The manners of violets….

A loaf of Bread, a jug of wine, and thou. Try our Artisan breads....no guarantees on a perfect date, but it sure helps!

I saw a quote the other day that really gave me a moment of deep thought. “When the time is ripe for certain things, these things appear in different places in the manner of violets coming to light in the early spring. –Farkas Bolyai”

Initially, I dismissed it as a ‘pretty’ thought but then remembered how ill mannered and unpredictable spring violets are.

It is as if Mother Earth gave these pretty little heathens a free will that dominates all others.

Once planted, they proceed to grow in other places and fill other’s spaces if the conditions are unpredictably (to us) right to them . They are determined to outlive all attempts to corral (yes, even kill) them. That seems to be how Bygone Basics is growing. It seems to have found spaces and places that I didn’t see coming when I dreamed this big dream of starting this business.

We have now enhanced the Bygone Basics Experience to include the opportunity for people to enjoy our hand dipped taper candles and wonderful artisan soaps. Just this week we added a line of farmers breads (both loaf varieties and stone baked), delectible scones, and old-fashioned cookies. Soon, jams and jellies will be added to the line of products.

You can order using our online system using PayPal or just call or email with what you would like and I’ll send an invoice. I have more items available that what I’ve had time to put on the website. I ship in well packaged boxes to prevent breakage. Of course, you can pick up your order too, by preset appointment.  I need to make sure my guests who are enjoying a Bygone Experience are not interrupted.

I love it. It is a lot of variety and is so energizing! People have all along asked me if I sell the things I make, but I always said no. The time was ripe. Now I do.

Speaking of violets…I’m getting laying hens!  The time is ripe.  🙂  (sense a theme yet?)  I have always talked about getting hens agian.  When a girl, it was my job to collect the eggs on our family farm.  I practically live on eggs and bake with them too.  I happened across someone who was practically giving away a system that contains them, while allowing them to be free range grazers and in the same week, found someone else who had a few chicks to part with.  Normally, one must buy large orders of 15 or 25 of each type of chicken.  With all the space Amanda has here for us (Remember we named the place “Amanda’s Bequest”) it just worked out.

We will also be at the Montague Farmers market with our food goods.   AND at the new Artisan Marketplace in Montague with our artisan candles and soaps.  WOW.  A lot going on this year.  My husband tells me I might want to control those violets, lest they consume me.  He is right.  I’ll have to hire help this year.  Our daughters are growing into adults with jobs and homes further away. (very sad about that)

I just posted the latest issue (April/May 2011) of the I CAN at Bygone Basics Newsletter.

In it is an article about what to do in April and May.  I’ve been busily planning a large garden.  After container gardening the last couple of years in our previous location in suburbia, I am really looking forward it.  We dug up the front lawn and put manure on it, then tilled it in.  Hey…in my defense it was the best sunlight area.  Now…if only it would WARM UP and act like spring!!

“Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush. –– Doug Larson

One of the heritage candle varieties made at Bygone Basics

A loaf of Bread, a jug of wine, and thou. Try our Artisan breads….no guarantees on a perfect date, but it sure helps!

Melt in your mouth Currant/Raisin Scones

Variety packs of great soaps.

Cocoa Swirl Soap. Guess what colors and scents it?

Herbs, spices and natural waxes make up these hand dipped candles

Name Betty

In my recent newsletter for Bygone Basics, I announced a contest. And so, I thought (it is almost always dangerous when I do that) that I should bring the same information to this blog.

In November, I introduced the new home of Bygone Basics. To recap, it is an old manse built in 1874 and was the parsonage that was completed with the building of Ferry Memorial Church on Old Channel Trail in Montague.  Noah Ferry died heroically in the Civil War and his mother and brother comissioned the manse and church in his memory.
We’re still moving in while recapturing the place.  There’s a lot of work to be done in the house. For example, we are creating a private heritage kitchen separate from the home’s main kitchen for Bygone Basic Experiences. But for now, we use the big main kitchen for our guest Experiences until that work is completed.
I thought upon first seeing the house that it was female and got the clear impression of a grand dame, “fallen” a bit.  In fact Betty Boop came to mind with her arched eyebrows and pursed lips, ready to reward you with a kiss. 

The new home of Bygone Basics....do you see Betty Boop?

Now the contesting part comes in….I want a name for the house, but with such history and character, I contest that the name “Betty” just won’t do.

Here’s where YOU come in….

Please, submit your names to me at ICan@bygonebasics.com. The winner of this naming contest will receive $30 toward a Bygone Basics Experience OR a loaf of homemade bread and a jar of jam to go with it all made in our kitchen. (HINT: Take the Experience and MAKE the bread and jam!)  Plus, you get boasting rights for naming it.
I’m leaving the photos of the front and side of the house in the newsletter and including a few more as well. To help your naming process here is some information to keep in mind:

• Bygone Basics does heritage experiences such as home canning, baking from basic scratch ingredients, soap making, butter churning…etc.
• The home has enormous windows and ceilings.
• The house is not lavish victorian in style, it has great lines,original wood floors, and didn’t waste resources on unecessary flourish.  (Perfect as it is in keeping with the home food preservation, no-waste lifestyle we are promoting)
• We are planning a heritage immersion style bed and breakfast in its future.
• We have a sense of humor.
• Valerie is sure the home is female.
• There are whitetail deer EVERYWHERE.  (Wondering how a garden will fare…)
• We have 8 children (6 girls/2 boys) plus 2 son-in-laws, 1 daughter-in-law, 1 fiance’ and 2 grandsons.  Additionally, 2 girls we consider daughters as they’ve been with our family since age 4.  (it’s ok, I’m thinking it too…THAT’S A LOT OF ESTROGEN in one family)
• There are other pictures of the house in previous posts and in the I Can newsletter posted on our www.bygonebasics.com website.

 

See the standard sized door in front....the windows dwarf it.

Please submit your name suggestions.  Any and all will be considered – by January 25 via email

and the winner will be announced in the February newsletter.  Feel free to email any additional questions as well.

Putting Food by…

Experience Putting Food By with friends

The term “Putting Food By” refers to an older way of life when a household made use of each season’s bounty as it occured. For example, when it was asparagus season (May/June in Michigan) asaparagus is pickled, canned, frozen, baked into cookies (yes..and they are yummy), made into soups, casseroles, and srambeld into eggs…to name a few methods. Similarly each season has its own bounty and families/friends/neighbors worked together to make each harvest period yield well for each household. I love the phrase, “many hands make light work.” Indeed they do! I have found that many hands make plenty of pats on the back, belly laughs, shared lasting memories, and applause for a job well done. Putting Food By not only saves a household dollars, but it also ensures a healthy food source, solace in knowing that there is food in the pantry, and makes lasting friendships the making of the product and the sharing of it as well.
So…instead of throwing a party where you have to cook or cater and worry about how you’ll entertain….consider this:
Plan for a seasonal harvest in your area, have friends, neighbors, or family over to capture that amazing flavor in a mason jar. 🙂 …while saving money and creating a fabulous and unique time wtih people you care about.
Indeed consider learning how with a session at Bygone Basics…we indeed will make it an Experience you will never forget.