"The County Fair" by Tasha Tudor
In the book "The County Fair", written and illustrated by Tasha Tudor, Sylvie Ann enters her homemade strawberry jam and her gander Alexander. Sylvie's brother Tom entered Buttercup the Jersey calf. The day they delivered their entries to the fair they took along a basket lunch to enjoy whilst at the fair. They have a grand time visiting the exhibits of calves, poultry, the vegetable and canned goods display, bees in a glass case and many honey jars, delicious looking baked goods, and oxen. They had so much fun riding the Merry-Go-Round several times! First place ribbons were awarded to Alexander the Gander and Buttercup the calf. Sylvie's strawberry jam received fourth place.
Tasha Tudor illustrates "The Country Fair" with the true feeling of a beautiful, colourful old fashioned fair with patriotic banners throughout. In the photograph above is the illustration of Sylvie and Tom admiring the vegetable and pumpkin display. Also hanging on the book stand are ribbons won at the County Fair, State Fair, and Junior Show, by Diane when she was a girl, for sewing an apron and making a sewing box complete with a needle holder and pin cushion. Diane had a wonderful time at the fairs also!
Below the book stand is a basket for lunch, a checked sunbonnet, and a jar of strawberry jam.
Pumpkins and cornstalks at The Corgyncombe Agricultural Fair and Exhibition.
Beans, beets, carrots, broccoli, and squash from the Corgyncombe Vegetable Garden.
Corgyncombe Cabbage
From the Corgyncombe Vegetable Garden, green beans in a lovely old yellowware bowl and tomatoes.
How Diane loves to hear the ping of the jars as they are sealing, whilst having tea after the jars have been taken out of the canner. To her, the sound of the jars sealing is like a squirrel storing up nuts for the long winter. 'Tis so good to enjoy naturally homegrown vegetables and fruits all the year through.
Some of the canned goods put up at Corgyncombe Cannery.
Corgyncombe Corn
Apple Pie
Diane's All-American Pressure Canner. Some jars of put up wax beans are in the background.
Some huge pumpkins in the Corgyncombe Vegetable Garden!
The big old barn at Corgyncombe, that we call "The Ark", with the Corgyncombe Vegetable Garden at one end. The towering sunflowers grew so high!
The carrots are a brilliant orange after being washed.
Pontiac Red Potatoes Diane dug from the Corgyncombe Vegetable Garden.
Sunflower and Basil with canned goods in the background.In "Around the Year", written and illustrated by Tasha Tudor, on the September pages are baked goods, vegetables, flowers, jam, and a quilt at the country fair. These illusrations are amongst The Corgyncombe Courant's favorites!
Making Pumpkin Pie.
"The Tasha Tudor Cookbook" opened to the Soups chapter. In the illustration are some of The Corgyncombe Courant's favorite things: copper, yellowware, a crock, ironware, herbs, and vegetables. In front of the book are some vegetables gathered from the Corgyncombe Vegetable Garden and tarragon from the Corgyncombe Herb Garden.
The pie has been baked and placed into the old pie basket to enjoy at a pleasant outdoor Autumnal tea.
Peas and green beans.
Diane's old Kalamazoo wood cookstove.
Pumpkin Pies out of the oven.
Doughnuts, a great Autumnal treat.
"Corgiville Fair" written and illustrated by Tasha Tudor.
What a delight the book is with the lovely, detailed paintings and the story where Tasha's wonderful sense of humor comes shining through. Tasha Corgi stands in front. "Corgiville Fair" is amongst the all time favorites at The Corgyncombe Library. It is some of Tasha's best work! If you haven't seen "Corgiville Fair" you are missing out!!!
Hibiscus at Corgyncombe Floral Hall.
A lovely antique quilt on display. There are birds amongst the vines along the border. The quilt reminds Diane of the quilts that Diane's great grandmother's cousin Lena made. As with Lena's quilts, the quilting is done with very tiny, neat stitches.
Diane and Bambi the Goat.
