WI Centenary Year 1915 - 2015 - Heads up for Hat research - Sunday, 29th March 2015

As a keen and enthusiastic member of my local WI - the Adderbury & District WI -

 I've been researching 1915 hats today for a forthcoming WI Event...

The WI came into  being in 1915, the idea having come over from Canada where the movement started in 1897 in Stoney Creek, Ontario. The first WI in Britain opened in Llanfair, Anglesey, on 16th September 1915 and as part of this year's celebrations, a Centenary Baton has been travelling around the country, going from group to group with celebrations to mark its arrival everywhere,

The baton is coming to Barford St. John and St. Michael WI on 19th April and all members attending the Event have been asked to wear 1915 style hats.  The very idea set me researching online for photographic examples of hats I might try to emulate, possibly attempt a vague copy of!

So, let me show you what I've found online and then you'll see what a task I've given myself!  However, I  have my rather ancient Herbert Johnson straw hat and that's a great start.  I'll keep you informed of my progress!

So far, my photographic evidence has come from the wonderful catalogues of the Victoria and Albert Museum whose permission I have sought to show the following photos, crediting use of the images to: Copyright Victoria and Albert Museum, London....

Copyright - Victoria and Albert Museum, London - 1915 hat by Woolland Bros. of Straw, trimmed with glace silk ribbon

Copyright - Victoria and Albert Museum, London - 1915 hat by Madame Elizabeth Handley-Seymour of matching green hat, London

Copyright - Victoria and Albert Museum,  London - 1915 hat by Robert Polhill Bevan for his wife, a feathered straw hat

Copyright - Victoria and Albert Museum, London - 1915 hat by Jeanne Paquin for the House of Worth, a black hat with white feather

Copyright - Victoria and Albert Museum, London - 1915 hat by Jeanne Paquin for the House of Worth - a small black hat



I think that's a pretty posy of hats, don't you!!!


Toodle loo

Daisy xxx




PS I've been getting ready for Easter by trialling my own fruited organic flour buns - they're not Hot Cross Buns yet, and I won't  eat them before Easter, but mine are getting there.  I shall also  make Easter biscuits, rich with butter and currents and, of course, there will be chocolate Easter eggs!!!

I do love Easter time, don't you xxx

All Images credited as follows: Copyright Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Adderbury Community Food Market - Thursday, 12th March 2015

To Adderbury's own local Community Food Market on Thursday, 12th March 2015 at their regular venue The Institute, Adderbury, by the village green, on the second d Thursday of the month to stock up with fresh supplies.  There is always a wide range of foods on display and an appreciative customer audience ready to buy and have supper up in the balcony overlooking the market, with food supplied by Virginia Yip and Di Henderson of Smart Cookies and drinks from Bar King.  Their stall was constantly busy with thirsty customers - and a very merry crowd they were too!

Bar King and Smart Cookies busy in their kitchen at The Institute

My Stall of the Month - Foxdenton Fruit Gins - for their excellent Winslow Plum Gin, produced from a mixture of Winslow plus and other dark skinned varieties during the season.  The gin has a wonderfully rich pink-red hue and a decisive punch to the pallet.  Read  the Foxdenton Estate online "History of Foxdenton"  for a good read at - www.foxdentonestate.co.uk/history: and for customer contact, their office details are - +44 01280 824855. or by email to Nick at - nick@foxdentonestate.co.uk or mobile 07770 765 789.  

Having picked, cooked and enjoyed plums for jam from Granborough, just a short distance from Winslow, I look forward to sampling Foxdenton's new range of fruit preserves, made with the fruit used for their gin production.

A top-favourite stall to view is Grumpy Bakers for their organic bread, which is something we also make at home.  I have a small irritation to wheat which has interrupted  regular consumption of this glorious food basic for years but having discovered organic bread in Australia last autumn, my diet is now fully re-connected to this brilliant food source.  Chatting with The Grumpy Bakers Partner and Owner, Charlie Massey, about the difficulty with wheat gluten, we decided the problem could be the result of the additives made to the wheat during bread production.  Luckily, organic flour bread has no such additions, so no difficulty with consumption!  Contact details - The Grumpy Bakers @grumpybakers - on Yahoo at - grumpy bakers@yahoo.co.uk - or by telephone on - 07815 108263.  Here's a photo or two of their stall.....

bread - the stuff of life!

