"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

Monday, 13 October 2014

Autumn Day's

 
Everything is changing so fast as Autumn takes a hold, the air has a damp chill in the mornings & I have been getting the cottage ready for the cold dark days ahead. The wind has a howl to it & makes a beautiful sound coming down the chimney.  I do love these days in front of the fire & just enjoying home.

How the garden has changed in the last couple of weeks.
The beautiful morning sun rising up over the cottage.
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George playing in my rug hooking basket.
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Cold Tea Cake.
I have never made this before & as we all love tea bread I thought I would try it.
I found the recipe in a 1980's Cook book called Farmhouse Cookery.
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It turned out wonderfully & I will make it again & again.
It was so soft & the fruit with being boiled was very juicy.
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I finished my jumper this week , it was my first time at knitting a vintage pattern & am very pleased with how it turned out.
I started knitting a couple of years ago & have so much to learn.
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I used three 1940's navy buttons that I found in an antiques centre.
There is a simple double crochet around the neck.
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The girls chose some pretty fabric for me to make them new dresses. They really enjoy going to the fabric shop & seeing all the prints.
I have used this pattern a few times now, it is simple which is wonderful with having to make two.
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Saturday was a family fun day run by our little group of churches, the theme was harvest & planting.
We all had a lovely morning filled with bread making, seed pictures, planting cress & making a large scarecrow.
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Daisy helping Kitty to make a small scarecrow.
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Concentrating on their seed pictures.
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Stuffing the large scarecrow.
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It was lovely to gather with dear friends & celebrate all things harvest.
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Thank you kind friends for all your beautiful comments, I enjoy reading them so much.
Fondly Michelle
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39 comments:

  1. Anonymous13 October 2014 at 06:26

    Michelle...can you share the recipe for the tea cake? The girls look so lovely with their new dresses...and your jumper is just perfect for these days that are a bit chillier. Enjoy your day and blessings to you and yours...

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    1. Unknown13 October 2014 at 09:31

      Hello Mari,
      Thank you for your lovely comment.
      I will email you the cake recipe, it was lovely.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
    2. Unknown13 October 2014 at 09:35

      Hi Mari, I can not see a contact email on your blog to send the recipe to you.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
    3. Anonymous17 October 2014 at 17:23

      Hi Michelle... my email is keepinghousemb@gmail.com Thank you so much for sharing it. Blessings...

      Delete
  2. mcduque13 October 2014 at 09:00

    Dear Michelle, is that girls enjoyed much doing your scarecrow, are precious. I see that you are a professional weaving, the jersey has been beautiful, color is very nice.Would Michelle be so kind to tell us the tea bread recipe?
    A big hug for all the family.
    Mª Carmen.

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    Replies
    1. Unknown13 October 2014 at 09:37

      Thank you for your sweet comment.
      I can email the recipe to you.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
    2. mcduque18 October 2014 at 04:42

      Dear Michelle, I just made tea cake and is delicious, Thank you for your recipe.
      I would also like your other readers, could tell us something about your daily life, I am a big fan of the old days and want to know your experience.
      A hug.
      Maria Carmen.

      Delete
    3. Unknown18 October 2014 at 07:15

      Hello Maria,
      I am so pleased you like the tea cake, I made one yesterday so we have that for tea tonight.
      Yes I will do a post at some time about our experiences.
      Enjoy your weekend & your tea cake.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  3. Debbie13 October 2014 at 09:58

    Hello Michelle
    Your garden looks so pretty in the morning sun. It has been very chilly in the mornings here in Devon too.
    Your jumper is lovely, I can hardly believe you have only been knitting for such a short time. With all your baking, sewing and knitting you really are very productive, you are an inspiration.
    I look forward very much to your blog posts.
    Enjoy your week.

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    Replies
    1. Unknown13 October 2014 at 11:34

      Thank you so much Debbie for your kind words.
      I love to create things, my Grandmother was a painter & milliner so I guess I have her creativeness in me.
      I am so glad you enjoy the posts.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  4. Sandra13 October 2014 at 11:14

    Your sweater turned out beautifully. I've never tried a vintage knitting pattern but would like to as I've seen so many beautiful ones. I love the photo of George in your basket. So cute! He is getting big too.