The sunflowers were on the edge of Diane's father's huge vegetable garden. Diane has always loved goats. When she was growing up her family had goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, and rabbits. The barn for the animals was across the lawn and through the lilac hedge.
Below are some of the handspun skeins naturally dyed in colours that Diane has harvested through the years from the goldenrod plant.
Diane spun and dyed with goldenrod the yarn that she knit into the sweater above.
Sarah astride our Morgan horse Ben. She is wearing her goldenrod sweater.
Corgyncombe Nubian Goat Kiddle Lucy.
Corgyncombe Honey Bees.
On display at The Corgyncombe Agricultural Fair and Exhibition, eleven skeins of Diane's handspun yarn to be naturally dyed in the huge old brass dye pot that will be hung on the tripod, over the fire.
The beeswax will be made into candles.
A report in the newspaper in 1922 about Diane's grandfather's brother said that he "recently had a large swarm of bees light in the top of a tall elm tree, out of reach of a ladder. He took his rifle and cut the limb off with three shots. Limb and bees dropped to the ground. He then proceeded to hive them and they proved a fine swarm."
Corgyncombe Nubian Goat Kiddle Louisa May.
Diane's Grandmum one day told her she had a surprise for her. She went to her closet and took out this pieced quilt top. Grandmum told Diane how her grandfather (Diane's great great grandfather), William A. Weaver, pieced this quilt top during the long hours while trying to recover from consumption. William developed pneumonia after chasing his run away oxen in the freezing cold air. Pneumonia turned into consumption, which eventually led to his death. Diane had recently started quilting and was delighted to have her great great grandfather's quilt top. Diane soon set about quilting a feather wreath design onto the quilt top.
A Corgyncombe Sunflower
Corgyncombe Nubian Dairy Goat Carmella Lucille, this spring before giving birth to triplets.
The log cabin quilt is an antique that is pieced with mostly wool fabrics.
Corgyncombe Harvest Party
Vintage Ribbons from Poultry Competitions in 1911 and 1912.
The rooster that reminds us of Babe the rooster in "The Great Corgiville Kidnapping", written and illustrated by Tasha Tudor.
The field corn has been gleaned from the field for Diane's winter critter friends.
The corn has been husked, then will be hung up to dry.
Corn husking bees were common in the old days. Friends and neighbors gathered and would quickly get the job done. When Diane's great grandfather spied Ethlyn at a husking bee he said to one of his friends "That is the girl I'm going to marry" and he did!
A pat of Corgyncombe Dairy Goat Carmella Lucille's Butter stamped with a swan print. Printed butter is lovely to use at the table.
Years ago farm wives would print their butter and take it to the country store for trading. If the housewife was known for superior butter, people would seek out the butter with her print. During the Depression, Diane's grandparents on both sides churned butter and traded it at the same general store. Diane's father's side had a wheat pattern butter print and Diane's mother's side had a star pattern butter print. The Corgyncombe Courant wonders who made the best butter!
Riding the Merry Go Round is such a special treat at fairs and festivals.
Cornstalks, pumpkins, and Old Glory in the mellow Autumnal sunlight.
The Corgyncombe Courant hopes you enjoyed your time at the fair!
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An old autograph book from around 1887 is on display on the art stand in the Corgyncombe Library.
Behind the autograph book is the February 1989 issue of Victoria Magazine. In this issue there is an article about Spencerian Script. Platt Rogers Spencer, born in 1800, was the founder of Spencerian Script. He published instructional books that taught his lovely penmanship style.
Behind the autograph book is the February 1989 issue of Victoria Magazine. In this issue there is an article about Spencerian Script. Platt Rogers Spencer, born in 1800, was the founder of Spencerian Script. He published instructional books that taught his lovely penmanship style.
Another autograph book, with the February 1989 Victoria Magazine behind.
The cover of the 1887 autograph book.
A "Spencerian System of Penmanship" book.
An entry from the Braddock Bible, made by Henry's grieving wife Juliaett, recording his death.
