Tasha Tudor Hot Cross Buns for Good Friday Tea!

 

Charlotte, anticipating Good Friday Tea, made some Hot Cross Buns.

After the dough has risen, she puts the buns on a cookie sheet and allows them to rise again.

 

At the Corgyncombe Bakery, I make Hot Cross Buns, too. After the first rising, warm melted butter is added and the dough is kneaded a bit more.

The dough has risen again.

After rising, the dough is shaped into buns and set aside to rise again.

Setting the Hot Cross Buns out to cool.

The receipt for Hot Cross Buns is from "The Tasha Tudor Cookbook".

The buns have been frosted with a cross on top.

 

Chickalily joins Charlotte for Good Friday Tea with Charlotte's fresh Hot Cross Buns and Tasha Tudor's Welsh Breakfast Tea.

In her hand, Charlotte holds one of Sarah's handmade marbleized eggs.

Some of the photographs and some of the writings on this post are from previous Corgyncombe Courant posts that can be found here on the Corgyncombe Courant and from our web site and our previous postings elsewhere on the internet.

Please do not "Pin" our photographs.

Our email:
atthecottagegate@yahoo.com
If you receive an email you think is from me from this email, please make sure it is atthecottagegate@yahoo.com, and not just something that sounds similar.

Photographs, images, and text copyright © 2000-2017 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson. All rights reserved. Photographs, images, and/or text may not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson.

http://corgyncombecourant.blogspot.com/2017/04/tasha-tudor-hot-cross-buns-for-good.html
copyright © 2017 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Delightful Kindred Spirit Finds!

Baskets, Quilts, Birds, Gardening, and Gazing at the Stars!

This is a repost of a favoured post first published at the Corgyncombe Courant December 14, 2011.

It is a true story!

I seem to have, when visiting antique shops, an ability to pick out items all previously owned by the same person. Things that I treasure, they treasured. That is what happened recently when I visited one of my favorite antique shops.
I looked up, hanging from the ceiling was this wonderful old basket, a basket that you could take into the garden and gather flowers in, be they wild flowers or home grown.

On the shelf I found a delightful old quilt of mellow colours of blue, salmon pink, and brown. This quilt was old and well loved, all hand sewn. The quilt reminds me of quilts I used to have tucked in around me when I was a little girl. I just love its warm, soft colours. I also found a linen dish towel with green and peach stripes. The quilt, the basket, and the linen towel had belonged to the same lady. I found out that she lived without electric and running water! She did her cooking and baking on an old wood cook range. I had to find out more about this lady! Later I found out that Martha was a gardener, loved watching the birds, looking at stars in the night sky, dolls, genealogy, and teaching Sunday School! I wish I could have known her, as true kindred spirits are a delight to find! We would imagine that Martha would have known and loved Tasha Tudor's illustrations, too!

There are more delightful finds of Martha's that we will share with you later!

I has always loved watching birds, too. In grade school one of my teachers loved birds and always fed them in a tree outside the window. I always liked to watch the birds instead of concentrating on school work. I received an award for perfect attendance which was a certificate to be redeemed at the bookstore. The second I walked in the bookstore I knew which book I wanted... a big wonderful book about birds. The book included a recording of all the lovely bird songs.

The Corgyncombe Courant encourages their dear readers to feed the birds throughout the winter and never forget to feed them daily as our little winged friends depend on us! The birds are always such a joy to watch and to hear! They can also be amusing to watch, like the nuthatch who likes to perch upside down.

A beautiful Tufted Titmouse in flight!

The colours of the quilt remind us of the winter birds at Corgyncombe.

A lovely Mourning Dove.

The old quilt and garden basket that belonged to Martha.
In the basket are kissing balls to be hung on the porch. On the log, near the bottom of the chair, grows some Herb-Robert. Herb-Robert has lovely pink flowers when it blooms in the spring through autumn.

This is the nest of the Red-Winged Blackbird in June.
'Tis hidden away near the ground in the goat pasture.
These nests are very hard to find but there were many of them nesting in the pasture and the meadow.
The colours of the eggs and nest also remind us of the old quilt.

