First, let me give you a little background on “Lucky” — the mummified cat that one Domestik Goddess reader discovered (most unexpectedly!) in the roof of an old thatched cottage in Ireland…
Note to the squeamish: You didn’t honestly think I was going to spring a grisly photo on you, did you? This tiny little thumbnail picture is here for you. If you’re all prepared to study “Lucky” in more detail, however, you can click on the small picture to see a larger version — or read on to see another thumbnail photo that gives just a tiny bit closer look). 
A while back, you might recall, I wrote about the fascinating old tradition of hiding ritual objects in houses as protection against evil spirits and witchcraft. And I mentioned the old boot — a tiny child’s riding boot, well worn, and just the one — found many years ago in the chimney wall of my grandfather’s old farmhouse in New Brunswick, Canada. That tiny old boot was an object of great fascination all through my own childhood, and I longed to know the story behind it. That’s why, when I learned of this old superstition that led people to hide strange objects in their houses, I was (and remain) quite fascinated — which is why I wrote about Dried Cats and Witch Bottles in the first place.
Strange Things Found in Old Houses
It turns out that this sort of thing is much more common than one would think — at least in northern Europe and the United Kingdom, and in countries like Canada and Australia, which were largely settled by colonists from that part of the world. No doubt other cultures had their own versions of the superstition…
[click to read more...]
Tagged as:
cat,
history,
Ireland,
superstition
by guest on November 29, 2008
The past 18 months has seen a mad lot of home renovation work at This Old Farmhouse. It culminated this week with the installation of a lovely pair of dual-flush low-flow toilets. Not so exciting to many, perhaps, but then we don’t get out much… In fact, He Who Hogs The Power Tools just sent out the following “news release” to family and friends, trumpeting our green plumbing triumph. Enjoy! ~Jen
Upgrade to “Dual Exhaust” System
No, it’s not what you might be thinking — we’ve just completed the changeover to more environmentally responsible dual flush toilets in our two bathrooms — which is the last item on our list of upgrades for the government-sponsored Home Energy Retrofit program.
No, it doesn’t increase performance in a ‘68 Mustang kinda way (although as you can see in the pictures below, we’ve temporarily got “four-on-the-floor”!) but by replacing two thirsty 20-litre-per-flush toilets (driven by two coffee drinkers), we’ll significantly reduce our water consumption — and cut back on the electricity that’s used to pump that water, too.
The dual flush comes down to the basics we all learned as kids — #1 or #2. 4 Litres / 6 litres. Nuff said.
In the past 18 months we’ve made significant improvements to reduce our heating and energy costs, as well as adding a couple of quality-of-life items like a new veranda and fencing in the side yard so the dogs can be “relieved on their own recognizance.”
In return, the Feds will reimburse us about 3% of what we’ve spent (think Canadian Tire Money on the value of a slightly-used Lincoln Navigator). It’s not a lot, but along with the reduced fuel bills and the “feel good” factor — it’s well worth it.
- Home Energy Audit
We're enjoying the first hints of spring, but not forgetting the furnace-oil costs of the long Canad...
- Safe and Energy-Saving Window Blinds
Thinking of getting new window coverings?
Energy costs are likely to keep going up, as we know, ...
- Moonshine Light
It's official -- Elsewares is running moonshine. Not to worry, though, this kind of moonshine is pe...
Tagged as:
energy,
renovation,
toilet,
water
You know all these cans of vegetable broth lined up on the supermarket shelves? — a quick way to start a soup, or make a sauce, or juice up a simple casserole, sure enough. But while the convenience factor is tempting, I’ve never actually broken down and bought a can.
Why?
Because some things are thrifty, and some things are easy, but to go out and buy something in a can makes no sense to me (or my wallet) when you can get the same thing cheaper and just as easily, right in your own kitchen. Bonus, no extra packaging waste to burden poor Mother Nature!
[click to read more...]
Tagged as:
cooking,
soup,
vegetables
