The Peter Burr House

09/29/2022

Update: butter making will begin at 1pm.

Just got the word that on Saturday, October 8, the bread bakers will be baking bread in the bake oven. This will be the last bread baking of the year. If you want a loaf (or two), you should contact Wayne Braunstein at [email protected].

Because it is the last day of the bread-baking season, I thought it could be nice to have something a little special -- churning butter. However, this is dependent on:
1) The weather. If it is too cold, the butter will take forever to set up. I would have to seriously reconsider if a quite cold day is forecast. If it is going to rain, then I would have to cancel this activity, as butter-making would be done on the back porch of the utility building (where I have easy access to water, etc.), and that is exposed to the elements.

2) Whether anyone plans to come. A couple of weeks ago, I had an 18th C. games day planned, and no one came. Which is fine, really - I know families are busy (I certainly have personal experience!) and there was minimal setup so there was little labor involved for me. It was not a problem. However, if I am purchasing natural heavy cream to do butter making, and preparing all the equipment, that's a bit more of an undertaking.

It is a busy weekend - I know the Waterford Fair is going on that weekend, and Middleway Day, and who knows what else, so it may be not be a good day to come out to the Peter Burr House. If it doesn't work out, don't be dismayed for me -- I will probably be there anyway, having a good time spinning on the front porch (unless it is pouring rain, since I wouldn't want to bring my wheel out in that!)

09/09/2022

So far it looks like we are going to have good weather Saturday, so the plans for active games should go on well. For those who would like a quieter game, I will prepare, though whether that can go on at the same time depends on how much help arrives.

Turns out that Saturday is the Moon Festival - usually called the mid-Autumn Moon Festival but it isn't even Autumn yet! The traditional Chinese calendar is based on moon cycles, hence me being caught flat-footed when I decided to look up when the Festival would be, so I could send my kids some 'moon cakes' (which are not authentic moon cakes by any stretch of the imagination... but, they always looked forward to them). However, they will be on their own for moon cakes this year, I am afraid.

I won't be bringing moon cakes (authentic or terribly inauthentic) to the Burr House on Saturday, but I will take the opportunity to tell Moon Stories if there are interested guests. The Burrs would not have known the Chinese stories of Chang-e or the Moon Sisters, but they might have known the creepy old English tale 'The Buried Moon'. Very good stories, all of them, even if you won't get to hear them watching the full Harvest moon rise over the horizon.

09/03/2022

Deborah sent you a Pin!

Next Saturday, September 10, will be a bread baking day, and my husband is kindly taking a vacation day from work, so that we can have a program that will last more than a couple of hours in the afternoon. I am planning the program to be '18th C. Games'. A couple of families have offered to assist, for which I am especially grateful, as the younger folk are better at running about than I am! The Burr House will be open for these activities from 11am-2pm (after that I have to scamper over to the Shepherdstown Public Library). For those who are helping, I will be there at 10:30 am to teach how the games are played.

With any luck, the weather will cooperate and young visitors can enjoy active period games on our grassy lawn. However, if it should rain, we can play 18th C. board games such as 'Game of the Goose', Fox & Geese', and more. For pictorial interest I show a tiny gameboard I made after an extant 16th C. wooden gameboard of 'Gluckshaus' or "House of Luck". Do I think the Burrs played that game? Probably not, though not because it is a gambling game: games of cards, dice, and board games with betting were immensely popular to play respectably among family and friends in the 18th C. But, I rather expect many of the local German immigrants (and children thereof) in Shepherdstown did.

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08/13/2022

What a beautiful day! We're not scared -- no, we aren't going on a bear hunt, and of course no one is scared of beautiful, delightful wool. (Nor do you have to cross mud, and a river, and a forest... though perhaps tall grass: swishy swashy, swishy swashy)

Hope to see some of you at 12:30 for some good, clean crafting fun!

08/07/2022

Next Saturday, August 13, is Bread-Baking day at the Peter Burr House. The long-range forecast hopefully indicates a very nice day, not too hot for an August day, so I think this would be a good day for our promised program "Warm as Wool". This is a program primarily for children, involving a read-aloud storybook followed by a craft of making wool balls to take home as toys. I think this might be best started at 12:30 pm (giving time for everyone to give their kids some lunch) and it should go on for about an hour, I expect. Young children will need help from their caretakers for this activity, and very little children will just want to play with the water. Expect everyone to get a bit wet!

