"With Pomp, Power & Glory the world beckons vainly, In chase of such vanities why should I roam?While Peace & Content bless my little thatched cottage,And warm my own hearth with the Treasures of Home."*Beatrix Potter

Friday 5 June 2015

Celebrations


May ended with celebrations for us at the cottage with our 25th wedding anniversary, some wonderful news & my birthday.
Thankfully we were over the worst of the illness that had affected myself & the twins for over two weeks. It is wonderful to finally get back to normal life & catch up with things.
The garden has not been touched for two weeks apart from watering so we are now catching up with weeding & general gardening.
June is bringing so many beautiful blooms to the garden & the fruit trees & bushes are laden with fruits.
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Andy's parents sent us these beautiful flowers for our Anniversary.
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A beautiful celebration for our 25th wedding Anniversary & my birthday.
Us with all our children & Bobby wanted to join in.
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Myself with our four girls.
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The family bought us a special cake & organised a family picnic.
Due to Mary still being a little under the weather we decided to have the picnic in the garden rather than go out.
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Opening gifts.
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We had such a special day celebrating with our family.
Amy  & Dan told us we were to become Grandparents, what a special gift they have given us our first Grandchild.
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Our Viburnum tree in full bloom.
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The gooseberry bushes are laden with berries.
I can't wait to use them in jam.
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Pretty Lupins I added to the garden last year.
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The borders at the church end of our cottage.
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One of our potato patches.
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Our old Walnut tree is starting to spread it leaves.
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Morning sun in the kitchen.
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Oatmeal raisin cookies, Andy & Sidney took over the baking with me being ill.
They made me a special birthday cake with little roses on it too & chocolate chip cookies.
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Sweet Williams, another thing that makes May special.
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Thank you dear readers for your comment, I do love to hear from you.
Fondly Michelle
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58 comments:

  1. Such wonderful celebrations, 25 years of marriage is a great celebration happy anniversary. The news of a new child in the family is tremendous, the joy of becoming a Grandparent is truly amazing. Glad you are all feeling better.

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  2. Thank you we had such a wonderful day.
    Fondly Michelle

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  3. Michelle, I'm so glad you were able to celebrate your birthday and anniversary with your family. Kudos to the guys doing the baking! I love the flowers--one of my favorite color combinations. I love your hair and dress--very 1940's! And I love see more photos of the outside of your cottage. Happy Birthday and Anniversary!

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    1. Thank you Cathy for your kind words, so glad you enjoyed the flower photo's.
      Fondly Michelle

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  4. I'm so sorry you were so ill. So glad you are better and healing.
    You look as young as your daughters, you are all so lovely and blessed to have such a happy home and to be adding a grandchild to your family. Congratulations to you and your hubby.
    Shirley in Virginia

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    1. Thank you Shirley for your kind words.
      We are so excited to become Grandparents.
      Fondly Michelle

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  5. Congratulations on your 25th anniversary!! Definitely a special day! You looked so lovely. : )

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    1. Thank you Sarah for your lovely comment.
      Fondly Michelle

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  6. You look extraordinarily young to have to those adult children or a 25 anniversary. What is your secret?

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    1. Thank you Lisa for your sweet words, I am always busy with a house of children.
      Fondly Michelle

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  7. Congratulations on your anniversary, it sounds like you all had a wonderful day.

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    1. Thank you Jo, we had such a special day.
      Fondly Michelle

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  8. Glad you and the twins are feeling better. Two weeks is a long time to be ill. You have a beautiful family. How nice that Andy and Sidney did some baking. Congratulations on your 25th wedding anniversary, the cake looked lovely.

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    1. They enjoyed doing some baking, Sidney loves to cook.
      Thank you for your lovely words.
      Fondly Michelle

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  9. You are very beautiful and very young looking,what's your secret?
    Happy anniversary x

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    1. Thank you, I am just a Mum, there's a lot of love in the cottage & we are always busy, it is what makes us happy.
      Fondly Michelle

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  10. What a delightful family day you had. Your garden is very lovely and so prolific!

