"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

Tuesday 11 April 2017

Springtime & Celebration's

Spring has come to England & not more so than in the country
 with the different greens emerging all around us.
~
Our garden is filled with birdsong & the delicate Chaffinch's
 are gently building their nest's of moss, old sheep's wool
 & wood. They weave all this softness to once again
 build their homes to raise their young.
~
The Wild Cherry Tree's in the old graveyard next door will soon be in bloom & then once again making a sweet smelling carpet, these blossom's bring such joy to Kitty as she is at her happiest playing amongst the flower's.
~


The field's are full of lamb's with their mother's grazing on the green grass. 
How I love England at this time of year.


Springtime bring's many celebration's for our family with our oldest Grand Daughter Charlotte's first birthday & the twin's turning eight year's old.


A couple of week's ago we had our first day of lovely sunshine 
so we packed up our lunch after our morning lesson's
& ate up on the Lincolnshire Wolds. This spot is just 1/2 mile
from us.
~


Our beautiful Grand Daughter Charlotte turned one at the end of March,
how this past year has flown.
She bring's us so much joy & is such a sweet child.
~


For the twin's eigth birthday we spent the day before 
 at Harrogate in North Yorkshire.
We all loved looking at the beautiful display's in the famous Betty's Tearoom
& came home with a few treat's.
~


We had a rare meal out to celebrate in a lovely Yorkshire pub,
I wish I had captured Mary's face when her Ice Cream was brought to the table.
~


Apricot Fruit Cake & the Twin's Birthday Cake.
~


Apricot Fruit Cake
~
We make this recipe often & with out icing freezes well.
Put all ingredient's into a bowl & beat well.
~
3 eggs
4 ozs of margarine
6 ozs of self raising flour
3 ozs of light brown sugar
5 ozs of sultanas or raisins
3 ozs of glace cherries
4 ozs of dried apricots chopped
~
Pour into a greased & lined loaf tin & bake for just over an hour in a moderate oven.
Once cooled ice with icing sugar mixed with water & decorate with chopped apricot's.
I have adapted this from a Mary Berry recipe.
~
Preparing the plates ready for their birthday tea.
~


Blowing out their candles.
Eight year's has flown & now these little girl's are turning into young ladies.
~


I found this lovely vintage fabric the other day & the twin's
found another Ladybird book for their collection.
~


Cauliflower & Broccoli Cheese.
A family favourite.
~


Dene, Ellie & Baby Tilly came to visit us last week.
She is such a good baby & we were blessed with lot's of cuddle's.
~


The daffodil's are coming to an end now but that mean's new thing's will now be
in bloom, the Magnolia is just beginning to flower. 
This is a spot at the back of our garden where we over look
a field that is full of sheep & lamb's at the moment.
~


I made Gingerbread Muffin's for an on the road breakfast.
They were so soft the next day.
I hope you enjoy the recipe, we loved them.
~
Fork together 
10 ozs of plain flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of soda
1 teaspoon of dried ginger
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
in a large bowl.
~
Mix in another bowl
1 egg
3 ozs of sugar
3 flozs of oil
3 flozs of black treacle
2 tablespoons of honey
6 flozs of water
Blend well
~
Pour wet ingredient's in to the dry & stir.
Spoon into 12 muffin cases & bake for about 20 minutes.
~
I found this recipe in an old book on muffins by Susan Reimer.
~


Last week we returned to The Black Country Living Museum 
& had a beautiful sunny day.
There is always so much for the children to learn at this type of museum.
We decided to go because we had just finished our Geography Topic on Canal's 
& this museum is on a canal.
~
I am always drawn to the kitchen's, Kitty was drawn to the shelf of book's.
~


So much to look at there.
~


Kitty's favourite corner.
~


A sweet tin picture in one of the cottage's bedroom.
~


Preserves in the scullery.
~


We were not disappointed with the canal & the boat's.
The girl's were able to step inside the living quarter's of a boat.
There was not a lot of room in there & to think large families lived on these boat's.
~


Stepping on to a boat.
The boat man was born on a Canal Boat & has lived all his life on them.
He told us so much & brought all our learning together.
~


