Jennifer Michie

Month: May 2010 (page 2 of 2)

May 11, 2010 / 0 Comments

Heading Down the Line

We went to my adorable redhead’s Grandad’s 90th Birthday party this weekend! Oh, that was a mouthful! It was lovely. However, the weather was bitter cold and rainy, so the garden party was moved indoors.

Coming home on Sunday the weather was still cold but, the sky was an azure blue and filled with thick puffy marshmallow clouds.  As we headed down the rails, waving goodbye to the platform the sun burst through, the train picked up speed and we were off, back home to London.

We passed fields of rapeseed all blossoming sunshine yellow, with borders of green hedges running through them like a giant crossword puzzle. I saw a giant jack-rabbit leaping into a field and a few more munching away near the tracks. We saw horses and farms and church spires that would appear out of nowhere, the only building that existed on a plot of land for miles.

We also saw people. People riding horseback through fields, walking their dogs, children running with their red wellies on and waving at the train.

We were sad to leave, but happy to come back to our cozy home. But, I do love to travel even on short trips; there is a magic to the rails, a freedom to them and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride…

May 7, 2010 / 0 Comments

Recycled Vintage

I love the idea of re-using things, even if you are using them for something other than their original intended purpose.

There are a few vintage pieces in our house that are used in a new way, like my Victorian pine cutlery tray; it has become the catch-all “pot” on the table for scissors, tape, pens; an old train box now holds cds and a vintage sweets crate is now the holder of my laundry items…

I have had this little project idea on the back-burner for awhile now, I can’t seem to find the right metal tray, but I know the one for me is out there.

In the mean time I thought I would share the Farm Chicks project idea with you that I want to do. Enjoy!

(Image and directions copyright Country Living Magazine – The Farm Chicks)

May 5, 2010 / 2 Comments

1 Year Blogaversary

Today is my One Year Blogaversary! So put on your party hats! I can’t believe that a year has passed so quickly! I started this blog as a way to keep my creative juices flowing, to write about all the crazy things that flow in and out of my head and to work harder on my goals of getting my children’s books published and start my Etsy shop.

I never thought when I wrote my very first post that I would would meet so many wonderful people over the year and I want to thank all of you for reading and commenting, I never dreamed that I would have followers, readers and commentators, I thought only a few people would find me here and there, and that was ok, I created this Blog for me, and I have enjoyed every minute of it!

I wish we could all be together, I would have a party, a tea party of course since I live in jolly ole’ England. But, we might have to serve some iced sweet tea as well, I have not forgotten my Southern roots! If I was having a party I would serve this cake:

It just made me smile, and it looks perfect for a fun garden party. It also made me think of Burl Ives’ Lollipop Tree song, I had this record when I was little and my sister and I would dance around to this song. Oh if only there could be a real lollipop tree, I would quite enjoy that!

Keep reading, I have so much more to come, so much more to write and share, so much is happening at the moment, I am on the rollercoaster of life and not the merry-go-round and I am prepared to be surprised!

(vintage party children copyright The Baby Gardner)
* Obviously tea parties are floating around my head at the moment, since I wanted to have one on Monday as well…
**The actual Martha Stewart Lollipop Cake is a carrot cake with a cream cheese frosting, but I love the recipe for the Ruffle Tower Cake so I chose to use that one instead; you can find both on her site.
***Happy Cinco de Mayo

May 3, 2010 / 0 Comments

Tea Party

We went shopping this weekend and I came across these silicone tea cups:

Unfortunately, the store was out of stock, they just had an empty display box, stating more stock would be in soon. I thought that this would be an adorable idea for a children’s tea party, or even a grown-ups tea party for that matter. To have delicious cupcakes baked in these pipped with twirly-whirly swirls of icing in a rainbow of colors and sprinkles.

And you could serve them alongside these yummy lemon raspberry sandwich cookies:

These little ham & cheese thumbprints:

Mini cucumber sandwiches made with my Mom’s mouth-watering cucumber and carrot spread and a selection of delicious vegetables with a homemade buttermilk ranch dip. I am getting hungry just thinking about it!

The day started out rainy this morning, but now has gone sunny and deliciously cool, the perfect tea party day, for bunting strung in trees, white tableclothes billowing in the breeze, good music floating through the garden and a group of friends to enjoy the afternoon with as day slips into night.

When these get back in stock, they might just jump into my hands, because I think this is a truly cute idea!

(Click on the cookie and thumbprints pictures to be taken directly to the recipe, tea party girl by Belle & Boo)

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