Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-09-14
HOME TOPICS.
Notes on IIOusehO Decoration.

| Notes on Household Decoration.
| A very pretty tidy is made by sewing
strips of Valencennes insertion together
until you have the desired size for tidy
and it may be of different widths finisl
be entirely fresh, but must be ironet
smooth. Another way to make hand
some tidy at small expense is to get al
oblong or square of satin, cover half Of
it diagonally with lace insertion sewed to-
gether, trim with n pretty edge, and OF
the corner Of the satin which is not Gov
cred by lace work spray of flowers.
A pretty wall photograph panel is made
from n piece of pale blue or cardinal satin
about nine inches square. In the centre
cut out piece not quite large enough fo1
the photograph and turn in the edges, Sc
that they will just hold the picture when
hemmed. Around the bottom, and on one
side of the centra piece, work IN Ken
sington or satin stitch vine of yellow
blossoms if you use the cardinal, or pale
pink if the blue is used. Finish the top
and bottom with band of plush the col
or of the satin, running in the edge of
each whalebone. Turn in the sides and
fasten down on the wrong side. In the
lower left-hand corner place bow of rib
bon combining the two shades of the satin
and flowers, and hang up with ribbons of
the same. Put in the photograph and
fasten securely. Line with blue or red
silesia, taking care that the stitches do
not show on the right side.
If you have corner that is too far
away from the centre of the room to form
sociable position for n seat, get large
trumpet-shaped vase (they may be had to
the height of six feet, and almost of any
price, and fill it with branches Of horse
chestnut With few of the largest and
coarscst of our woodland ferns arranged
so as to hang over the sides of the vase,
and some Iulrushes stretching their long
brown heads high above the chestnut fol-
iage, your bare corner will become a
thing of beauty instead Of an eyesore.
These vases. so filled, may also be placed
with advantage to show above the pretty
Japanese screens that abound in modern
drawing-rooms. At this season, all water
plants-such MS yellow irises commonly
called hags), rushes, reeds, etc. ARE in
their prime, and nothing looks better in n
large vase, or more especially Japanese
jar, than any of these, or variety pretti
ly grouped. Taking care to arrange your
flowers rs much after the fashion of Ma
ture as possible is the golden rule of all
successful floral decorations. Thus, sup
posing the above-named aquatic plants
are used, and, in addition, warer lilies,
forget-me- -nots and ragged robins, (which
are all low-growing flowers, and you are
going to arrange them in shallow wood
en- tub filled with damp sand-place the
water lilies around the edge and among
the forget-me-nots behind them, again,
the ragged robins, mixing with them any
of the leaves of about the same height
which may be found in abundance in
marshy places behind these again group
your irises, with their sword-like leaves,
and as n centre have mass of bulrushes
and reeds, with common rushes to give
lightness to the whole, avoiding any stiff
ness in the arrangement by placing
good many Towering grasses here and
there over the whole, allowing them to
topthe forget-me-nots and water lilies by
us much as they would do when growing
naturally. For high decorations use tall
growing flowers for low ones, use such
as are stunted in their growth. Growing
~ oNNl ShlC Seittu Iuo olttl
been recommended as decoration but
owing to the necessary damp earth and
the likelihood of creeping things (such as
earwigs) accompanying it, cannot say
that it is good thing. Long, gathered
sprays of ivy look just as well and can be
kept clean by sponging them every day.
In gathering ferns (maidenhair especial
ly) care must be taken to select the old
f,,nIu on1 tln,, III l.. t,,;,, 1,,,,, &c
part of the frond, as well as stalk, is in
the water ; it is also good thing to i'm
merse them every day (over head) in wa
ter. Such is often used instead Of mere
want to arrange flowers in and when this
is the case it must be looked at every day,
as it is apt to dry very quickly. Small
baskets gilded with Judson's gold paint
(Which is cheap and effective). and with
tins made to fit them, are very pretty,
either in the drawing-room or on dinner
table. The small round baskets, formed
like gypsy kettles, and which can general
ly be supplied with broken cup or claret
glass as n flower holder instead of Il shaped
tin, are very effective, when arranged MS
we so often used to see them-pendeut
dent from three sticks, kettle fashion, the
whole being covered with silver paper, or
Dettcl still, gnu. LIE silull DusuttS Ill
which we buy strawberries are useful for
holding flowers, either painted or gilt,
and garden saucer does well to hold the
water. Bottle baskets, divided into COM
partments about six inches square, look
well with small flower pot in each COM
partment End an ivy trail round the han
die. Creeping plants are not half enough
used for house decorations. London
queen.
Seas0nable Recipes.
The yolk of an egg mixed with little
molasses makes Il rich brown glaze for the
top of rusks and buns.
Green tomatoes sliced and fried in but
ter, n la egg plant, are much relished by
some leople. The slices should first lie
in salt water fortwo hours.
Sardines picked up fine and mixed with
cold boiled ham, also minced fine, and all
well seasoned with n regular mayonnaise
dressing, make delicious filling for sand
wiches.
Country housewives who must wait
long for the oyster are obliged to invent
dishes for tea which may take its place
"Veal oysters" will sometimes do this.
Cut the veal in small squares, dip in bat
ter, and fry until brown in hot lard. Serve
while very hot, with pinch of Cayenne
pepper and plenty of salt on them.
This way of making plum pudding
cannot be too highly recommended !: If
fresh plums are in season, use them if
not, take quart can of plums; put them
in basin on the stove when hot, sweet
en- them plenteously soak several slices
of bread in the juice, then line pudding
dish with the bread, and pour the plums
in. Serve cold, with cream.