THE PAINTING ABOVE, IS FROM THE MID 1800'S, AND IS OF A CANADIAN FARMSTEAD. THIS IS ANOTHER PAINTING THAT I USE FREQUENTLY, TO INSPIRE STORY LINES FOR FEATURE ARTICLES, I WRITE MONTHLY, FOR REGIONAL PUBLICATIONS IN ONTARIO.

CHRISTMAS IN GRAVENHURST - MUSKOKA COOKERY HERITAGE - HEIRLOOMS YOU PROBABLY NEVER THOUGHT OF - BUT MORE VALUABLE THAN YOU MIGHT THINK

I can't recall exactly when we began collecting old handwritten recipes but it's one of those things, in the antique trade, that kind of happens a bit here and a bit more over there, until one day you find, quite by accident, you've begun yet another collection of something. We employed a restored steamer trunk now, to hold our vintage cookbooks and old paper.

We acquired most of our inaugural collection from Suzanne's family, hundreds of carefully written-out recipes, on all types of paper, from invoices to advertisements, the backs of can labels, to dated journal pages, yanked from their bindings. Most of these, like the ones we find at auctions, are tucked into a wide assortment of cookbooks, and on one occasion, at an estate auction in Bracebridge, we acquired about a hundred beautifully written, and curiously appointed jottings, on all kinds of paper materials, including cigarette packaging. What has become rather compelling, and historically significant, is that these handwritten recipes, and cooking notations, are the personal, social, cultural, legacy of cookery. I've owned a number of rare pioneer journals, in my years collecting Muskoka heritage items, but it wasn't until we began researching local cookery heritage, that these handwritten heirlooms became more than just passed-down recipes. They were, in their own way, important culinary journals, representing decades, centuries of passed-down cooking advice. Recipes that were often copied into published books. Here we were, actually hunting and gathering the original recipes, most having been handed down from one generation to another……until unfortunately, there was no family left to assume stewardship.

So here were these interesting, hand-composed recipe pages, with tell-tale traces of gravies, molasses, finger-prints of sugar and cinnamon, oil stains, and side notes that often ran over the edge of the paper. Some even smelled like the spices of those old kitchens. What we found fascinating, was the kind of paper folks used, to pass on these recipes, to family, friends and neighbors. Remember the days when neighbors borrowed cups of sugar and milk, a pound or two of floor and a smidgeon of baking powder? Recipes were exchanged and borrowed, and were written on the most amazing articles. We've got handwritten recipes neatly printed onto medical appointment cards, store invoices, magazine and phone book pages, memorial notices, inside portions of macaroni boxes, on advertising notices, backs of hydro and water bills, and just about anything else, one could write on, in a pinch, and pass it on to someone else.

Grandmothers loved to pass down coveted cook books, stuffed with handwritten recipes, to grateful daughters, daughters-in-law, and grand-daughters, in the past, because they had most to do with culinary enterprise. While it might not be politically correct today, and there are many proficient male cooks, history is what it is. The collections of recipes were precious to the culinary artist, just as they are to many, still today, jammed onto kitchen shelves, stacked up on oak hoosier cupboards, and still looking battle-weary, but ready to bring order to chaos at a moment's notice. I've honestly felt heartsick, when we find a large collection, being offered at an estate sale, and it seems such a shame, like cast-off family photographs, that these little gems of kitchen heritage, are leaving the family forever. We make every attempt to purchase these lots. On one occasion, we simply couldn't justify the expense of the box of cookbooks, but took full advantage of the books and old paper, that were cast to the garbage pile, when the new owner decided to cull the collection, in front of us, and tossed out the very items we were trying to purchase in the first place. The oldest books were of no interest to the buyer, and these were unceremoniously dumped in a box they intended to leave behind. They wanted the newer cookbooks, not the old. The price was right, and we became the stewards of some great paper heritage, and some valuable vintage cookbooks.

At around this time of year, Suzanne begins rummaging through the old recipe books, most of them family heirlooms, passed down over the centuries, to find some of her favorite Christmas-season recipes. We've got about a thousand versions of Christmas cake and puddings, but many of them have little deviations from the norm…..some changes to suit the particular taste of the cook and family. Suzanne will bake for weeks, to build up the stock-pile of goodies for the holidays, and as I've mentioned before……as a lover of kitchen alchemy, I'm mesmerized by the aroma permeating from that room in the house, over the entire Christmas season. She's already dropping hints about the big shopping we need to do, for things like dried fruit and nuts, and that's the beginning, in earnest, of a most merry, and delicious holiday season at Birch Hollow.

