Full Circle

The Spring is turning to Summer which is where I began this blog last year.


Captured in time a year of blessings that have printed out to form a snapshot in my time.






Counting my blessings as I truly know that the best things in life are free.....

so count your blessings too... a hug from a child, a moment with your face in the sun, a meal shared with loved ones, a walk on the beach and so much more....

This is my last post, but I will be reading yours....

God Bless.

Shelly.

Picnics and Music

Saturday late afternoon we went to Audley End House to set down our picnic rug and enjoy a lovely evening of music in the park.

The stage was set with the beautiful house as a back drop and we joined the crowds in finding our spot, our little tartan rug and picnic basket (we did take a couple of chairs as well) were rather inadequate compared to some who seem to have moved the dinning table, chairs and candelabra from their homes!

I filled my basket with various salad combinations including a pasta and broad bean salad .

Until fairly recently I didn't think much of broad beans, now I seem to be using them in my food preparation a lot! I picked up a cooking tip for 'twice podded broad beans' and they are so delicious and bright green when you pod them twice.

(I am probably the only person who didn't know this but... take the beans from the pod, blanche them for a couple of minutes in boiling water then drain and put them straight away into cold water. The pale outer skin on the beans then loosen and you can pop out a bright green yummy bean)

Don't be fooled, although this was the lovely healthy picnic food I took with us the smell of fresh cooked doughnuts came wafting by and all good intentions went waltzing away with them. Yummmmm.....

The absolutely fantastic Mr Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra provided the music and we danced the night away. (Jools is seated at his piano)

The night ended with Fireworks and we are booking our tickets for next year.

English Country Fetes

One of the best things about the English summer months is the country fetes.

Villages surrounding the town hold fetes through late May until early September and I love the simplicity of the days out at a fete.

Craft stalls and Cakes, Tombola and Coconuts, Tea and Beer Tents, Live Music and Dog Shows - whats not to love.

Food Fayre's are good too and last week I bought the most delicious Cheddar cheese and onion chutney which we had for our lunch with some homemade bread.

Summer's here..

We went away early this year (my man and I) seeking some sunshine just in case the English summer sunshine didn't make it again, we planned the trip to a sun drenched isle during the coldest winter for years in the market town and I am so glad we did because it would be such a shame to be away now summers here...those long dreamed about warm days, summer fetes, picnics, concerts in the park, BBQ's and market town folk and visitors to the town sitting on the ancient common grass land just enjoying the history and beauty of the town I am lucky enough to live in.

I will be sharing a lot more of market town life here on the 3 counties boarder of Essex, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk but for now I am off to have dinner at a local restaurant and enjoy the evening sunshine.

Shelly