Early March & a day with James Herriot

The days at the cottage are starting to grow longer, the garden is coming back to life & signs of Spring are everywhere. Daffodils, Grape Hyacinths, Hyacinths & Crocus's are blooming in the garden, it's so lovely to see the sun shinning & the Spring flowers in their full glory all around the village.

The buds are swelling & are ready to burst into life along the hedgerows. This is such a lovely time of year with new growth everywhere, things grow so quickly with changes happening every day.

~

With the weather starting to change our daily lives gradually move from the kitchen to the garden. The rhubarb is sprouting up & soon we will be picking it to make the first jam of the year.

~

Mary decorating cakes for tea.

~

The twins learning to use a sewing machine, they are making little pillows for their baby dolls.

~

Pumpkin Loaves.

This recipe was given to me by an American friend many years ago & it freezes well.

~

This recipe makes two loaves.

~

Grease two loaf pans.

Mix all dry ingredients together.

3 cups of plain flour.

2 cups of white sugar.

1/2 tsp baking powder.

2 tsp soda.

1 tsp cinnamon.

1 tsp ground nutmeg.

1 tsp mixed spice.

Mix pumpkin, oil & eggs together.

1 16ounce tin of pumpkin.

3 eggs.

2/3 cup vegetable oil.

Then combine all ingredients together.

Add raisins of wished.

Bake for 1 hour at 350

cool for 10 mins then turn out.

~

!920's Vinegar Cake.

A recipe from an old booklet I have.

~

Our two Kitty's playing with an old whisk.

A precious moment to capture.

~

A friend on IG gave me this lovely recipe for Chocolate Orange Trifle.

It is made using chocolate sponge, tinned oranges & orange jelly.

With chocolate blancmange on top then double cream & chocolate treats.

~

We are great fans of All Creatures Great & Small so a few weeks ago we had a day out in Thirsk, North Yorkshire & visited The World of James Herriot.

We have been there before when the twins were two so they did not remember it.

They love to watch the vintage tv show & also read the James Herriot children's books.

We had a lovely day visiting the museum & pottering around the old market town of Thirsk.

~

Inside The World of James Herriot.

The house is the actual home & veterinary surgery were James Herriot worked & lived.

1950's sitting room.

~

A perfect little tea cosy.

There was lots of inspiration.

~

This was the breakfast room complete with the series running on the vintage television.

~

Kitchen table with another beautiful tea cosy.
~

We were right at home in this house.

~

Pantry shelves

~

The twins & myself outside the museum.

~

We had a hunt round a few of the antique shops in our local town.

I was so pleased to find this beautiful 1940's or 1950's tea set.

~

Some vintage finds found in our local antique shop.

~

The hens are back to laying with the longer days.

~

Fairy cakes for the children's lunches.

~

With so many eggs we have had a few quiches, I always bake the quiche recipe in the Darling Buds of May cook book.

~

Sidney had his 12th birthday at the end of February, how the years have flown.

He loves chocolate.

~

Sidney's birthday tea.

~

Apple Cinnamon Muffins.

These are a family favourite.

~

Mix with a fork

9 ozs plain flour.

3 tsp baking powder.

2 tsp mixed spice.

4 ozs white sugar.

Then mix wet ingredients together.

5 floz milk.

3 floz vegetable oil.

1 egg.

Fold into dry ingredients.

add 6 oz of finely chopped apple.

pour into muffin cases, sprinkle with soft brown sugar & bake for 20 minutes at 375/390.

~

Rearranging the kitchen dresser.

~

I made Delia Smith's Chocolate Almond cake a couple of weeks ago for the first time, the children loved it.

~

Saturday teatime.

Crisps are a treat on a Saturday.

~

Another vintage tea cosy started while Bobby is enjoying the warmth of the fire.

~

My family gave me this pretty Mothering Sunday cake.

So pretty with teapot & flowers.

~

A rustic cob loaf for tea the other week, we had it with homemade leek & potato soup.

~

Making patchwork dolls quilts for the twins for their Easter gifts.

I am using some vintage fabrics & vintage buttons.

~

I am going to end this post with some wonderful news.

Early this morning our beautiful daughter gave birth to a little girl. I gave birth to Amy 22 years ago & now at the age of 22 she has given birth to her daughter. Amy & Dan are going to perfect parents, they have so much love to give to this precious little girl. I am so proud of them both & so happy for them.

~

Thank you dear readers for your lovely comments, I appreciate them all.

Fondly Michelle.

~