Adderbury History Association Open Day - Saturday, 18th July 2015 - at The Institute

The weekend had arrived at long last, it was Saturday and, after completing a few online chores and icing two cakes for the day, I dashed off to Adderbury to join in with the anticipated fun of their Open Day for Adderbury's History Association.

A bright warm sun shone down as I drove off to Adderbury, my adopted Village, in which I had the pleasure of living for three short years.  I am now involved with my chosen home base via membership of Adderbury & District WI, extended family members, St. Mary's Parish Church and various village activities.

The Adderbury History Association is a gathering of friendly individuals interested by the history of their local village and sharing that collected fascination with others through a programme of talks, publications and events during the year.  There's a Christmas party and a summer outing too.

Today is their Open Day event, offering for inspection some of their archival material, books on local and family history, a family orientated village history trail and two guided walks; one telling the story of Adderbury's industrial past and the second walk highlighting Adderbury's historic ice-house encountered during the Lakes walk with the retelling of the history of  ducal and prominent, influential families.

I took the Lakes walk, delighting in the history of that ducal family, photographing an ancient brick and stone wall, made from local own-industry-made bricks, featuring an opening topped by a Tudor archway, complete with Tudor Rose and visiting, over the wooden gate, Adderbury's own allotments, once the gardens of the ducal family who held sway a long time ago.

History comes alive when presented and retold by an interested/fascinated observer and our guide was such an exemplar to whom we listened, questioned and related to, in our endeavour to acquire for ourselves an appreciation of Adderbury's past life and living.

We arrived back to The Institute for coffee and delicious homemade cake, to share our own stories, view the presented material and books and to discuss and plan attendance at future evening meetings of Adderbury's History Association; and looking forward to their Christmas Party in December.

Here's a few photos of my Adderbury History Association Open Day with many thanks to the organisation for a brilliant event...

the ancient brick wall with just a tiny portion of the Tudor archway..

that brick wall again for all brick nutters everywhere - including my dear SO...who often waxes lyrical about bricks

Verbascum plants up against the wall, commonly called Mullein or velvet plant, it has a long history of use as a herbal remedy, used by indigenous American natives and by Austrian medical bodies...

this is the ducal stable Ashlar wall - Ashlar masonry is highly worked stone and its quite amazing to to see it here used for stabling purposes...

the present allotments where the gardens once held pride of place...

Adderbry's own historic, well-preserved ice-house

Daisy xxx

Adderbury Community Food Market for July - Thursday 9th July 2015

It’s Market day at Adderbury again and we’re off to buy some comestibles for the home store.  Next month we’ll be at The Pig Place, Adderbury for The Mikron Theatre’s production of “Raising Spirits” which should be very interesting, telling as it does the story of a WI group destined to be changed out of all recognition by a new President’s enthusiastic activity, particularly fascinating in this year's WI Centenary year - 1915 - 2015.  I am WI and really looking forward to viewing this performance.

And tonight’s Market Community Stall is the WI stall,  offering visitors the option to choose their favourite photos for our 2016 Adderbury Calendar.

It’s a breath-takingly beautiful summer’s evening.  We’re under a deep blue sky, the lavender bushes are in full sweet-scented bloom and we’re early for once.

 He engages with Paddy at his Buzzy Beans Coffee machine while I am chatting with friends, eyeing -up Mr. Anson’s vegetable and fruit stall.  It’s bright with flowers, strawberries, gooseberries, vine tomatoes, cucumbers and a good range of deep green veg. new potatoes and beetroot. 

 I fill up my bag with a fine selection and go on to chat to Jo Thompson of Once Bitten where I choose her Organic Granola for eating with my rhubarb puree or sliced bananas; find her at - enquiries@oncebittenltd.co.uk

After lingering over her delightful display of toothsome goodies I speak to Richard Cox presiding over his pates and terrines, smoked garlic, chutneys, scotch eggs and sausage rolls. He presents original and innovative scotch eggs, like a black pudding mixture and I choose a still-warm haddock, potato and soft egg version which I surmise will not last ‘til tomorrow once we get home…..! find Richard at - winslowpatesandterrines@gmail.com  

His scotch eggs are in the basket....

Onwards to Homemade in Oxfordshire for I should like a pot of apricot or raspberry jam but come away with their Hot Peach and Chilli Chutney, which is so very good.  It’s going to be great with cold meat sandwiches, our savoury egg or a Cauliflower Polonaise, which I’ll make with the cauli. just purchased from Mrs. Anson.  I might even add some of her new potatoes, served warm with parsley butter and….ooh the possibilities are endless!!! 

Find Maggie Sorensen for her jams and chutneys at -  thejamlady045@gmail.com

Eventually He turns our cauliflower into an excellent Polonaise which we enjoy with parslied potatoes and hot peas with chives...which reminds me I'm not using my garden produce to fill my freezer with summer goodies for the Fall and beyond;. no parsley butter, mint ice-cubes or chives into something neat to use in the long winter months.  I mean, what's the point of having a large fridge/freezer if it ain't full of good things to eat!

Guest market stall tonight is Fino Olive Oil and while happily dipping croutons of fresh bread into Susie's enticing oils, the dear SO comes to drag me away for supper; find Susie at -
www.finooliveoil.co.uk

see you in August Susie...

Smart Cookies are providing an Italian style Chicken Ciabatta supper with a tomato and basil salad and hot new potatoes; even on a balmy summer’s evening, hot potatoes are great with salad!  Of course, there’s a veggie option to eat in or take away and “all profits go to Jomps’ Farm at Sarnelli Orphanage in North Thailand for children with AIDS/HIV – part of the Thai Children’s Trust.

 

We dine al fresco at a large table and soon are chatting happily to a party of friends and visitors which is just so very pleasant.  I slip away into the market to buy honey from Helen Raine of Adderbury Honey for a dear friend.  I examine Helen's glass bee hive whilst munching a piece of honeycomb; OMG I just love  honeycomb and have very fond memories of a holiday years ago in
Cornwall when I was given a fresh one each morning for breakfast...

Helen Raine's Adderbury Honey at - rainehelen@hotmail.com

Helen's busy bees... for bee inspiration...


We chatted to Chris of Cats Brewing Co. - info@:catsbrewingco.com -

to  Chummy of Moore & Lyon for home reared meat at - chummy567@yahoo.co.uk -

oops - I seem to have lost my photo - apologies to Chummy -

to Ellie and Mark of Ellie's Kitchen....

for Ellie's delicious Greek food - from ellistsgo@gmail.com

and to Taste Buds Cheeseboard for their really excellent cheese

and find them at - tastebudscatering.com/recipes/cheese-board/.


It was only much later that same evening I discovered I had forgotten to return to collect
my purchase of Jo Thompson's Organic Granola which I'd left with her because we neither had sufficient
change on hand.  Apologies Jo and catch up with you in August for that granola crunch.




Another great Market experience, supper and a lovely evening in Adderbury with friends!  See you next month guys.


Daisy xxx