Apples, Baking, Gardens, Corgyn and Other Old Fashioned Delights! Part One
David Austin roses at Castle Corgyncombe.
Tasha Tudor's greenhouse and splendid bay tree.
Tasha Tudor's Bay tree.
These are my own personal photographs of Tasha Tudor and her cottage.
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Tasha amongst the forget-me-nots.
Tasha Tudor's parlour.
August 28th, 2021 would have been Tasha Tudor's 106th birthday.
My daughter Sarah and I were so blessed to have Tasha for a friend.
Tasha Tudor's Birthday Celebration is more than just a one day celebration. It is, to us, every day kindred old fashioned tasks and the seasonal celebrations all throughout the year.
Tasha Tudor delighted, as we do, in refined, simple elegance, in a country way, and the combining of the every day old fashioned tasks as our ancestors did, with artistic skill that could be seen by the beauty in their accomplished results... such as baskets, clothing, gardens, pottery, textiles, furniture, food preparation, architecture, and even their tools.
My daughter Sarah was the model for Tasha Tudor's illustrations of the little girl Kathy in "The Real Pretend".
We had many kindred interests in common with Tasha such as spinning, weaving, knitting, natural dyeing, dolls, corgyn (corgi dogs), goats, birds, gardening (flowers, herbs, and vegetables), old fashioned clothing, boots and frocks, fireplace and woodstove cookery, canning, sewing, quilting, old books, and the old ways of living.
These daily things remind us of Tasha.
How grateful we are to have been her friend and kindred spirit!
The canopy bed is the same one where the parents are tucked in "for a long winter's nap", that is drawn in the 1999 version of "The Night Before Christmas" illustrated by Tasha Tudor.
'Twas such a delight for me to wake up mornings at Tasha Tudor's to the sight of Colonel Bunn, especially since I have always had such an interest in bunnies. Colonel Bunn was named after a person that Tasha knew of. This reminds the genealogical researchers (as Tasha would say) at Corgyncombe of Fanny Bunn, a cousin of mine and my daughter Sarah, through the Taylors. Fanny Bunn was listed on the census as having 16 little Bunns. One of Fanny Bunn's sons was named Peter Russell Bunn and one of the daughters was named Fanny Belle Bunn. We have named some of the bunnies at the Corgyncombe Bunn'ery after Fanny Bunn's little Bunns Peter Russell and Fanny Belle. Bunn'ery is a word that I use, meaning a place where delightful wild and tame bunnies and rabbits happily and hoppily dwell.
In the photograph above Peter Russell Bunn is underneath the bird feeder where he suddenly stands up and surveys the acreage.
Tasha spinning wool in her old fashioned kitchen.
Tasha Tudor's lovely Corgi Cottage.
These are my own personal photographs of Tasha Tudor and her cottage.
Tasha Tudor spinning on my wheel.
After spinning the yarn Tasha measures it on a yarn winder and when she has a full skein she takes it off the winder and washes it. When the grease is washed out the yarn will be white.
Tasha's miniature chair is like Tasha Tudor's chair shown in her library in the photograph below.
Tasha cooks on top of the "Little Fanny" stove which also has an oven for baking.
Tasha Tudor's doll Emma has a wood cookstove just like it!
The dovecote at Tasha Tudor's Corgi Cottage with the doves posing most delightfully for me!
Breakfast in Tasha Tudor's parlour.
Tasha Tudor's parlour.
Tasha and Natty enjoy hot chocolate by the fire with Ethlyn Corgi.
Tasha Tudor in her kitchen at Corgi Cottage preparing chickens for our supper.
These are my own personal photographs of Tasha Tudor and her cottage.
Standing by the sink, Tasha arranges the forget-me-nots that she picked into the crock of water.
Tasha Tudor's pump and sink.
Hitty and little Tasha Corgi are helping. Tasha Corgi peeks around the basket of apples to keep an eye on the rooster and goose.
Nanny Nettie-Kin's bodice and skirt were designed and made exclusively for Nanny by Tillie Tinkham, the seamstress mouse for the dolls and critters at Corgyncombe. She is the proprietress of "Tillie Tinkham's Frocks and Fashions" with Millinery and Tea Room.
Tasha Corgi was named after Tasha Tudor, and Tasha Tudor was very honored and declared herself to be Tasha Corgi's Godmother.
Sarah peeling apples as Tasha Corgi awaits a delicious slice.
Figgy with her market stand of apples, pies, cakes, and bread.
Figgy was made by talented Ae and Holly.
Tasha Corgi joins Figgy at tea time.
Tasha Tudor wrote to us:
We have included some Agricultural statistics from 1855 to 1880, showing the apple orchard and cider production of my direct line ancestors' farms.
