"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

Tuesday 15 December 2015

December Days & a Visit to Gunby Hall

The beautiful colours of Autumn have now vanished out of sight leaving behind a carpet of glistening leaves.
The wet earth now sleeps waiting for new growth in the Spring.
~
Here at the cottage we have been busy with Christmas preparations.
The decorations are now up, the last thing was to hang a bunch of Holly from our own bushes on the front door to welcome Christmas visitors.
~
How I love the kitchen so this time of year, with smells of dried fruit, spices and gingerbread.
All the children have their own favourites so the mixing bowl and wooden spoon has been kept busy.
~
 
 
I found this wonderful old 1940's WI recipe book the other week & made these little Ginger buns from it.
~
Mix 1 lb of flour with 1 teaspoon of ginger & 1 teaspoon of soda.
Then melt 1\2 lb of butter with 1\2 lb of sugar & 1\2 lb of treacle.
Pour over the butter mixture 4 beaten eggs then add the flour.
Bake in a moderate oven until done.
~
We all loved them & they made so many, so I froze some of them for Christmas.
~
 
 
The cottage is looking very festive.
~
 
 
We have a new 1950's fairy for our sitting room tree.
~

 
The hall dresser gets a little festive touch.
~
 
 
Filling the cake tins for the children.
~
 
 
Our Georgian oak canopy cupboard is decorated with fairy lights & my Grandparents Sherry glasses come out.
~

 
I love this vintage 1950's Christmas fruit cake tin.
~

 
Mittens in the kitchen.
~

 
Looking through to the sitting room from the kitchen.
This cottage gives me such a warm cosy feeling.
~

 
Our sitting all ready for Christmas.
~
 
 
The twins dressed up 50's style for a Christmas disco.
~

 
On Sunday we drove to Gunby Hall a beautiful National Trust house near us.
Each year they decorate the house for Christmas with activities for the children.
~

 
The Christmas tree in the music room at Gunby hall.
~

 
Another photo of the beautiful music room.
~

 
The mantle decorated for Christmas.
~

 
Listening to sweet music in the dining room.
~

 
Below stairs.
I love these wonderful old jars in the scullery.
~

 
Empire biscuits baked & ready for the freezer for Christmas.
I will sandwich these together with some lovely festive jam.
~

 
I would like to wish all my dear readers a very merry Christmas & happy New Year.
Thank you all of you for your lovely comments & for following me for another year.
Fondly Michelle
~

52 comments:

  1. I absolutely LOVE your cottage!! The floors, the look of it...just everything! It is so beautiful and sweet! Everything looks lovely! :) I always enjoy visits to your blog! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Katy for your kind comment.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  2. It was wonderful to take another peek inside your home, I adore all of it particularly the floors. Its looking really festive and those cakes and treats look wonderful. I am going to give the 1940s ginger buns a try. Have a great Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The ginger buns were lovely, I am going to ice the ones I tucked away for Christmas.
      Thank you for your kind words.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  3. Your home looks so cozy and inviting this Christmas season! May you and your family have a very blessed Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sarah.
      Have a wonderful Christmas with your family.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  4. I'm guessing your girls would like some snow for Christmas, it seems unlikely but I hope they and all your family have a wonderful time whatever the weather.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I don't think we will get snow Sue, isn't it warm.
      Merry Christmas to you and your family.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  5. I am most certain you heard my sigh from across the ocean as I looked at the beautiful pictures that accompanied your post. What a lovely cottage and the decor is divine. Have a blessed and safe holiday season from sunny South Mississippi in the United States!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your kind words.have a lovely Christmas in South Mississippi.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  6. I am fairly new to your blog, and this is the first time I have commented. What a beautiful cottage! I love your photo's, and your cooking, I must try those ginger buns one day, thanks for sharing the recipe. From Cheryl NSW Australia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Cheryl,
      Thank you for your kind words.
      The ginger buns are lovely.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  7. May your Christmas be filled with joy Michelle 🙂.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Once again you thrill me with your lovely pictures. Your cakes all look so delicious and your cottage so cosy and inviting. Although I can't have any myself this year (due to severe Migrane), the children have each chosen what they want. Today we made gingerbread ( call it Pepperkaker in Norway). A little snow has fallen and has brightened up the dark Winter days. Your tree looks beautiful, nothing quite like a Christmas tree. In Norway they bring the tree in 23rd. December, we are cheating though and going in to the woods to find one on saturday. Can't wait any longer. Wish you and your family a blessed Christmas. See you in the New Year! Pam xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sorry to hear you are unwell, I suffer from migraines to so know how awful it is. I hope it settles down soon for you.
      I love the idea of bringing the tree in on the 23rd.
      Enjoy your Christmas, I have always wanted to visit Norway.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  9. Your girls look noticeably more grown up! Your cottage looks warm and cozy and I can almost smell the spices. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Merry Christmas to you and your family too.
      Yes the girls are growing especially Kitty.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  10. Michelle, your cottage looks so lovely decorated for Christmas! I love your tree and the pretty candles on the branches. Do you light them on Christmas Eve? Your family is going to have lovely treats to enjoy. The Empire biscuits look wonderful. Merry Christmas to you and your family! xo ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you.
      We don't light the candles I'm afraid, our insurance wouldn't cover a fire.
      Enjoy your Christmas.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  11. As ever you home is a joy to see. I wish you and your family a Happy Christmas .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you and a Merry Christmas to you to Diane.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  12. Merry Christmas Michelle! Your home looks very cozy and festive! I am definitely going to give the Empire biscuits a try. I ordered a sweet cutter set yesterday. Mine was ruined in our recent house debacle. I am hoping that they get here in time. My friend had given me a jar of her raspberry jelly that she made this summer. I have been saving it for something special. :-)
    Love, Heather

