Thanksgiving At Red Barn View 2013!

Sometimes when I type the year 2013, I just can't believe we are 13 years past the turn of the century.  I am overwhelmed with thanks to the good Lord above for letting me see this Thanksgiving! I am reminded of how one of my favorite pastors, Antonio Clinkscales always begins his sermons "Give God some praise! He woke you up this morning didn't he?" This year my family will celebrate a little differently, making new traditions which I find exciting and also gives me a chance to cook some things I don't usually make and try new recipes. 

Actually our celebration at Red Barn View will be a collection of new and old recipes, a brunch on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and I am using some VERY old recipes from the collection of my great, great, great, great, great grandmother, Anne Harrison Fitzhugh.  Anne was the wife of the High Sheriff of Caroline, Thomas Griffin Thornton who was the most famous fox hunter of his day.  His hunting exploits are featured in numerous publications and newspapers of his day. Anne was also the mother of eight children and presided over a household at the family seat called Ormesby just above Guniea Station here in Caroline.  She married "Griffin" in 1795 when she was only 15 and he 20.  Griffin was the son of Anthony Thornton who commanded the Colonial militia at the Battle of Yorktown and Anne's family, the Fitzhughs were famous Virginia patriots as well.  Thomas Griffin Thornton was killed in 1830 along with his beloved horse by a man who he was about to serve a writ upon to come to court to answer for theft. His name is the first inscribed to be killed in the line of duty on the Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C. 

 

Thanksgiving Hunt Breakfast at Red Barn View

The muffins, bread pudding, biscuits and pears have been adapted from old family recipes. 

     

The Menu

Orange Nog Punch

Tomato Cocktail

Coffee and English Tea

Fresh Baked Sweet Potato Muffins

Apple Bread Pudding

Bourbon Poached Pears

Fruit and Cheese Delight

Hunters Egg Casserole or Eggs Chasseur

Baked Virginia Ham

Country Biscuits with butter and preserves 

I highly recommend the Eggs Chasseur!  Livers are not something you would eat all the time but very high in iron and once a year won't hurt. This dish is really delicious with very little seasoning, the small bullion cube provides all you need in the this recipe.

Genuine Caroline County Grown Pumpkins

A few years ago, I got into the new wave of pumpkin carving and collected all those wonderful new tools to do the intricate designs. I had great fun lining the walkway with my art work BUT it took forever!  Then I had to throw my pumpkins away without using all the good stuff inside!  Pumpkins are truly a "superfood" and I like to use them (and their cousins)for all kinds of baking this time of year.  They provide a huge list of vitamins and minerals that we need for good health even if it is hidden in a bit of brown sugar. This year I made the yearly trek to Beazley's, located on 301 south and decorated without carving..... or almost.  There is one great big Jack O Lantern on my front porch to light the way!  

Halloween for 2013!

Halloween At Red Barn View

Happy Halloween, 2013!

Cover Love!

The Farmer's Wife

Old October

Old October..........                                                                               
Beguile us in the way you know

Release one leaf at break of day
Enchant the land with amethyst
                                                
Robert Frost                          


     Photos of Caroline County, Virginia 

           by Susan  Fitzhugh Sili                                                                                                        

In the early years of Virginia’s history, Autumn brought the end of the year long harvest. In those days, the season meant the preserving of foods to feed large families all winter long. In Caroline and all over the rural south, miles separated farms and homesteads and people gathered together as the cold weather approached to celebrate the fruits of their labor. There was no such thing as an overnight visit. As weather played havoc with the old roads, often, friends and family arrived in October and stayed until twelfth night in January. Over the years transportation underwent incredible changes and food production and modern preserving methods brought about local grocery stores and then the huge chains operations we know today.  This unofficial celebration of the Harvest and October was no more. In the last several years however, an Agricultural  Renaissance has occurred in Caroline with the opening of family farms like Slow Grown In Virginia, and new avenues to showcase the produce of local growers like the Farmers Markets located in both Bowling Green and Ladysmith.  Mt. Olympus Berry Farm located on Rt 1 near Carmel Church is still going strong with wonderful activities and Cheryl English of English Acres Nursery offers not only plants but her expertise on how to grow them These provide wonderful opportunities for a weekend family outing and to return to a time to celebrate the good things of value in our lives and throughout our community.