    I would also like a copy of the tea bread recipe. It does look delicious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown13 October 2014 at 11:36

      Yes the old patterns are so beautiful, I just did a simple one to start with.
      I can email you the cake recipe.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  5. Suzanne13 October 2014 at 14:59

    Michelle,
    How nice to see a post from you. I adore the first picture with the church in the background. It could be a landscape painting! Your jumper, we call them sweaters here in the US, came out beautiful. You knit quite well for someone who hasn't been knitting long--it's quite a pretty color yellow too:-) I have never made tea bread either, if you post the receipt I should like to try it too! Or if your sending out an email, please include me: Taketimefortea@comcast.net. The girls outfits are very sweet--we call those jumpers here in the US:-) I think it is wonderful your churches get together for a harvest party like that. I wish more small towns would continue that. We have "fairs" here which are fun. Have a wonderful day! Warmly, Suzanne

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    Replies
    1. Unknown14 October 2014 at 00:32

      Hello Suzanne,
      We had friends from Ohio come to stay last year & she told me of all the different names for things. We sometimes still use the word sweater over here. The jumper colour is camel, I don't think it shows to well in the photo.
      Of course I will send you the recipe.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
    2. Suzanne14 October 2014 at 05:59

      Hi Michelle,
      Not sure why that email isn't working. I have an aol one too--Taketimefortea@aol.com. Would you mind trying that one? Sorry for the trouble!
      Warmly,
      Suzanne

      Delete
  6. mray14 October 2014 at 00:09

    Dear Michelle, I was so pleased to see a new post from you, and photos too. It is lovely to see your sweet little girls in their new dresses. Thank you for sharing your home and family, I so miss mine as they are grown. Could you please send me a copy as well of your tea bread? Thank you again. Fondly, Marcy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown14 October 2014 at 00:34

      Hello Marcy,
      Thank you for your kind comment.
      Of course I will send you the recipe.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
    2. Unknown14 October 2014 at 00:36

      Hello Marcy,
      There is no contact email on your google page.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
    3. mray14 October 2014 at 23:51

      I am so sorry, here is my email address: sunray4@roadrunner.com, Thank you so very much Michelle. Hugs, Marcy

      Delete
  7. Kit193414 October 2014 at 04:45

    What a beautiful sweater! I have only been knitting for a little over a year, and I would love to get to the point of being able to knit vintage patterns. It's really lovely. My husband would love the tea bread- would you email it to me as well? I would really appreciate it. It is ticketyboo05 (at) gmail. Thank you in advance! Patricia

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    Replies
    1. Unknown14 October 2014 at 06:34

      Hello Patricia,
      I have emailed the recipe to you.
      I use You Tube a lot for help with knitting. My Grandmother was a great knitter, I do wish she could come & sit with me, she would have taught me a lot.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  8. Reginas Cottage14 October 2014 at 10:10

    hello michelle,
    the tea cake looks good. the sweater is wonderful.
    your blog is wonderful and i love what you share.
    have a nice week,
    blessings regina

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    Replies
    1. Unknown14 October 2014 at 12:54

      So glad you are enjoying what I write about Regina.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  9. mirtilla14 October 2014 at 12:42

    Dear Michelle, what a beautiful atmosphere in your home, so sweet and welcoming. The sweater is beautiful, you're very good at it. Your girls have a love and I see that the little George is growing !!! You live in a wonderful place !!! Many kisses. Mirtilla

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    1. Unknown14 October 2014 at 12:55

      Hello Mirtilla,
      Yes little George is growing & in to everything.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  10. The BUTT'RY and BOOK'RY14 October 2014 at 18:44

    Hi Michelle,
    I tried to get a comment to you the other day but it kept skipping out and flipping away so I figured I would try again later ;-)
    So here I am again! :-D
    One thing that we don't have at this historical home is the original fireplace so we don't get to hear the wind on these windy days, but it sure is wobbling the Windows tonight !! I so love the Autumn!!
    Your knitted sweater came out wonderful! A the girls chose very pretty material for their dresses and they look ever so lovely and sweet in them!
    It is so nice to how your churches get together and do these gatherings! Sure wholesome activities for you and your children!!
    The cold fruit tea cake looks like it tasted good! (I don't have to ask for the recipe for I ordered the book hee hee)
    I have really enjoyed you post! :-D
    Many Blessings,and warmth, Linnie