This old tintype was found for 99 cents at another antique shop a little ways away from the other antique shop. It was full of mud and you could hardly see the portrait inside. It looked like it had been through a flood! At home I carefully took apart the tintype, glass, and case and cleaned everything. A lovely lady's portrait emerged! What a pretty frock she is wearing! We wonder who she was!

On St. Nicholas Day one year, Diane took this photograph of this lovely chickadee.
The morn dawned snowy, sparkly white.

On Day 14 in "An Advent Calendar from Tasha Tudor", behind the doors, right above St. Nicholas and his sleigh pulled by owls, are two chickadees resembling the chickadee in my photograph. We are loving our new Advent Calendar that was a delightful find this summer "From Tasha Tudor, An Advent Calendar, Christmas Comes But Once A Year". Day 10 had the cutest little mouse in a cornucopia that reminds us of our Tillie Tinkham! We always open the doors on the Advent Calendars on the appointed days because not to open them would be missing half of the joy!

Take Joy in the simple things, this delightful Christmastide!!!

Some of the photographs and some of the writings on this post are from previous Corgyncombe Courant posts that can be found here on the Corgyncombe Courant and from our web site and our previous postings elsewhere on the internet.

Here is a link to our post
at the Corgyncombe Courant:
Delightful Kindred Spirit Finds
posted December 14, 2011

Our email:
atthecottagegate@yahoo.com
Photographs, images, and text copyright © 2000-2016 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson. All rights reserved. Photographs, images, and/or text may not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson.

http://corgyncombecourant.blogspot.com/2016/12/delightful-kindred-spirit-finds.html
copyright © 2011 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Christmas Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 25!

"The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things"

A special package that Frizzy's Mummy ordered, arrived just in time on Christmas Eve.
Frizzy opened it on Christmas Day and she is delighted for now she can take her Baby Doll with her as she explores the vast frozen acreage of Corgyncombe with her Reindeer!

For years we have been inspired by our friend Tasha Tudor's doll families. Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

Tasha Tudor created many delightfully fun Calendars for Christmas and Valentines Day.

Diane and her daughter Sarah were inspired by Tasha Tudor's Advent Calendars and delightful dolls, to make this Christmas Calender, "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things". This is the 6th year that Diane and Sarah have made A Calendar to Count "The Days Until Christmas" featuring Amelia's Favorite Things. This edition of "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also this 2011 Christmastide Season! Amelia and her family like to celebrate all the special days throughout the year!

Everyday, starting December 1st, a new photograph should appear for the Christmas Calendar, however we ask your patience dear readers, as sometimes there might be a delay due to the weather (such as blizzards, ice storms, high winds and snow), technical difficulties, Finch Post delays, etc.

The Corgyncombe Courant doesn't have a set time when we add the photograph of the day to the Calendar, as there are many other tasks to do and animals to care for.

As it is a Christmas Calendar of Amelia's Favorite Things and Amelia is a doll who lives at Corgyncombe Cottage & Corg'ery, the photographs in the calendar are appropriately small.

How we look forward to celebrating Christmastide traditions and the many surprises as we

Count "The Days Until Christmas" with Amelia!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Christmas Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 24!

"The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things"

Elizabeth reads "The Night Before Christmas" to her sisters Violet and Cynthie and Cynthie's little doll, too.

For years we have been inspired by our friend Tasha Tudor's doll families. Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

Tasha Tudor created many delightfully fun Calendars for Christmas and Valentines Day.

Diane and her daughter Sarah were inspired by Tasha Tudor's Advent Calendars and delightful dolls, to make this Christmas Calender, "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things". This is the 6th year that Diane and Sarah have made A Calendar to Count "The Days Until Christmas" featuring Amelia's Favorite Things. This edition of "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also this 2011 Christmastide Season! Amelia and her family like to celebrate all the special days throughout the year!

Everyday, starting December 1st, a new photograph should appear for the Christmas Calendar, however we ask your patience dear readers, as sometimes there might be a delay due to the weather (such as blizzards, ice storms, high winds and snow), technical difficulties, Finch Post delays, etc.

The Corgyncombe Courant doesn't have a set time when we add the photograph of the day to the Calendar, as there are many other tasks to do and animals to care for.

