Living in the past

I live in a modern world filled with computers and fast cars and constant change. I appreciate modern medicine and technology and the huge choice that is available, I wouldn't be without any of that which makes life better for all of us. Without technology you wouldn't be reading this blog now!

However my heart and home belongs somewhere in the mid 1930s, where tea is made in a Beryl ware teapot served with homemade scones and jam.  Where every wooden tray has a cotton or lace doily on it, and there are always flowers on the table. A room where Al Bowlly is singing softly on the wireless, and mantel clock is ticking steadily.  Where the dresser has coronation cups with the King and Queen on them and and sofa has home made patchwork cushions and an antimacassar on the back. 

Where there is a larder stuffed with home made chutney and jam and marmalade and where the christmas pudding sits waiting on a shelf.  Where old jars are filled with rice, currants and sago, with pulses and lentils and flour.

A place where books are in every room, books old and new nestle side by side and the telephone rings with a bright 'bring-bring!'.  A place where candles are lit, the seasons are marked and the house is filled with things that bring back memories of trips taken or of people we love.

“Home, the spot of earth supremely blest. A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest”

Robert Montgomery

Back to the grindstone...

Anyone who reads this blog knows that we both are home lovers.  We've put a lot of effort into making our home how we want it and we love doing things at home - watching old films, cooking, sewing, reading, gardening.  We had two whole weeks off for Christmas and had such a lovely time.  We did the social bits, went for lovely walks as well as lots of reading and watching films and obviously a lot of cooking and baking.

Now I'm sat eating the last piece of Christmas cake at my desk at work (having a short lunch) my mind is now yearning to be back at home.  I'm not yearning for Christmas particularly - much as I love that time of year, I don't mind when it is over as I'm excited for the next thing to happen. I just want to be in our cosy home...

Our new sofa (note the patchwork cushion made by me a year or two back!)

Our lovely study where we read/fall asleep

My craft area.  Note the pile of material waiting for me to make it into something

 

The pile of books I received for Christmas.   Hurray!

I've only finished one of my Christmas books and am reading the A N Wilson biography of Queen Victoria which is really interesting.  I'm also really looking forward to reading 'We Made a Garden' by Margery Fish, which explains how she created a garden from scratch in the 1930s.

I made a rather odd purchase in a charity shop recently.  Its a very small suitcase, possibly used for a musical instrument.  I liked the look of it, but what sold it to me was the old material British Legion Poppy that was hanging off the handle.  Yes, yes I know I have issues!

At least it is Friday and we have a relatively quiet weekend ahead.  Tonight I plan to make some homemade lemonade out of the Christmas leftover lemons and we have lots of dates and nuts to make something out of.   I love weekends!

A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest

There is something rather special about a Sunday afternoon.  The house seems quieter, and there is something almost reassuring about cooking a roast dinner.

 

I know a lot of people who say that a roast dinner is too much bother or is too difficult, but I enjoy cooking a roast, as long as I can just be left to get on with it, and can listen to Radio 4 at the same time, I'm really very happy.

 

Home grown produce is always a fabulous addition to a dinner.

 

The whilst I'm waiting for things to cook, I can sit down and have a cup of tea and relax

Sundays have changed somewhat since I was a child.  Then very few shops were allowed to open, and there wasn't much traffic on the roads.  Most people stayed at home, some went to church, the rest washed cars or gardened.  Most people now rush into shopping malls and spend the whole day there.  I couldn't cope with that, I would much rather spend Sundays in a quieter manner.  Plus I'm not a great fan of shopping malls.  Or crowds of shoppers..

I'm already quite a home body, as this blog probably makes very clear.  I love pottering, spending time in the garden, watching old films, listening to old music, baking cakes, being at home.  Sundays seem even more a reason to stay at home to me and I always want to keep Sunday somehow different and special.

Home, the spot of earth supremely blest,

A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest.

Quince Jelly and Dr Who

Its such a busy time of year, it feels frantic at times, and I feel as if I have ignored the blog for a long time, even if it has been less than a fortnight.  We have made our Christmas pudding which now sits in the larder until Christmas and I'm hoping to make our Christmas cake this coming weekend.  We had an unexpected donation of quinces this year, which I made into some lovely quince jelly.  Here are the before and after pictures!

It was more fragrant and subtle than the japonica quince jelly I've made beforehand.  I'm even starting to wonder if I could find room in the garden for a quince tree...  On another unrelated note we held a family party to celebrate 50 years of Doctor Who and made everyone dress up.  We also put together some Doctor Who related food:-

Cassandra Lasagna

Adipose marshmallows and jelly babies.  We also made a tardis cake!

It was such fun.  I found most of the food ideas on line.  We have our local Christmas Fayre this coming weekend, which takes up a lot of time and energy.  After that however, I hope the frantic nature of the season will lessen a little and we get a chance to relax and enjoy the season.  If only I had a clue what to buy anyone for Christmas!

Let’s approach Christmas with an expectant hush,
rather than a last-minute rush.
 Mother Teresa