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

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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