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    Replies
    1. Unknown15 October 2014 at 00:14

      Good Morning Linnie,
      Oh wobbing windows, our kitchen one is good at that.
      I am so happy you have ordered the book, I have seen them second hand on Amazon. It is so big & full of recipes & beautiful photo's. I have another recipe book also by Readers Digest, that ones has all the stages from planting to eating & is well used.
      Enjoy your day
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  11. Sarah15 October 2014 at 08:07

    Hi Michelle,

    I love to see the cozy photos of your home, family and baking! George is so adorable. : ) Your sweater is beautiful! I love the style.

    -Sarah

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    Replies
    1. Unknown15 October 2014 at 09:19

      Hello Sarah,
      So nice to see your comment. George is adorable & fun too.
      I hope you & baby are doing well.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  12. Cathy15 October 2014 at 17:17

    I've only ever knitted a scarf so I am always amazed when I see someone's handiwork. Your sweater/jumper is truly amazing--and beautiful. The girls' dresses are very sweet. THAT I could make. Now that I have a granddaughter, perhaps I will. I would love to hear about your growing up years to find out how you came to be so interested in doing things the "old" ways and where you learned all your skills.

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    1. Unknown16 October 2014 at 09:39

      Hello Cathy,
      Thank you so much for your lovely comment.
      Now that is a question. I have always felt like I was born in the wrong period & have had a passion for earlier times. My parents took me to old houses as a child but I do not take after them at all. My Grandmother was a talented lady who painted & made a lot of clothes, as a young lady she was milliner to the royal family. I learned how to do things just along the way, I just have a go & see what happens. I do not really like modern things, I do have a laptop but not a mobile phone, also I have never learnt to drive.
      I hope this answers your question. maybe I will do a post about it if others are interested too.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
    2. Cathy16 October 2014 at 17:36

      I feel the same way about not feeling I belong in this time period! I'm definitely of the pre-industrialization time period. I take advantage of modern conveniences, but would be perfectly happy with a horse and buggy and no telephone. I do, however, embrace modern dentistry! I hope you will do a post about your love for the past.

      Delete
    3. Unknown17 October 2014 at 23:21

      We have kept modern conveniences to as little as we really need. I don't like to look at them.
      Yes I am with you about the dentist & doctors too.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  13. Shirley-Ann16 October 2014 at 08:06

    Lovely post Michelle, I too am enjoying these wet autumn days :)
    Your little dresses and vintage knit are lovely, and little George! So sweet! We had our harvest festival at church on the 5th - I do so love this time of the church and seasonal year! Lovely to see someone else who loves it all too :)

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    1. Unknown16 October 2014 at 09:41

      Thank you Shirley Ann for your kind words.
      I love this time of year too with everything in abundance.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  14. Rustic Pumpkin17 October 2014 at 14:28

    Another charming read as we do prepare for winter! The wind is howling around my cottage as I type ~
    ~ sorry I am late, this wonderful wintery lightening struck my internet connection and I have been adrift for eight days! There is much catching up to do now.
    The cake looks delicious, and I do not know why boiled fruit cakes really do seem to taste so much better than those not, but they do! I have been baking Bara Brith of late ~ the traditional fruit tea bread of Wales generously spread with of fresh butter!
    ~~~waving~~~

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    1. Unknown17 October 2014 at 23:23

      I love Bara brith.
      The same thing happened to us with lightening a few weeks back but for 6 days. I don't use the internet that much but it does put you behind when you do not have it.
      Lovely to hear from you.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  15. Anonymous20 April 2015 at 06:55

    The girls dresses are beautiful. I was wondering what pattern you used to sew them as I would love to make some for my girls.
    Erin :)

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    Replies
    1. Unknown22 April 2015 at 03:39

      It is an easy & sew pattern Erin, really easy.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete

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