Tag: mother-in-law’s house

Mrs. Beeton’s Ad of the Day

Borwick’s was founded by George Borwick sometime in the 19th century–there are old ads for it all over the Web, including at the British Museum–and you can still buy their powders today. It was obviously a successful business: George Borwick got a barony out of it.

Mrs. Beeton’s Bonus Ad of the Day

OK, just one more: “Patent Barley ‘in powder form’” is not something widely available today, but Robinson’s still exists, after a fashion. Apparently one mixed this stuff with hot water to make a drink. I’ll stick to coffee.

Mrs. Beeton’s Ad of the Day

Here’s a product you don’t see in grocery stores any more: shredded suet, supplanted, I guess, by lard and Crisco, even though shreeded Atora was “fresh beef suet, thoroughly refined after the skin and impurities” had been removed (well, that’s a relief) and was “the most wholesome and digestible of all fats,” which did not …

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Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management…

…is one of many interesting things I’ve found in my mother-in-law’s house, now my house. This 1915 housewives’ hanbook, which belonged to my wife’s grandmother, is (as you can see from the title page) “A Guide to Cookery in All Branches,” plus “Daily Duties, Mistress & Servant, Hostess & Guest, Marketing, Trussing & Carving, Menu …

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Now that I’m a house owner…

…stories like this get my attention: Homeowners could see their electric bills reduced considerably with Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s integrated heat pump. It says they hope to have a commercial manufacturer by 2008.

Photo of the Day: Stubby Stout

An unopened bottle of Labatt’s Velvet Cream Stout in a stubby bottle. Date unknown, but probably ca. 1980–might be earlier, can’t be much later. From the “things I found in my mother-in-law’s house” series. More photos here.

Photo of the Day: The Bare Bulb

More photos here.

Photo of the Day: Buddha Riding a Lion

At least, I think this is a Buddha riding a lion, mainly because when I Googled “Buddha riding a lion” I ended up here, which explains that “the mystical lion…symbolizes the guardian of Buddhist doctrines.” In any event, a very nice hand-carved piece, part of the “things I found in my mother-in-law’s house” series. More …

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Photo of the Day: Scottie, Beaming Up

A slipware Scottish terrier, from the “things I found in my mother-in-law’s house series.” The only notation on the bottom is England 83. I don’t know anything else about it, but he’s a cute little feller, ain’t he? What’s that? You were expecting something about Star Trek instead of a picture of a happy dog …

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Photo of the Day: A Bottle of Seagram’s…

…that’s actually a lighter. What I can’t help wondering is…do you really want people to think of your fine Canadian whiskey as the apparent equivalent to lighter fluid? From the “things I found in my mother-in-law’s house” series. More photos here.

Photo of the Day: Argon Gas

It’s everywhere! More photos here.

Photo of the Day: Alabaster Orange

From the “things I found in my mother-in-law’s house” series: an alabaster orange in a really lovely alabaster pedestal fruit bowl, both bearing small labels proclaiming them to have been “hand-carved in Italy.” More photos here.

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