A Day at the Pond--glimpses of life in antebellum Kentucky

A baker's dozen children, some cane poles, a can full of worms and a good fishin' hole is really all it takes to spend a pleasant summer afternoon. The men took all the children over to the Dye house in the afternoon with the promise that we would cook whatever they caught. We really would have. . . but we weren't too distressed over the idea.

Children and men spent a pleasant afternoon. There were a few little blue gill caught and released. Everybody had a lovely time. They all came back tired and content-- just in time for supper: Chicken supree, ham, all kinds of summer vegetables, sweet potato pie and blackberry cobbler.

As much as children love water, I have to wonder sometimes why they are always so dirty. As grubby as they can be, from head to stockings, we usually find them under all the caked dirt when we bathe them head to toe in the big wash tub.

Glimpses of ante-bellum life in Kentucky, part 1

I rose early, disturbed by the storm. I wanted to crawl back in under the blankets but knew I had much to accomplish this day. Mindful that guests were expected, I took extra care while dressing my hair. I made my way to the summer kitchen and found the logs had already been stacked and lighted. It was already hot, the rain had done nothing to cool the house.

Breakfast finished, I went to the cellar to retrieve the various things for the baking I had before me. Back in the kitchen, I began to stir the ingredients in the heavy bowl. First butter and eggs, then sugar and blackberry jam, now soda, spices and flour. I poured the mixture into the two ready tin pans, and placed each in a heavy dutch oven on the hearth. I retreated to the garden for a walk trying to refresh myself from the heat. I found no breeze in the garden, and so returned to my labors.

Now for the tea biscuits; butter, cream, sugar and flour. I mixed the ingredients with my fingers. I patted and rolled the dough until it was just the right thickness and then cut out the biscuits with a water glass. The tea biscuits would cook quickly, but might still be warm when the guests arrived. I thought that I might serve them with apple butter. I hurried to lay the tea things out on the table.