The apple stem is caught in the V of the old apple picker and a gentle tug will bring the apple from the tree. It is then brought down in its cage and deposited carefully in a basket.
The apple orchard and cider traditions of my old New England families were passed down through the generations. The same traditions that Tasha Tudor drew and painted.
Apples are a frequent subject in Tasha Tudor's illustrations. They easily and beautifully show and fit in with the loveliness that she is known for and the celebration of Autumn where work goes hand in hand with play.
We have included throughout this post descriptions of some of her books with apples.
(Many of our descriptions of apples in Tasha's illustrations have been posted before on our Corgyncombe Courant blog in previous posts.)
My ancestors were descendants of early New England families.
Peeling apples for a pie using the White Mountain Apple Parer, Corer, and Slicer.
Lydia Corgi chewing on a tasty apple peel.
Apple blossoms at Corgyncombe.
Both the antique frock and the bonnet boast the finest of workmanship in the tiniest of stitches all hand sewn!
In the book "1 is One", written and illustrated by Tasha Tudor, there are many little girls dressed in frocks similar to the one pictured above.
In "The New England Butt'ry Shelf Cookbook", written by Mary Mason Campbell and illustrated by Tasha Tudor, caramel apples are illustrated on the table of Hallowe'en party treats, as well as a basket full of apples beside the door. In the color Christmas illustration, apples in a yellowware milk pan are sitting on a box, whilst a corgi looks longingly at the treats on the shelf above.
A basket of Red Astrachan Apples. These apples were organically grown at Corgyncombe.
Tasha likes to bake and cook in her old fashioned kitchen.
My photograph of my daughter Sarah that was used by Tasha Tudor to illustrate the cover of "The Real Pretend".
Sarah looking for the best pumpkin in the patch.
Tasha Tudor was delighted by this photograph that I took of my daughter Sarah!
Our Kitty was illustrated in the above pose and also as various ages on the cover of "The Real Pretend".
My daughter Sarah of Corgyncombe was Tasha Tudor's model for the illustrations of the little girl Kathy in "The Real Pretend".
In "The Real Pretend", several of Tasha Tudor's illustrations are bordered with colorful autumn leaves.
In "The Real Pretend", illustrated by Tasha Tudor, apples surround the pages as Kathy is visiting her neighbor Mrs. Rose who is busy by the clothes line. At the bottom of the oval border around one of the pictures is a yellowware milk pan full of apples and on the other page is a small basket of apples with a rooster pecking at an apple on the ground. Apples also surround the old school scene pages, along with the children's old fashioned lunches packed in baskets. On another page, there is also an illustration of Kathy crying in the kitchen. As she sits at the table, kittens play in and around a large basket of apples beneath the table and a cat rests in another mustard colored chair. The kitchen illustration is Tasha's kitchen at Corgi Cottage. In the store illustrations, a boy sitting next to a barrel of apples bites into an apple, as Kathy can be seen trying on a hat by the counter. On the opposite page apples in a basket are offered for sale.
Apples are also in the country stores in "Corgiville Fair", "The Great Corgiville Kidnapping", and "Wings from the Wind" illustrating the poem "General Store" written by Rachel Field.
Rachel Field also wrote the book "Hitty, Her First Hundred Years."
Hitty and Ima are sitting in front of a Tasha Tudor illustration of my daughter Sarah, as Kathy, in the book "The Real Pretend". In the painting of the old school room the children are sitting at the desks and benches with their slates, there is a portrait of George Washington on the wall, a blackboard, and a stove. The schoolmistress looks to be discussing lessons with the older children, as the boy in the back is standing and has his hand raised. Sarah is the little girl with the corgi red braids done up, wearing the dark blue frock and white pinafore in the front row of the desks on the right. The schoolroom reminds us of the old school at Old Sturbridge Village.
Sarah reading on a stile with a pail of apples.
The box above features a Tasha Tudor print on the lid. The print is from the book "The Real Pretend" illustrated by Tasha Tudor. Tasha's borders are always so wonderful and such a treat to look over again and again. The border of this illustration contains autumnal foliage, school items, and a little red squirrel up top. Within the box are some of the letters that Tasha Tudor sent to us.
Hitty and Ima look like they are attending class along with the children in the painting in "The Real Pretend". In the illustration Sarah and another girl look like they are sharing some amusing secret as Sarah is drawing on her slate! The slate that the little boy is holding up looks as if it could have a drawing of a kitten. This is interesting because I gave Tasha a photograph of Sarah drawing her kitten on a blackboard.
Sarah sitting on a stile writing on her slate. Her tin lunch pail is beside her.
