Miss Spenser's Blog

Today, Sunday, March 30, is Mothering Sunday in England. This day was originally a religious tradition originating from the 16th Century when people returned to their mother church or dioceses for service during the Lenten period. It was also known as Refreshment Sunday, wherein it was designated as a day of relaxation from the normal rigors of the Lenten season. Children and young people, who were indentured servants at the time, were allowed to return home on this day to visit their families. Many would pick wild flowers along the way to place in the church or give to their mothers. Over time, the religious tradition evolved into Mothering Sunday, a secular tradition that honors mothers with gifts, flowers, and cakes, much like our American holiday in May, Mother’s Day.  Today, we would like to send a “Happy Mum’s Day” to one of our sweetest English friends…Ilse Ridgway!   Here is a lovely picture of Ilse and her husband, Alan. As many of you know, we ...

This past week we celebrated two birthdays! Zachary turned 19 on Saturday, the 22nd... and  Chase turned 21 on Tuesday the 25th.  Where on earth did the time go?  (Notice Zach playing the "one-stringed" guitar!)  Those easy days of PJ’s until 10 a.m. and Barney are gone…  now mornings are filled with rushing around and getting to college classes on time. I DO love them being adults; I enjoy the interaction with them, but in looking back, I miss those early years. Funny how it is though, I remember thinking those early years as hard, I was always tired! Ha. A reminder to myself to enjoy each day as it comes…  Left to Right: Zach, Grayson, Chase, and Miss Spenser Zachary’s Birthday Cake:  Chocolate Kaluah Cake (Recipe from Cookbook Vol. 1)  Chase’s Birthday Cake: Cinnamon Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting Barney is our cake-topper tradition with Chase because he loved Barney so much as a lit...

Hills as green as emeralds Cover the countryside Lakes as blue as sapphires- And Ireland's special pride And rivers that shine like silver Make Ireland look so fair- But the friendliness of her people Is the richest treasure there . We had a fun-filled Irish Tea weekend! Look at what one of our guests brought us! Irish Soda Bread! My favorite!  I love soda bread ~ I could eat the whole loaf by myself! Happy St. Patrick's Day!