A Tasha Tudor Birthday Tea!

Cake, Ice Cream, and Goat Races!

At The Corgyncombe Dairy the mixture for making goat ice cream is ready to be put into the old White Mountain Ice Cream Freezer. The receipt is Old-Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream from "The Tasha Tudor Cookbook".

Cranking the ice cream freezer.

The goat ice cream is done and the dasher will be removed.

In "The Real Pretend", written by Joan Donaldson and illustrated by Tasha Tudor, Kathy goes around to her neighbors to take pretend orders from the Larkins Catalog. Sarah was the model for Tasha Tudor's illustrations of the little girl Kathy in "The Real Pretend". In the book, one of Kathy's neighbors, Mr. Williams, is very fond of ice cream and he orders vanilla and salt just as Kathy hoped he would. When the pretend orders become real after her brother sends in the order, she has to go around and collect the money for all the goods that were ordered. Thankfully all the neighbors were pleasant about giving Kathy the money for the orders. One can see in Tasha's illustrations that Mr. Williams is indeed very fond of making ice cream, as all the equipment for making ice cream is on his porch. Mr. Williams encouraged Kathy to write the story of her Larkins selling career and reminded her "You're invited to help me make ice cream when I get my vanilla!"

In the photograph above, Sarah is giving her cat a treat in front of the ice box. On the back inside cover of "The Real Pretend" you will see Tasha's illustration of Sarah as Kathy, that is very similar to Diane's photograph of Sarah in front of the ice box.

Tasha told us she had an ice box much like ours for years and that it was her task to empty the drip pan.

Diane's family used to make ice cream when she was little using an old fashioned ice cream freezer. Vanilla was always the favorite.

In "Becky's Birthday", written and illustrated by Tasha Tudor, she describes and illustrates making peach ice cream for Becky's birthday celebration. There is an illustration of Becky and her brother Ned licking the dasher.

In "The Springs of Joy", illustrated by Tasha Tudor, a young boy is turning the ice cream freezer crank, whilst other children, anticipating the ice cream to come, wait with spoons in hand at Tasha's back door. The corgyn also eagerly wait hoping they will get a lick of ice cream, too. Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted on the page "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."

When you first open up Tasha Tudor's "Seasons of Delight" there is a pop up of Tasha's barn and cottage and there is an illustration of children making ice cream, again awaiting the ice cold treat along with the corgyn.

All at Corgyncombe Cottage are in anticipation of Carmella Lucille's frozen, vanilla delicacy. Lydia Corgi reminds us of the little dog Duchess who was invited to tea by Ribby the cat in "The Tale of The Pie and The Patty-Pan" by Beatrix Potter. Lydia has always thought that ice cream and cake is more pleasant than mouse pie for tea. Lydia, who has tucked her ears in tight, wears an antique baby sunbonnet. Sarah has always said since she was little that corgis tuck their ears back for smooth petting.

At the word that another batch of Carmella Lucille's Vanilla Ice Cream is cooling in the freezer, the goat kiddles race in anticipation! They know how delicious Carmella Lucille's milk is. Brownie is on the fence side, Daisy is coming in last on the pasture side, and little Sweet Pea is in the lead in the middle. Look at those ears fly! The Corgyncombe Courant reporter and photographer Diane Shepard Johnson, snapped this action photograph.

Lydia Rebecca Sly Corgi watches as the goats race by. Like the residents of Corgiville in Tasha Tudor's "Corgiville Fair", Lydia likes to watch the goat races.

Charlotte the doll, who is having tea on the lawn, was heard saying "I hope the corgyn and goats aren't going to run me down in their enthusiasm for ice cream!

For Tasha Tudor's Birthday Tea, a cake from The Corgyncombe Bakery.
The receipt used is Becky's Birthday Cake from "The Tasha Tudor Cookbook". Late summer wildflowers give a cheerful note as they circle the top of the cake.
The ice cream is ready...

and it is delicious!

Charlotte finds a nice place in the shade to enjoy her tea, cake, and ice cream. Her cake, decorated with forget-me-nots, is from The Corgyncombe Bakery and her goat ice cream is from The Corgyncombe Dairy.

Charlotte is using this delightful tea strainer that she received as a gift. If you look closely you will see a little bear decorating the handle.


After a delightful celebration, Lydia is feeling rather contented.
Lydia sends greetings to Pretty Pearl the Poodle.

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