Original pieces return to the Belmont Mansion

Thanks to Adelicia Acklen's great-great granddaughter, Elise Quigley of Sacramento, California, this has been an exciting month for the Belmont Mansion…

If you've not heard of the Belmont Mansion in Nashville, TN, it's the home of Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America in the 1860s. And a woman that I, admittedly, have grown to love and respect over the past few years.

Belmont Mansion, Nashville, TN

I've spent countless hours researching family files, spending time in her home, walking where she walked, reading her letters, and delving into her life as I prepared to write the Belmont Mansion novels.*

Adelicia's gorgeous Southern home, originally named Belle Monte, is the setting for A Lasting Impression and A Beauty So Rare (April 2014), the first and second Belmont Mansion novels in the 3-book series. 

And now, what's old is new (to the mansion) again…

Elise Quigley, Adelicia's great-great granddaughter, has generously seen fit to return two items that belonged to Adelicia––an unusual silver coffee pot and a leather covered box.

Elise Quigley holding two original pieces that belonged to Adelicia

As noted in the latest newsletter from the Belmont Mansion… 

"The silver coffee pot is of monumental size, standing 13 inches tall. Manufactured by Gotham of New York City, the pot represents a renewed interest in classical details during the post-civil War period, as exhibited in the Neo-Grec design. Gorham retailed a number of their products at Tiffany's. As the premier silver manufacturer of the 1860s, all their offerings were quite popular. The Acklen family name is engraved on the face of the pot, just below the bas-relief profile of a woman.

Adelicia likely purchased this piece as part of a larger set on her return from her grand tour of Europe in 1866. The coffee pot would have been used for formal occasions in either the Dining Room or the Central Parlor. A tea pot, footed tray, creamer, and sugar bowl would have completed this formal service. Currently, the coffee pot can be viewed through the Dish Pantry window. Imagine, if Adelicia had seven sets of china, how many sets of silver do you think she kept?

Adelicia's letterbox is of American manufacture with tooled leather applied to a white pine base, brass strapwork in the English Renaissance style and dates from the mid-1850s. A monogrammed brass shield with the letters "AA" is located in the center of the lid. The box can be opened to reveal a slanted writing space, a compartment for paper, ink pens, envelopes, and two holes for ink wells. Adelicia's letterbox can now be seen on the ladies secretary in the Tête-à-Tête Room."

I haven't seen these items in person yet but can hardly wait to get to the mansion again. And you can bet both of these items will be in the third Belmont novel. But tell me…

What's something special you would like to see tucked inside Adelicia's letterbox in the third Belmont novel? If I use your idea, I'll give you full credit in the Author's Note at the end of the novel.

Blessings on your Tuesday,

Tammy

* When I wrote about studying Adelicia's life and home above, it reminded me of how excited I am to be in BSF again––studying the life and ministry of Jesus.

We're studying the book of Matthew this year. If you're in BSF, give a shout out. I'd love to know we have that common. If you're not, check out BSF here and see if it's something you'd be interested in. It's a life-changing study. And this Wednesday is a Welcome Day! So feel free to go and check it out.

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Someone's absconding with pies

Are your pies safe? Are you sure? Have you checked them recently? Because the only way to be completely certain is put them in––you guessed it––a pie safe. 

Don't you just love that someone crafted a piece of furniture to keep pies safe? I do. I don't even know them but I love them already. And I wish I had one of these lovely pieces of furniture. The one to the left is a reproduction made by an Amish gentleman. Lovely, huh? Below are pie safes from the 1800s. Be still my beating heart...

I love the detail work on the tin panels...

Here are some quick historical facts on pie safes:

• Long before refrigerators and ice boxes, pie safes stored baked goods, flour and other kitchen items.
• Pie safes are constructed of wood native to that area of the country (pine was especially popular in the South), and they vary in size and shape. But they all have holes or shelves with small air holes.
• The pie cabinet (or safe) most likely originated in 16th century Europe and was introduced to the U.S. by German immigrants who came to Pennsylvania in the 1800s and soon became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch.
• The pie safe was generally kept as far from the wood stove as possible to keep the food safe from too much heat. In some homes, it might have been kept on the back porch next to the dry sink (to benefit from the cooler air circulating).
• Pie safes have screening or punched tin designs in the top, sides, doors, or a combination of these. The screen allowed the baked goods to have ventilation while keeping rodents, flies, and hungry youngsters at bay. The ventilation also helped the food stay cooler and kept it from molding as easily.

