Rita Ownby Holcomb's Blog, page 4
January 6, 2016
Recognizing and Honoring Confederate Veterans
The United Daughters of the Confederacy To honor the memory of those who served and those who fell in the service of the Confederate States.
To protect, preserve and mark the places made historic by Confederate valor.
To collect and preserve the material for a truthful history of the War Between the States.
To record the part taken by Southern women in patient endurance of hardship and patriotic devotion during the struggle and in untiring efforts after the War during the reconstruction of the South.
To fulfill the sacred duty of benevolence toward the survivors and toward those dependent upon them.
To assist descendants of worthy Confederates in securing proper education.
To cherish the ties of friendship among the members of the Organization
I am proud to have six family members so honored.
First and foremost is my great grandfather Watterson Knox Polk Ownby
To protect, preserve and mark the places made historic by Confederate valor.
To collect and preserve the material for a truthful history of the War Between the States.
To record the part taken by Southern women in patient endurance of hardship and patriotic devotion during the struggle and in untiring efforts after the War during the reconstruction of the South.
To fulfill the sacred duty of benevolence toward the survivors and toward those dependent upon them.
To assist descendants of worthy Confederates in securing proper education.
To cherish the ties of friendship among the members of the Organization
I am proud to have six family members so honored.
First and foremost is my great grandfather Watterson Knox Polk Ownby
December 4, 2015
Walnut Shell Candles
That First Post War Christmas 1865A Twist of Tobacco
The snow continued to fall thickly as the buckboard carried them home. Ed and Sam unhitched the horses and took them to the barn. Eli and Watt carried Maggie and Henry into the house. Lizzie went straight to the kitchen to warm the spiced apple cider she had made earlier, and Jack carefully lit the tiny walnut candles on the tree. This was the first Christmas Maggie and Henry could remember a tree being lit with shiny ornaments and their eyes were wide with wonder.
Walnut shells have many uses. As tiny beeswax candles or as settings for the Nativity.
The lovely Christmas ornament below was purchased in 1972 on our honeymoon. It is the first tree ornament we bought together. Through the years there have been many other decorations. Some stayed and some went the way of old socks. Silently into the night--(trash can.)
But this beauty is wrapped and carefully stored every year. Although the star is tattered and the gold trim is flat and worn thin it has an honored place every year on our family Christmas Tree.
Here are a couple of great tutorials on how to make Walnut Shell Candles and other tiny goodies for your own family memories.
The Magic Onions
A Spoonful of Nature
Hinterland Mama
The snow continued to fall thickly as the buckboard carried them home. Ed and Sam unhitched the horses and took them to the barn. Eli and Watt carried Maggie and Henry into the house. Lizzie went straight to the kitchen to warm the spiced apple cider she had made earlier, and Jack carefully lit the tiny walnut candles on the tree. This was the first Christmas Maggie and Henry could remember a tree being lit with shiny ornaments and their eyes were wide with wonder.
Walnut shells have many uses. As tiny beeswax candles or as settings for the Nativity.
The lovely Christmas ornament below was purchased in 1972 on our honeymoon. It is the first tree ornament we bought together. Through the years there have been many other decorations. Some stayed and some went the way of old socks. Silently into the night--(trash can.)
But this beauty is wrapped and carefully stored every year. Although the star is tattered and the gold trim is flat and worn thin it has an honored place every year on our family Christmas Tree.
Here are a couple of great tutorials on how to make Walnut Shell Candles and other tiny goodies for your own family memories.
The Magic Onions
A Spoonful of Nature
Hinterland Mama
December 3, 2015
A Christmas Treat for Mack
A Christmas Treat for Mack
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the houseNot a creature was stirring, Not even a mouse,The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there,The children were nestled all snug in their beds,While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.
Written in 1823, the Clement Moore classic was firmly established by the Civil War.
The holiday was more secular in the South than the North but was still basically of a spiritual nature.
Celebrated on Christmas Day, not for two months prior, the day would start with Church services. While the women cooked the main meal, the young people would decorate the tree. Small evergreen trees for a table top were the norm in most homes, adorned with edible gingerbread cookies, bright paper ornaments and perhaps gilded nuts.
The true highlight of the day was the same thing that dominated every other day; FOOD! As today, each families celebration was determined by economics.
As the Civil War progressed and food supplies dwindled the lack of sugar, spices and even flour curtailed the holiday feast. But families would pool their resources with their neighbors, each bringing what was available to them.
There could be wild turkey or a surviving goose might be sacrificed for the occasion. Most hams had already been confiscated by foragers, either Yankee or Confederate. But sweet potatoes baked in the ashes of the fire or sweetened with honey and spiced to create a pie or pudding.
Since fresh vegetables weren't available and canning was in it's infancy, there would be thick and hearty soups made from dried beans and vegetables and a variety of pickles. Pickled beets, cucumbers, okra, cabbage and whole string beans. There would not be a green bean casserole on the table.
Sweets would be the crowning glory if sugar or honey was available. Pies and cakes were everyday fare, but candies were reserved for Christmas.
Cream candy made from butter, heavy cream and sugar was often flavored with vanilla or rose water. Coca was an extravagance reserved for Christmas Fudge.