In "Wings from the Wind, An Anthology of Poems Selected and Illustrated by Tasha Tudor", there is a poem by Rachel Field titled "General Store". Rachel Field also wrote the book "Hitty, Her First Hundred Years". In the poem "General Store, Rachel talks about a variety of things that she would have in her store, such as crockery, packages of seeds, sugar, peppermint, tea, scissors, string, yard goods, pots and kettles. Rachel speaks of how she imagined her store would be with drawers, counters, windows, shelves, and display cases. From the way Rachel described the old country store, one can tell she had a fondness for country stores and Tasha Tudor splendidly illustrated Rachel Field's "General Store" poem.
Hitty says "It's Sarah!"
In "The Real Pretend" illustration, Sarah as Kathy is trying on a hat in an old country store. One can see the display case with hats, many yard goods, drawers and labeled boxes on the shelves, kerosene lamps, slates, a thread cabinet on the counter, barrels, baskets, boots, pumpkins, and a stove.
I have always loved old fashioned things, old country stores, apothecary and soda fountain items. I started collecting these items when I was a child. It is a family tradition, collecting old things. We are of Old New England... of old Yankee stock. My great great Uncle O. E. Taylor was well known for his love of collections and antiques and according to the paper his collection was like a rare museum! O. E. Taylor was born in 1822 in Warren, Connecticut and he was brother to my great great grandfather.
Above is a photograph of Sarah and Tasha Corgi in the Corgyncombe Country Store, which also includes a soda fountain and ice cream parlour. Sarah has enjoyed having birthday parties in the store.
What fun it is to play store!
I have a huge collection of old price tags, wool union suits, wool muffs, collars, and, as Tasha Tudor always referred to them, "fine boots", made of leather and in a multitude of sizes. These items were found one glorious day in a little country store in the mountains, run by a little old lady. We had the best time in this old country store, picking out things to buy.
Tasha Tudor wrote to me:
"Dear Diane,
Truly, you spin the finest yarn and take the best photographs of anyone I know! I just love the one of Sarah in your store. What a collection you do have to be sure!"
Tasha Tudor always admired Sarah's boots and in Sarah's book, the 1975 version of "The Night Before Christmas" illustrated by Tasha Tudor, Tasha wrote to Sarah:
"To Miss Sarah who wears fine boots!
Love from Tasha Tudor"
For September in "Around the Year", Tasha Tudor illustrated a rooster atop a large basket of apples, as the leaves fall from the apple tree above. Apples are on exhibit at the country fair. Children playing around an old school house are featured for November. Inside the school, apples and children's lunch baskets are on the shelf, with hats, scarves, and skates hanging on the pegs below. On the October pages children are bobbing for apples. In January she shows apple roasting in front of the fire.
Hitty Sue amongst the fragrant apple blossoms.
In "A Child's Garden of Verses", written by Robert Louis Stevenson, 1981 version, Tasha illustrated "The Land of Counterpane" surrounded in the borders by apples. At the bottom is a plate of apples with mice running. With the poem "The Cow" is a bird pecking at some apples.
Apples appear on the cover of Tasha Tudor's "First Delights, A Book About the Five Senses". In the book, Sally experiences the five senses in the wonderful, old fashioned ways of the country. On the "Summer changes to fall." page, the little girl Sally can be seen getting ready for school, her lunch basket already packed along with an apple and her slate, waiting to be taken with her.
Tasha went to her greenhouse to pick some thyme. On the table are some potatoes and apples that she brought up from the root cellar.
On the October pages, apples in abundance are to be found in "Rosemary for Remembrance", illustrated by Tasha Tudor. In the corners apples border the page, as a man peels an apple in the barn whilst a boy, girl, and corgi watch. The pages also contain many baskets of apples, a straw hat, sunbonnet, farm tools, a jug, and a darling sleeping corgi. A yellowware milk pan with apples is in on the kitchen table of the December page, as a woman, girl, boy, and two corgis admire the baby in the cradle.
In "The Night Before Christmas", 1975 version illustrated by Tasha Tudor, on the page with the words: "A bundle of toys he had flung on his back," in one corner Tasha Tudor illustrated apples by a piece of pie covered by a screen.
Old New England Traditions that Tasha Tudor Illustrated!
Part Two Yet to Come!
Some of the photographs and some of the writings on this post are from previous Corgyncombe Courant posts that can be found here on the Corgyncombe Courant and from our web site and our previous postings elsewhere on the internet.
Please do not "Pin" our photographs.
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Our email:
atthecottagegate@yahoo.com
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Photographs, images, and text copyright © 2000-2021 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson. All rights reserved. Photographs, images, and/or text may not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson.
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copyright © 2021 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson
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