Tuesday, December 29, 2009

12th Day Celebration

On Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 for 1-4pm the Pierre Menard Home will be celebrating 12th Day. Typically 12th Day is celebrated 12 days after Christmas and is more commonly known as the Feast of the Epiphany. 12th Day celebrates three events. It commemorates the baptism of Jesus, the arrival of the Wise Men or Magi to Bethlehem and the miracle at Cana.

In many countries it is a day for gift giving. In Pierre Menard’s time it was a day for feasting. Epiphany marked the beginning of the carnival season leading up to lent. It also marked the day to take down the Christmas decorations. However the Menard Home will still be festively decorated for the holidays and the Friends of the Menard Home, dressed in 1840’s historic clothing will once again be welcoming visitors to the home with tours as well as something to drink and pastries and cookies.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Thank you for Supporting the Christmas Open House

The Friends of the Menard Home would like to thank everyone who visited the Menard Home during the Christmas Open House and made it such a huge sucess.  With your continued support we had over 250 visitors during the course of the afternoon and we think people went away with a better understanding of Christmases past and it helped get everyone into the Christmas spirit. 

We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year in 2010 and we look forward to seeing all of you at all of the events next year. 

Photos of Chimney Repairs in Progress

Contracting is being done by Lake Contracting and subcontracting by Diecker-Terry, Masonry, Inc. out of Marissa, IL. You be the judge

The Current Condition & Maintenance Issues of the Menard Home

If you don't like the photos, please call and write our Legislatures. Addresses can be found in the right hand column of this blog.

Maintainance Issues at the Menard Home

Houston We Have a PROBLEM!!!!!

This is what the southeast dormer looks like from the attic. The light you're seeing is daylight...guess what happens when it rains!?!!???!!!


Houston We Have Another Problem!!!

Houston We Have Another Problem!!!
This is what is happening in the nursery with all the heavy rain.

Baked Whole Pumpkin

1 (5-7 lb) pumpkin
6 Whole eggs
2 Cup Whipping cream
½ cup Brown sugar
1 tablespoon Molasses
½ teaspoon Fresh grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
¼ teaspoon Ginger
2 tablespoon Butter

This dish was a favorite of George Washington. While it was called a pie in the old days, it's certainly not what we call a pie now. Here the custard pie is found inside the pumpkin and the whole thing is to be served up with a bit of anticipation for a very different pumpkin dessert. Cut the lid off the pumpkin just as you would for a jack-o'-lantern. Remove the seeds and save for toasting later. Mix the remaining ingredients together with the exception of the butter. Fill the pumpkin with this mixture and top with the butter. Cover with the pumpkin lid and place in a baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 to 1-1/2 hours, or until the mixture has set like a custard. Serve from the pumpkin at your table, scraping some of the meat from the pumpkin with each serving. This is an interesting substitution for the usual pumpkin pie.

Herb Garden

The Menard Home Herb Garden has an extensive collection of herbs which were used during the 19th Century. These herbs were not used just for cooking but were also used for medicinal purposes as well.

The Menard Home Herb Garden in Early Spring 2008

Closed is Closed!!!!!!! 12/01/2008-04/22/2009

Closed is Closed!!!!!!! 12/01/2008-04/22/2009
Please remember this, least we forget and history repeats itself. Be ever vigilant and protect our beloved home.