Quiet January Days at the Cottage

I love the month of January after the business of December, 

a time to catch up & finish many projects.

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We had a lovely Christmas Day at the cottage. Our oldest children came & spent the day with us, it's lovely to see all our eight children together.

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The village now has a softness to it at this time of year, a beautiful quietness surrounds the streams and fields. Up to a few days ago we have been having a mild Winter, trees are budding in the garden & bulbs are beginning to bloom. The mild weather had brought birds to the garden, playing in the abundance of Ivy along the church side of our garden which gives them much needed food at this time of year.

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Now the weather has turned into a cold snap and we sit fireside enjoying the warmth that it brings.

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Kitty with Betty the tea trolley on Sunday.

The twins do like to push her into the sitting room.

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 I found this old 1950's recipe booklet a little while ago but just have not had a chance to make anything from it.
Last Sunday I pulled it out of the drawer & decided to make these scones.
I am so glad I did, they were lovely & rose beautifully.

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The twins were given two Gingerbread House kits for Christmas.

Here are the finished result, they spent two enjoyable hours making these.

One was for Saturday tea & the other was for church the next day.

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As this week has turned very cold I have been baking a lot.

These are a recipe I have done many times, Ruth Motts cheese puff's.

So simple to make & so tasty for weekend tea.

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Orange Fruit Tea Bread.

I found this recipe in a book I found in a charity shop.

The book is an old Marks & Spenser's book about food for your freezer.

Its was so orangey.

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This is our favourite Banana Bread.

We had it for Sunday tea and also for breakfast with some fruit as the recipe makes two loaves.

It also freezes well.

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Using a mixer beat 8 ozs of white sugar, 4ozs light brown sugar & 8 ozs of margarine.

Mash 8 banana's with a masher & add them to the sugar & butter mix with 4 eggs & 1 teaspoon of almond essence.

Add 4ozs of wholemeal flour, 6 ozs of plain flour, a little grated nutmeg & 2 teaspoons of baking soda.

Fold together & put into greased loaf tins.

Bake at 350f for about 1 hour, check after 50 minutes.

Cool in tins & remove after 30 minute.

Enjoy

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Some of my beautiful Christmas gifts from the children.

A little shelf in the scullery now filled with green & cream things.

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These are a few finds we have found lately, I love these late 1920's Woman's magazine's.

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We had ordered some new Laura Ashley chairs for the sitting room.

Just after New Year they were delivered, they are so comfortable.

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Daffodils bringing a little sunshine to the kitchen.

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We just love a Victoria Sponge cake.

I made this using my basic cake recipe which I have posted before.

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Our first Grandchild a little girl is due at the end of March.

I have been busy knitting a little cardigan for her.

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I thought you might like to put a face to the name.

Here I am all ready to go grocery shopping.

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We are eating plenty of soups at the moment & I have been experimenting with different breads.

This bread is a Country Grain Plait.

I made Tasha Tudor's Vegetable Soup to go with it.

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Honey & Ginger Cake I made the other day for the children's lunch boxes.

This recipe came from this little vintage Stork Teatime booklet.

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This is a little dolly outfit I made for Kitty just before Christmas.

I love the way green & pink look together.

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Here are some photo's of Christmas time at the cottage.

I am sorry they are late.

We had laptop issues but now we have a new one, this is why I have not posted in a little while.

Sorry for the photo heavy post.

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George helping with the wrapping.

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A visit to see Father Christmas.

Such a magical morning.

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Mince pies on Christmas Eve.

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I couldn't put George's gift under the tree as he would have ate through the paper.

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Some baking with the twins.

I found these lovely coloured cherries in a cake decorating shop.

They made melting moments with them.

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Christmas Eve tea.

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Christmas Day desserts & puddings.

Trifle, Christmas Pudding & Tangerine Jelly for the twins.

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Little Mary on Boxing Day.

We always have Brandy Snaps filled with cream on Boxing Day.

My Grandmother always did that, so we are keeping the tradition going.

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Wishing all my dear readers a belated Happy New Year.

Thank you for all your lovely comments.

Fondly Michelle 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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I found this wonderful old 1940's WI recipe book the other week & made these little Ginger buns from it.

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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.

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We all loved them & they made so many, so I froze some of them for Christmas.

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The cottage is looking very festive.

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We have a new 1950's fairy for our sitting room tree.

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The hall dresser gets a little festive touch.

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Filling the cake tins for the children.

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Our Georgian oak canopy cupboard is decorated with fairy lights & my Grandparents Sherry glasses come out.

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

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Mittens in the kitchen.

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Looking through to the sitting room from the kitchen.

This cottage gives me such a warm cosy feeling.

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Our sitting all ready for Christmas.

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The twins dressed up 50's style for a Christmas disco.

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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.

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The Christmas tree in the music room at Gunby hall.

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Another photo of the beautiful music room.

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The mantle decorated for Christmas.

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Listening to sweet music in the dining room.

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Below stairs.

I love these wonderful old jars in the scullery.

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Empire biscuits baked & ready for the freezer for Christmas.

I will sandwich these together with some lovely festive jam.

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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

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Winter's Here

Autumn has now lost her bright colours,

bare boughs stand tall against the clear blue November skies.

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This time of year is spent inside the cottage where books, knitting and fires are so tempting.

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The quiet beauty of December awaits us, along with the joy and business of Christmas.

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This is becoming a family favourite.

Ruth Motts boiled fruit cake.

I really recommend her Recipe Book which you can find second hand on line.

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The twins have two new 1930's bow scarves.

I love this vintage pattern and it is quick & easy so I might be making a few more over the Winter months.

They chose the colours to match their Winter coats.

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Mary & Kitty concentrating.

They love doing crafts, here they are making a wind chime & trinket box.

There were some sticky fingers & many beads on the floor.

I love having them at the table with me while I bake.

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Last Sunday afternoon we took a walk over the village farm fields.

The sun was glorious.

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Beautiful sunlight through the trees that line the farm lane.

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The young wheat seedlings have been planted.

The fields look beautiful with a glow of fresh green.

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Getting Sunday tea ready.

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It's lovely what you find antiquing.

Mary has a new puzzle that is full of snow!!

She has been having lots of help from the family & is nearly finished.

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Rocks Cakes.

This is a old recipe that we have used since we were married.

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Put 8 ozs of self raising flour & 3 ozs of white sugar into a bowl.

Then rub in 3 ozs of butter.

To this add 3 ozs of currants or raisins & mixed spice if you wish.

Mix to a very stiff dough with one beaten egg & a drop of milk.

Place heaps of the mixture on to a grease baking tray & bake for 20 minutes at 425of.

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Serve spread with butter & a cup of tea.

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I finally finished the 1930's cardigan I was knitting.

It did take a while especially as I had to redo the sleeves.

I would like to make a bright felt 1940's flower brooch to go on it, I have some lovely patterns to do these.

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Things are starting to look a little Christmasy.

There is always a lot to wrap.

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The twins advent calender's for this December.

I have had these since Easter and was so pleased to find the Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady calendar.

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Thank you dear readers for all your kind comments.

I just love this time of year with all the excitement & joy it brings.

Keep warm

Fondly Michelle

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