Antique Autos returns to History Park!

Vintage car in the park in 2012.  Photo: Elizabeth Urbach.

Some of my costume group in 2009.
Photo: Elizabeth Urbach

 I've been getting ready for the 14th Annual Antique Auto event at History Park, where the tea guild will be joining me for a picnic tomorrow afternoon.  It's such fun to research recipes and costumes -- because I always want to do something slightly different from what I did last year -- that I often find myself hurrying the morning of the event, and not finishing whatever costume or recipe I'd been working on, and pulling out something wearable from the costume closet, or something ordinary from the pantry, and going with that.  I'm hoping that this year will be different, since -- at the request of one of the guild members -- we are having a potluck picnic, and at least I don't have to make all the sandwiches.  I have decided to bring dessert -- a cake and some strawberries that I got at the farmer's market yesterday -- as well as the iced tea.  Then there's my costume; I could wear the 1920s frock that I've worn before, but I don't have a hat to go with it, or I could wear one of my Edwardian skirts, although I don't really have a good blouse to wear with them, or a proper hat, either -- just a modern straw hat with a ribbon on it.  I have all these plans to make blouses, and even some fabric to do it, and I want to make a tailor-made suit, and - and - and ... 

Anyway, while I decide, and work on my things, here are some suggestions from the readers of the _Woman's Home Companion_ magazine from 1916, so you can put together your own "motor picnic" in the next month or so: 

Picnic recipes from Godey's of July 1855.

Lemon balm at History Park,
San Jose, Ca.
Photo: Elizabeth Urbach.

Wow, the weather is really starting to heat up around here!  June is usually not a really warm month in this area, but I think we'll be breaking some heat records in the next few days or so ... This is when we should air out the house and get outside in the cool mornings and evenings, and then shut ourselves away from the heat in the afternoon with something cold and refreshing to drink.  To get a break from sodas, make some iced tea or tisane (you can make it by the pitcher and just keep it in the fridge all the time) or some lemonade, which are not only good for hot weather, but for the sick and invalids, as recommended by Godey's Lady's Book in 1855:

Fun events in San Jose this week.

Image: Lyric Theatre of San Jose.

Lyric Theatre's The Pirates of Penzance: Thursday, March 29 through Saturday, March 31 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 1 at 2 p.m. at the Montgomery Theatre, downtown San Jose.  The show opened on March 24, and tickets are going fast for the last 4 performances!  Tickets run around $30 for general admission, and $12 for youth.

Historic herb garden at History Park.
Photo: Elizabeth Urbach

18th Annual Spring Garden Market: the Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County are gearing up for their annual plant sale on March 31 at History San Jose’s History Park.  You can get organic herbs, heirloom tomato, pepper, and other vegetable seedlings, as well as potted orchids and garden art.  There will also be food trucks, demonstrations and gardening talks.  The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., each plant costs $3 to $4 each, and the vendors only take cash and checks.

I'll be there; will you?


Copyright 2012, Elizabeth Urbach.

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For more information:
18th Annual Spring Garden Market
Master Gardeners Spring Garden Market
Spring Garden Market herb varieties for 2012

Lyric Theatre of San Jose web page
Lyric Theatre's Pirates of Penzance page
Lyric Theatre Pirates of Penzance ticket page