Confederate Decorating Advice

Check out this reprint of this 1863 Confederate Cook Book. They have some recipes from everything from Pumpkin Bread (recipe following) to vinegar and honey soap, then there are recipes for cures for chills and burns, to name a few. Many of these recipes are fascinating to read....but we got the biggest kick out of the "Miscellaneous Receipts".....especially the little tidbit on "ECONOMY IN CARPETS" we found that it was great advice then, and is still something that stands true......

ECONOMY IN CARPETS
"In buying a carpet, as in everything else, those of the best quality are cheapest in the end. As it is extremely desirable that they should look as clean as possible, avoid buying a carpet that has any white in it. Even a small portion of white interspersed through the pattern will in a short time give it a dingy appearance.
If you cannot obtain a hearth rug that exactly corresponds with the carpet, get one entirely different, for a decided contrast looks better than a bad match."

~Confederate Cook Book

145 years and still good advice!

Here's a quick recipe for Pumpkin Bread from 145 years ago, just in case you'd like a try at it:

PUMPKIN BREAD
Boil a good pumpkin in water till it is quite thick, pass it through a sieve and mix flour so as to make a good dough. This makes an excellent bread.

(They just don't write 'em like this anymore do they??)