Saturday Sightings

Hi everyone!

My building check was quiet again this week :)  I like to say that all was quiet on the Western Elgin front ;)

Today's nugget of nature is the grape hyacinths growing against the bricks at the front of the house.

Fun facts about grape hyacinths:

• They belong to the Lily family. 
• The name comes from the fact that the cluster of flowers resemble upside-down grape clusters. 
• There are 20-40 flowers per stalk! 
• The flowers open sequentially from the bottom up. 
• In the Netherlands, there is a famous planting of these flowers called "Blue River" at Keukenhof Gardens. 

Have a safe week and take care!

Catie Welch

Foodie Friday - New Year's Cakes

From a Tyrconnell Heritage Society book in progress 

called "Grandma's Recipes Circa 1902"

New Year’s Cakes

1 ¼ pound sugar

One pound butter

Half pint cold water

3 ¼ pounds flour

Two eggs

1 tsp. soda

One and a quarter pound sugar, one pound butter, half pint cold water, three and one-quarter pounds flour, two eggs, one teaspoon soda.  Mix well and bake in hearts and rounds, or any small tins.

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You may not know that all our events, admission and programming income goes into maintaining our heritage buildings, daily operating expenses like utilities, and funding future events.  If you are able to contribute financially by purchasing a Tyrconnell Heritage Society Membership or making a donation in any amount your support would be greatly appreciated.  Memberships - Individual $30; Couple $35; Family $40; Organization $45; Business $75; Individual Lifetime $250  Here is the link to our page at CanadaHelps http://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/tyrconnell-heritage-society/

Backus to the Future Colouring Contest Week 3

Week 3 of A Backus-Page Colouring Contest to

Brighten your day

Colour the curve

Shade your social distancing

Tint and tone your time

with Hues of History!

We hope you will visit Backus-Page House Museum in the future when we reopen.  So you don't forget about us, we are offering you free colouring pages to download (click on the picture) and print off.  Great for all ages, with a bit of our local and shared heritage thrown in.  Thanks to Bard Judith for sharing these with us.  You can purchase her full colouring book in our gift shop (we can mail them out).

To enter our contest, just colour and post your picture, tagging @backuspagehouse to Facebook or Instagram (you must LIKE our Facebook or Instragram account as well).  

Or you can email your pics to info@backuspagehouse and we will post them for you.

Colour and post as many different pages as you want.  We will be releasing two each Wednesday so check back.  Why not put your creations in your front window to share with neighbours?

At the end of the pandemic shutdown, when we reopen to the public we will announce the winner(s).  Winner(s) will receive Backus-Page House Museum event passes and a special package from our gift shop.   

All our events, admission and programming income goes into maintaining our heritage buildings, daily operating expenses like utilities, and funding future events.  If you are able to contribute financially by purchasing a Tyrconnell Heritage Society Membership or making a donation in any amount your support would be greatly appreciated.  Memberships - Individual $30; Couple $35; Family $40; Organization $45; Business $75; Individual Lifetime $250  Here is the link to our page at CanadaHelps.

Mondays at the Manor - A Child's Day

An Average Day for farm children

In our current time of quarantine, parents are often hearing the phrase “I’m bored”.  Children in the 21^st century live a much different life from our ancestors in the 1850s. 

The children of Andrew and Mary Jane Backus had work to do from their early morning until bedtime.  Their day began with helping to get water for the house, visiting the outhouse, dressing, and starting a busy day.  The boys would join their father working around the farm outside. The family had a farm of mixed animals, from sheep and boats, to chickens and cattle.  The girls would begin helping in the kitchen to make the meals for the day.

In addition to farm work, they had school lessons at home. They also all learned to play an instrument, sing popular songs, and learn to dance.  For all the children, their goal in life was to marry and have their own family.  Marriage took place for boys at about 18 to 20 years old, and the girls married a year or two younger.

While the boys were learning about farming, the girls would be learning to cook and sew.  When the work was done for the day, the children would be allowed to play card games or the family would read novels or the bible for the others to listen to.

Next week - a look at clothing of the 1850s.

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All our events, admission and programming income goes into maintaining our heritage buildings, daily operating expenses like utilities, and funding future events.  If you are able to contribute financially by purchasing a Tyrconnell Heritage Society Membership or making a donation in any amount your support would be greatly appreciated.  Memberships - Individual $30; Couple $35; Family $40; Organization $45; Business $75; Individual Lifetime $250  Here is the link to our page at CanadaHelps.

Saturday Sightings

Hi everyone!

My building check went well again this week :)  It is definitely sad that the museum will not be opening next Friday, but it will stand strong until we can return!

Today's nugget of nature is the chives greening up in the kitchen garden at the museum.

Fun facts about chives:

• Chives attract butterflies. 
• They are a perennial herb that likes a cool season and are cold-tolerant. 
• Chives are said to repel pests such as the Japanese beetle. 
• In herbal folklore, one hung bunches of chives in their home to send away diseases and evil. 
• Chives can be a symbol of usefulness. 

Have a safe week everyone and take care!

Catie Welch

Foodie Friday - Fanny's Sugar Cakes

From a Tyrconnell Heritage Society book in progress 

called "Grandma's Recipes Circa 1902"

Fanny’s Sugar Cakes

Heaping teacup sugar

3/4 teacup butter

¼ teacup milk

2 eggs

2 tsps. cream of tartar

1 tsp. soda

Flour to roll

Salt, nutmeg and cinnamon to taste

One heaping teacup sugar, three-fourths teacup butter, one-fourth teacup sweet milk, two eggs, two teaspoons cream of tartar, one teaspoon soda.  Flour to roll, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon to taste.  Roll thin, cut into round cakes and bake quickly.

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You may not know that all our events, admission and programming income goes into maintaining our heritage buildings, daily operating expenses like utilities, and funding future events.  If you are able to contribute financially by purchasing a Tyrconnell Heritage Society Membership or making a donation in any amount your support would be greatly appreciated.  Memberships - Individual $30; Couple $35; Family $40; Organization $45; Business $75; Individual Lifetime $250  Here is the link to our page at CanadaHelps http://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/tyrconnell-heritage-society/

Backus to the Future Colouring Contest Week 2

Week 2 of A Backus-Page Colouring Contest to

Brighten your day

Colour the curve

Shade your social distancing

Tint and tone your time

with Hues of History!

We hope you will visit Backus-Page House Museum in the future when we reopen.  So you don't forget about us, we are offering you free colouring pages to download (click on the picture) and print off.  Great for all ages, with a bit of our local and shared heritage thrown in.  Thanks to Bard Judith for sharing these with us.  You can purchase her full colouring book in our gift shop (we can mail them out).

To enter our contest, just colour and post your picture, tagging @backuspagehouse to Facebook or Instagram (you must LIKE our Facebook or Instragram account as well).  

Or you can email your pics to info@backuspagehouse and we will post them for you.

Colour and post as many different pages as you want.  We will be releasing two each Wednesday so check back.  Why not put your creations in your front window to share with neighbours?

At the end of the pandemic shutdown, when we reopen to the public we will announce the winner(s).  Winner(s) will receive Backus-Page House Museum event passes and a special package from our gift shop. 

All our events, admission and programming income goes into maintaining our heritage buildings, daily operating expenses like utilities, and funding future events.  If you are able to contribute financially by purchasing a Tyrconnell Heritage Society Membership or making a donation in any amount your support would be greatly appreciated.  Memberships - Individual $30; Couple $35; Family $40; Organization $45; Business $75; Individual Lifetime $250  Here is the link to our page at CanadaHelps.