"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

Thursday 25 June 2015

Days in Our English Cottage Garden


June is the noisiest month of the year in the garden, from the first light birdsong fills the air giving a true sense of the garden being alive. Thrushes & young Blackbirds are abundant especially after a heavy shower of rain, they scratch about beneath bushes & the large Magnolia tree looking to see what may be found there.
Sweet little Sparrows & young Starlings are everywhere too, along with the young rabbits they give George many hours of amusement at the windows.
The sun barely seems to sleep in June & all through the short nights there is a deep shine to the sky.
We have been in the garden, this time of year there are many tasks to keep us all busy, we feel blessed to have worked a full day & are ready for our beds by the end of the day.
The Gooseberry bushes are doing so well & we have just harvested our first of the year.
Life is wonderfully full at the cottage & I give thanks each day for it.
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A shady spot under the Old English Walnut Tree.
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One corner of the vegetable garden.
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This beautiful climbing rose weaves it's way through one of our apple trees.
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A beautiful day spent gardening & playing in the garden.
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Our special Arthur Bell rose bush.
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The Lupins in full bloom.
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Foxgloves so remind me of Jemima Puddleduck.
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Beautiful sunshine.
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Playing ball, I love how they all play together.
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Sweet Lilly of the Valley.
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Fresh Wholemeal Bread.
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We harvested our first gooseberries from the garden.
Over 7lbs of them from three heavy loaded bushes.
6lbs have gone in to the freezer until I get time to make jam.
Rhubarb as well has been going in to the freezer ready for warm puddings over the Winter.
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The other gooseberries went in to a lovely oaty crumble for tea.
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The Peonies are blooming.
So much is flowering in the garden at this time.
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Ox Eye Daisies flowering around a purple rose I planted last Summer.
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The scent of garden roses.
The yellow rose is called Arthur Bell, everywhere we live we plant one of these roses as both our Grandfathers were called Arthur.
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Mary stirring Date Bread.
The twins love to have a wooden spoon in their hands.
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Date bread ready for Sunday tea.
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Sponge cake with fresh cream & English Strawberries for tea.
This is the basic sponge recipe I use all the time, it is so versatile.
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Special gifts.
Our sweet daughter Amy made this beautiful cross stitch for our wedding anniversary, I am looking for an antique frame to put it in, it is such a special handmade gift.
Another special heart I received was my first Susan Branch book.
Cathy from Morning Musings entered me in her give away & I was so happy to have won this beautiful book.
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I finally finished this 1940's jumper, with being unwell it had been put aside for a few weeks.
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Two little vintage buttons used for each shoulder.
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Thank you my dear readers for your lovely comments.
Fondly Michelle
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