As it is a Christmas Calendar of Amelia's Favorite Things and Amelia is a doll who lives at Corgyncombe Cottage & Corg'ery, the photographs in the calendar are appropriately small.

How we look forward to celebrating Christmastide traditions and the many surprises as we

Count "The Days Until Christmas" with Amelia!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Christmas Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 23!

"The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things"

For years we have been inspired by our friend Tasha Tudor's doll families. Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

Tasha Tudor created many delightfully fun Calendars for Christmas and Valentines Day.

Diane and her daughter Sarah were inspired by Tasha Tudor's Advent Calendars and delightful dolls, to make this Christmas Calender, "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things". This is the 6th year that Diane and Sarah have made A Calendar to Count "The Days Until Christmas" featuring Amelia's Favorite Things. This edition of "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also this 2011 Christmastide Season! Amelia and her family like to celebrate all the special days throughout the year!

Everyday, starting December 1st, a new photograph should appear for the Christmas Calendar, however we ask your patience dear readers, as sometimes there might be a delay due to the weather (such as blizzards, ice storms, high winds and snow), technical difficulties, Finch Post delays, etc.

The Corgyncombe Courant doesn't have a set time when we add the photograph of the day to the Calendar, as there are many other tasks to do and animals to care for.

As it is a Christmas Calendar of Amelia's Favorite Things and Amelia is a doll who lives at Corgyncombe Cottage & Corg'ery, the photographs in the calendar are appropriately small.

How we look forward to celebrating Christmastide traditions and the many surprises as we

Count "The Days Until Christmas" with Amelia!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Christmas Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 22!

"The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things"

Lucy looks to see what St. Nicholas has left for her in her wooden shoe.

For years we have been inspired by our friend Tasha Tudor's doll families. Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

Tasha Tudor created many delightfully fun Calendars for Christmas and Valentines Day.

Diane and her daughter Sarah were inspired by Tasha Tudor's Advent Calendars and delightful dolls, to make this Christmas Calender, "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things". This is the 6th year that Diane and Sarah have made A Calendar to Count "The Days Until Christmas" featuring Amelia's Favorite Things. This edition of "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also this 2011 Christmastide Season! Amelia and her family like to celebrate all the special days throughout the year!

Everyday, starting December 1st, a new photograph should appear for the Christmas Calendar, however we ask your patience dear readers, as sometimes there might be a delay due to the weather (such as blizzards, ice storms, high winds and snow), technical difficulties, Finch Post delays, etc.

The Corgyncombe Courant doesn't have a set time when we add the photograph of the day to the Calendar, as there are many other tasks to do and animals to care for.

As it is a Christmas Calendar of Amelia's Favorite Things and Amelia is a doll who lives at Corgyncombe Cottage & Corg'ery, the photographs in the calendar are appropriately small.

How we look forward to celebrating Christmastide traditions and the many surprises as we

Count "The Days Until Christmas" with Amelia!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Christmas Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 21!

"The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things"

For years we have been inspired by our friend Tasha Tudor's doll families. Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

Tasha Tudor created many delightfully fun Calendars for Christmas and Valentines Day.

Diane and her daughter Sarah were inspired by Tasha Tudor's Advent Calendars and delightful dolls, to make this Christmas Calender, "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things". This is the 6th year that Diane and Sarah have made A Calendar to Count "The Days Until Christmas" featuring Amelia's Favorite Things. This edition of "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also this 2011 Christmastide Season! Amelia and her family like to celebrate all the special days throughout the year!

Everyday, starting December 1st, a new photograph should appear for the Christmas Calendar, however we ask your patience dear readers, as sometimes there might be a delay due to the weather (such as blizzards, ice storms, high winds and snow), technical difficulties, Finch Post delays, etc.

The Corgyncombe Courant doesn't have a set time when we add the photograph of the day to the Calendar, as there are many other tasks to do and animals to care for.

As it is a Christmas Calendar of Amelia's Favorite Things and Amelia is a doll who lives at Corgyncombe Cottage & Corg'ery, the photographs in the calendar are appropriately small.

How we look forward to celebrating Christmastide traditions and the many surprises as we

Count "The Days Until Christmas" with Amelia!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Christmas Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 20!

