"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

Friday 10 July 2015

Enjoying Summer Days



The Summer days here are full & we are all as busy as bee's.
The vegetable patch is doing so very well apart from an abundance of little visitors which we have had to pop up a temporary fence for this Summer & will surround it with a picket fence hopefully over the Winter months. The rabbits are beautiful to watch playing in the garden but not watching them eating the leaves of your lovely vegetables.
I am a little late doing a new post, Summer is such a busy time & there is not a lot of time for writing.
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To celebrate Father's Day this year we took a picnic to Tattershall Castle, a National Trust property.
This is a lovely 15th century red brick castle set  in the Lincolnshire Countryside.
The castle was built between 1434 & 1447, you can picnic inside the moat where they have lawn toys for the children to enjoy.
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This is the end of a row of cottages as you walk up to the castle.
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One of the fireplaces in the castle.
This one is on the ground floor.
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While the boys climbed the stairs up to the top of the castle {it has 6 floors of stone steps}, the girls stayed on the ground floor & did some spinning.
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The lady was so good with them & they brought a piece of wool that they spun home.
She taught them how to card their wool too.
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Walking out of the castle over the moat to the gate house were they have a small shop.
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Kitty in her pearls making some fairy cakes for Father's Day tea.
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The first Tomatoes of the year.
They tasted beautiful in a fresh Couscous salad.
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The rhubarb is coming to an end now in the garden, we shall miss it but then enjoy the first of next year.
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The girls working in the scrap books, they are writing about their day at Tattershall Castle.
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Daisy all ready to go to her Prom.
She had a lovely evening with her friends.
She turned sweet 16 last week, it does not seem that long ago since she was a toddler, busy & in to everything.
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Mary had an appointment to see the eye doctor at our local hospital. She needs glasses & here are the pretty red one's she chose. She is getting on with them so well, Kitty would have liked some too.
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Cherry & Chocolate Brownies for our Edwardian picnic on Saturday.
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We went to an Edwardian Fayre at Belton House.
They used to hold fayre's during the first world war to raise funds for the troops.
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Soldiers on horseback dressed in first world war uniforms.
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Mary & Kitty enjoying the fun & sunshine.
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Games on the green in front of the house.
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The more cottagey back of Belton House.
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The Lavender has now bloomed since our visit two weeks ago.
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There was a stall selling plants & flowers.
We bought these little Alpine Strawberries for 50p each.
They give little strawberries that are strong in flavour.
The plants will be a  sweet addition to our Strawberry bed.
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Mary skipping on the green.
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Kitty really enjoyed the entertainment.
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Before we left we went to the second hand bookshop run by The National Trust & came home with a bag full of 50p & £1 books.
More recipes & reading.
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I wish everyone a wonderful Summer, I love to read your comments & hear what you have been doing.
Fondly Michelle
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54 comments:

  1. I love the girls dresses in the ikea fabric , did you make them , they are beautiful

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    1. That is such a pretty fabric, I have fabric to make some head scarfs for the girls to match.
      Fondly Michelle

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  2. Such a lovely post! I love seeing what you have been up to! I love Mary's new glasses. My little niece just got glasses as well and she picked red ones too! :) Daisy looks so nice in her prom gown! Thank you for sharing your days with us!

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    1. Mary just loves her glasses, she has settled so well with them.
      Enjoy your Summer, the days fly by.
      Fondly Michelle

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  3. What a joy to me is to come and visit you, my darling Michelle !!!
    Your daughters are all so lovely and you're right, Summer is a very busy season for those living in the country, we also are as busy as bees !

    Have a blessed day and end of the week too,
    sending dear love and hugs
    Dany

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    1. Thank you Daniela for your kind words.
      Fondly Michelle

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  4. What lovely photos! It looks like wonderful outings. I would love to learn how to spin. Mary and Kitty looks so grand as well as Daisy in her prom gown.

