First of all my apologies for neglecting my blog for such a long time.

 In the meantime I've had the necessary eye surgery, 
with -besides some side effects which will hopefully be temporary- good results.

 Although I'm still in the middle of my recovery,  

I really felt the need to put a small post on here before another year is over.

The last few months I mainly spent at home and in my garden.

This past period has taught me even more how important my home is

 and how it contributes to my well being.

It has been a safe haven and embraced me when I couldn't go out that much.

Due to my eye problems, our plans (and renovations) for a holiday let in our annexe were postponed, 
but hopefully will be continued next year. 

Instead my husband full filled a longstanding wish of mine, restoring the -en suite- doors in our living room.

But also built an alcove around the new stove in our kitchen.  

Our living room as it was before ...

and how it is now ...

  

You can find the Butterfly Print here

With the separation we're now having a cosy snug and a kitchen diner ...

I'm so very happy with the end result and so very proud of my husband.
I was used to have a dad who could make and repair almost everything. 
This must have put a strain on my husband 😜 but not any more! 
I'm sure my dad would have approved 💓

I guess it doesn't need much explanation why I couldn't wait to
 put those fairy lights up there ...

You can find the Fairy lights, Angel and Tea Towel Robin here 

And from there, much more was creeping in ...

You can find the Christmas Car and Christmas Guest Towel here

And also in my 'new' kitchen diner ...

You can find the Angel here

You can find the Hanging Photo Frame here

and in my living room aka snug ...

You can find the Candle Holder here

You can find the Christmas Bauble Reindeer here

You can find the Glass Dome Display here

You can find the Christmas Bell Reindeer here

You can find the Paper Winter Scene here

You can find the Wooden Trug here

I also did some test baking for my Christmas Cake.

Because my sister-in-law recently developed a lactose intolerance, 
I had to try a new version of the Frangipane Cake with Pears I baked before,
 but now with a lactose free crust. 

Here's the recipe: 

Ingredients:

Filling:

• 150 gram almond flour
• 150 gram powdered sugar
• 120 gram lactose-free baking butter at room temperature
• 100 gram apricot jam 
• 50 gram flour
• 3 eggs
• 3 pears (conference)

Crust:

• 260 gram LU Bastogne Cookies
• 90 gram lactose-free baking butter

You will need a metal cake/quiche base with
with a loose bottom (28cm)



Mix the almond flour, eggs, powdered sugar and the flour.
Leave the batter (the frangipane) rest for at least 3 hours in a cool place.

Start crumbling the cookies by putting them in a plastic bag and
using a rolling pin or other tool. But maybe even better, use a food processor.

Put them in a bowl and mix them with the melted butter.
When both have been mixed, put them aside for a moment.

Grease the edge of the quiche base and use baking paper for the bottom.
Divide the cookie crumbs on the bottom and edge of the base,
using a wet spoon to press the crumble a little.
Put it in the fridge for an hour before continuing the cake.

Divide the apricot jam on the crumble base and then add the frangipane.

Peel and cut the pears in halve. Remove the core and cut the pears in slices
with leaving the top together.

Divide the pears over the frangipane and bake the cake
in about 35 minutes in a preheated oven at 160 degrees.




Doesn't she (Bambino) look fab as a showstopper on my Christmas cake!

To end this year with a positive note, I decided to have a
little giveaway on my Instagram account
where you can have a chance to win Bambino.
So hop over here and have a go!
If you don't want to take any chances of having this beauty also on
your Christmas Cake, you can also find her here on our website.

Wishing you a merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!


Anita
~xo~

Home is where the heart is .....

This years escape was a much needed one. 

With all the care and concern around my mother-in-law, 

we both longed for the peace and tranquillity England always brings us.

At the beginning of this year I had subscribed to a monthly embroidery kit of the Stitchery 

from the lovely Nicki. 

Sadly there hasn't been much time to finish even the one of January, 

so this was the first thing to pack and a good excuse to take this lovely Basket along with me 

A sunny crossing brought us from Hoek van Holland to Harwich

After some detours (wrong directions from Airbnb) 

we arrived at our first cottage greeted by my favourite flower 

And this was our stunning view for a whole week at the Barn in the wonderful Shropshire Hills   

With at the back 'our own Bluebell Wood'

Having beautiful nature on our doorstep, we didn't have to go far for the stunning views

 I often see on the many Instagram accounts I love to follow.

