"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 20 October 2014

Simple Cottage Day's

The weather has turned now & Summer is a distant memory.
We have had a wet week here in Lincolnshire & have spent some beautiful days inside baking & doing crafts.
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I have a love of old pieces of furniture.
This is the hand carved top of a wall cupboard in our parlour dated 1640.
I would love to know the journey these pieces have taken.
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Dried Honesty from the garden.
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This is the only original window we have left in the cottage with some of the old hand blown glass in it.
It is hard to see but one piece has been initialled & has the name of our village on it.
Even writing on glass they had such beautiful writing.
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Pumpkin ready to make pumpkin butter.
We will enjoy it's beauty for a week or two first.
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The area beside the inglenook fireplace.
Antique bonnets & aprons hanging.
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I love our old stick back chair, George does too as it sits next to the range.
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Two little boys sleeping in the kitchen.
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Bobby bless him he does love to sleep.
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The Ewe's are back in the field behind the hens.
They make such a gentle noise when I am hanging out the washing on these wonderfully breezy days.
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Our bare graceful old walnut tree in the morning sun.
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I used some of the lovely stone ground flour we bought at the Lode water mill to make some pastry for pies.
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The pastry turned out very crumbly using the flour so decided to make two rustic apple pies with it as we still have so many apples.
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They turned out lovely & tasted good too.
 I sprinkled demerera sugar on top.
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Kitty fancied a plait loaf for her lunch.
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George really likes to curl up in the rug hooking basket.
Since finishing my jumper I am back to rug hooking.
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Chocolate brownies.
This is a simple recipe that the children love.
 
Put all the ingredients into a bowl & mix for 2 to 3 minutes.
 
1 1/2 cups of plain flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 cups of white sugar
1 cup vegetable oil or melted margarine
4 eggs
1 cup of chocolate chips if desired
1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
 
Bake in greased tin for 30 minutes at 350 f
 
I do change the recipe sometimes by adding dried fruit instead of chocolate chips.
 
Cool & cut.
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The twins made little harvest mice from fir cones they found in the garden.
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These beautiful old fir trees line the back of the garden between us & the grave yard.
The girls so love to gather the fir cones.
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Thank you dear readers for all your kind words.
If there is anything you would like to see in a future post please let me know.
 
Fondly Michelle
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21 comments:

  1. Yes, indeed, we have waved adieu for this year to the good weather ~ I say this bravely with a line full of laundry today ~ and time to wind down indoors, reflecting on a year well spent and prepare for the winter ahead. I have never made Pumpkin Butter, so look forward to seeing yours! ~~~waving~~~

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    1. Hello Deborah,
      I had a line full too & it poured down.
      I love Winter all cosy at home.
      I wish you lived closer I could give you a jar of pumpkin butter.
      Fondly Michelle

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    2. Wouldn't that be wonderful, thickly spread atop the freshly baked bread I've just taken from the oven! Fair exchange ~ fresh bread for pumpkin butter!

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  2. Dear Michelle, how beautiful your home !!!! Rich in history, full of love !!! Thank you for the recipe for the brownies, I love them. Wonderful George and Bobby are very sweet. I embrace you. Mirtilla

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    1. Hello Mirtilla,
      Thank you for your beautiful words, hope you try the brownies they do taste good.
      Fondly Michelle

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  3. Hello Dearest, Michelle,
    The carved cupboard is so very lovely, I'm thinking how it is an honor to own something with age and usher it through to the next generation.
    George and Bobby are the sweetest!!
    All of your rooms and furnishings are truly lovely! I just love to see it all, and your out doors as well.
    Please do tell the twins how sweet that their cone mice turned out!!
    And maybe they can make some owls for me to see? :-D
    Michelle all of your baked goods look so yummy!!
    Many Blessings, and love Linnie

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    Replies
    1. Hello Linnie,
      I told the twins this morning how you liked there little mice & they are thinking about what to use to make owls.
      Yes I do feel honor to live here & to pass on a little piece of history, we are just caretakers aren't we.
      Enjoy your day.
      Fondly Michelle

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    2. Hi Michelle,
      I'm sitting here reading The Farmhouse Cookery book that came in the post today all the way from your Side of the sea!
      I'm so glad I ordered it for it is a wonderful cookbook filled with delightful receipts !
      I thought that you would enjoy to hear that! ;-)
      Many many Blessings and warmth Linnie
      PS, How are the owls coming girls? ;-D

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    3. I am so pleased your ordered that book & yes I love to hear that it has arrived. That book has some lovely photo's too.
      No owls yet, maybe next week. We have a birthday party tomorrow for our neighbour who will be 97 .
      Fondly Michelle

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  4. I second everything Linnie has said! I will also add that it's lovely that you can hang your wash to the sound of sheep. :-)

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    1. Good Morning Cathy,
      I do enjoy hanging washing out, I do have quite an audience with sheep, squirrels & hens watching me. The little rabbits run away as soon as the door opens.
      Fondly Michelle

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  5. Another sweet post, Michelle.. Always love visiting with you.. The brownies look wonderful and your wee girls are so talented,, Mice are one of my fave crafts. xo

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    1. Thank you Faye for your kind words, the girls love doing crafts.
      Fondly Michelle

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  6. Dear Michelle, wonderful post. I like the little mice that have had their girls felicitelas for me. I am a lover of old things, and furniture that teaches us is beautiful.

    A hug. Mari Carmen.

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    1. Thank you Mari, I will tell the girls you liked their mice.
      Fondly Michelle

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  7. Dear Michelle,
    Lovely goings on at your cottage! Cooking and crafting and a bit of pondering one's blessings:-) The brownies look scrumptious!
    Warmly,
    Suzanne

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Suzanne for your kind words, we are truly blessed.
      Fondly Michelle

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  8. Lovely post as usual, Michelle. So much history in your furniture. Don't you wish the pieces could talk? I loved the girls mice and think I will use the idea when my 4 year old granddaughter and 5 year old grandson come for their 4 day sleepover. They love doing crafts too. Thanks again for the great post Mary

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    1. Yes Mary I do wish furniture could talk, also could you imagine the food that used to set on old tables.
      Enjoy making the mice.
      Fondly Michelle

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  9. Love your cookstove! We used to have one when we lived in an old farmhouse. Loved that thing! Sadly moving to an area where wood burning is not an option made us part with it. I still miss it.

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    Replies
    1. That is a shame, I love my Esse although it is hard sometimes filling it.
      Fondly Michelle

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