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    1. Thank you Melanie,
      I would love to learn how to spin too, we have an old spinning wheel. maybe I will learn when the children get older.
      Fondly Michelle

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  5. Michelle, I have yet to post a reply but I just love your blog. I love how you live and your family is just beautiful. Thanks for giving us a glimpse into your life. Have a blessed weekend!

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    1. Thank you Sharon, I am so glad you enjoy the blog.
      Enjoy your weekend too.
      Fondly Michelle

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  6. I loved all your Summer doings. The fair (how we spell it here in the States) looks like a lovely time. We just started watching Crimson Fields, a British show about WWI hospital units, it's very good. I love the girls jumpers, so pretty, they remind me of a Laura Ashley print. Your older daughter looked stunning in her fancy dress too-what a beauty! A day on the grounds of a castle sounds heavenly to this New Englander ! All the pictures of lavender should be made into little notecards, so pretty. You certainly got many excellent books for the money-we love Miss Read here:-) Thank you for the sweet visit! I have a new grandson that was born a week ago, Liam. He is precious and we are so busy with visits to him I haven't had time to post about our Tasha Tudor tour, but soon, hopefully...LOL!
    Blessings,
    Suzanne

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    1. We spell it that way too Suzanne, the other way is how it was spelt in Old England & is still used sometimes especially when it is a Vintage fayre.
      We have watched Crimson Fields too, there is another called Home Fires that has just finished, it is about the 2nd World War & the home front.
      Enjoy your new Grandson & I can't wait to see your trip to Corgi Cottage, do you live far from there.
      Fondly Michelle

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    2. Hello Michelle,
      I only live about an hour and a half and it is a speedy drive. Lots of highway for a bit so it does go by fast. I am still trying to get pictures tidied up for a post:-)
      Take Peace,
      Suzamme

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  7. Michelle, your photos make me want to be back in England. I love that you enjoy the National Trust properties---they are so special! Funny, but I responded to your comment this morning and asked if you ever buy the NT plants--I see you do! Mary looks so cute in her new glasses and Kitty's pearls are so sweet as she's mixing fairy cakes! Daisy looks lovely for her prom--yes they do grow up so fast! Enjoy your weekend! ♥

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    1. We use to buy lots of plants from the National Trust shops but they are so expensive now & are bought in, rather than from there own gardens. he Strawberry plants were from a lady's garden & were sold next to the tea stall with other plants, so much cheaper.
      Thank you for your lovely comment, I can't wait to see where you travelled to next, is it Townend I wonder. I mean't to ask did you visit the farm shop opposite to the castle.
      Fondy Michelle

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    2. Michelle, we did visit the farm shop next to Sizergh--I wanted one of everything! I noticed the plants looked expensive as I was doing a quick calulation from pound to dollar. We did visit Townend but that is not where we went next. Thank you for coming along on our English Adventure. ♥

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    3. The farm shop is expensive too but lovely to walk around & get idea's.
      Fondly Michelle

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  8. Michelle, thanks for catching us up on everything. 😊I love Mary's new glasses. She looks great in them. I can see why Kitty would like glasses now. And Daisy looks lovely in her Prom dress. Such a special time in a young lady's life. Those brownies look wonderfully moist and I love the idea of cherries in them. Have you already posted the recipe in an old post? As always I love your book choices. I have have to look for A. R. Quinton's books. I have a couple of those little recipe books already, but would love the Rural one.

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    1. Yes Cathy it is the same brownie recipe I have posted but I just added halved glace cherries for a change.
      The A R Quinton book is lovely, so many pretty paintings.
      Fondly Michelle

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  9. Tell Mary she looks SO good in her new glasses. Good book finds at the NT book shop. We had NT membership for a year back in the days when we were able to have holidays and visited as many of their second hand book shops as we could. My problem was all the pretty tempting things in their gift shops!

