Archive for December, 2012

Arthur’s Place

Posted December 10, 2012 By Suzanne Holland
Our Chicken Coop has been a work in progress.
We have had it a little bit on the back burner because we were building our 
house. BUT…..our house is finished and winter is coming.  Our chickens have been enjoying
a lovely covered outside roosting area, which for Louisiana summertime is fine.  Not so
 for the winter time when damp chilly and sometimes icy days can make
 being outside at night a big problem.
We were given an old play house that was just the right size to convert to a chicken house 
for the number of chickens we have.  So little by little my sweet husband has added egg
boxes off the side and re-enforced things that needed re-enforcing. He trimmed out the windows and 
added Plantation Shutters, a roost inside, flower boxes and last but least we painted it the perfect
shade of Barn Red.
Arthur’s Place
Arthur
We call it Arthur’s Place because our Roo’s name is Arthur.
He is a beautiful New Hampshire Red and we just love him.
photoweavers.com

Filed in Chickens

Civic Heritage

Posted December 8, 2012 By Suzanne Holland
Martha Turnbull
I live in St. Francisville, La and this post will be the first of several that I write about Martha Turnbull, the Mistress of Rosedown Plantation here in St. Francisville.
I am working on my Civic Heritage Badges.
Beginner Level:
My husband and I very often bring our children to Rosedown Plantation. It is by far our family’s 
favorite.  The history is so rich, the story of the family is so inspiring.
The gardens are so wonderful.
But it is Martha that draws me back each time.
Rosedown was built for Martha by her husband Daniel and it is there that 
they lived and raised their family.  Rosedown is the place that Martha  brought 
may plant specimens from all over the world that she discovered 
during her travels with Daniel.  She introduced Azaleas to the Felicianas.
She designed , planted and maintained extensive gardens.
These included the kitchen garden, the orchard, the plantation garden, and
 the pleasure garden.
One of the many things that  impressed me about Martha Turnbull was 
her wonderful record keeping.  It was from those records that she started in 1836 and continued 
on for some 60 years that detailed accountings of the her gardens and everyday life at 
Rosedown can be gathered and appriciated.
I think she was a remarkable women.  She had a vision.  It is very clear in her writings that she 
was very hands on.  She wrote clearly about being in the gardens helping with the plantings, spending long 
hours on her hands and knees with her workers and helpers–(this is how she referred to her slave help).
She asked nothing from them that she was not willing to do herself.
I always think about  what life was like for Martha.  She was well traveled and had many 
advantages that most people even today would love to have.  I adore gardening. I could  plant 
bulbs and tend plants all day.  I know my husband cringes when I go near a nursery because I can not resist
buying more plants.  But….it does take large resources to operate on a Martha Turnbull level.
Martha Turnbull 

Martha’s Gardens

Rosedown Plantation
My next post will be about working as a host during “Pilgrimage”
‘

Filed in St. Francisville History

Holiday Time at The Holland House

Posted December 3, 2012 By Suzanne Holland

I LOVE the Holidays!!!! and now that we have finally finished our new home, I can breathe again.  My husband, who usually tries to put off the tree “thing” until the last possible minute, actually switched gears this year on us.  Off to the tree farm we went just a day or so after Thanksgiving.

I think Thanksgiving might just be my favorite though.  I love to cook.  Chris and I spend the evening before cooking together.  the kids are old enough now to pitch in and help and they love to cook. We go as a family  to town in search of the biggest turkey we can fine.  It is a game for us.  The gold is a 24lb. Turkey.  We have a house full every year.  I get so tickled watching my four kids turn those big birds over looking for the perfect one.

We would really like to raise our on “Tom”.  We now have the perfect place to do so.  But the kids and I are so attached to our chickens that Chris said we would never be able to eat “Tom”.  He is probably right.

But on to Christmas now…The tree is decorated with tiny lights and beautiful funky hand made ornaments and antique glass ornaments.  I love the contrast.  My kids help with every step.  That is the best part for me.
They help make my husband’s favorite Gingerbread Cookies (which he hides in his closet so nobody can eat but him)…..yes I make two batches so the kids can have some too.

Each day we unpack something else that adds to the Holiday enjoyment.

Tractor Supply Company

Pictures coming

Filed in Holiday Celebrations
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