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    1. Thank you Elizabeth, we love to spend time in the garden.
      Fondly Michelle

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  11. A Grandchild ! The VERY best present. I suppose it will be the first of many. A very happy Anniversary to you both
    Gillx

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    1. I hope so, we can't wait.
      Fondly Michelle

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  12. What wonderfuol photos, and many congratulations are due it seems! I agree with other commenters that you are young looking and slim too. I really struggle to look after myself with 2 young children. Do you have any helpful pointers for Mums like me? Are you content being a stay at home Mum? You certainly seem to be which is wonderful. I find it tricky sometimes actually. Any advice gratefully received! Blessings, Anna xx

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    1. I love being at home with the children, I am so blessed. I have never really bothered with myself, I am always running around after the children & am so busy so no time for myself & that is how I like it. When the twins were babies it was hard sometimes & very tiring as they did not sleep through the night until they were two, we have been truly blessed & we wouldn't have done it any other way, I just wish the doctor would let me have more.
      Thank you for your sweet comment.
      Fondly Michelle

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  13. Absolutely beautiful photos!!! This is the first I have actually seen *you*. You are absolutely lovely!!! Your family is beautiful as well! Happy Anniversary (and birthday too!). :) And what a blessing to find out you will be a grandmother!!! Such a beautiful gift that is! :)

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    1. Thank you Katy, yes we truly are blessed, I can't wait to hold a baby again.
      Fondly Michelle

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  14. Congratulations on your silver anniversary. Lovely family photos thank you for sharing. And such exciting news about becoming a grandmother! Oh, and Happy Birthday. What an event filled time for you.

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    1. Thank you Sherri for your kind comment, we had a wonderful Saturday.
      Fondly Michelle

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  15. Hello Michelle. It was so nice to meet your family and see your special celebration pictures. Happy anniversary. And congratulations on soon becoming a grandmother. You look so young and beautiful to be a grandma. My best wishes to you.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, so glad you enjoyed the post.
      Fondly Michelle

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  16. So many wonderful celebrations! Happy birthday, happy anniversary, and congratulations on the news of your first grandchild!
    Such beautiful photos of your family and yourself, and the cake looks divine!
    Your garden is beautiful, everything bursting into life.
    I am very pleased to hear you and your little ones are feeling better now :-)

    I'm reading and watching Lark Rise To Candleford at the moment, I love these books and tv series :-) are you reading anything at the moment?

    I hope you all have a lovely weekend,
    Take care,
    Melanie x

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    1. Good Morning Melanie,
      Thank you for all your kind words, we are so excited to become Grandparents.
      I love Larkrise too, at the moment I am nearing the end of the large Nella Last book, it has quite a lot of new material which is good. I am a little slow with reading with the illness, I couldn't do anything it completely wiped me out. Not sure what I will read next, I have a huge pile to choose from.
      Enjoy your weekend.
      Fondly Michelle

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    2. I must read the Nella Last books, I'm sure they're wonderful.
      There's to be a second series of Home Fires which I'm pleased about, I am enjoying this series.
      Oh dear, you must have been very poorly! I am glad you were well enough to enjoy your celebrations though :-) x

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    3. Thank you for telling me, I did wonder if they would do another one as they are still in 1939.
      Fondly Michelle

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  17. Congratulations on your Silver Wedding anniversary! And on the news about becoming grandparents soon. It sounds as though you and the girls have had the same virus that I and many other people have had. It lasts a long time and recurs if you try to do too much too soon so take things steadily:) Lots of lovely photos as always, your anniversary cake is beautiful.

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    1. The illness completely washed me out & has now come back in a milder way.
      The cake was beautiful, Kitty loved the cupcakes with the royal icing on.
      Thank you for your lovely comment.
      Fondly Michelle

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  18. Michelle,
    I am sorry you and your little girls have been ill, but I am glad you are recovering. Happy 25th anniversary! My husband and I just had our 30th, and we can't believe that time has passed so quickly. Thank you for the photo of your family. You all indeed look happy. :-) I agree with the others that you look so young and lovely. You are blessed in many ways. Your anniversary cake is amazing, and what a wonderful surprise gift from Amy and Dan! Grandchildren are so much fun.
    Keep resting and regaining your full strength. Happy June! Hugs from Texas. :-)

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    1. Yes we are truly blessed, the oldest four children & their partners gave us a wonderful day.
      We are getting there but not quite right yet, thank you for your thoughtfulness.
      Enjoy this sun soaked weekend.
      Fondly Michelle

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  19. Hello Michelle, What a beautiful family you have. Congratulations on all the lovely things in your post. I can't imagine why I have not found your blog before but just now came over from Forgotten Way Farms after leaving a comment for Abby Jo. I do hope you are feeling better. We live on 2.5 on the south eastern coast of Australia. Such a pretty garden you have. English cottage gardens are my favourites. I also love the older more gentile way of life and all the things you have mentioned in your profile.I look forward to reading more of your writings. Blessings Gail.

