American Museum .... Part four

Good morning all

Well this is the final part of the American Museum write up.  I could not finish about this wonderful place that has so much culture and amazing stitchery and history attached to this stunning Manor house, without mentioning the florist there as well.

It is situated near the wonderful cafe they have with tables and chairs outside and overlooking the Limpley Stoke Valley.

There are lots of flowers and herbs for sale and in my opinion the piece de resistance is the wonderful smelling and gorgeous looking Tussie Mussie's!

They are gathered into pots and are filled with herbs and very scented flowers and truly are a wonderful thing to bring home to fill your house with an amazing fresh scented smell.  They were called nose gays in Tudor times and helped disguise horrid smells and were said to protect you from the plague!!... in these times they are a stunning looking centre piece that has the most wonderful aroma for the pure pleasure of it.

Also do not forget that there is a wonderful cafe at the museum that sells light lunches and drinks and afternoon teas.  You can choose from two soups of the day and have warm baked bread with it or half a sandwich of your choice, which I plumbed for.  I had a wonderful, slightly spicy vegetable soup with half a cheese and pickle on brown cut into two little triangles and it was delicious I can tell you.  There are quiches and jacket potatoes and childrens meals as well.

You can buy a little booklet in the shop called Old fashioned American recipes, which I did and this is a recipe from it.... It is a lovely little booklet and only costs £2.50, you may be able to order from their website.

Mary Ball Washington's Gingerbread 1784

This recipe was found in an old worn cookery book.

Half a cup of butter

Half a cup of dark moist brown sugar

Half a cup of treacle

Half a cup of golden syrup

Quarter cup of cooking sherry

Three cups of flour

One cup of sultanas or raisins

Half a cup of milk

2 tablespoons of ground ginger

1 and a half teaspoons of mace

1 and half teaspoons of nutmeg

3 eggs

1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda

1 orange - rind and juice

Cream butt and sugar. Add eggs. Mix well.  Add slightly warmed syrup and treacle, alternately with the flour, spices and bicarb.  Add raisins, orange, sherry and milk.  Mix lightly.  Bake in lined tin 9"x 6"x 3", for approximately 40 minutes at 350F.

The American museum also runs courses in lots of different crafts as well.  One lady runs a course on making copies of the WW1 hearts.

This is an orginal.

These are samples of what the class teaches you.

Go to American Museum in Bath website and there are a list of classes being run and you are able to book with them.  What a stunning setting to learn something new!  I will be booking a course next year.

I hope this has been an enjoyable few days of reading and that maybe some of you will be able to visit.  For those of you who are not able then I hope you have enjoyed a taster of this adorable place with all its American culture and stunning settings in our wonderful British Somerset countryside.....

Happy Stitching!