This is a free activity; I will donate some of my plentiful collection of wool to the cause.

Although wet-felting, as we will be doing as our activity, was not an art practiced in Colonial America (as far as is known now, anyway), wool was one of the two critical fibers for clothing in the 18th C. -- and earlier. Wool is naturally warm, but it can be spun tightly along its long fibers (worsted) to form a very light cloth with excellent drape suitable for summer wear. It is somewhat waterproof, and thus makes excellent coats and cloaks, especially when spun, woven, and fulled to make exceptionally warm garments. It is also somewhat fire-proof: wool smolders before it burns, making it an excellent material for petticoats and sometimes aprons, particularly if you have a large hearth to move around in and are concerned about coming in contact with a stray ember or spark (though I must add that women know their hearths well, and are not likely to burn their clothes, though of course, kitchen accidents happen no matter whether you are in the 18th C. or the 21rst)

(the picture just shows some wool, clean & combed, and then the handspun yarn made from it. But we won't be doing spinning on Saturday)

07/06/2022

This coming Saturday, July 9, the bread bakers will be here baking bread in the bake oven, and thus the house will be open approximately 11am - 2pm (probably a bit longer).

I like to have a program on Bread Baking days, but there are a couple of difficulties with this one (a) the weather and (b) my husband has to work well into the afternoon which means I am lacking a vehicle to get there. I was planning on doing a read-aloud of a relevant picture book and a wool craft especially for little kids (though big kids and adults would like it too), however, a rainy day is not conducive to playing with soap, water, and wool. Yes, I give away my plans: to make wool felted balls.

Mind you, making felted balls was not something done in colonial America - what was extensively practiced was fulling, a 'felting' treatment of wool fabric, which made for stronger woven woolens that did not fray when cut. But I have found that this is a great activity on a hot summer day, where the participants come away with a greater appreciation of sheep & their wool, and have a toy to boot. But as an activity on a rainy day... not so much.

However, I do not have to do a program only on Bread Baking Days, just a Saturday (or even a Sunday afternoon) where the weather is conducive to activity. What I do need is an idea of how many people would be interested in doing this, as I would have to bring sufficient supplies. This is an activity that 3-6 year-olds will need help with but enjoy doing, ages 7+ can probably do by themselves, and toddlers just splash the water around. Good clean fun all around. So indicate in the comments if you have an interest, and how many would be participating. If there is a lot of interest, I will have do schedule multiple days, as only so many can do this at a go...

06/06/2022

This coming Saturday, June 11, is Bread Baking Day, so the house will be open while the bread bakers are there, approximately 10am-2pm. Because of transportation issues, I can't get there before 1pm at least, but I'd like to start doing our Saturday programs again, starting with this coming Saturday: 18th C. Clothing (c. 1775ish) in the 'log kitchen' of the Peter Burr House, from 1:30-3pm.

This will be a program mostly for children, as I will bring out the children's clothes I made for our young interpreters, as well as some adult women's clothes, and visitors can try them on! Parents, bring your cameras! We are expecting some rain on Saturday, but we will be inside, so should be fine. If the weather ends up warning of strong storms or pouring rain, the event will be postponed.

(Photo is of young interpreter Georgia making butter in the 'log kitchen')

05/30/2022

The apothecary rose in the garden is just beginning to bloom in earnest, so it is time to start harvesting petals. The apothecary rose, a rose that is believed to date back to at least the time of Classical Rome, has the interesting property of its fragrance being enhanced by drying, which makes it particularly useful for culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic purposes.

In a Pennsylvania 4-Square garden, which is the model for our kitchen garden, an apothecary rose would be at the center of the garden. However, our model garden is too small to do this without a rose bush impeding everything in the central hub of the garden, so this lovely specimen is located in the outer 4 square, the perennial herbs, representing the enduring heavens encircling the earthy inner squares, from which come our humble (but needed) vegetables.

I must confess, however, that our garden is sadly neglected these last few years - I just have not been able to come and tend it (not having a car most of the time does not help). Indeed it was quite an effort to get the garden door open at all! When I next come back to pick more petals, it will be with a shovel, clippers, and gloves.

