Land’s End And The First & Last House – Old Photos

Posted on 10 April 2012 by
Land's End and the First & Last House

Land’s End and the First & Last House (click to enlarge)

The previous slide which I posted from Grandpa’s collection showed the most easterly point of the UK, Lowestoft. Now I’m posting a photo of the most westerly point on mainland England, Land’s End in Cornwall. My gran, Ivy Alice Hibbitt (nee Dando), is sitting in the group of four in the foreground on the left of the photo. The First & Last House can be seen in the background. Nowadays, the area has been turned into a commercial enterprise but this photo was probably taken some time during the 1950’s when it was much more open and accessible.

(From my grandpa’s collection of old slides – see this post for more information.)

Posted in Grandpa's Old Slides |

Shutterfly Photo Books

Posted on 6 January 2012 by

A couple of months ago, I created and ordered a photo book from Shutterfly.com and gave it as a Christmas present. I couldn’t blog about it before as I didn’t want to give the game away.

Anyhow, I thought I’d write about how pleased I am with the product – the finish is excellent. I ordered the 8×11 inch hard photo cover book and created a Custom Book rather than using the Simple Path. Although a bit fiddly and time-consuming because everything is done over the internet, the results are absolutely worth it. The pages are glossy and my photographs came out exceptionally well.

Called ‘Ancestral Trails – Pathways to the Past’, my theme for the book was the homes and districts where my paternal ancestors lived and worked using modern day photographs. I’d taken most of the photos on family history trips. I also added text and labels to explain the pictures.

Because I live in the UK, the postage and packaging almost doubled the cost but I can highly recommend the product and the service and I’m glad I ordered an extra copy for myself.

So, without further ado, here are some images of the book.

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Shutterfly Photo Book

Disclaimer – this is my own personal opinion and I have no affiliation to Shutterfly.com.

[Update 2025: since ordering this book, I have taken the opportunity to have more books printed from various other outlets in the UK with similar results.]

Posted in Family History Links |

Hodge-Podge Recipe From Mrs Beeton’s Cookery Book

Posted on 30 December 2011 by

(From the SOUPS section of my gran’s 1894 publication of ‘Mrs Beeton’s Cookery Book and Household Guide’ – see this post for more information.)

HODGE-PODGE.

INGREDIENTS.-2 lbs. shin of beef, 3 quarts water, 1 pint table-beer, 2 onions, 2 carrots, 2 turnips, 1 head celery, pepper and salt, thickening of butter and flour.

Mode.-Put the meat, beer, and water in a stewpan ; simmer for a few minutes, and skim. Add the vegetables and seasoning ; stew gently till the meat is tender. Thicken with butter and flour, and serve with turnips and carrots, or spinach and celery.

Time, 3 hours, or rather more. Average cost, 6d. per quart. Sufficient for 8 persons.

Hodge Podge Recipe

Hodge Podge Recipe

Posted in Mrs Beeton's Books |

Custard Sauce (For Puddings Or Tarts) From Mrs Beeton

Posted on 16 December 2011 by

This custard sauce recipe is perhaps something that might go down well with the Christmas Pudding. (The recipe comes from my great-grandmother’s 1909 publication of ‘Mrs Beeton’s Every-Day Cookery’ – see this post for more information about the book.)

CUSTARD SAUCE (For Puddings or Tarts).
INGREDIENTS.- 1pint of milk, 2 eggs, 3 ozs. of castor sugar, 1 tablespoonful of brandy, bay-leaf if liked.

METHOD.- Boil the milk and bay-leaf, add the sugar, and cool slightly. Beat the eggs well, pour the milk on to them, and strain into a jug. Have ready a saucepan of boiling water, in which to place the jug, keep stirring until the mixture thickens, but do not allow it to boil, or it will curdle. Stir in the brandy, and serve.

TIME. – 25 to 30 minutes. AVERAGE COST, 6d to 7d.

Posted in Mrs Beeton's Books |

A Plain Christmas Pudding For Children From Mrs Beeton

Posted on 9 December 2011 by

(From my gran’s 1894 publication of ‘Mrs Beeton’s Cookery Book and Household Guide’ – see this post for more information.)

A PLAIN CHRISTMAS PUDDING FOR CHILDREN.
INGREDIENTS.- 1 lb. flour, 1 lb. breadcrumbs, ¾ lb. stoned raisins, ¾ lb. currants, ¾ lb. suet, 3 or 4 eggs, milk, 2 oz. candied peel, 1 teaspoonful powdered allspice, ½ saltspoonful salt.

Mode.- Let the suet be finely chopped, the raisins stoned, and the currants well washed, picked, and dried. Mix these with the other dry ingredients, and stir well together ; beat and strain the eggs to the pudding, stir these in, and add just sufficient milk to make it mix properly. Tie it up in a well-floured cloth, put it into boiling water, and boil for at least 5 hours. Serve with a sprig of holly placed in the middle of the pudding, and a little pounded sugar sprinkled over it.

Time, 5 hours. Average cost, 1s. 9d. Sufficient for 9 or 10 children. Seasonable at Christmas.

Plain Christmas Pudding Recipe For Children

Plain Christmas Pudding Recipe For Children

Posted in Mrs Beeton's Books |