Serving scones in a special way......

Isn't this the loveliest cake stand ever? Can you believe it recently came back across the pond in a carry on bag!

Isn't it super to have a very special cousin like my dear cousin Sue who, when she knew I was disappointed that the cute little kitchen shop in her seaside town was closed the day I visited, went back another day and bought me this lovely present to "tuck into a corner" of one of my already bursting bags! The secret to successful packing.......the cake stand unscrews into two sections and the glass plate is separate......thank goodness.

The cake stand in McGregor's window ~ the tiniest shop with the most amazing amount of merchandise piled up to the ceiling.

Here's an easy but good plain English tea scone recipe. Remember, always eat scones on the day they are baked, nothing worse than a stale, dried up scone.

Edited: OOPS - sorry, recipe not here - will post later!!!

Basic English Afternoon Tea Scones

10-12 count

2-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

8 Tbsp. (1 stick) cold, unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

1 Tbsp. sugar

2/3 cup milk

Heat oven to 425F. Put flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl; mix well.

Add cold butter and cut in with pastry blender or rub in with your fingers until mixture looks like fine crumbs. Add sugar, toss to mix. Add milk and stir with fork until a soft dough results, add a few more drops of milk if too dry. Form dough into a ball, put on lightly floured board and knead 4-6 times - do not over-handle dough. Roll dough out to about 3/4 inch thickness, cut out rounds with a 2-1/2 fluted cutter, reroll and cut scraps. Brush tops with egg wash for golden tops. Bake 12 minutes. Move to a linen towel on a wire rack, cover loosely with the cloth and cool completely. Serve with butter and preserves.

Spring on the Front Porch

I was late, too late, for that very important date! Rhondi's Porch Party 2009 which was held on June 1st. You can still stop over for links to some beautiful porches.

Getting settled in again after the trip to England, then being hit by a miserable bronchial infection (hate breathing that recycled cabin air) lasting over two weeks, has put me behind big time. Then, tons of work required around the garden before I dared take new photos of Spring blooms, and the porch in question needed some major cleanup...........as did the entire cottage.

You will agree, I'm sure, that the Endless Summer hydrangeas are blooming with a vengeance again this Spring. These two plants are just amazing. I trimmed them back quite a bit after the last frost, threw down some aluminum sulphate to keep them blue, then some slow release fertilizer, and the blooms are overwhelming. We are now having hot days and because they get afternoon sun they droop and look quite sad, but the following morning sees them perky and refreshed. I look out the dining room window and feel really happy when I see such stunning flowers.
Hope you enjoy a quick visit to the porch.......yes, still trying to 'simplify', still having a bit of a problem with that!

Still have the potting table, a treasure from SuzAnna's Antiques from a few years back, love how the chartreuse paint is chipping and showing the most beautiful blue underneath ~ always changing things around but love the birds and birdhouses displayed, they just seem right for this corner.

Sweet perfumed Jasmine climbs up the porch pillars.

I will have bunches of hydrangeas for drying come Winter - I love the colors when later they change to dusty green, lilac mauve and even taupe.These pics were taken a week ago.

This morning, after drenching rain from a severe thunderstorm last night, the hydrangeas are beaten down, the garden looks bedraggled..................hopefully the sun will shine again soon.

Cherry ripe, cherry ripe......

You are perhaps familiar with the English folk song

set to words by poet Robert Herrick (1561-1674)

The first cherries of the season are appearing, ripe, red and juicy..........so sweet and healthy.

Handed granddaughter the stoner/pitter (OXO Good Grips with splatter shield - $11.99 at BB&B - is a great one and can be used for olives too), and she enjoyed preparing them for the first clafoutis of the season - which we baked and gobbled up before I even got the camera turned on!

Traditional French clafoutis aux cerises originated in the Limousin region of central France where batters play an important role in the hearty cuisine. Similar fruit and custard desserts are found in Alsace. Very easy to make - very tasty to eat. For my favorite recipe check here on my 'cherry post' of last year.

Cherry ripe, cherry ripe,

Ripe I cry.

Full and fair ones,

Come and buy.

........small DELIGHTS

YESTERDAY...........

