I've been busy lately celebrating as you can see by the cake. Not too busy tho to send off Quilters Companion magazine and dvd packs to seven lucky blog readers. But I can't send one to Debi, Kim and Effie who left comments because I don't have their addresses. If any of you are reading this post please email me so I can get your prize to you.

Giada de Laurentiis doesn’t indulge in her own recipes on her birthday: She chooses the Barefoot Contessa’s cake every year.

May brings a beautiful abundance of fresh green shoots & leaves to our cottage garden. Each month of the year has their own beauty but I love the month of May the best of all. ~ The garden is scattered with cherry, apple & pear blossom. Each tree awaiting the lovely fruits which will hang from their branches. How truly blessed I feel when you see this blossom each year, nature is a marvelous thing. ~ Blue Tits are all around the garden bringing their pretty gentle song. Baby rabbits are back hopping around again, they are so sweet to see but we need to make sure the fence around the vegetable garden is secure. ~ Lilly of the Valley, Violets, Lilac & Cowslip are flowering in the garden, the smell of May is heavenly. ~ Cottage days are filled once again with weeding & planting up the vegetable garden. The children find such joy in planting seeds & seeing them grow. ~ Ma's Plain Cake This is a recipe I use again & again, it is a 6 egg mixture & makes a lovely large cake. The recipe is in Ma Larkin Perfick Cooking. This cook book is on of our family favourites. ~ We have had so many special moments since my last post. We became Grandparent's for the first time. Meet sweet Charlotte, how wonderful it was so hold her. This little girl brings such joy to our lives. ~ Another tea cosy finished inspired by the colours of one I saw at the James Herriot Museum. ~ The twins celebrated their 7th birthday at the end of March. Time flies, they are turning in to little ladies. ~ We had a new addition to the cottage last month, a 1947 Aga. It cooks like a dream & keeps us beautifully warm too. ~ Lambing is now over in our village farm. There were so many beautiful little babies born. We were so lucky to be asked to watch as some were being born & Mary was amazed to be asked to pull a lamb out. Mary is the type of child to just get stuck in, maybe we have a little James Herriot in the making. This is Mary's lamb. ~ We love to walk the lanes & fields around our village. ~ Some beautiful magazine's I found from the thirties & forties. ~ A selection of cakes using these vintage pre war recipe booklet's. ~ Beautiful Bluebells in our cottage garden. ~ Early Spring morning at the cottage. ~ The twins making Yorkshire Scones. They love to get involved in the baking. ~ I finally finished this 1930's Bow Scarf, it had been sitting at the bottom of my knitting bag for a while. ~ Our scullery & sweet George. ~ Making London Buns. ~ Recipe. Beat 3ozs of sugar & 2 ozs of butter to a cream. Then add 2 tea spoons of melted Golden Syrup. Add an egg & beat well. Then add 4 ozs flour, 2 tea spoons of ground ginger, 1/4 tea spoon of soda, 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar & 2 tablespoons of milk. Half fill little patty tins & bake for 15 to 20 minutes in a moderate oven. ~ Off to a 1940's event a few weeks ago. ~ Blue & white Forget me Nots in the garden. ~ Kitty is rarely without flower's. Apple Blossom. ~ Some vintage finds. I can't wait to use the 1950's picnic hamper. ~ A birthday cake for Danny who turned 15. He asked for chocolate cake with fresh cream & chocolate treats on top. ~ Spring blooms in the cottage garden. ~ Making Maids of Honor. These are little jam tarts with a sponge topping. Line little tart tins with shortcrust pastry & put a small amount of jam in them I used homemade rhubarb jam. The beat 2 ozs of butter with 2 ozs of sugar, 1 egg, 2 ozs of self raising flour & 1 tsp of almond essence. Put a small amount of this on the jam & bake in a moderate oven for 15 to 20 minutes. ~ Homemade rhubarb jam. Our rhubarb has grown so well, it has been going in to all sorts of recipes. ~ Baking a sponge cake together. ~ Here is the girl's cake all decorated for tea time. ~ A country walk last weekend through the church yard next to the cottage. ~ & then a ride out to a party in our 1930's car. ~ Thank you to all my dear readers for all their comment's, I have read them & am very sorry I have not replied to them all. There has been a few things going on these last few months regarding our sweet Kitty. We have decided to full time home school from September as we feel that would be best for the girls. I hope everyone is having a beautiful Springtime. Fondly Michelle ~

Chocolate chip cupcakes with vanilla frosting and marshmallow fondant books.

Our favorite simple birthday cakes that anyone can make - even if you haven't made a birthday cake before! With easy shortcuts and step-by-step instructions, anyone can make an awesome birthday cake.

Dive into the world of nutty delights with our Pistachio Cake! Infused with ground pistachios and a hint of almond extract, it's a heavenly, fluffy treat you can't resist.