When I was staying with Molly Weston for my mini "tour" of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, she took me by this restored 1872 farmhouse in Apex NC. A local group has done a wonderful job of furnishing and caring for the building and I was delighted to be given a closer look.
I've always loved old houses and now I'm taking notes (and pictures), never knowing when something might be useful in a book.
This very early treadle machine -- could this be what Little Sylvie wanted so badly that she married Mr. Tomlin to get it? And that parasol -- what widowed belle might wield this ruffled black silk beauty?
Did Miss Birdie get a refrigerator like this when electricity came to Ridley Branch? Or did Odessa and Inez have one in their home in Dewell Hill?
This little object brought back happy memories for me. My grandmother had one and when I was 'helping' her, it was my job to operate it. I'll bet some of you know what it is.
11 comments:
OK, I don't know what that is. An early version of a food processor maybe?
I love old houses as well. They just don't build them like that any more. The large front porches are my favorite part. Every house should have a front porch; a place to sit in a rocking chair and watch the world around you. *sigh*
My great grandmother was a wonderful baker -- no recipes, everything just out of her head. When I "helped" we ground breadcrumbs in a device very similar to this one. Do I remember that correctly?
food processor -- getting close--
Snuff grinder? :-0 I really have no idea.... A month or so ago, my sis, neice and I all went down to Laura Ingalls Wilder's home/museum (we've all been a bunch of times, but it is always fun to go back). Her house is fixed up pretty much as they left it, and is incrediably interesting. You can see the transitions of different time periods as well. They recently opened the "Rock House" that their daugther had built for them, and it is very 'modern' for the times. I love just looking at it all.
Tammy
Closer and closer . . . but no one's hit the exact use I'm familiar with. Lynn may have an alternative use -- Tammy, too for all I know. But in my grandmother's kitchen this little device had only one use.
When I was young it was my job, especially at holiday time, to grind nuts in such a device.
Pat, that's what I was looking for! Pecans, to be specific. The teeth on the grinder were pretty fragile -- I don't know how it would have held up to almonds or peanuts.
Interesting to think of using it for breadcrumbs -- I don't think we did that.
But many a pecan did I grind, for cookies, cakes, cream cheese and nut sandwiches, and the like.
Now I use the food processor so, Susan, you were exactly right.
Oh Vicki..............that nut chopper took me back......my mother had one just like it, and when she made Mexican Wedding Cakes (cookies) and other goodies for Christmas, I got to cradle that nice round jar and crank that handle! That is one of the NICE parts of being older and still having some memory....you can just keep the sweet ones.
Keeping the sweet memories -what a very nice thought! The sight of the chopper brought back wonderful memories for me as well -- actually,I have quite a few things from my grandmother's kitchen in my kitchen as useful talismans.
Lovely !
A typical old house, I suppose ...
Yes, Miss Yves, quite typical!
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