Abby Murphy

advice, domesticity, history lesson, lessons learned

Helpful advice for new mothers

April 28, 2013February 16, 2014 Abby Murphy

Over the past few years I've pointed out historical hints for illness, cleaning house, and other realities of daily life. These tips are often funny and strange, and while I enjoy reading them, it's tough to actually follow their advice. For example, an early 19th-century writer suggested a delicious mixture of onions, butter, pepper and… Continue reading Helpful advice for new mothers

activities, adventure, afternoon adventure, honesty, newport, rhode island, spring, victorians

Afternoon Adventure: Servant Life Tour at The Elms

April 20, 2013February 16, 2014 Abby Murphy

I want to say something meaningful about all this horrifying news coming out of Boston, but I can't find the words. There's only so much sadness I can take in at a time, especially when it's on such a vast scale as the Marathon and a citywide manhunt. At some point I just need to… Continue reading Afternoon Adventure: Servant Life Tour at The Elms

activities, dreams, gardening, homesteading, kitchen garden, spring, vegetables

Spring greening

April 15, 2013February 16, 2014 Abby Murphy

Ah, spring! When a young lady's fancy turns to...plants?Yes, it is all plants, all the time around these parts. When Josh and I go for a walk, I coo over the tiny purple stars blooming in the myrtle. I envy the flocks of daffodils cheering up the still-drab grass. I tend lovingly to the starts… Continue reading Spring greening

adventure, around the roman table, books, childhood, farmers market, meat, school, teaching

The Ancient Table: Roast boar

April 7, 2013February 16, 2014 Abby Murphy

Obelix with dinnerI have this habit of getting totally immersed in whatever topic I'm teaching in history. The Declaration of Independence? Let's watch 1776! Ancient Greece? Let's check out The Odyssey from the library! The Gupta empire? Let's eat Indian food for a week!For the past couple of weeks, the cogs of my "immersion" brain have been… Continue reading The Ancient Table: Roast boar

fruit, honesty, spring, vegetables

Spring cleaning

March 29, 2013February 16, 2014 Abby Murphy

It's getting to that point where things just feel blah. It's officially spring but not quite warm, the kids are either bonkers or asleep at school, and the crust for my first-ever tart puffs up like a balloon.Even food is less than inspiring. Josh made a big pot of white bean, kale, and sausage soup… Continue reading Spring cleaning

activities, books, childhood, dreams, gardening, kitchen garden, spring

The wearing of the green

March 19, 2013February 16, 2014 Abby Murphy

Almost all the seeds I planted a few weeks ago have sprouted, and my seed tray is now a veritable wonderland of tiny green sprouts and tendrils.While I love all the phases of the growing season (except perhaps pest control--haven't figured out a green way of combating aphids yet), this is definitely my favorite. I… Continue reading The wearing of the green

britain, dining at downton, edwardians, fish, grains, india, mrs beeton's book of household management, victorians

Dining at Downton: Kedgeree

March 14, 2013February 16, 2014 Abby Murphy

Kedgeree is the very first dish served on Downton Abbey. Mrs. Patmore sends a steaming bowl up for breakfast, and with that we're immersed in the sumptuous world of Edwardian cuisine. Brits still eat kedgeree today, and it's one of those dishes that carries a few hundred years of British history along with it. Plus,… Continue reading Dining at Downton: Kedgeree

activities, gardening, homesteading, kitchen garden, spring, vegetables

Starting seeds

March 8, 2013February 16, 2014 Abby Murphy

Earlier this week, it was finally starting to feel like spring. The air lost some of its chill, birds chirped in the tree outside our dining room window, and the first crocuses poked up from neighborhood yards. Of course, this morning it's snowing, so we need a good dose of cheer to pick up our… Continue reading Starting seeds

beverages, britain, dining at downton, edwardians, savoy cocktail book, television

Dining at Downton: Flying Scotchman Cocktail

March 4, 2013February 16, 2014 Abby Murphy

I don't know about you, but I'm still recovering from the season 3 finale of Downton Abbey. To be fair, I'd had some warning; my sister told me of Dan Stevens' plans to leave the show long before that last episode. Josh and I spent the whole season discussing when and how the writers would… Continue reading Dining at Downton: Flying Scotchman Cocktail

activities, canning, family, history lesson, homesteading, maple syrup, ohio, spring, winter

Maple sugaring (II)

February 28, 2013February 16, 2014 Abby Murphy

Last week I wrote about my family's maple sugaring tradition. Today I'll add an amendment: while we love most of the maple sugaring process (tapping trees, collecting sap, boiling it down in the evaporator), we have a hard time with one part: finishing the syrup.This is the part where the syrup has been boiled to… Continue reading Maple sugaring (II)