Some of my favourite Pubs.....

..... please let me know some of your favourites!


The Bell - Ramsbury, Wiltshire
The Bladebone Inn - Bucklebury, Berkshire
The Dundas Arms - Kintbury, Berkshire
The Kingham Plough - Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
The Pot Kiln - Frilsham, West Berkshire
The Rose & Crown - Shilton
The Rising Sun - Stockcross, West Berkshire
The Shears - Collingbourne Ducis, Wiltshire
The Swan - Wilton, Wiltshire
The Three Tuns - Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire
The White Horse - Brancaster Straithe, Norfolk



Spotted this one on Emma Bradshaw's blog - it's next on the list to try.
 The Woolpack - Slad, Gloucestershire



along with these:

The Anchor Inn - Lower Froyle, Hampshire
The Beckford Arms - Fonthill Gifford, Wiltshire
The  Felin Fach Griffin - Powys, Wales
The Gurnard's Head - nr Zennor, Cornwall
The Lord Poulett Arms - Hinton-St-George, Somerset
The Old Coastguard - Mousehole, Cornwall

Happy Half-Term

We've spent a very happy half-term this February.

We discovered Kilkenny Lane Country Park & Adventure Playground in Oxfordshire.  The dogs were walked, the children were able to whoop & run to their hearts content amongst the climbing frames.  We took a flask and slices of banana & coconut loaf to enjoy, a snack always keeps everyone going longer.

We took a small detour home via the lovely village of Shilton where we popped into the Rose & Crown & sat in front of their lovely log fire!

We've enjoyed lots of pyjama days & movie nights, with homemade popcorn & hot chocolate with marshmallows & whipped cream, of course!  One of our favourite movies was the Bridge to Terabithia.  It was incredibly sad towards the end but my children (6, 8 & 9 years) loved it.

 We also enjoyed a night at our own villages production of Sinbad.  Sorry no photo's of this one.  We go every year & throughly enjoy the evening.  It was very Jam & Jerusalem.  If you ever watched the Jam & Jerusalem Christmas Special you'll know exactly what I mean!

I've even managed some knitting!

Hope you've all enjoyed your half-term too.

I Love Autumn

I absolutely love this time of year.  I love seasons, which is probably why I love this country so much but I particularly love Autumn.  So, in honour of Autumn I am going to write a list of how I'm going to appreciate the season.

Autumn

1. Autumnal walks & picnics (kicking leaves & making fairy houses in the woods!)
2. Wear (& maybe invest in new) cosy jumpers - I've got my eye on this one
3. Socks - wellie socks, bed socks, walking socks
4. Pots of tea & homemade shortbread (see recipe below), whilst snuggled up in a blanket on the sofa in front of Downton

I love this shortbread mold found here

Shortbread

140g plain flour
25g rice flour
50g caster sugar
100g soft butter
1 tbsp sugar (for sprinkling)

Preheat oven to 140*C
Mix the flours together.  Add the sugar.  Then mix in the butter until the mixture comes together.  I use my electric mixer but you could use your hands.
I then empty the contents into a round loose bottom 7"cake tin & press it down until it's smooth.  You could go around the edges with a fork & prick it with holes.
Bake for 50-60 minutes or until firm & pale golden in colour.
Leave in the tin to cool but cut it into slices & sprinkle with sugar before it cools.

I think this is a Rachel Allen recipe.


5. Pubs & log fires (find a new cosy pub - any recommendations for child & dog friendly ones?)
6. Halloween - decorate the house, make some treat jars for the kids & try some new pumpkin recipes
7. Bonfire Night - enjoy mulled cider & sparklers outside in the cold with friends
8. Do something creative - although realistically this may not happen, pottering in the kitchen usually takes over
9. Sausages & homemade chutney
10. Visit Westonbirt Arboretum - autumn is the best time
11. Home baked bread (my husband bought me a bread maker for my birthday & I love it!)
12. Make a new compote for my morning porridge