To Anson Vegetables for their lovely fresh veggies and plants -

 To Beany Podd for their family-popular vegan delights - their sausage rolls, cheese and tarts - all beautifully presented and ready to be scooped up for home consumption....  for Contact - http://beanypodd.com - also -  recipe cards from The Vegan Society:  I picked up their recipe for Sweet Potato Soup which I shall make this weekend.

Next to Every Last Crumb for their wide range of pastries and bakes -

Then to Apple Tree Farm for their Whole Milk and Low Fat Yoghurt...

As a member of Adderbury & District WI I appreciate their call - Help support your local Dairy Farmer

The WI Campaign - Fair deal for dairy farmers - urges all members "to help get the wider public behind our farmers and ensure that they are paid a fair price for their milk".

Ref: NFWI Campaign the Fair Deal for Dairy Farmers from http://www.thewi.org.uk

I tried the cherry yoghurt and found it very good indeed x

There other flavours are - Natural, Lemon and Strawberry.  For Contact -Appletree products and services, Appletree Farm, Appletree, Daventry, Northants NN11 - or make sure you're at next month's Market on Thursday, 9th April - after Easter - at The Institute, Adderbury,

Two new stallholders - Monsoon Estates - for real coffee ...

Here's my photos of their stall - and well, um! - no photos of Cats Brewing Co. but apparently, they are two friends fed-up with the rat-race who've decided to make and sell beer and, what's not sold, well, it's thirsty work making beer, obviously!!!
Photos next market date April 9th at The Institute.

Then a brief word about good-food  Market friends whose products I have bought, eaten and loved well...!

The Meat Joint from whom I bagged a whole bag of meat products in March - lovely meat, guys..

Moore & Lyon Produce - for December's  Christmas Produce -

Cotswold Baking - for their scrumptious lemon tart, this market's apple and nut tart, and all of Paul's fabulous creations!!!

And Elli's Kitchen's truly delicious and scrumptious Greek food - of which much was very much enjoyed at our Christmas table!!!

and here is their Christmas Table - doesn't it look simply brilliant!!! Thank you Ellie and Mark

Well who next - are yes, Once Bitten, Jo's truly delightful sweet sensations are very much enjoyed by me and mine and ...here are a few photos from Jo's Christmas stall...

and this view from March - Muesli, nuts, fudge - all delicious!!

Finally - Tastebuds Cheese - their very more-ish black-wrapped ...

Little Black Bomber Select Estate Mature Cheddar was really excellent, as was their mixed cheese presentation...

And - finally 2 -

Homemade in Oxford - succulent and very tasty Marmalade and preserves, of which I've enjoyed many a happy serving!!!

happy returns indeed xxx

Well, a very happy evening's market Event for me with lots of tasty sampling nibbles plus a wonderful thimbleful of gorgeous Winslow Plum gin - just to stimulate the senses - lots of happy chatterings to friends and colleagues and then a huge bag of tasty meat products from The Meat Joint - Beef Olives for Mothering Sunday, Gloucester Old Spot Pork Shoulder Steaks, Moroccan Lamb Meatballs, Gloucester Old Spot Smoked Gammon Hock and four Black Pudding Slices -brilliant!!!

Contact details - all details given correct at time of going to press, as far as I'm aware - apologies for any mistakes.
References: NFWI - The WI Campaign - Fair deal for dairy farmers - urges all members "to help get the wider public behind our farmers and ensure that they are paid a fair price for their milk".

Ref: NFWI Campaign the Fair Deal for Dairy Farmers from http://www.thewi.org.uk


Happy marketing folks and see you at The Institute on Thursday, 9th April, for Adderbury's next Community Food Market Event.


Daisy

Farmers' Markets - Charlbury, Oxfordshire - Part 2 - for Saturday, 14th March 2015.

Ah, hello again from Charlbury and, still thinking meat, for I had just stocked up with meat from The Meat Joint at Adderbury's Community Food Market on Thursday, 12th March at The Institute where I feasted on all sorts of Market pickings and bought Beef Olives,  Fresh Lamb garlic & rosemary Sausages, black pudding,  Moroccan lamb meatballs, Gloucester Old Spot Smoked gammon hock and nibbled on faggots while I completed by purchase.  I love having my freezer full of different meat items!

for supper last night we enjoyed their Moroccan meatballs, which were excellent

Onward to Foxdenton Fruit Gin where I wanted to enquire about the plums used in their Winslow Plum gin and, of course, it was the dark red plum, to give their gin its gleaming pink-red hue; and the flavour's stunning too.  A splendid Christmas present I thing!  Email contact: nick@foxdentonestate.co.uk

Next to Scrumptious Catering for their scotch eggs and Arancini, a savoury rice mixture filled with cheese or other delights, then coated with savoury breadcrumbs and cooked in boiling oil.  They are delicious, made with a variety of different fillings and a brilliant alternative to our much loved and traditional Scotch eggs.  For contact - sarah@scrumptiouscatering.org.uk and on Twitter @scrumptiouscatering......