"The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things"

For years we have been inspired by our friend Tasha Tudor's doll families. Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

Tasha Tudor created many delightfully fun Calendars for Christmas and Valentines Day.

Diane and her daughter Sarah were inspired by Tasha Tudor's Advent Calendars and delightful dolls, to make this Christmas Calender, "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things". This is the 6th year that Diane and Sarah have made A Calendar to Count "The Days Until Christmas" featuring Amelia's Favorite Things. This edition of "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also this 2011 Christmastide Season! Amelia and her family like to celebrate all the special days throughout the year!

Everyday, starting December 1st, a new photograph should appear for the Christmas Calendar, however we ask your patience dear readers, as sometimes there might be a delay due to the weather (such as blizzards, ice storms, high winds and snow), technical difficulties, Finch Post delays, etc.

The Corgyncombe Courant doesn't have a set time when we add the photograph of the day to the Calendar, as there are many other tasks to do and animals to care for.

As it is a Christmas Calendar of Amelia's Favorite Things and Amelia is a doll who lives at Corgyncombe Cottage & Corg'ery, the photographs in the calendar are appropriately small.

How we look forward to celebrating Christmastide traditions and the many surprises as we

Count "The Days Until Christmas" with Amelia!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Christmas Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 19!

"The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things"

Tillie Tinkham enjoys her tea and crumbs.
She stirs her tea with her peppermint stick.
The peppermint adds a delightful taste to Tillie's tea.

For years we have been inspired by our friend Tasha Tudor's doll families. Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

Tasha Tudor created many delightfully fun Calendars for Christmas and Valentines Day.

Diane and her daughter Sarah were inspired by Tasha Tudor's Advent Calendars and delightful dolls, to make this Christmas Calender, "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things". This is the 6th year that Diane and Sarah have made A Calendar to Count "The Days Until Christmas" featuring Amelia's Favorite Things. This edition of "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also this 2011 Christmastide Season! Amelia and her family like to celebrate all the special days throughout the year!

Everyday, starting December 1st, a new photograph should appear for the Christmas Calendar, however we ask your patience dear readers, as sometimes there might be a delay due to the weather (such as blizzards, ice storms, high winds and snow), technical difficulties, Finch Post delays, etc.

The Corgyncombe Courant doesn't have a set time when we add the photograph of the day to the Calendar, as there are many other tasks to do and animals to care for.

As it is a Christmas Calendar of Amelia's Favorite Things and Amelia is a doll who lives at Corgyncombe Cottage & Corg'ery, the photographs in the calendar are appropriately small.

How we look forward to celebrating Christmastide traditions and the many surprises as we

Count "The Days Until Christmas" with Amelia!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Christmas Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 18!

"The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things"

Elizabeth piecing together quilt squares on the sewing machine.
Seamstress mouse and fashion designer Tillie Tinkham helps Elizabeth turn the wheel to make the sewing machine sew.

For years we have been inspired by our friend Tasha Tudor's doll families. Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

Tasha Tudor created many delightfully fun Calendars for Christmas and Valentines Day.

Diane and her daughter Sarah were inspired by Tasha Tudor's Advent Calendars and delightful dolls, to make this Christmas Calender, "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things". This is the 6th year that Diane and Sarah have made A Calendar to Count "The Days Until Christmas" featuring Amelia's Favorite Things. This edition of "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also this 2011 Christmastide Season! Amelia and her family like to celebrate all the special days throughout the year!

Everyday, starting December 1st, a new photograph should appear for the Christmas Calendar, however we ask your patience dear readers, as sometimes there might be a delay due to the weather (such as blizzards, ice storms, high winds and snow), technical difficulties, Finch Post delays, etc.

The Corgyncombe Courant doesn't have a set time when we add the photograph of the day to the Calendar, as there are many other tasks to do and animals to care for.

As it is a Christmas Calendar of Amelia's Favorite Things and Amelia is a doll who lives at Corgyncombe Cottage & Corg'ery, the photographs in the calendar are appropriately small.

How we look forward to celebrating Christmastide traditions and the many surprises as we

Count "The Days Until Christmas" with Amelia!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Christmas Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 17!