Stepping into a small street house at the museum.
This felt very much like home.
~


Another Victorian Cast Iron Range.
These were used for so much,
cooking, heating, hot water, ironing & toasting to name a few.
~


The Grocer's Shop in the small town.
The shelves look so much prettier than they do now.
~


I loved the butter dish.
How I would love to still be able to shop like this.
I use an old basket for shopping, even though we still use the butcher's & greengrocer's the shop's just are not the same as they use to be.
Although we are very lucky to have two beautiful market town's near us with weekly market's.
~


The Toll House's table.
This is such a pretty cottage with a beautiful cottage garden.
~


Sleeping pig's at another cottage.
~


& lastly the 1920's house.
I could have started cooking straight away as this room did feel like home.
The oven is the same age as the electric one we have in our cottage.
~


Thank you dear reader's for your kind comment's.
I love reading each & everyone of them.
~
I hope everyone is having a beautiful Springtime
& that the snow has finally gone in Canada & North America
so you can enjoy the new Spring flower's.
~
Fondly Michelle
~


51 comments:

  1. Looks like you had a wonderful time. I am definitely going to make the cake and the muffins

    Julie xxxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wonderful Julie,
      I will be making them both again. I think the muffins will become a favourite.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. Wonderful pictures !! I can almost smell the flowers and the wonderful cakes.
    What a great outing, lovely furniture !!
    Happy Birthday to all !!
    Have a wonderful day. Greetings from The Netherlands.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Monique Elisabeth,
      Yes the cottages were wonderful.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  4. Its lovely to follow the year with you Michelle. I'm going to try the ginger muffins xx(Jan Nairn)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They were very good Jan.
      Hoping we will meet soon, I think we are coming on the first day of The Georgian Fair. x

      Delete
    2. I'll find out when it is and see if I can be there xx

      Delete
  5. Its lovely to follow the year with you Michelle. I'm going to try the ginger muffins xx(Jan Nairn)

    ReplyDelete
  6. The Black Country Museum looks wonderful, there is something so comforting to see how things used to be. None of the hustle and bustle of our modern world, although times were no doubt hard then, values I guess were somewhat different. It's really nice to see you blogging regularly again.

    Have a wonderful Easter with your family. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do like the simpler times Sue, some how living like that we seem to get more done & feel for filled at the end of the day.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
    2. After seeing your lovely photographs we have booked a cottage for a long weekend away, it's just about 90 minutes drive from the Black Country Museum, so we'll be visiting very soon. Thanks for the inspiration :-)

      Delete
  7. I'm sure more and more: I was born in the wrong century !
    To come and visit you here, darling Michelle is to breath fresh and pure air for my soul, I have no words for thanking you enough, I'm heartily grateful for what you always share !

    Wishing you and yours a Blessed Easter

    XOXO Daniela at - My little old world - (Dany)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was born in the wrong century too Daniela, there are a few of us about.
      Happy Easter.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  8. I love your visits and photos of the Black Country Museum. We were on the Birmingham canals for a holiday many years ago and moored at the museum to look round.

    Your girls are growing up and so are your grandchildren. Our grandson is 1 at the end of May and granddaughter is now 6 months, so similar ages to your precious pair.

    I do wish I had kept all the ladybird books that we had 25 years ago - the pictures are just so good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes Sue the picture's are wonderful in those books, the girl's like to paint them.
      Children bring so much joy in to the day don't they.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  9. What a lovely post as always Michelle , I've wanted to visit the Black Country museum for ages and will definitely be visiting looking at your photos! The cakes look lovely too! I think you are right that simple living is so productive and satisfying I always feel I've wasted a day if I don't achieve anything!!your girls look lovely too and your granddaughters are adorable !!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a lovely museum with so much to see.
      xx

