Shadow Shot Sunday - Historical Warmth

Pumpkins stuffed with apples

Butternut squash pie

Fireplace turkey cooker

Cast iron cookery

Winter is not a favorite season for me - drafty house, two weekends of snow with more snow to arrive on Monday, and 30°F (-1°C) today is a warm day. Thus, I look for warmth in any venue. So for Shadow Shot Sunday 2, I look for warm shadows in the central fireplaces at the 1698 David Humphreys House in Ansonia. Warm embers and squash pie add the psychological warmth to me at least...

I have been nominated to serve on the Board of the Derby Historical Society, caretakers of the Humphreys House. So, I combed through our pics to create a slideshow of activities there...

Ruby Tuesday - Embers

For Ruby Tuesday 2, my rubies are simple - showing the embers in one of the fireplaces at the historic David Humphreys House in Ansonia CT, built in 1698. Of course, today we are spoiled by having triple-paned windows, fiberglass insulation real central heating systems - here, the entire heat on cold winter days was provided by the three central fireplaces, with uneven heat to say the least.

The Derby Historical Society opens the home in November for a thanksgiving meal, the docents and junior docents dress up in period to cook and serve the fare. In these pictures, the pumpkins are hollowed out and vegetables are cooked inside them...below the gourds in the cast iron pot sits a butternut squash pie baked inside...and the silver device is a replica of a manual turkey rotisserie. 

Food is cooked around and near the ruby embers, and so on Saturday, I am bringing my appetite - and another layer for warmth...

Whimsical Windows - Outside/In

Toby most graciously hosts the fun architectural meme, Whimsical Windows/Delirious Doors. We look for unique portals, and look around for same. 

Today, I am using pictures that have ben seen before, yet given the look at these windows I am able to show a unique set of perspectives of one room, one outside and one in...

This house is known as the Humphreys Homestead, home of the local Derby Historical Society. The house was completed in 1698, and was considered a mansion in those days. The neat period windows are the classic 12-over-12 arrangement. 

Inside, we see the same room, Lady Humphreys Parlor, the luxurious (in that day) sitting room to host guests. Stark these days perhaps...opposite sides of the same room, a look at the past as it was...

29 Days - Cooking without modern conveniences

Tina's 29 Days brings us way back, perhaps to the year 1762 in the New England region of the US.

We have many modern conveniences four our cooking needs these days with toasters, refrigerators and ovens.

Not way back then, where cooking required on open fireplace and heavy cast iron pots. Where preparing supper was an all day affair.

This look at how it used to be done is good to see, as today with even heat and computer controls, cooking is almost fun compared to in 1762 - when it wasn't...