"The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things"

Frizzy thought her reindeer would look stunning decorated for Christmastide!

For years we have been inspired by our friend Tasha Tudor's doll families. Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

Tasha Tudor created many delightfully fun Calendars for Christmas and Valentines Day.

Diane and her daughter Sarah were inspired by Tasha Tudor's Advent Calendars and delightful dolls, to make this Christmas Calender, "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things". This is the 6th year that Diane and Sarah have made A Calendar to Count "The Days Until Christmas" featuring Amelia's Favorite Things. This edition of "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also this 2011 Christmastide Season! Amelia and her family like to celebrate all the special days throughout the year!

Everyday, starting December 1st, a new photograph should appear for the Christmas Calendar, however we ask your patience dear readers, as sometimes there might be a delay due to the weather (such as blizzards, ice storms, high winds and snow), technical difficulties, Finch Post delays, etc.

The Corgyncombe Courant doesn't have a set time when we add the photograph of the day to the Calendar, as there are many other tasks to do and animals to care for.

As it is a Christmas Calendar of Amelia's Favorite Things and Amelia is a doll who lives at Corgyncombe Cottage & Corg'ery, the photographs in the calendar are appropriately small.

How we look forward to celebrating Christmastide traditions and the many surprises as we

Count "The Days Until Christmas" with Amelia!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Christmas Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 16!

"The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things"

Quackin' around the Christmas tree, holding paper chains from wing to wing.
Quackenbush is wearing a paper hat like Tasha Tudor showed Diane and Sarah how to make.
Quackenbush is quite fond of his paper hat sporting one of Phidelia Finch's feathers tucked in the side.

For years we have been inspired by our friend Tasha Tudor's doll families. Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

Tasha Tudor created many delightfully fun Calendars for Christmas and Valentines Day.

Diane and her daughter Sarah were inspired by Tasha Tudor's Advent Calendars and delightful dolls, to make this Christmas Calender, "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things". This is the 6th year that Diane and Sarah have made A Calendar to Count "The Days Until Christmas" featuring Amelia's Favorite Things. This edition of "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also this 2011 Christmastide Season! Amelia and her family like to celebrate all the special days throughout the year!

Everyday, starting December 1st, a new photograph should appear for the Christmas Calendar, however we ask your patience dear readers, as sometimes there might be a delay due to the weather (such as blizzards, ice storms, high winds and snow), technical difficulties, Finch Post delays, etc.

The Corgyncombe Courant doesn't have a set time when we add the photograph of the day to the Calendar, as there are many other tasks to do and animals to care for.

As it is a Christmas Calendar of Amelia's Favorite Things and Amelia is a doll who lives at Corgyncombe Cottage & Corg'ery, the photographs in the calendar are appropriately small.

How we look forward to celebrating Christmastide traditions and the many surprises as we

Count "The Days Until Christmas" with Amelia!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Christmas Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor, Day 15!

"The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things"

Chirpy Cheerful works at Finch Post for Postmistress Phidelia Finch and her husband Post Assistant Bates Finch. Chirpy sorts mail, weighs mail, and delivers mail. Sometimes during the Christmas season the mail is delayed, despite their best efforts, due to high winds, Nor'Easters, and blizzards. Frizzy's Mum hopes that a special package will make it through in time for Christmas for her daughter Priscilla Francelia, or as everyone else knows her as, Frizzy.

For years we have been inspired by our friend Tasha Tudor's doll families. Tasha Tudor made her dolls look so real and we know that they were real to her. Our dolls seem very real to us, too. Our doll families have many children, cousins, Mums, and Aunties who like to do all the favorite things that we like to do best!

Tasha Tudor created many delightfully fun Calendars for Christmas and Valentines Day.

Diane and her daughter Sarah were inspired by Tasha Tudor's Advent Calendars and delightful dolls, to make this Christmas Calender, "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things". This is the 6th year that Diane and Sarah have made A Calendar to Count "The Days Until Christmas" featuring Amelia's Favorite Things. This edition of "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things" was originally created in 2008 and we know you will enjoy it also this 2011 Christmastide Season! Amelia and her family like to celebrate all the special days throughout the year!