So after a very short drive, we arrived at Cording Mill Valley to take in the lovely scenery

 and its inhabitants on our walk to Long Mynd

The next day we went to the lovely market town Shrewsbury 

After some shopping we had a lovely walk at The Quarry Park

And ended our visit with a drink with a view on the river Severn at the river bar The Boathouse Inn

We were so very lucky with the weather, so perfect conditions to unwind at the cottage

 that really felt like home. 

Mugs and Hanging Bottles both available on our Website

Enjoying the lovely garden

All the blossom in the orchard 

Accompanied by this one

We also made a tour through the beautiful landscape 

and visited some little towns in the area 

Including the lovely small market town Bishops Castle where 

we had such a lovely conversation with 

a very friendly gentleman about the love for England.

I couldn't have said it better as he did .... 'it gets into your soul'

On our last day in the Shropshire Hills, I saw this beautiful photo on the account of the lovely Nicola and 

just had to visit this spot, especially as it happened to be very near to us

It appeared to be the perfect place after some distressing news from the home front.

 We had a lovely walk and eventually sat down and soak up the 

wonderful views at Lyth Hill

After a fabulous week in this beautiful area we left for our next stay

 in West Sussex escorted by this one

On our way we had a stop at Hogben Pottery to collect new stock for the Shop and

took some lovely new designs home with us.

Personally I'm in love with this gorgeous Rosebud Mug 

Always looking for a rural location often makes it quite a task to find the cottage, 

but after (again) another detour we found our second 'home from home' .... Post Office Cottage

Which happened to be a real home to spend time with the rest of the family

who would arrive the next day

And with some lovely old features, like this hatch in the door 

which is the entry to the utility room

The very large but cosy kitchen where we spent most of our time 

And had celebrations, with my husband and middle son both 

having their birthday during our holiday 

And again a wonderful view, this time on the South Downs

Living the dream with my 'own Stove' for a week and doesn't seem my Basket 

also completely at home 

With the arrival of two of our boys and my sister-in-law and husband the sight seeing had begun,

with first the lovely city Brighton

Because already being here a few years ago, of which you can read all about here  

I had several spots in mind I wanted to show my family.

One of them was the Royal Pavilion

One very happy mum, showing these two around in this wonderful city 

Being so near, a walk at beautiful Petworth Park was also 'a real must',

 loved being the guide of the day again

Making the most of this one still likes to be in a photograph with his mum

Next stop was the lovely village Tillington

To celebrate the sixtieth Birthday of my husband with a meal at The Horse Guards Inn

Being so often in this beautiful area it already feels like home. So a walk at Black Down was 

something I really wanted to share with my family. 

It's already such a happy place and now even more being there with them, more happy memories made ....

Introducing them to my 'favourite bench'

Boys will be boys

Admiring the view of the Temple of the Winds

Time really flies when you're having fun, because before we knew, it was

already time to go home again. 

I really tried to save this view on our way back to Dover 

At home, not quite ready to face real life again, the garden gave us such a lovely welcome.

This is my favourite spot at this time of the year with the Mock Orange in full bloom, 

of which the scent is really divine 

You can find the Tablecloth Lace Crochet on here

Since we've been back the temperatures are wonderful and 

we're living outdoors the most of the day

You can find the Jane Hogben Strawberry Bowl on our Website

And like every time when there's new stock, I couldn't help myself, and just had

 to keep some of these lovely Mugs with the gorgeous new design to myself

Trying to keep that holiday feeling alive with a recipe from the Country Living Magazine 

I made for the first time while being on holiday

You can find the Embroidered Tea Towel here

Another lovely new item I took home with me and you can also find 

on our website, Jane Hogben Greeting Cards

Having still a few days off after returning from our break, I also had

 some time to do some 'faffing' inspired by this image I found on Pinterest 

With an abundance of flowering Alchemilla I had enough material to make this wreath

As long as you don't bind it to tightly and don't hang it in full sun, 

it will take some time before it will dry nicely

I love how it turned out in this heart shape, because isn't it just home where the heart is.
I think I've got two homes by now ....

Enjoy the weekend!

Anita

~xo~