Tuesday, 6 March 2018

Weekend (A Little Late)

Plans have been made, outfits chosen and then put back into the wardrobe.  Our impending holiday has had so many guises but the weather has made us re think.  We now have back up plans for anything planned for outdoors with the Grandchildren.  Layers, is definitely the way forward for clothing we will certainly get it right then taking on/off as required.  The long range weather forecast is not looking brilliant but we are ever hopeful it will change, as it constantly does.  We still have 3 weeks so we are ever hopeful.  Parts of Scotland are still on an Amber warning but again, we are hopeful that all the snow will have disappeared and we will have a clear drive down.

Saturday we had a stroll along to the local Charity shop where you are always greeted with a smile and a chat.  It is always a joy to have a mooch around and find a little treasure.  This time we were lucky with books.




I really enjoyed browsing through the Scottish Teatime recipes and found a cake that I had never tried before, a marmalade cake.  So that was made in readiness for afternoon tea.  It was delicious, a sticky glaze and then a lovely taste of orange follows.



I grated the orange rind onto the top and popped it back into the oven for a few moments but sadly it had burnt a little.  Fortunately it didn't detract from the beautiful taste of the cake.

Our friend and neighbour popped around for a visit so she helped with making a chocolate cake, which she took home with her to share with her family.  We did have some fun breaking in the chocolate, one for the bowl one for the mouth.


I also made a lemon curd pudding as I had some lemon curd that needed using up.


Some secret crafting was done for Mothers day which is next Sunday here in the UK.  We had a lot of fun together.



She made friends with Wilbur and Hector via Skype and enjoyed some of their antics, making plans together for when they visit.


I then had a very enjoyable couple of hours sorting out the Spring/Easter decor.  A little touch here and there to brighten our dreary days.  A little promise of what is to come.






A side table to welcome you in and draw your eyes.  Wooden eggs making another appearance on the twigs.  We have had those so for many years, a wonderful reminder of our time in Germany whilst serving in the Army.  The table runner a new addition that was made last year from some fabric picked up on a car boot sale. I love how the reflections and shadows can be seen throughout the cottage as the sun shows its dappled face during the lengthening days.  


Another tree that we usually use for Christmas baubles.



Each piece a wonderful reminder of bygone times, with some amazing memories to reflect upon.  Has your Easter/Spring decor made an appearance yet?

See you soon.

27 comments:

  1. I love your spring decorations. Makes me think I should get some out. Your neighbor looks so sweet in her apron. I'm sure she loves to come visit you and help make those delicious desserts.

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  2. Three weeks can make all the difference at this time of year, I remember our weekend away in March last year when we were walking along the river at Henley on Thames in our T shirts, hopefully the weather will buck up its ideas before you go away. How lovely to have the company of your neighbour when you're baking and crafting, and I'm sure the secret crafting project will be very well received this weekend.

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  3. Delicious cakes and cute decorations for the coming Easter!

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  4. Your cakes look so delicious! I love your Easter egg tree. I used to decorate a bush in my yard in a previous house with plastic eggs for Easter. I used the kind that you can open to two halves. We drilled a little hole in the top and put a piece of fishing line with a small washer inside and pulled the ends out through the hole and tied a knot to make a hanger. This way the eggs didn't blow off the bush in the wind so easily. I don't have an appropriate bush here and anyway, things get stolen from yards more often where I live now, so now more Easter bush. I should get an indoor one like yours!

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  5. Last week you had me hankering after fish and chips and look at you now....tempting me to get some baking done...lol.
    I love marmalade cake.

    Such lovely Easter decorations.
    Hugs-x-

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  6. Your charity store finds, cakes and decorations all looked wonderful Lorraine. Yes, I have put up some Easter decorations outside our apartment entry but haven't taken any photos to share. I hope the weather will improve by the time you are set for your next family visit. I have seen on another blogger's posts that Scotland has had a lot of recent snow.

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  7. Oh I hope you have good weather for your family visit. Packing layers sound just the thing to do. I have an egg tree much like yours but a bit smaller. I put it out on Sunday with a few knitted eggs I made a few years ago. I just love that you spend time with your neighbor. I’m sure you are such a sweet blessing in her life, taking the time to craft and bake together. Have a lovely day Lorraine.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  8. The food you made looks delicious! And your Easter decorations look great!

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  9. I will bring out my spring decor soon as Easter is really upon us early this year. Your baking always makes my mouth water. How fun to bake along with a friend sharing the batter. Wishing you better weather as you plan for your journey south. ♥

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  10. Beautiful cake!! That is an interesting book, Scottish tea time recipe!..

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  11. You got some nice books, and when I saw that marmalade cake I actually said 'cor that looks good'. I like your Easter decorations. Our weather here in Essex is improving, we had a high of 11 degrees today!

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  12. That's great that you have such a good thrift store nearby. It's been too long since I've been into an antique or thrift shop. That orange marmalade looks delish.. I made something similar a few years ago. LOVE your Easter decorations! I'm looking forward to putting mine out once St. Pat's day is over. Have a super week! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  13. I really like the books you found. The Marmalade cake looks good. I managed to find a recipe for just such a cake that had the measurements in cups and teaspoons; I wonder if it will resemble your cake.
    Your Easter decorations are cute. Making the house pretty for different occasions throughout the year is such a pleasure.

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  14. The weather here today has been beautiful and because we have a south facing garden i did a bit of garden tidying , I used to have that scottish teatime book , Now i am wondering what i have done with it , Love the eeaset table xxx

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  15. Looking very Spring like at your house.. lovely!! xo

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  16. Charity shops are amazing places to browse through. I can't count how many excellent books I have bought for very little.

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  17. Easter is so early this year, it seems too soon to get the eggs and bunnies out but it isn't really! With you going away there's even more reason. The cakes look scrumptious.

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  18. Charity shops are only coming slowly slowly to Belgium, when I am in the UK I love to go there. You already prepared for Easter, but it's true this year it will be on April 1 ! April's fool, lol !

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  19. Great books !
    And lovely decorations !!!!
    Easter is cooming...
    Have a nice day !
    Anna

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  20. Love the basket of bunnies! Your pans of batter, and baked goods look yummy! Florida is calling your name, dearie. Warm weather and sunshine is waiting for you! Have a great day.
    Debbie
    xo

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  21. loved seeing your decorations :) Spring is coming! However, we have some pesky flakes currently but I bet you we do not get the 3-6 inches predicted. I'm okay with that.

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  22. It looks like you are having a splendid time! Crafting with children and young adults is particularly rewarding I think. Passing on the skills and all. I would have enjoyed a slice of your orange cake, it looks divine x

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  23. Your cakes all look absolutely delicious and I love the Easter decorations x

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  24. It is always a treat to visit your island home and community. The marmalade cake looks delicious. You can be posh and call it toasted orange peel!

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  25. It is great to see that there is someone else that decorates an Easter Tree. Those cakes look so delicious.

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  26. It looks like you had a lovely time cooking with your neighbour. Your marmalade cake sounds divine. Tonight teen 2 has put marmalade in his sandwiches for school lunch tomorrow. All the best with your holiday preparations. Cathy x

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  27. I have some wooden eggs from Germany as well. I had a friend stationed there with USAF and she sent them to me, over 30 years ago! Yummy baked goods. I baked cookies last weekend and need to make more banana pumpkin bread asap. Happy weekend.

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