11/13/2021

Last program of the year, all set up for what would be two well-attended homeschool sessions on making orange pomanders.

Afterwards, all was cleaned up, a bit of lavender and rosepetals put in the large bowl to set on the table, leaving a gentle floral and orange fragrance to linger in the air as I shut up the house. Good winter to you, dear Burr House.

11/04/2021

Here is the 'Great Room' of the Peter Burr house last evening, prepared for the first part of a local girl scout program. You can guess the content of the program, with the table laid for a tea party with Shrewsbury cakes (one of the parents would be bringing some ginger cakes, from a receipt by Hannah Glasse, to fill the other pewter dish) and a couple facsimile manners books at the corner.

We no longer can use the fireplaces in the house, but I got permission to use candles under cover for the event, so these were set out - as many as I had - to be gaily welcoming. I rather fancy the old house quite enjoyed being gussied up for visitors, no matter how short that time would be.

It was quite an adventure, as the temperatures dropped steadily and the night fell quickly - and as it was a moonless, overcast night, it was a very dark night indeed. Still, we could all see each other well enough, even if that teeny-tiny facsimile print (and my notes) were a challenge. I think everyone had a good time, and would do it again, given the opportunity. I know I would.

10/31/2021

*As I leave home this afternoon*

"Bye dear, off to work! Happy Halloween!"

(yes, the impish words would work better had I been festively dressed, but I needed that that broom to do some cleaning at the Peter Burr House prior to the Girl Scout Program Wednesday night)

09/24/2021

October 9 will be the last Bread-making day at the Peter Burr House for the season, and I would like to have the now semi-traditional "Antique Apple Tasting" as a special program that day as well, from about 11am to 1:30pm.

I dithered whether or not to do this, with the risk of COVID-19 transmission being rated "extremely high" in Jefferson County (indeed, all of WV) at present. I am hopeful that the risk levels will go down within two weeks, but we can't depend on that. Still, considering this from a microbiologist's point of view, I think with reasonable precautions this can be a relatively safe activity.

First, I will have the apples cut up on a table on the porch, which will give plenty of open air currents, with social distancing strongly recommended. If levels of transmission are still very high, masks are an excellent idea (between nibbling), even though you are outside. Can't hurt to be safe. And while the virus is primarily transmitted by aerosols, washing your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer before eating is also a good idea. And even in the 18th C., people did make a practice of washing their hands before they ate, so it is a long-term good idea, not just during a pandemic.

One thing about we 21rst-Century people trying to guide our lives through a deadly pandemic is that we surely have even more empathy with people of the past, who had to deal with disease on a regular basis, and too often faced the prospect of an early death or the heart-breaking loss of loved ones, especially beloved children. Smallpox was especially feared: if you contracted smallpox, you had a one-in-three chance of dying (and that was if you were of European descent - a population that was somewhat 'acclimated' to smallpox; if you were an Indigenous person, your likelihood of death was much worse). If you survived smallpox, you were permanently scarred - sometimes blinded. If your child contracted diphtheria, you had a 1:10 chance of hopelessly watching your precious little one be slowly strangled of oxygen as they struggled to breathe - though the odds of death horribly increased if your sick child was a baby or toddler (to 1:5). Our anxiety, weariness, and grief as COVID-19 storms through all human populations connects us in sympathy to the people of the past.

But... they had apples. And they were good apples. I might not get a chance to make an apple pie at the Peter Burr House this year, but here is a delicious one from a few years past.

08/11/2021

This Saturday, August 14, is bread-baking day, so the house will be open. In addition, I shall have a vehicle available on Saturday, which means I can do an impromptu demonstration: Spinning, from 11am-1pm or so.

I will have carding combs available for those who want to try to help prepare wool for spinning, dyed fibers, and things to touch and explore. Some stories too, as desired! If you are available, come on down. Even better, if you have a free couple hours and a spinning wheel, head on over and we can have a 'spin-in'!

07/16/2021

As one (of two) little woad plants, I think this indicates I won't be getting any blue dyes from nature this summer. But, there are plenty of other dyes that we can - and will - do.

