Tag: england (page 4 of 5)

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig!

Yesterday we left our little farm cottage and headed home, back to our own cottage. I grabbed my camera from the kitchen table, while Foxy was finishing his packing, as I wanted to take a few more photos before we had to catch our train.

So, goodbye to the morning mist across the fields, that dampened my face as I spread our leftover pieces of toast onto the bird table in the morning. Goodbye, to my little moo cow painting that greeted me while I had my tea and goodbye to the teddy bear face hidden in the beam, that smiled at me while I sat in front of the fire:

The Teddy Bear Beam

Goodbye Mr. Bumblebee, I will miss your buzz, buzz, buzzing in the herb garden while I go about my day:

Mr Bumblebee

Goodbye my evergreens, I can’t wait to come back so I can collect your miniature pine cones to decorate my own little cottage with:

evergreen

Goodbye Spring blossoms and Mr. & Mrs. Robin, who sung so sweetly to me in the light of dawn and as the light faded into dusk:

Mr. and Mrs. Robin

Until we meet again, goodbye little cottage in the countryside, I shall miss you!

Joining the Herd

primrosesGiGi & Foxy wanted to stay indoors yesterday and so, I decided to head out on my own. I took a lovely six mile stroll around the countryside and happened upon a field full of wild primroses.

So, I wandered in to have a little munch, they were so sweet and delicate, they tasted of sunshine and Spring.

I walked through the field, grazing as I went and then meandered down to the stream. I came across a small herd of cattle and decided to join them for awhile.

molly moo

We drank, chattered, rested by the stream and took in the beautiful day and the fresh country air. They even invited me back to their barn for a spot of tea. It was delightful.

A Walk in the Country

image (2)The rain that was pouring when we arrived subsided early in the morning and we got to spend our first real day in nothing but sunshine! It was still very windy, it made my fur ruffle, but it was lovely nonetheless!

We got up yesterday morning and Gigi went to work making everyone breakfast from the breakfast basket in the cottage. We had fresh local bread and bacon with scrambled eggs, it was heavenly.

After breakfast we got ready, put on our wellies and headed out. I wanted to do one of my favorite walks. It is the long way round to the pub, but on the way, you pass fields you can cut through, an adorable village hall, a charming stream, an old church that has been there since medieval times and lots of farms and fairytale-sque cottages.

village hallWellies on and bundled up, we headed out across the fields with the mud sticking to our boots, we soon washed that off in a huge puddle and headed for the hall. It was just as I had remembered it from the Summer. Quaint. From there is was down the stream and across the fields to walk the tree lined avenue up to the church.

It was still decorated for Easter with brownware pottery vases that hung off the pews filled with wild flowers and daffodils! I sat down by my favorite stained glass window in there and in the cool of the church and the silence, I just reflected.

stained glassWe moved on after that heading back down the avenue but this time walking under the old gatehouse and came across a field with a big fat pheasant in there, who just studied us, while we gazed at him.

Next through the storybook village, where people sell their fresh jam, eggs and vegetables from their doorsteps and then on to the pub.

After such a long walk, I was ready for a pint! It is a local pub with a good micro brewery attached and I was more than ready for my favorite ale from them, however, “Lovely’s Fair” was not in season, so we tried a pint of “Stella”, a single hop pale ale that had a little bite at the end, but went wonderfully with my sausage and mash. Our bellies were full, my whiskers were covered in gravy, so Gigi helped me clean them.

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We headed out to go home and cut by one of the big farms, their paddocks full of new mamas and baby lambs, all running around soft and fuzzy looking. Their little lambikin ears sticking out and raising up as we spoke to them, adorable! We took the long way home to enjoy a bit more of the countryside views.

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We spent the evening, listening to music, dancing around and staying cozy by our little fire. We all went to bed deliciously happy as our lungs were filled with country air, our bellies filled with good food and our hearts filled with the love of life and good company!

Gnome by the Fire

A Hot Cup of Chocolate

Last night, we arrived at our little cottage in Sudbury and it was bitterly cold. The rain whipped all around the house and the wind shook the windows. While Foxy went to collect a bucket of coal and some logs to start a fire with, I worked on making everyone a hot cup of chocolate.

We all sat by the fire, drank our hot chocolate, ate popcorn and played scrabble. Foxy won, but only by a whisker!

Today, the rain has gone, the sky is clear, the sun is beaming down on us, the chickens are running around outside and we are going out to see what adventures we can get up to next!

Rose Hot Chocolate

It was delicious!

The Royal Standard of England

We had a lovely weekend with our guest and decided to finish it off with a trip out to a Country Pub this afternoon. On the recommendation of a good friend we visited The Royal Standard in Forty Green. It is the oldest freehouse in England.

We got there early, parked the car and took an ambling walk through the Chilterns. Taking in the beginning of Spring popping up in the fields while working up quite an appetite, before we headed to the Pub. You could not have asked for a nicer day. The sun was shining, there was a breeze softly blowing about and the delicious smell of earth was in the air.

The food at the Pub was heavenly. I had a Yorkshire Pudding that I think was as big as my head, with creamy mashed potatoes, steamed veggies and roast beef. Others at the table had the Sunday Roast as well and Mr. Michie got the Sausage and Mash, which was delectable. I know, because I stole a bite.

And, this little fellow watched over us as we ate, which made me smile! A wonderful end to an enjoyable weekend.

(All images by Mr. & Mrs. Michie)

A Tea Party

On Wednesday afternoon for completing my first 1/2 term at my new school, I was invited to an afternoon tea with the principal. Which, I thought was a very charming British thing to do.

It was lovely, the table was laid with the most gorgeous trays of sandwiches and cakes and scones with oodles of clotted cream and strawberry jam to lavish upon them. There were also the most divine miniature coffee eclairs. After working away in the cupboard all day, all that wonderful sugar on offer was pure happiness!

It was all created by the students in the Home Economics department and they had worked tremendously hard. It was an absolute delight and, a pretty neat way to welcome in your new staff too!

(Image: A Su Blackwell piece)

A Spot of Tea

Just heading out my racing green door for a spot of tea and good natter on this wonderful sunny afternoon!

I have the day off and I am going to soak up every drop of sunshine I can! Hope it is sunny wherever you are today…

(Image – Teacup: The Graphics Fairy, Dottie Border: The Pugly Pixel, Embellished by J. Michie)

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…

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)