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    1. I love second hand books shops 7 the one at Belton is so cheap too.
      I will tell Mary that you like her glasses, she is loveing wearing them.
      Fondly Michelle

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  10. Dear Michelle, wonderful photos as always. The first thing that has been called me the attention is to see that they take put jackets, here in Spain we are spending a lot of heat these days, I would be charmed with being able to put a jacket, but well ... it is the summer. Maria is very handsome with his glasses and Daisy meets precious, is that the time happens flying. The photos in the gardens of lavender meet very nice, it is one of my favorite fragrances. An embrace for the whole family. Mary Carmen.

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    1. Hello Mary,
      It is too hot for a cardigan or a jacket today, our weather is so changeable in England.
      Thank you for your kind words, I love Lavender too.
      Fondly Michelle

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  11. I love that your girls keep scrapbooks. Are you saving them? We have just eaten our first tomato too, David and I shared it. Worth the wait.
    Gillx

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    1. Yes Gill will save the scrapbooks, they will have many memories when they get older from them.
      Fondly Michelle

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  12. Hi Michelle, what a lovely post!
    The rabbits have been out and about round here too, we love watching all the wildlife at this time of year :-)
    Tattershall castle looks like a great place to visit, and I love the photos of your girls learning to spin.
    Mary looks adorable in her new glasses, and how sweet that Kitty wanted a pair too!
    Daisy looks beautiful all ready for her prom, her dress is so elegant!
    The Edwardian Fayre looks great! We love going to anything like this. I love the books you bought and am so pleased to see Miss Read among them, she is one of my favourite authors! I am looking forward to hearing what you think of her books :-)
    Your baking looks scrummy!
    I hope you all have a lovely weekend,
    Take care,
    Melanie x

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    1. Mary will be pleased, I will let her know you like her new glasses.
      I am going to read the Miss Read books next, at the moment I am reading The Cranford Companion.
      Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
      Fondly Michelle

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    2. Funnily enough, I was watching Cranford last night whilst knitting!
      I'm reading my new Alison Uttley book which I'm really enjoying, I've put it on my new blog post today.
      I hope you enjoy your Miss Read books!

      Xx

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  13. Michelle,
    What a lovely post! Kitty is adorable in her new glasses. She looks pleased with that precious smile. :-) I think Kitty baking with her pearls on is priceless! Daisy is absolutely beautiful. I'm glad she had a good time at prom. Good memories.
    I love it when you share photos of your outings at all the lovely NT properties and such. For those of us here in the states who haven't been to the UK, it is a real treat. I love that your little ones are making scrapbooks. I've always done that. Your girls will be so glad when they are older. And their children will enjoy them too!
    I know you have been busy, so I really appreciate you taking the time to share such a wonderful post and pictures! God bless!

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    1. I am so glad you enjoyed the post.
      I am forever taking photo's, it's the getting them ready for a post & the writing. Autumn will soon be here & there will be more time spent in doors.
      So glad you like the NT properties, we hope to get to a few more this Summer.
      Fondly Michelle

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  14. Such wonderful days out again! Please, save a chocolate cherry brownie for me? Once you have Alpine strawberries in your garden you will have them forever! ~ they make the most amazing carpet of weed suppressing plants with the reward of tiny juicy jewels for the gardener on their way along the borders. I think I have a very similar haul of books, for I once worked for the National Trust. Enjoy them!

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    1. Hello Deborah,
      There will always be a brownie here for you & a cup of tea.
      Would you advise me to out the alpine strawberries in a flower bed then, at the moment I have planted them in the strawberry patch.
      Fondly Michelle

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    2. Dear Michelle, I'm delighted you asked, but my reply might not be of much use ~~~ you see, I just let mine have the run of several borders as they make great ground cover. Of course, they will reproduce on their runners like crazy things, and need constant removing, but they form great swathes that run underneath and around everything. The pure joyful bliss of finding those tiny, half~hidden jewels of delight to pop in one's mouth as a perfect treat when weeding the borders is the reason I do not contain them in any way. Others, however, prefer to keep them in pots or beds. It is up to you, but they do rather tend to take over once established.