Suzanne and I have launched a blog-site on our collection of handwritten recipes, and you can have a wee peak by clicking onto,

http://muskokavintagerecipes.blogspot.com/

SO WHAT IS THE WRITER / HISTORIAN'S FAVORITE AUTHOR / MOST COLLECTIBLE BOOK

I can only explain my fascination with Martha Stewart, by the fact, she has validated much of what I've been doing over a life-time. As an antique collector, and dealer, since I was in my late teens, her attention to heritage pieces, antiques, collectibles, kitchen and otherwise, has taken some of the tarnish off my own impression of the industry. Admittedly, there have been a number of times in my profession, with the hard work of restoration, for sometimes poor remuneration, that I seriously thought about spending all my time writing instead of hustling and restoring antiques. I could buy antiques because I liked them, as household decoration, just not as an enterprise of business. Seeing as I've been an antique dealer, in one way or another for about 35 years, at least, the way Martha Stewart has drawn attention, and increased profile of vintage enhancements, decoration and functionality, I have noticed a new wave of home decorators have generated, who purchase what we hunt and gather. And of course, in some cases, refinish ourselves. The antique business has actually become vibrant and exciting, just as I had begun in the enterprise, as a recent graduate of university, back in 1977. I adored history, and antiques had an allure I can't quite explain. But this is a hard and demanding industry, that most of the time, weighs investment value above all else. What is happening now, is that home decorators and antique and collectible hobbyists, are experimenting with "as-is" items, preferring to handle repairs and refinishing to suit their decorating, and use requirements. The hunter-gatherer "Me" is hugely happy, that I have to refinish less, and arrive at a profit sooner than ever before. I can't speak for antique dealers generally but I can tell you from experience, and comments I've heard from customers in the past, that Martha Stewart has definitely played a roll, in the expansion of interest in antiques in contemporary housing adornment and design.

The fact is, I'm a big Martha Stewart fan because of this, and yes, I have all of her books. Most are first editions. The only first edition I need to acquire, is the early 1980's release of her landmark success, "Entertaining," which was a milestone in so many ways…..and certainly helped launch a tremendously prosperous career in the self-help industry, where she has a legion of loyal fans, who watch her television shows daily, purchase the products she endorses, and buy her many books that help in the home and garden. Despite the criticism she's had to face, and the obstacles to get to this stage, she is certainly one of the best known names in the home and lifestyle business. I'm very pleased to own her books. My Christmas list for my family, should they decide to look at it this year, once again includes my great desire to own a signed (inscribed would be nice) copy of "Entertaining." I know where one is, formerly owned by one of her friends from Westport, Conn., but it's priced rather high. You never know what my adoring family will come up with……on Christmas morning.

I'm sure it may seem strange, for a collector of Canadiana, and one who has a track record of buying old, rare non-fiction histories, to confess to this affection for Martha Stewart books, but truthfully, I'm still in the antique enterprise because of her work. And I'll tell you, we'll be pulling out her Christmas-themed books, before long, and looking at some interesting new ideas for decorating the cluttered nooks and crannies of Birch Hollow. It's not Martha's Turkey Hill, by about a million degrees, but we are proud of its humble heritage none the less. And the company of antiques. We're just in love with the stuff. We have the centuries covered here, and whether it's in the kitchen, the bedroom, the recreation room, or the living room / dining room, you just can't get away from heirloom companionship. In the kitchen…..that wonderful room, where tantalizing aromas permeate through all the accumulated history here……we've got those heirloom recipes, passed down through the ages, by so many thoughtful culinary artists. We're proud to include them in our Christmas celebration.

AS A SIDE NOTE: OUR SONS HAVE JUST BOOKED A DATE FOR THEIR CHRISTMAS VARIETY SHOW, AT THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE. IT IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 10TH, BEGINNING AT 7 P.M., AND WILL BE "BY DONATION" AT THE DOOR. THIS IS ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE SHOWS OF THE YEAR, FEATURING A NUMBER OF LOCAL ACTS, BANDS, AND THEIR MUSIC STUDENTS. IT WILL AGAIN BE SPONSORED BY ANDREW CURRIE'S MUSIC AND COLLECTIBLES, OF GRAVENHURST. IT IS, ONCE AGAIN, IN SUPPORT OF THE GRAVENHURST FOOD BANK, OPERATED BY THE SALVATION ARMY. FOOD AND CASH DONATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED THE NIGHT OF THE EVENT. WATCH THIS SITE FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISER.

MORE TO COME DAILY