      Delete
  10. So pleased to see another blog post Michelle!
    We visited the Black Country Museum last week too! I had wanted to go for ages and I wasn't disappointed. All those lovely cottages, I would have moved in given half a chance!
    Your twins are getting so grown up and your granddaughters are adorable.
    Have a lovely Easter with your family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are growing to fast Debbie.
      I could have moved in too.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  11. Michelle, it's always lovely to see what you and your family is up to. Your family has enjoyed a wonderful beginning to Spring. Thank you for showing the the Black Country Museum. It certainly looks like a great place to enjoy. I hope you and your family enjoy the Easter weekend ahead. ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Martha Ellen.
      You would love the museum.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  12. I love seeing your charming photos and sweet family. Thank you the recipes...they look yummy.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dear Michelle, I discovered your blog some months back and am enjoying your posts very much. It seems that even though we live on opposite sides of the globe, (I live in Sydney, Australia), we have a lot in common - our love of family, the home, baking and a simpler and gentler way of living, to name but a few. I've visited England on many occasions and am particularly drawn to the countryside, and as a lover of history (I specialise in Tudor history), I adore quaint English villages and market towns. Thank you for another wonderful post! Warm regards, Natalie Grueninger. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have just finished studying the Tudors natalie & ended it with a visit to Stratford upon Avon which I will blog about next.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  14. A joy to read as always. Many thanks for the recipes, I've already mentally ticked off what I need for the muffins. I can make some Parkin with the treacle too, so no waste ;)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Michelle I enjoyed your Springtime post so much, I found the museum trip so interesting and I love following the daily life of your beautiful family. Spring sounds so very lovely in England, I hope to visit someday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh it is Mimi.
      So glad you enjoyed the post.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  16. Thanks for another wonderful blog post, You are such an inspiration, and your family is lovely. Could we see more outfit posts, you always look so nice and 40's style, but pics of you are too rare!! Thanks Julie. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are Julie, I am not fond of the camera.
      One of my older daughters took the photo's on the canal boat.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  17. Delightful, as always. I could not agree more, although my heart is an autumn heart, few things bring more pleasure to the spirit than a British spring time. I have been meaning, but keep forgeting, to tell you how much I love your current header picture, and also that you share your reciepts in lbs and ounces!
    ~~~Deborah

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Always pounds & ounces Deborah.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  18. You-make me feel ashamed that we live so close to the black country living museum , We are planning to go in the summer though , Always enjoy your posts xxx

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  19. I made the apricot fruit cake in a Victorian 7 inch cake tin that belonged to my grandmother. It came out beautifully, and the icing was topped with 11 mini eggs. (I needed a simnel cake without nuts) so thank you for this easy and delicious recipe.
    Its still snowing here, but a few brave crocuses and daffodils are poking up through the earth, and our forsythia is promising flowers for Easter. Have a blessed Easter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thats wonderful Gill, so glad you enjoyed it.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  20. Beautiful post, sweet friend.. xo

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh so very grateful for the Apricot fruit cake recipe.. thank you for posting it. The second recipe what is the black treacle I never heard if it. I would like to make these as well. Love your visits to historical places. Yes your girls are becoming such lovely young ladies. I adore your blog thank you. With love Janice

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Black Treacle I think you can only buy in England. If you have a British store near you they might stock it. Maybe you could use molasses instead.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  22. So beautiful... I really love reading your posts :) I have been away from my blog for a year. Just started back up, and we moved to a new homestead on 20 acres! Love the recipes you have sharing, keep it up :0

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll pop over & see your blog Abby.
      Enjoy your new homestead, we would love a field as Mary fancies a Jersey Cow.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  23. What a beautiful blog, and I believe we're kindred souls even if an ocean apart. My mother was English, and I was there visiting family last fall. You photos are just gorgeous, and I want to try both recipes. Stop by my blog sometime if you have time with all you have going on! Granny Sue's News and Reviews.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sue, I'll go and have a peek now.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
  24. Michelle, can you tell me your favorite sources for girls' clothing, especially the winter coats your girls wear? I am in the U.S. and have a 7-year-old daughter. It is nearly impossible to find beautiful clothing for her. Thanks! Rebecca

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Rebecca,
      The coats were from Monsoon, I always get them coats in the sales as we have to buy two. The twins have a few dresses from Lindy Bop and I think they are available in the US. I just hunt around and we also make some too.
      Fondly Michelle

      Delete
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