• The punched tin started with each hole being punched by the craftsman individually, then moved to nails put in boards in certain patterns and used to punch the holes, then on to "punching the tin" mechanically, all at one time.
• Some of the "tin patterns" were fashioned in the likeness of well known people at the time, such as presidents of the country––or a beloved favorite author (not really).
• Some kitchen safes have tops that open upward while others have a combination of doors and drawers.
• There were even pie safes that were combination safes (that's what I'm talkin' about!) and that also included a jelly cupboard (because you must have jelly with your pie!)
• Owning an antique pie safe can mean rolling out some major dough (you knew that was coming, right?), but there are many places selling reproductions for much less.

And now...what would a pie safe be without a pie? It's yummy time! Here's a pie I made recently, along with the recipe. Hope you enjoy! Let me know if you make it and how it turns out.

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cream Pie

(oh, so good!)

1 baked 9-inch Pie Crust

1 Cup Sugar

4 Tablespoons plain flour 

Dash of Salt

3 Tablespoons Baking Cocoa

2 Cups Milk

1/3 cup Milk

3 Eggs, Separated (yolks well beaten, keep the whites for the meringue)

1 Tsp Vanilla

1 Tablespoon Butter

Preheat Oven to 350. Bake pie crust till golden brown. Prick the bottom and sides (and use pie weights, if you want, to keep the crust from shrinking). 

Heat 2 cups milk to almost boiling. Mix sugar, flour, salt, and cocoa. Stir dry mixture into 1/3 cup cold milk until moistened. Add beaten egg yolks. Add entire mixture to hot milk and cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add the vanilla and the butter. Remove from burner and let cool while you prepare the meringue. Oh yum! Honestly, this pudding is good enough to eat right now. Straight from the pan! 

Basic Meringue

3 egg whites (from above)

Dash of salt

1/4 tsp cream of tartar

6 Tablespoons sugar

Beat egg whites, salt and cream of tartar until stiff but not dry. Gradually add sugar; beat after each addition until sugar is partially dissolved. Add pudding to cooled pie shell and top with meringue making sure the meringue touches the sides of the pie crust to prevent shrinking. Broil in 325 degree oven until lightly golden brown (5-10 minutes).

So tell me, do you own a pie safe? I'd love to hear about it, if you do. And quick! What's the last kind of pie you ate? Mine was...Chocolate Cream Pie, of course.

Tammy

P.S. I cross posted this on Writes of Passage too. So for more comments (snarky AND sweet), visit there.

Leg Wrestling Over Antiques

Late one night last weekend, my daughter Kelsey called me and said, "I've found the prettiest antique desk!" So I quickly got online to La Vie En Rose Cottage's Facebook Page and viewed it, and it was a beautiful little desk!

Next day, Kels and I went to look at it. And while the above desk is lovely, it was a tad small for her needs. But when we turned around, we saw this one! 

An 1850s restored desk with hutch with original drawer pulls and hardware, and it was love at first sight. For us both! I thought about challenging her to a leg wrestling match in the parking lot, but the loving mother in me won out––though just barely––and she bought the desk!

You can't see it in this picture but it's got some pretty antiquing on it and has some wonderful little cubbies. The desk is being delivered to Kelsey's house tonight, and I can't wait to see it again, and then after she has all of her "pretty things" inside.

There's something special about owning a piece of furniture or item that's seen some years and that's touched so many lives. This desk was originally in a seed store up in New England, the Connecticut area, for about sixty years then went home with the owner when the store finally closed and was sold. It stayed in their family for many years. Then the desk "somehow" made its way South, then just recently, the desk found its way (thanks to Jenny Light, the owner of La Vie En Rose Cottage) to a beautiful little antique boutique in Nashville, and––tonight––is finding its way to the home of a young woman who plans on taking great care of it and passing it down to someone else some day.

Here are some glimpses of other items at La Vie En Rose Cottage....

Don't you love these kind of old doors? (That's Kelsey snapping a pic, btw.) They had several old windows, too, that have been restored and can be used to hang necklaces or other jewelry. People can think of such clever things!

They have LOTS of jewelry too. Both antique and "newly old."

I found a couple of vintage books while there...

A romance from the 1800s. Have you read this one about the red-haired, hot tempered doc? It's actually free on Kindle.

I read this Nancy Drew mystery as a young girl and it's fun to have a 1930s copy.

Allison, wherever you are, if you're ever reading this and you want your book back, tough noogies, gal! Just kidding! Well, sort of.  : )

Also, if you're looking for a specific antique item, Jenny Light is willing to take note of that, and––as she's visiting estate sales and rummaging antique shops––if she finds that item, she'll take a pic and send it to you, then you can discuss whether you want her to buy it for you. Pretty nice deal! You can contact Jenny here:

So, please share... What special pieces of furniture do you own? and what fun stories are behind them? I'd love to know!


Tammy

Me with my sweet daughter,  Kelsey