..................I picked wild flowers.

I jumped from the car, scissors in hand, cut the tall Queen Anne's Lace, the tiny white daisies. Just white and green weeds at the side of the road................but so very lovely.

I like them here on the front porch by the entry door.

Reflected in an old French mirror.

The colors are clean, fresh.

A multitude of small delights constitutes happiness.

~ Charles Baudelaire

South Devon Coast Path

Come walk with me on a perfect English Spring day.

What better way to spend an afternoon..................a leisurely walk along part of the South Devon Coast Path. This more than 150 kilometre walk (the total distance) takes the traveler up and down towering cliffs, around remote bays, six ferry crossings across estuaries, through popular holiday resorts, past ruins of long-disused structures, with glimpses of wildlife and unusual coastal shrubbery. The abundance of wildflowers include the rare white rock-rose, restharrow, valerian, Autumn squill, Autumn lady's tresses and the scarce ivy bloomrape.

Taking the gate from where we were staying, we only had to cross the beach road, turn right and start the ascent up through the lower cliffs to reach part of the official pathway named Rock End Walk. I often walked here when a teen, sometimes with giggly girlfriends, and later with a boyfriend on Sunday afternoons in those long ago, good old days, before teens were speeding around in cars.

At the top of the climb the views are spectacular across Torbay, then toward the English Channel and France.

Below, the favorite fishing spot of Daddyhole Cove.

This headland is named Daddyhole Plain, taking its name from a cave in the cliff - home of a 'Daddy' or demon.

A popular place to walk dogs, we were entertained by several, all well behaved and friendly, such as these sisters who enjoyed romping through the daisies.

Seats are placed conveniently at intervals along the way, some obviously more popular than others!

This bench below was my favorite as it came with a bouquet of wildflowers.

Leaving the open headland, the narrow path edges the cliff and is smooth and flat with a few steps carved into the steeper parts. A gentle stroll passes by high walls and pretty gates which lead to large homes. Their beautiful views across the water look toward the seaside town of Paignton, and on to the far end of the bay and the fishing town of Brixham.

I would love a view like this!
The path passes through the lower level of this home's "folly" built at the bottom of their garden.
The magnificent South Devon Coast Path which takes you through miles of coastal scenery comes with a word of warning to those less than agile - parts of it are narrow and rugged and the going is hard. Elsewhere the walking is easy and gentle, such as this section around my home town. There are stretches of this path where it is possible to walk for an hour without seeing anyone. During our afternoon stroll we encountered just one other couple - 'on holiday' from Northern England and doing the complete long distance walk over a week or longer. These charming people were obviously in their seventies, kitted out in proper walking gear and with plenty of hiking experience. They were enjoying their day in the fresh air despite the gentleman's comment that he needed new knees and had quite a lot of pain. Now that's a message to the youth of today..........get out of the house, away from your electronic toys............go enjoy Nature while you can.

I'm already planning my next walk along the coastal path. It will be a priority on my 'to do' list for my next trip home across the pond. I will take a left when starting my next walk, heading East where I know there are amazing views in that direction also. So here's to future sunny afternoons in Devon........and healthy knees!

Dartington - Part II

There is so much beauty around the Dartington estate. Unfortunately, one quick visit doesn't allow one to see everything. Around each bend in the many garden paths, each corner of the imposing medieval buildings, there are delightful surprises waiting to enthral the senses.

Known as a year round national center of excellence in arts, music, performance and cinema in Britain, Dartington International Summer School is also world famous.


Entering the Great Hall.

Courtyard apartments adjoining the Great Hall.

Jacobs Pillow..........Peter Randall Page.

A pleasing blend of ancient and modern garden art.

Swan Fountain....Willi Soukop

Bluebell-lined pathways to secret places.
My unexpected visit to Dartington's gardens was perfectly timed. No crowds, pleasant weather, silence except for birdsong, Spring blooms in full color, even empty litter containers. Perfection in an English garden.

Wendy, of the beautiful Merlewood House, in Torquay, took me on this wonderful garden tour. See my sidebar for information on accommodation at Wendy's delightful B&B ~ a great place to stay in Devon.