,,,and Gluten-free too

Thinking of cheese, I'm now onto Windrush Valley Goat Dairy  for their good collection of products, which was attracting a highly interested audience, so I only managed to snap one photograph which I show here: more next viewing with a tasting session I hope!...

For contact, find them via their - Email: windrushuk@aol.com and T/No. 01451 844828 


Onward next to Cotswold Bakery who were also very busy, so a quick photo of  one of their delicious tarts  and a tray of small delights - see for yourself -

Contact them at  - info@cotswoldbaking.co.uk  Do try their glorious Lemon Tart when you can!

On to Styan Family Produce for their fresh vegetables whom I first met at Deddington last month. Their produce looks very good - what do you think?

 -

Here they are at Deddington's Farmers' Markets - Contact them on -   T/No. 01386 860597




For lovely spring-fresh plants and flowers visit UGM Nurseries' stalls -

Contact them on - T/No, 01295 720965




And also from Whitehall Farmhouse Plants by Victoria Logue - Contact her on - T/No. 07711 021034 -

Did you pick up the Rare Plant Fair 2015 leaflet from Victoria's stall - I did!






Now for some new to me stallholders and produce, with photos, and I'm looking forward to meeting them again -

Wild Venison of W.F.D.M. Ltd and butchered by Densham Butchers of High Street, Witney; for contact  by email - lynda.brannan@btconnect.com - and seen here -

To Newton Wines for all preserves, pickles, wines and much more besides - as seen below -

Contact Newton Wines on - T/No. 077733421451





To the stall of Crudges Cheese for their Moreton  d'Or cheese presented in a special container to the contents to be warmed for good consumption - how splendid - and their other products - let me show you them here:  for email contact -  crudges@btinternet.com

After Crudges' cheese stall, I visit Shaken Oak Products for their new chutney - Chilli & Pepper Chutney - a hot toothsome mixture with a mighty kick to follow.  Plus there's much more to sample and enjoy and for contact - call them on T/No. 01993 868043 -

To Sufi Spices of Witney - for "Curry Heaven on a Plate" and contact on T/No. 07724428893 and also via Face Book....

Finally, three "Charlbury" stalls - The Charlbury Hub for books to  borrow and to learn of many good food opportunities of Charlbury - I borrowed Barbara Kingsolver's book of family "seasonal eating" - "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" which is good reading.  Also to view the products of Heritage Blend Flour and to try some very super bread, like this gorgeous dark molasses bread ...

and Heritage Blend Flour - which may soon be purchased locally - watch this
 space for news!



Finally, to the stall of  Charlbury Pre-School for hot coffee and a raffle ticket for the most enormous chocolate cake -

The Charlbury Pre-School is housed in a 400-year old building - that thought sends shivers of emotion down my spine!!!  The School's contact details are - Charlbury Pre-School -
www.charlburypreschool.org.uk




Finally-2 - here's my photos of Pie and Mighty Pie's Black Pudding and Apple Pie, which we mightily enjoyed at home later that day -

and here's another view of  their stall - what's not to love about a gorgeous pie for supper, hey?

And just one more photo of Whitehall Farmhouse Plants stall -

I love plants don't you and all the wonderful foods and liquid refreshments to be found at a farmers market and so on... Happy marketing everyone for sales and purchases.  It's all good, hey!!!


All Contact details correct at going to press, to my best knowledge.


Daisy


PS OMG - how could it happen?  - I've omitted to include Stallholders Aynho Red Poll Beef - who present "High Quality Beef" ; "Tender with exceptional flavour"; "Well marbled, fine grained meat"; "Slowly matured and hung for 21 days".  Their beef is butchered by The Meat Joint whose meat we know is excellent.  For contact - Mr. George Stephenson on 07873  169381.  Here's my photo....

their stall was sold out,  bar two items, when I left Charlbury Farmers' Market

Happy eating, Daisy