Sunday July 28th

Little Mr had a wonderful birthday party with all his friends...

and his favourite auntie..

They all wished him a very happy birthday..

I only wish I had been there.

Happy Birthday Little Mr

Love and Hugs

Nana

Saturday July 27th

Happy 6th Birthday to the coolest of Dudes

our Gorgeous Grandson Little Mr.

Thank you for bringing so much joy into our lives

and have a wonderful party tomorrow

All our Love

Nana and Gaga

Thursday July 25th

Today I decided to make another recipe from my 1940s recipe collection... and it was another winner

Apple and Banana Crisp was a delicious dessert from Woman's Day Magazine, March 1940. I had never thought of putting apples and bananas together but they complimented each other really well. We thoroughly enjoyed it...especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

Apple and Banana Crisp

4 cooking apples, cored
Juice of 1 lemon
3 bananas
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon or nutmeg
Brown sugar topping

• Peel and slice apples and bananas into greased baking dish.
• Add water and lemon juice, sprinkle with spice.
• Spread topping over fruit
• Bake in moderate oven, 350° F., 30 to 40 minutes or until apples are tender.
• Serve warm.

Brown Sugar Topping
1/2 cup sifted flour
Few grains salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter

• Mix flour, brown sugar and salt.
• Work in butter with a pastry blender, or tips of fingers; do not cream.

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Monday July 22nd

Little Tufty..Little Tufty

How does your garden grow?

With a lot of love...

and the occasional slice of cake!

I just adore this girl...

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Sunday July 21st

 Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Saturday July 20th

When  we eventually move back to England....

our hope is that we will find a home somewhere more rural than town

I always lived in small villages in the countryside...

As do two of our children and their families now

Which is why.. Little Mr is such an animal loving Farmer Boy...

As it should be...

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Friday July 19th

More photos of our girls...

this time on their last day of school term..

I cant believe where the year has gone...

or how fast they are growing

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Thursday July 18th

Another 1940s recipe for dinner today... and another with an intriguing name. Chicken Cackle? I have no clue why... have you?

This simple skillet chicken dish comes from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine September 1944. Its basically Chicken in tomato sauce.. with a bit of a kick

Chicken Cackle

.

We enjoyed it.. and the only change I made was to use chicken breasts instead of a whole chicken.

1 3-pound chicken
2 medium onions.
2 cups water
2½ cups (1 No. 2 can) tomatoes
1 cup (18-ounce can) tomato sauce
1 clove garlic
1 small hot red pepper
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/8 teaspoon sage

• Cut chicken in serving pieces.
• Rub with seasoned flour.
• Brown on all sides in hot fat.
• Remove chicken.
• Cook onions in the hot fat until golden.
• Drain off excess fat.
• Add remaining ingredients to skillet.
• Blend.
• Cover.
• Simmer 30 to 45 minutes.
• Add browned chicken.
• Simmer tender, about 1 hour.
• Serves 4.

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Wednesday July 17th

One of the things that brings me the most pleasure is seeing my grandchildren happy

So to receive these photos this morning just filled my heart with joy

Little Miss and Little Tufty have a new addition to their family..

a kitten which they have called Bluey...

and with eyes that colour no explanation is needed

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Tuesday July 16th

When I was a little girl l loved to read.. and my favorite books were the “Little House” series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.. which I absolutely devoured over and over again. This planted in me the dream of having a homestead.. keeping animals, cooking from scratch and of course growing my own food. I remember being quite devastated when time after time, Pa tried to grow his wheat and Ma grew her garden.. only for it all to be destroyed... by locusts.. Crows.. tornados .. hail storms and fire.

Well.. I may not have a homestead… but I do have my Little Blue House.. I may not have animals .. unless you count Prince.. and he is like a horse! And I do have a veg garden.. and it has caused a few struggles. The first year the garden was totally decimated by little grasshoppers.. Last year we had to contend with birds and huge grasshoppers eating our crop ( a battle we finally won).

And this year… Squirrels!!! When I first noticed that our beautiful tomatoes were getting half eaten.. we put up a net covering. But.. the little buggers chewed through it 

So this evening.. in 95 degree weather.. Mr D and I erected a chicken wire cage. It’s not pretty.. but I’m hoping it does the job and we will at least get somewhat of a harvest.. fingers crossed

Well it could be worse.. we could be living in the middle of the prairie!!!

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Monday July 15th

The start of a new week...

with a bit of pottering amongst the fruits and vegetables

and picking a few ripe ones/

As soon as he got home from work...

 MrD was once again digging in the garden...

so as a reward I made him one of his favourite desserts

Butterscotch Fluff Pudding

Butterscotch Fluff Pudding

Now seriously... this must be one of the quickest and easiest desserts in my 1940s collection... A creamy, fluffed version of quick packaged pudding from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine
July 1943

And yes... instant puddings have been around for that long...

14-ounce package butterscotch pudding mix
2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
1/2 cup chopped California walnuts 

• Prepare butterscotch pudding with 2 cups milk as directed on package.
• Cool.
• Fold in whipped cream and nuts.
• Fill sherbet glasses.
• Top each with a walnut half.
• Chill.
• Serves 8.

Love and Hugs

Phoebe x

Sunday July 14th

 Love and Hugs

Phoebe x