your little guys are sleeping with abandon on your comfy couch!

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  8. That's all amazing...l've often wondered how
    robins get their red breasts from, probably
    eating ALL those red holly berries..! :).

    And..l do love those old sepia photos, l have
    loads of them, from my old family in Sicily,
    though the men are always holding rifles and
    guns..just a 'family' thing really..! :).

    Ah! Bless!xx Look at the furry dynamic duo..
    And, yes, nothing like an old worn out settee
    to sleep on..!
    And Smokey trying to take up as much of it he
    can..HeHe! Lovely! :o).

    Our Lockdown has been lifted to~day, back to the
    'tier' system, 1,2,3..We're on tier 2 down here in
    the south, tier 3 further up north...Though things
    are looking better..As long a people follow the rules,
    though there are still idiots out there that are'nt..! :(

    Well...Another lemon tea is called for...! :).
    Give Smokey and Weetie a tickle on the tummy from me! :o).
    🎅 🎄 🎅 🎄 🎅 🎄 🎅 🎄 🎅 🎄 🎅 🎄 🎅 🎄 🎅 🎄 🎅

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  9. I love all the sweet women's names in your family. "Jewel' is perfect. And your fur babies-how adorable!

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  10. I honest-to-goodness don't think I've ever seen a "holly tree" before... and I'm 64 years old. Do they not grow in my neck of the woods, I wonder? I'll have to check & see. Oh yes, the old cookbooks. I have all my mother's church cookbooks and they're priceless. ~Andrea xoxo

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  11. Love those old recipes and household hints. Your trees are wonderful. Your mom came from a big family, me too. The pets look like they are trying out for the circus. LOL. Blessings, stay warm, xoxo, Susie

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  12. It's good that people keep these old church or community cook books. There are books other than cooking that communities produce and they are well worth keeping.

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  13. Wonderful old cook book. I have one from my mom, a WPA book put out in the WWII days. Love to use some of the recipes.
    I planted a holly 2 years ago hoping for berries. So far it has been fodder for the cotton picking deer. Maybe in 20
    years or so it'll be tall enough to withstand them. And Smokey and Wheatie look like they had too much Thanksgiving
    turkey and are just in a food comma like us folks.

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  14. Oh my your holly trees are gorgeous. How interesting about the old cook book. I love old cook books. Looks like your fur babies did play hard so cute them lying together. Thanks for sharing. I enjoy your post very much.

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  15. Nothing better than a comfortable couch and sleeping fur babies enjoying it! I did not realize that holly trees are so big! Yours is so beautiful! I love old cookbooks and the one you have posted would make a wonderful blog post! Love your family photos as well!

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  16. So much to love about your blog. Thank you

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  17. Hi Henny,
    I just love your posts. They make me smile.
    I love the holly trees, we do not have holly trees here in Wisconsin, I enjoy seeing yours. Tell Poppy "Thank You for reminding you to take a photo of them." Hee Hee. Love, Carla

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  18. Those old cookbooks are wonderful! I have several old church cookbooks like that and they have some good recipes. The tips in that book are amazing! Some of them I've heard of and others sound like they would be worth trying. I love the pictures of the two tired sweetie pies! It looks like that around our house only it is two cats here. Take care Henny!

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  19. Hello Henny Penny ... those tips in the cookbook are amazing. I have only glanced at them now but will come back later for a proper read. The last pics of the furry ones just makes my heart melt & makes me smile & feel happy. Take care dear Henny ... have a wonderful day xxx

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  20. Great idea to keep those trees and I'm sure all the birds thank you.
    That old cookbook is quite a treat to have!!
    Nice to see the family photos.

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  21. The holly is so pretty!
    I love old church cook books. They have the best recipes, and tips too!

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  22. Old non-commercial cookbooks can be fun to read. I admit I did not try to read there pages, but I did enjoy your furry friends sacked out on the couch.

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  23. Henny, your holly trees are certainly beautiful although thorny....right? The birds know how to get the berries off without getting pricked, I guess! those are some handy and cute tips in the old cookbook. I have a couple of those old cookbooks around here too. Love the pics of your pets sleeping every which way on the comfy couch. Thanks for a great blog!

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  24. I have that exact cookbook! Well same yellow front with black binding. Same wreath of vegetables on the front, although different woman's auxiliary. It has exactly the same helpful hints in the back, they match page for page. I had to dig it out to look. My mother-in-law gave it to me. It was from the church her husband's family belonged to. So neat to see your post!

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  25. I loved those hints...am.on phone do only read the ones marked, but would love to read them all.

    I love the pic of your mom and aunts and uncles.

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  26. Your couch does look comfortable! Those fur babies are sawing logs!

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  27. I think I counted 10 brothers and sisters in your mom’s family. Wow! Your holly trees are really having a good berry year. We went out in the woods looking for some this week for our fireplace mantle to put among the boughs and didn’t find many. Maybe not as good a year for them here. Or the birds got them already? Wheatie and Smoky (I think!) look so relaxed and cozy together. They make me sleepy!

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  28. What a delightful post. I adore old cookbooks. They are the best fun to read. Love your holly trees. They do not grow where I live so such a treat to see them growing. Your last photos of your fur babies made me smile. Hope you have a super weekend. Hugs!

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  29. What a fun post. I loved all the ideas from the good old days..and have actually heard of some..I supposed passed down from my Mom. :0) ...Your sweeties are so precious and sweet. We need to come back as one of yours or my animals in our next life..(stole this from hub)..lol Have a blessed holiday and Merry Christimas Season.

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    1. ps..I love that Family photo..especially the dresses and great shoes that were worn back then. ...when Ladies looked like Ladies..love it. :0)

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  30. Oh I love seeing the critters all cuddling up together like that! Those holly trees are beautiful!

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  31. Those are some great housekeeping tips! :)

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  32. Perfect timing for me to read this post. Just this morning I called my husband to see all of the robins and a few cardinals in the holly trees in the woods behind us. I don't remember noticing them last year, but it was an enjoyable moment in my day. After reading your post, it sounds like this is typical for this time of year with holly trees. I will be paying close attention next year. Always nice to have something to look forward to.

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  33. I love old cookbooks!
    Those animals are living the high life! The couch looks super cozy!

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  34. Your kitty and puppy are SO sweet together, so friendly. That's amazing :) All those cooking tips -- wow! It must've been hard to remember them all as a new wife/cook. I have never heard the name Agathel before. That's really interesting! Very elegant. I love the photo of all those siblings together.

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