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    1. Welcome Gail.
      Thank you for your beautiful comment.
      Enjoy this blessed day.
      Fondly Michelle

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  20. You have a lovely family. Beautiful photos. I love everything vintage. :)

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    1. Thank you Linda, life is all about family. I love vintage things too.
      Fondly Michelle

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  21. Dear Michelle, I am very glad that better health you and your girls are. Congratulations on your birthday and for his 25th anniversary. My husband and I celebrated our 25th anniversary two years ago with the whole family, and every day I thank God for putting on my way to a wonderful man, and the years fly by. Congratulations on the upcoming baby, must be very pleased especially that you would like children.
    A big hug for all the family.
    Mary Carmen.

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    1. Thank you Mary for your congratulations.
      I agree life flies by, we certainly have filled our 25 years & plan the fill much more. Our life is truly blessed & I say thank you everyday for it.
      Enjoy this beautiful day.
      Fondly Michelle

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  22. Hi Michelle, I'm so sorry to hear you and the girls have been so sick. It's hard to be sick when you have a growing family. Congratulations on your anniversary and your wonderful news of your first grand baby. We are expecting our 8th the end of July and it is still very exciting. Sounds like you had a lovely birthday as well so Happy Birthday from New Brunswick Canada. I loved seeing the pics of your wonderful family. Stay well.
    Mary

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    1. Thank you Mary for your best wishes.
      Have a lovely day in Canada.
      Fondly Michelle

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  23. Congratulations! You are blessed!
    And so lovely news that you are to be a grandmother!
    I hope you and the girls feel better now!

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    1. Thank you Carolien,
      We are much better now, thank you.
      Fondly Michelle

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  24. Michelle...Happy Birthday dear lady :0) I am sorry I am a bit late, but I am so glad that you had such a blessed day indeed. mari

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    1. Thank you Mari for you best wishes.
      Fondly Michelle

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  25. Michelle, congratulations to you and your dear husband on 25 years! A rare thing these days:-) You have a lovely family, what a blessing. Sorry to hear of your illness, hope by now you and the gals are fully recovered.
    Blessings from New England,
    Suzanne

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    1. Thank you Suzanne for your congratulations.
      We are all better now, i just don't seem to be at full strength yet.
      Fondly Michelle

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  26. Dearest Michelle,
    Happy celebrations!!! I am hoping that you are on the mend!! And I am hoping that you shall be yourself again (and the twins) very soon!!
    I was so happy to see you and your beautiful family gathered together for photos! (and happy news on the Grandie ;-D )
    Sending warmth and healing prayers your way!! Linnie

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    1. Thank you Linnie,
      The girls are back to there busy selves, full of joy. I am a little slower to be back to full strength but will soon be there.
      Fondly Michelle

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  27. Congratulations, what a wonderful family celebration. You look so young and fresh, family life definitely suits you :) you must handle the stress of busyness very well.

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  28. dear michelle,
    congratulations to you and your dear husband on 25 years.
    the cake looks wonderful,also the cookies.
    you looks so young...what is your secret?
    have a nice day,
    blessings regina

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  29. Hello Michelle.. So sorry I am so late getting to you but as you know we have been at farm and no internet.. I have been here but was on my tablet and have a hard time commenting with it for some reason.. So love your post and your family pics.. You are so pretty... God bless...xo

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  30. Hello Michelle.. So sorry I am so late getting to you but as you know we have been at farm and no internet.. I have been here but was on my tablet and have a hard time commenting with it for some reason.. So love your post and your family pics.. You are so pretty... God bless...xo

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  31. Congratulations on your anniversary! 25 years of wedding anniversary is just a great occasion to celebrate with family and friends. My parents are also going to celebrate their 25th anniversary. We have been looking for local event locations for throwing party. Could you please suggest a good venue?

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  32. Hope all is well with you and the family, I trust you will continue to blog, although I am the first to admit blogging can be time consuming.

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