Autumn & Winter Days

Sitting here looking out of the window signs of Spring are everywhere, it has been a mild Winter here in England but I am still so glad & happy to see the delicate Snowdrops & Crocus's popping their jolly little head's out.

Most of these photo's seem so long ago. I have picked some of things we have been up to since August to give you all a little catch up & a few recipes too.

 Daily life is very busy but I am determined to keep up with the blog.

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Rocks Cakes are a firm family favourite so I am always trying out different recipes for them. This is a 1950s recipe.

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Cinnamon Rolls just before going in the oven.

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We visited a few places just before my operation one was Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire.

It is such a magnificent Elizabeth Mansion.

Bess of Hardwick lived there, a friend of Elizabeth the First.

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Sidney took a photo of Andy & myself with the twins.

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There is a mill at Hardwick were you could go on a tour & buy beautiful bread flour.

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Hardwick's great kitchen.

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Victoria Sponge Cake ready for tea.

Named after our Queen Victoria, it was her favourite cake.

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One of our many Home School Crafts.

Autumn has so many beautiful colours.

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In the Autumn we had a visit to Beamish.

This is such a magical museum that we visit time & time again.

Our history topic then was The Victorian's so this museum was ideal.

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Cottage shots at The Miners Village at Beamish.

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These are cottage's at Home Farm at Beamish.

The farm is set during the Second World War where land girls stayed.

I can see us having a trip back there after September as that is when we start our Second World War Topic.

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The twins making a Church Window Tart.

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Embroidering a Victorian Sampler was part of our Victorian History Topic.

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Christmas Crafts.

The girls painted holly for their Christmas cards this year.

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Homemade Mincemeat.

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Sunday Teatime.

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As we were studying The Victorians we decided to make a Mrs Beeton's Mincement.

I have a Victorian copy of Mrs Beeton's book so we chose a recipe from there.

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A little stroll around the church yard.

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Snickerdoodles all lined up ready for the freezer to eat over Christmas.

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We took the children to a Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary's Church which is the church in our nearest market town two miles away.

The twins rolled their own candles there, the church was beautiful all lit up for Christmas.

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A trip out to National Trust Belton House on a cold Winter's day to do the under stairs  Christmas tour.

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Look how big Charlotte has got, she will be one next month.

The twins are captivated by her, she's such a happy little girl.

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Mary reading Charlotte a story.

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More of the twins handmade Christmas decorations which were all Victorian inspired to go with our history topic.

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The girls all dressed up for our Home School Christmas Party.

We took them to The Petwood Hotel for lunch. This hotel is where the Dambuster Squadron met up during the Second World War.

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We managed to get a table in the squadron room were the squadron met.

This room is filled with so much history.

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Our Christmas Cake this year.

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A few days before Christmas we had a special tea as Dene & Ellie came to visit.

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Homemade Mincepie's.

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Kitty hanging her stocking up on Christmas Eve.

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Christmas Day, Kitty loved her book on Enid Blyton.

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Boxing Day Tea.

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This is how much snow we have had this Winter.

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Christmas Muffins.

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Gingerbread.

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Our Geography topic at the moment is canals.

We took a trip to Bardney Canal which is about 15 minutes away from us.

Water is always so peaceful, we had a gentle stroll & saw lots of wildlife.

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Ma Larkins Iced Buns.

This recipe is from Ma Larkin's (Darling Buds of May) Cook Book.

They were so good.

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Our history topic since January has been The Tudors.

We went down the road to Tupholme Abbey during the week we learned about the dissolution of the monasteries.

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Swiss Roll for tea.

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Last weekend we visited beautiful Thirsk in Yorkshire & revisted The James Herriot Museum.

This is such an interesting little museum.

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I'm always drawn to the kitchen's in museum's & this one is a lovely one.

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& the last thing I have to tell you is we have been blessed with another Granddaughter.

Matilda (Tilly) Florence was born on the 13th of February to Dene & Ellie.

Now we have two beautiful little Granddaughter's.

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The twins just love her to bits, Charlotte & Tilly is what they talk about all the time.

Dene & Ellie are wonderful parent's to this little girl.

Our family is growing & I'm so happy.

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I'm sorry it's been far too long since I did a post.

I hope you enjoy this catch up.

Fondly Michelle