After dinner the tree would be trimmed and tiny candles placed on the branches. Walnut shells filled with beeswax containing tiny wicks would be lit.
Gifts were often simple, handmade and practical. A pair of warm knitted socks or mittens for a beloved brother; an embroidered handkerchief with a bit of crochet trim for Mother or big sister; an indulgent grandfather might deliver a china doll to a spoiled grandaughter or a hunting knife to a grandson. An extravagant grandmother might give a cloved apple pomander to scent a girl's wardrobe.
A young girl learning to knit might receive a Wonderball. Mother would unravel a ball of wool yarn adding little gifts as it was rewound. When the yarn was used the girl would discover bits of ribbon or tiny silver bells or other trinkets.
After Dinner and the tree lighting and the small children put to bed, young men were free to call on their best girl. As they galloped home they fired their pistons with wild abandon. Erratic firing signified one of two things; he had either broken up with the girl or he was getting married soon.
More weddings were solemnized in the early part of the year than any other time. Crops were in and food was put back. Country folk had more time in the dead winter months, regardless of economic status.
In A Twist of Tobacco eight year old Mack is addicted to Sugarplums and receives a full dozen for his Christmas present.
Sugarplums3/4 cup chopped nuts 1/2 cup raisins1/2 cup chopped, dried apples2 tablespoons orange juice1 tablespoon pear preserves1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon ground cloves1/2 cup sugar(May substitute any dried fruits, juices or preserves. Use your imagination and created your own favorites. I LIKE dates in my sugarplums)
Mix all ingredients, except sugar. Mix will until the mixture begins to clump. (I mix with my hands so the ingredients really blend together)
Scoop by teaspoonfuls and roll into a firm ball.
Roll the ball in sugar.
Try not to eat them all before you refrigerate and serve.
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the houseNot a creature was stirring, Not even a mouse,The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there,The children were nestled all snug in their beds,While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.
Written in 1823, the Clement Moore classic was firmly established by the Civil War.
The holiday was more secular in the South than the North but was still basically of a spiritual nature.
Celebrated on Christmas Day, not for two months prior, the day would start with Church services. While the women cooked the main meal, the young people would decorate the tree. Small evergreen trees for a table top were the norm in most homes, adorned with edible gingerbread cookies, bright paper ornaments and perhaps gilded nuts.
The true highlight of the day was the same thing that dominated every other day; FOOD! As today, each families celebration was determined by economics.
As the Civil War progressed and food supplies dwindled the lack of sugar, spices and even flour curtailed the holiday feast. But families would pool their resources with their neighbors, each bringing what was available to them.
There could be wild turkey or a surviving goose might be sacrificed for the occasion. Most hams had already been confiscated by foragers, either Yankee or Confederate. But sweet potatoes baked in the ashes of the fire or sweetened with honey and spiced to create a pie or pudding.
Since fresh vegetables weren't available and canning was in it's infancy, there would be thick and hearty soups made from dried beans and vegetables and a variety of pickles. Pickled beets, cucumbers, okra, cabbage and whole string beans. There would not be a green bean casserole on the table.
Sweets would be the crowning glory if sugar or honey was available. Pies and cakes were everyday fare, but candies were reserved for Christmas.
Cream candy made from butter, heavy cream and sugar was often flavored with vanilla or rose water. Coca was an extravagance reserved for Christmas Fudge.
After dinner the tree would be trimmed and tiny candles placed on the branches. Walnut shells filled with beeswax containing tiny wicks would be lit.
Gifts were often simple, handmade and practical. A pair of warm knitted socks or mittens for a beloved brother; an embroidered handkerchief with a bit of crochet trim for Mother or big sister; an indulgent grandfather might deliver a china doll to a spoiled grandaughter or a hunting knife to a grandson. An extravagant grandmother might give a cloved apple pomander to scent a girl's wardrobe.
A young girl learning to knit might receive a Wonderball. Mother would unravel a ball of wool yarn adding little gifts as it was rewound. When the yarn was used the girl would discover bits of ribbon or tiny silver bells or other trinkets.
After Dinner and the tree lighting and the small children put to bed, young men were free to call on their best girl. As they galloped home they fired their pistons with wild abandon. Erratic firing signified one of two things; he had either broken up with the girl or he was getting married soon.
More weddings were solemnized in the early part of the year than any other time. Crops were in and food was put back. Country folk had more time in the dead winter months, regardless of economic status.
In A Twist of Tobacco eight year old Mack is addicted to Sugarplums and receives a full dozen for his Christmas present.
Sugarplums3/4 cup chopped nuts 1/2 cup raisins1/2 cup chopped, dried apples2 tablespoons orange juice1 tablespoon pear preserves1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon ground cloves1/2 cup sugar(May substitute any dried fruits, juices or preserves. Use your imagination and created your own favorites. I LIKE dates in my sugarplums)
Mix all ingredients, except sugar. Mix will until the mixture begins to clump. (I mix with my hands so the ingredients really blend together)
Scoop by teaspoonfuls and roll into a firm ball.
Roll the ball in sugar.
Try not to eat them all before you refrigerate and serve.