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That sounds wonderful Heather, enjoy them.
      Have a wonderful Christmas, last day of school today so the fun begins tomorrow.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  13. All that is needed now is snow.
    Deborah

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes it is far to warm.
      Merry Cheistmas Deborah.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  14. Your house looks lovely and your baking is wonderful
    Julie xxxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  15. How delightful. Your home is just how Christmas should be.....cozy, warm and sweet. And those twins! So adorable!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you.
      Merry Christmas.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  16. My darling Michelle,
    I love you and your Blog more and more, I feel at home here !
    Thank you for your Good Wishes, my sweetest friend, may your Christmas be the Merriest you could ever wish, filled with Love, Peace, Joy, Health and Family Warmth!
    Thank you for this lovely friendship of ours, dearie, sending sweet hugs
    Dany

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Merry Christmas to you to Daniela and your family.
      Thank you for your lovely comment.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  17. Loved all of your preparations in your cozy home.. Have a Merry Christmas with your sweet family, dear heart.. xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Fsye,
      Have a wonderful Christmas with your family.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  18. So nice to see all your Xmas preparations. Everything looks so lovely. I am interested in what you are doing instead of crackers this year.
    Have a wonderful Christmas with your sweet family.
    Mary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just run out of time so we bought crackers this year xx

      Delete
  19. Happy New Year for all the family . Dear Michelle wanted to tell you we've been through some very difficult days since we had my father in the hospital and is very frail , and although I was there with him , he encouraged me so much every time I saw a photo on your instagram or whenever he entered and was reading your blog. We wish that all your good wishes come true . A hug. Mary Carmen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh bless you Mary.
      How is your Father now, I wish I could speak Soanush and talk to you on Instagram.
      Wishing your Father well and sending much love Michelle xx

      Delete
  20. Your home looks so beautiful at Christmas time as it does through all the year. Happy new year hoping 2016 is all you dream it to be, dee x

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Michelle

    I hope you had a super Christmas and New year with the family. I have started researching my family tree again. It goes in fits and starts. This year though I have decided that where I can it is going to be a totally home made Christmas and also birthday cards and pressies where I can but the main emphasis is to be the different seasons and Christmas. Hope all the baking went down well. Hopefully catch you soon. Pattypanx

    ReplyDelete
  22. That sound wonderful, I always love homemade gifts.
    I have been very ill since Boxing Day do am just getting back on my feet, the children enjoyed the baking but I couldn't eat.
    Happy New Year to you.
    Fondly Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh poor you and right on Christmas - bad timing. I hope you are feeling much more with it I am glad the children enjoyed the eats and at least it all got eaten up. I was very lucky to have received for my Christmas present a die cutting machine known as an A4 Big Shot which cuts or embosses paper but also you can obtain patchwork shaped die cutters for cutting fabric. This will help me with the cardmaking and with the patchwork. There is even a cracker die in two different sizes for table crackers or miniature tree crackers, lots of little fancy boxes for sweetie treats or small present treats and I myself have ordered a paper chain die to make the old fashioned paper/card garlands but will have the choice of paper or card. I mention it as I wondered if it would help the girls. You can pick up machines second hand and quite often the dies on Ebay.

    Have you been watching the Victorian Bakery programme on BBC2. I have so far enjoyed this and the first programme was based at Sacrewell Farm which is just up the road from where I live and where I did my Bee Keeping course.

    Please take care and I do hope you feel a lot better soon.

    Tricia aka Pattypan

    x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes I have been watching the Victorian Bakery but sad there has been no recipes yet.
      Im feeling well now thank you.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  24. Replies
    1. We have just got a new laptop which I am on for the first time.
      There will be a new post this week.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  25. I am glad that you are feeling better and I look forwards to you resuming posting on your charming blog. I have been enjoying some of the Miss Read stories over the Christmas period, and I know you enjoy her books too, so I thought I would share something. If you listen to the radio on the internet you can get many interesting programmes from former broadcasts. This morning I happened upon a 1977 Desert Island Discs program, with Roy Plumley interviewing Miss Read! It was quite fascinating, and never once was her real name mentioned! Perhaps if you have time you might enjoy listening to it too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Gill for telling me.
      I will look tomorrow, how exciting.
      Just finishing a new post.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  26. The ginger buns look lovely!! Did you use S.R.flour or plain? Also could I just check that it was the black treacle you used? Many thanks, Shirley

    ReplyDelete
  27. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  28. افضل شركة تقوم بتقديم الخدمات المنزلية بالمملكة العربية السعودية
    شركة الصفرات

    ReplyDelete
  29. The content of your blog is exactly what I needed, I like your blog, I sincerely hope that your blog a rapid increase in traffic density, which help promote your blog and we hope that your blog is being updated.
    หนังออนไลน์

    ReplyDelete