The Valley of Fear, Part 1: Tartness

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: The Valley of Fear, Part 1
Title: Tartness
Author: scfrankles
Rating: G
Author's Notes: “Being the seventh of January…” “Really, Holmes,” said I severely, “you are a little trying at times.” Holmes is in a bit of a mood at the start of the story. Did something perhaps happen the day before on the sixth..?


“It’s turned out beautifully, Doctor!”

Mrs. Hudson brought in the tart proudly, and looked around the room.

“Oh! Mr. Holmes not with you..?”

“Stayed on after the service.” Watson sighed. “He insisted he’d found a coded message behind the pulpit.”

“Behind the— Aren’t those the hymn numbers?”

Watson nodded glumly. “Give him an hour. I’m sure he’ll have an epiphany.”



A/N: Apparently in Victorian times the Epiphany Tart was popular: a jam tart made with up to 13 different jams. The shape of a six pointed star was formed inside the case with more pastry and then all the sections were filled in to make a stained glass window effect.

Comments

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Holmes hates having his birthday on Epiphany - all the freakin' tarts he got instead of cake.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

I didn't think of that ^__^ This is an excellent theory for the 7th of Jan grumpiness. And for why Holmes is analysing the hymn numbers instead of going home ^_^

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

One, that's an excellent game to play in church to keep one's mind occupied. I shall employ it this week at Christmas mass and report my results next Sunday.

Two, I am going to see if they even sell 13 kinds of jam at the store. That's a lot! But I bet it's pretty. I would definitely call dibs on the blackberry part.

Three, I didn't know Sherlock's birthday was January 6. Shall have to mark that down and do something in his memory. Like try to burn the flat down.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

It really tickles me to think of you decoding the hymn numbers ^_^ I look forward to your report. (Are you Catholic too? ^^)

I suppose in Victorian times the people making the tarts would have made their own jam too. I wonder if ladies got together and swapped jams ^^

Holmes' birthday doesn't have to be 6th Jan, I suppose. I mean it isn't mentioned in canon and there seems to be no compelling reason for it to be that day. But celebrating it in his memory sounds like a good idea. (Please don't try and burn the flat down ^^" Even with a magnifying glass.)

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Yes, a nice cafeteria Catholic (take what you like and leave the rest)!

Believe it or not, a co-worker and I used to try to list every kind of pie in existence as something to do during boring meetings. So me listing all kinds of jam is really not as odd as it should be.

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

It will make a change from adding all the numbers up, calculating the average and then looking up the relevant hymn.

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Hey! You learn something new every Sunday. I will try that one too. The Christmas (probably children's!) liturgy is very, very long.

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

There are times when I am grateful to be an Anglican ;)

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

And if you think the random woodcock and/or Turkish bath scene won't creep in along with the hymnal decoding, well, then we just don't know each other at all :)

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Looking as if you're paying attention, mentally writing fanfic. *nods*

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

Stonewall Kitchen has 36 kinds of jam (of course, they're in Maine, so maybe hard to find ex US, but there's Bonne Maman and Dickinson's). If you're in NY, check out... http://www.mayasjams.com. So yummy.

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

I just took a detour through the jam aisle at the supermarket and counted 13 varieties of jam/jelly/preserves (not counting the jalapeno). So I guess it's not as far-fetched as I thought.

New fic on fan_flashworks

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

sorry if I got a bot out of control... I'm back in Stonewall Kitchen territory for a few days and just going a bit wonky over it.

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

I like the idea of the Epiphany tart. It does make sense the jam makers would swap with each other. Either that or they bought lots of little pots at the Christmas sale for the needy - same principle, but raising money for the poor of the parish at the same time.

I now have visions of the verger leaving coded messages for the church wardens via the hymn board.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

I really like the idea of the Epiphany Tart too. I haven't baked in literally years but I am so tempted to have a go ^^ Though perhaps with only two jams ^^" And I love your idea of little pots of jam being on sale at the Christmas fairs. That would have been such a lot of fun I think.

And speaking of fun... ^__^ I really, really love the idea that Holmes is right and there is a coded message in the hymn numbers.

[debriswoman]

Such a great image...and my knowledge regarding tarts is now greatly enhanced:-)

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Thank you ^^ And I am proud to have added to the contents of your brain-attic :P

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

This did happen, of course. Thanks very much for sharing about the Epiphany Tart, too. (I didn't know there were thirteen kinds of jams.)

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

I didn't know there were thirteen kinds of jams. It is surprising, isn't it? ^_^

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

Wow... that sounds delicious. Kind of like Battenbu/erg (spelling seems to be contested) cake, but appealing.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

It does sound great, doesn't it? ^^ I am so tempted to have a go at making one.

(And don't you like Battenberg cake..? ^^" I'm rather fond of it ^^)

battenberg

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

Jasper Fforde makes fun of it a lot and the only one I've tried was an unsuccessful boxed variety...rather dry and with too much raspberry. I live in the US and don't have much access.