At Mary Stanley's Memorial estate sale, I picked up several potholder looms, and with the addition of several I already own, I've got enough to start a class; a larger class if some students bring their own. I've just ordered some natural wool potholder loops from Hillcreek Fiber; I have some natural dyestuffs on hand, and more will be available from the natural surroundings as summer progresses.

We will need a class to dye the wool in (2) different colors, and then a class to weave our loops (and there are different patterns you might like to try too).

Now, when best to do this? It would be best to wait until things cool off a bit in September, and the goldenrod will be in splendid dyeing season then too. I have limited transportation, but Saturday and Sunday afternoons would be fine for me. A homeschool session would also be a possibility, but I'd have to work around my transportation issues. Let me know if a Saturday or Sunday afternoon would work better (and perhaps our dear young dancers can once again participate if it is a Sunday)

But, starting to explore 18th C. arts and handwork once again at the Peter Burr House is a splendid thing to contemplate.

07/14/2021

I had a very happy weekend learning to weave bands on a bandgrind -- or as we might call it in English, a 'rigid heddle', though a bandgrind that can do most of the historic patterns of woven bands is rather more complicated in form than the usual rigid heddle. (And I plan to explore those, once I get the simple stuff down).

This type of weaving is also a type of an ancient weaving technique used in many cultures, the back-strap loom, where you provide the tension with your own body. I quite liked it, and I think I may experiment with some period tape designs from Colonial America . and see how it compares with tape made on a tape loom. Right now, I can get a much tighter weave with the back-strap style loom, as my tape loom tends to go skipping across the table when I apply sufficient tension (though I have read you are supposed to 'put a brick in it'! The tape loom that is.)

07/02/2021

As the menacing spectre of COVID-19 slowly fades, the Peter Burr House is showing signs of life again. Next Saturday, July 10 the Bread Bakers will be baking bread in the outdoor bake oven and the house will be open while they are there.

Ordinarily, I like to have some sort of educational program ongoing while the Bread Bakers are working, but that Saturday I will be spending most of the day learning to weave on a bandgrind. While historically, the ever important and useful linen or wool tape was generally made on a tape loom here in the Mid-Atlantic states, I anticipate this class will improve my technique. Besides, I am curious and love to learn new textile arts.

I do hope to offer some programs in weaving and dyeing in the upcoming months. In the meantime, I plan to explore more with natural dyes, such as this cochineal dyed Shetland wool being spun on my small castle wheel.

09/15/2020

Here I am with the apples from Distillery Lane again -- and which of these delightful offerings are period apples?

First, we have the aforementioned Summer Rambo, the most excellent of sauce apples. Other period apples on this list include:
Maiden's Blush (origin: New Jersey, late 18th C.): this is a very pretty apple; tender, sweet but with a slightly tart finish, making an excellent apple for eating fresh. But if you want to dry apples, this is the best apple for the job: the flesh stays white (amazingly) and its firm flesh dries quickly

Pitmaston Pineapple (origin: England, late 18th C.) - these are adorable little apples, with a sweet, almost spicy flavor. I think they rather taste like pineapples, really...

Baldwin (origin: Massachusetts, c. 1740): when I was a young college student in New England, an old farmer at a market urged me to try a Baldwin - 'not like your regular store apple' he said, giving me a large, attractive apple. He was right, and I was delighted. Baldwin is firm, juicy, sweet with a bit of tartness and an excellent keeping apple (one of the ones you can keep in your crisper until Spring). It is supposed to be an excellent pie apple, though I haven't made pie out of Baldwins... yet

Bramley's Seedling (origin: England, 1809) Very large apples that are tart! Boy, are they sharp! (my youngest daughter's very favorite for eating fresh, but that kid liked to suck on lemons when she was little. Just sayin'). They are one of the very finest for making pie and still the favorite for that job in Great Britain.

So it is time for me to make the journey to Jefferson MD this weekend for some of these excellent apples!

Be sure to come visit our apple barn this weekend for your favorite freshly picked, heritage apple!

Baldwin • Bramley’s Seedling • Pixie Crunch • Red Gravenstein • Summer Rambo • Redfield • Zestar • Snowsweet • Pitmaston Pineapple • Jefferis • Maiden’s Blush • Miller’s Red • Khazakhstan • Chieftain

🍏‼️OPEN SATURDAY + SUNDAY‼️🍏 12-5 pm