A Spring Flower Arrangement

 

I have been made aware of the creative inspiration put forth by the Japanese and Nordic gardeners. They have a way of making an arrangement more fun than just sticking something in a pot.

So for this spring I wanted to try this. 

I normally take pansies and put them in a pot, but this year I wanted to do a more artistic expression of spring. I have pansies, some ivy I propagated over the winter from a cutting, some sheet moss, lichen, faux pussy willow branches, and a seashell.

My grandmother was know to put seashells in her garden. She would say it was because of the nursery rhyme :

"Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row."

I saw a Nordic Instagram account that used snail shells in their spring arrangements. They were using them as if they were garden snail shells. I have garden snail shells in my yard, but they are not nearly this big, and they are brown. I thought the seashell worked just as well. 

Have you ever tried to make garden arrangements? I think it might be a new favorite hobby! 

In Victory,

Sherry

A Spring Bulb Arrangement with a Tea

I have discovered I can create bulb arrangements for spring. This vintage Kraft cheese box was perfect for what I had in mind.

I am having pomegranate tea in my Brambly Hedge spring teacup with my spring arrangement. 

This was way easier to create than I thought it would be. I lined the cheese box with a heavy plastic bag and cut the little bulb boxes to fit snug against each other in the box. I spaced them out as I arranged them and then covered it all with sheet moss. I watered that in and waited overnight till I finished it. The sheet moss came alive, so to speak, after being watered overnight. I made some holes in the soil with a pencil and tucked in some already bloomed-out grape hyacinths. The ones in this arrangement did not bloom out at the same time as the daffodils. The other thing I added was some branches from my lilac bush, which were just starting to blossom. 

 

A spring tea seems fitting to celebrate the change of seasons.

A view of Edith Holden's The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady with a Brambly Hedge spring plate and flowers from my garden. Happy spring, cottage friends; it has been a long winter. Here is to brighter days ahead! 

Linking to The Homemaking Party at Classical Homemaking

In Victory,

Sherry

Spring Bulbs

It is spring!! Normally I am like a racehorse out of the gate for spring planting, but not this year. It is going to be a late spring, and our region of the states has had every flu and cold that has been circulating this winter,  and I am just now recovering from some of that. But taking it slow has its advantages.

For one, I can stop and enjoy the crocus when they bloom and not be so busy I miss it.

My hyacinths bloomed at different times, and I got to slow down and enjoy the pink blossom! 

I have also had time to enjoy and add to my Peter Rabbit collection.

Many lovely things to enjoy for spring! Take time to enjoy the small things. 

I am joining Pink Sunday at Classical Homemaking.

In Victory,

Sherry

Spring Details

It is time to put some spring details around the house. I found some bulbs recently at a farm store when I was buying the fertilizer for the garden. 

These are faux flowers. They are very realistic today. 

Take time for yourself and for the things you love! In spring...I love bunnies! 

Linking to Vintage Finds Friday At Classical Homemaking

In Victory,

Sherry

Strawberry Pie in Winter

 

This week it occurred to me that I could make strawberry pie in the middle of winter. Now that may sound really silly. Why not go buy strawberries right? Well, they are not in season, and I really like to buy food that is in season. Then I remembered that I had a good amount of strawberries in the freezer from the garden. The strawberries make great pie from the freezer. This is the recipe: The Easiest Pie

My new Peter Rabbit plate inspired me. Two of my favorite things on one plate: Peter Rabbit and strawberries.

Here is the recipe for the graham cracker crust:

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup of graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup granulated white sugar

5 tablespoons butter, melted

Mix all well and spoon into pie plate pressing in with back of spoon. 

Chill for 10 minutes and then pour in desired filling. 

Makes one 9" pie. 

*Note: I have used a 6" pie plate pictured here. I just halved the recipe.

Do you eat seasonally?

In Victory,

Sherry

My Favorite Way to Roast a Whole Chicken

I have tried roasting a whole chicken many different ways, but until I tried doing it like Jill Winger from The Prairie Homestead Cookbook. I could not get a chicken roasted to perfection. She has a technique of roasting it with the lid on in a dutch oven and then roasting it without the lid. 

I won't give away her recipe, but I did find a lady who shows you the technique of roasting and flipping on this Youtube channel. I am not associated with The Prairie Homestead Cookbook, but it is one of my favorite cookbooks. 

The recipe roasts the chicken to perfection every time! It is very tender and moist. We are dining with Peter Rabbit here and having the roast chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, and sautéed apples with cinnamon. 

Why so much comfort food? Because it is snowing again and, it is a wintery wonderland outside.

In Victory,

Sherry