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  15. What a simply lovely post, Michelle.. Love seeing all of your doings and wish I were there, too.. And of course your food always looks so wonderful.. What is the rhubarb dish.. We still have some growing quite well here as we are behind you by a month at least, I think.. Your books are great and I think that is one of my favourite parts of your posts are the books.. smile.. xo

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    1. Hello Faye,
      The rhubarb is covered with my basic sponge, I use that recipe all the time & is on an early post.
      I love books too, just about to start a Miss Read book tonight.
      Fondly Michelle

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  16. A lovely post, so nice that the girls keep scrapbooks. I live in Lincolnshire and yet have never visited Tattershall castle, I must put it on my list to do. They do grow up so quickly, a prom night already.

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    1. I love to see the girls work in their scrapbooks about their days out.
      Were about's in Lincolnshire do you live, we are in the Wolds. Tattershall is lovely, but you could not spend the whole day there.
      Fondly Michelle

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  17. Your daughters are beautiful, they obviously take after their mum x

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  18. What a lovely peaceful blog to visit, those brownies look delicious.

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    1. So glad you enjoyed your visit.
      Fondly Michelle

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  19. Oh, my I love seeing what you are up to! Your oldest daughter is stunning, an English beauty for sure!! The two little girls on the lawn are adorable! I see you have found a few good recipe books! A woman after my own heart! Lovely! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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    1. Thank you so much Sherry for your lovely comment, I couldn't believe how grown up Daisy looked all ready for her prom.
      I do love a good pile of books.
      Fondly Michelle

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  20. dear michelle,
    a wonderful post full with english lifestyle which i so like.
    your oldest daughter looks beautiful.
    the rhubarb cake and the brownies looks very delicious.
    wonderful cookbooks have you buyed. Love the books of miss read....i have all books of the fairacre, and the trush green serie.
    i hope you loved the books too.
    have a nice week,
    regina

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    1. Thank you Regina for your kind words.
      I started a Miss Read book a few nights ago.
      Fondly Michelle

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  21. Hello, sweet Michelle! Your Mary looks adorable in her new red glasses :)

    As always, your post is full of warmth and charm - how I enjoy my visits with you. It looks like you are having a lovely summer and making many sweet memories.

    Thank you for joining Roses of Inspiration this week. Love and hugs to you!

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    1. Thank you Stephanie, I will pass on your kind words to Mary.
      I hope you are enjoying your Summer too.
      Fondly Michelle

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  22. I thought I had posted on here, but see that I haven't. What a LOVELY post - you go to some interesting places (I'm off to Chatsworth on Saturday so look out for endless posts on that when I return!)

    What a beautiful daughter you have in Daisy - she looks lovely in her prom gown.

    I did a spinning course and do a little spinning when I can find time. but that is a precious commodity during the summer months!

    I loved your photo of the cottagey look at the back of Belton house.

    Cherry Chocolate brownies - I make Blackberry ones, but will try that same recipe with cherries. You have just made me very hungry!

    Have a lovely weekend with your sweet family.

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    1. We love brownies here, your blackberry ones look delicious.
      Thank you for your lovely comment.
      Fondly Michelle

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  23. I enjoyed going to all the national trust places while we lived in England, always a great day out, love that the girls came home and scrap booked about it

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    1. The girls love writing about their days out, we love NT houses.
      Fondly Michelle

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  24. Such a lovely post, Michelle. Daisy is such a lovely young lady. They do grow up so fast. Mary looks so cute with her glasses. Both she and Kitty are just adorable in their dresses and hats walking with Dad. Miss Read is a favorite of mine ~ enjoy your reading. :-)
    Have a wonderful summer! So nice visiting here. ♥

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    1. Oh I am enjoying my reading, I am so glad to have found the Miss Read books.
      Thank you for your lovely comment.
      Fondly Michelle

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