Cake Trial

In our house only The Boy & I eat fruitcake, so every year I make a lovely Christmas cake which ends up half eaten & thrown away in February. This year I decided to do something different. Last year's Nigella's Christmas recipe book inspired me to find the tin to make this Christmas Tree shaped cake. I was a bit concerned about whether it would actually turn out in one piece so decided to give it a trial run and if it worked I would make one for the Vintage & Handmade Fair Tearoom - have I mentioned that it is THIS Saturday??? ;-)

Anyhow, Mr Cottage thought it would be fun to photograph it step by step & see what happened. So, here we have the batter - this mixture is very easy to make.




Here I am pouring the mixture very carefully into the tin to try & get it settled into the pointy bits.


Once all the mixture was in I gave it a few good taps on the kitchen floor (on the rug while keeping the dogs out of the way) to eradicate any air bubbles.

50 minutes later it is cooked....you have to then leave it to stand for 10 minutes in the tin.

The moment of truth......

Tada!

A quick sprinkling of snow......

I was so pleased at how well it turned out so I'll be making another one for Saturday - fancy a slice?

Today we remember them

For The Fallen - Laurence Binyon

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

O Christmas Tree

The goose feather tree was the first artificial Christmas tree and they were originally made in Germany. These trees were produced as a cottage industry as an alternative to cutting a live tree. Metal wire or sticks were covered with goose feathers. The feather sticks were then attached to a larger one to resemble the branches on a tree & the feathers were then dyed green to imitate pine needles. The bases were usually simple wooden squares which were painted. Later on, little red berries were added the ends of the branches.

These early trees have become highly desirable & collectable, especially amongst collectors of vintage decorations & those with period homes where these table top sized trees look perfectly at home.

For quite some time now I have been trying to find one, but unfortunately they always sell for more than I want to pay, so I started looking for a modern alternative. I have bought a couple of trees over the years but they never quite had the right look.
Until now! I was lucky enough to find & buy a really nice reproduction that has the authentic look without the vintage price tag!

I was able to secure 6 of these little trees - they stand 1.2m tall, have red berries on the end of their branches & are on a green painted base which I think I might decorate with vintage Christmas scraps.

As I only need one tree I am offering the other 5 at a very special price of just £25.00.
I haven't put them in my shop as yet & if anyone wants one who is coming to the Fair next Saturday I could bring it along then to save postage.

I'm looking forward to decorating mine with vintage decorations this Christmas.

Only 1 week to go until the Vintage & Handmade Fair!

Who's been sleeping in MY bed?

I'd barely been out of bed for 5 minutes this morning when squatters moved in - one of whom burrows under the duvet - his philosophy is that if he can't see me then I can't see him!

"Uhoh! She's seen me....now what?
Look down at the bottom of the bed - I'm not the only one"

"I'm a cat...I'll do what I like!"

"Now that I've had a nap I'll make a nuisance of myself until I get my breakfast...

or I'll eat her mouse or that little Twitter bird on the screen!"

Cross Country

Miss Cottage celebrated her birthday by taking part in Hunter Trials (cross country horse riding & jumping). We only took a few photos as you can see the first few jumps & the last but you couldn't keep up with them all the way around!



Can you spot the Halloween pumpkin in this one?
They had the 3rd fastest time so she was happy!



As an aside - did anyone else read the claim that the drug Ecstasy is no more dangerous than horse riding? I know which one I'd rather my daughter be doing!!

Shop Update

Perpetual cottage garden calendar.

Grumpy Ginger cat string holder looks as if he's swallowed a mouse!

The shop has had a little festive makeover & a few new items have been added to Kitchenalia, The Dog House, Linen & Textiles, Pen & Paper & Vintage Sewing.
The Christmas Shop isn't open yet but will be after the Vintage & Handmade Fair which is in 2 weeks time.
I have lots of lovely vintage Christmas goodies to add but need to get the fair over with first!

Shop: http://www.countrycottagechic.co.uk

Fair: http://www.vintageandhandmade.co.uk

Hope you'll pop in for a browse!

Make do & mend sewing kit.

Rufus, the very serious terrier.

2 Weeks!

This super feature appeared in the Western Daily Press today (click on image to enlarge & read).

Just 2 weeks to go now until the Fair - I can't wait! It is going to be such fun & there will be so many lovely things you won't know where to look first. The hall will be stuffed to the rafters with vintage goodies, handmade wonders & festive delights!

Not to mention delicious tea & cakes to build up your strength for carrying all your finds home.....