Everyday, starting December 1st, a new photograph should appear for the Christmas Calendar, however we ask your patience dear readers, as sometimes there might be a delay due to the weather (such as blizzards, ice storms, high winds and snow), technical difficulties, Finch Post delays, etc.

The Corgyncombe Courant doesn't have a set time when we add the photograph of the day to the Calendar, as there are many other tasks to do and animals to care for.

As it is a Christmas Calendar of Amelia's Favorite Things and Amelia is a doll who lives at Corgyncombe Cottage & Corg'ery, the photographs in the calendar are appropriately small.

How we look forward to celebrating Christmastide traditions and the many surprises as we

Count "The Days Until Christmas" with Amelia!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Delightful Kindred Spirit Finds!

Baskets, Quilts, Birds, Gardening, and Gazing at the Stars!

I seem to have, when visiting antique shops, an ability to pick out items all previously owned by the same person. Things that I treasure, they treasured. That is what happened recently when I visited one of my favorite antique shops.
I looked up, hanging from the ceiling was this wonderful old basket, a basket that you could take into the garden and gather flowers in, be they wild flowers or home grown.

On the shelf I found a delightful old quilt of mellow colours of blue, salmon pink, and brown. This quilt was old and well loved, all hand sewn. The quilt reminds me of quilts I used to have tucked in around me when I was a little girl. I just love its warm, soft colours. I also found a linen dish towel with green and peach stripes. The quilt, the basket, and the linen towel had belonged to the same lady. I found out that she lived without electric and running water! She did her cooking and baking on an old wood cook range. I had to find out more about this lady! Later I found out that Martha was a gardener, loved watching the birds, looking at stars in the night sky, dolls, genealogy, and teaching Sunday School! I wish I could have known her, as true kindred spirits are a delight to find! We would imagine that Martha would have known and loved Tasha Tudor's illustrations, too!

There are more delightful finds of Martha's that we will share with you later!


I has always loved watching birds, too. In grade school one of my teachers loved birds and always fed them in a tree outside the window. I always liked to watch the birds instead of concentrating on school work. I received an award for perfect attendance which was a certificate to be redeemed at the bookstore. The second I walked in the bookstore I knew which book I wanted... a big wonderful book about birds. The book included a recording of all the lovely bird songs.

The Corgyncombe Courant encourages their dear readers to feed the birds throughout the winter and never forget to feed them daily as our little winged friends depend on us! The birds are always such a joy to watch and to hear! They can also be amusing to watch, like the nuthatch who likes to perch upside down.


A beautiful Tufted Titmouse in flight!


The colours of the quilt remind us of the winter birds at Corgyncombe.


A lovely Mourning Dove.

The old quilt and garden basket that belonged to Martha.
In the basket are kissing balls to be hung on the porch. On the log, near the bottom of the chair, grows some Herb-Robert. Herb-Robert has lovely pink flowers when it blooms in the spring through autumn.


This is the nest of the Red-Winged Blackbird in June.
'Tis hidden away near the ground in the goat pasture.
These nests are very hard to find but there were many of them nesting in the pasture and the meadow.
The colours of the eggs and nest also remind us of the old quilt.



This old tintype was found for 99 cents at another antique shop a little ways away from the other antique shop. It was full of mud and you could hardly see the portrait inside. It looked like it had been through a flood! At home I carefully took apart the tintype, glass, and case and cleaned everything. A lovely lady's portrait emerged! What a pretty frock she is wearing! We wonder who she was!


On St. Nicholas Day one year, Diane took this photograph of this lovely chickadee.
The morn dawned snowy, sparkly white.




On Day 14 in "An Advent Calendar from Tasha Tudor", behind the doors, right above St. Nicholas and his sleigh pulled by owls, are two chickadees resembling the chickadee in my photograph. We are loving our new Advent Calendar that was a delightful find this summer "From Tasha Tudor, An Advent Calendar, Christmas Comes But Once A Year". Day 10 had the cutest little mouse in a cornucopia that reminds us of our Tillie Tinkham! We always open the doors on the Advent Calendars on the appointed days because not to open them would be missing half of the joy!

Take Joy in the simple things, this delightful Christmastide!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~