Summer Time in the Country

Summer is starting to fade, the wheat is golden in the fields & leaves are starting to turn.

You can feel the freshness in the breeze, Autumn will soon be upon us.

The farmers are in the fields around us harvesting, another growing year has finished.

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We have been very busy at the cottage, even more so now we are home schooling the twins.

The decision to do this has brought us all so much joy.

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The blog has been last on the list I am afraid, I'm sorry it's been far to long between posts.

I hope you all will enjoy seeing some of the things we have been up to over the Summer & you are all enjoying the last few weeks of August.

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Learning to embroider.

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A day out in Cambridge.

There are so many beautiful buildings there.

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An Arthur Bell rose flowering in the garden.

My Grandfather was called Arthur so I have planted one of these roses in every home we have lived in.

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Sunshine at Belton House a National Trust property.

Home Education has given us so much joy.

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A lovely walk along our country lanes collecting wild flowers for pressing.

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Poppies & Rape Seed.

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My first attempt at cable stitch.

I knitted this for myself using a 1940's pattern.

The beautiful corsage if from Lucy at 1940's Style for You.

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Baby Charlotte is growing up.

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A beautiful day out at Clumber Park owned by the National Trust.

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Celebrating the Queen's 90th birthday with a Victoria Sponge.

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Teatime celebrations for the Queen.

The twins made some handmade decorations.

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Making wholemeal hedgehog loaves.

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Home School days.

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Mid Summer in the garden.

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Making the most of our homegrown rhubarb & strawberries.

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A Home School day out to Church Farm Village in Lincolnshire.

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The day finished with collecting shells on the beach.

A beautiful end to a perfect day.

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Rock Buns & Victoria Sponge Cake.

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Visiting Belton House again for a vintage day there & picnic.

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Wartime Fruit Cake.

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This recipe has now become a family favourite.

Its a wonderful little cake.

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On the 1st of July we met our pen pals from America for the first time at Sherwood Forest.

It was a truly special day meeting this wonderful family, we are so blessed to have them in our lives.

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Beautiful memories from Sherwood Forest.

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Early morning light in the cottage garden.

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Simple Daisies.

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A perfect little wartime recipe.

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Sausage Rolls for a picnic.
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The twins started ballet & tap a few months ago & had such fun performing their first show.

It's a wonderful way for them to see their friends now they are home schooled.

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Our daughter Daisy turned 17 on the 7th of July.

She chose a marble cake.

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You can't keep Kitty out of a book especially The Famous Five.

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Wartime Banana Cake for our wartime weekend picnic.

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I knitted each of the twins a bolero using a 1950's pattern.

They were finished just in time for Woodhall Spa's 1940's Festival.

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All dressed up for the forties festival.

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Shopping 1940's style.

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As the 1940's weekkend was just down the road we showed our 1939 Wolesley Ten.

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We had such a wonderful weekend, the sun shone it was perfect.

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Thank you dear readers for all your lovely comments.

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Enjoy the rest of your Summertime.

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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