Hello Spring! It’s a new season at the Hearth and Soul Link Party and we are celebrating with lots of ideas and inspiration to help you make the most of it. Welcome!
The Hearth and Soul Link Party welcomes blog posts about anything that feeds the soul. Things that feed the soul may include (but are not limited to) recipes, decorating, crafts, family, home, DIY, organization, travel, book reviews, the arts and self improvement.
A New Season
This month marks a year since everything changed. In the UK, we are marking a Day of Reflection on Tuesday 23rd March, the anniversary of the first lockdown, to remember those who have died from COVID-19.
However, there is much hope on the horizon with the coming of a new season. I hope that things are looking up where you are as well. Here in the UK more than half of our adult population has been vaccinated and I’m very grateful to be among them. Spring flowers are blooming and while it’s still a bit chilly here, most days you can definitely feel spring in the air.
From 29th March, if all stays on schedule, slight relaxations in lockdown restrictions mean we will be able to travel more than 5 to 10 miles from our own homes for the first time since before Christmas, and visit with up to 5 other people outside. This means that my husband and I will be able to see our son and his partner. We can’t wait. I’m praying for good weather that week!
What’s Been Happening?
I’ve been working on the printable recipe ebook that participants in the Online British Afternoon Tea Class I’m running with my friend Jen of Fearless in the Kitchen Cooking School will receive. There are only a few places remaining so please do sign up if you are hoping to join us. Hope to see you there!
Last week I shared an easy, flexible and wholesome recipe perfect for busy days.
My Easy Mediterranean Sausage and Vegetable Bake recipe is an easy sheet pan dinner the whole family will love. There’s a vegetarian option too!
If you are in the mood for some Spring Cleaning but want to keep things natural, I may be able to help.
My Natural Cleaning Tips That Really Work can help you keep your home sparkling clean using as few chemicals as possible.
Thank you all for sharing your content so generously at the Hearth and Soul Link Party!
A New Season Featured Posts
A new season featured posts (from top left, clockwise);-
Be inspired by the past to make the most of a new season! Niky of A House on Silverado shared an Old Fashioned Poundcake and a bit about Martha and George Washington too!
Looking for an impressive yet easy to make Easter cake? Don’t miss this Easter Bunny KitKat Cake from Butter with a Side of Bread.
A light and flaky pastry made with just two ingredients? Yes please! I’m so taken with this recipe for Plum Hand Pies Using 2 Ingredient Dough from Nora and Treat & Trick.
I love all the colours and textures in this gorgeous Tablescape in Green and White with Pops of Colour for a new season from Sandra at Dinner at Eight.
Right, on with the party!
The Hearth and Soul Link Party
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- Please consider sharing the party with your friends and followers. There are share buttons at the top and bottom of this post to help make it easy.
Take care and have a wonderful week! I look forward to seeing your posts.
Comments & Reviews
I’m so very glad things are looking brighter for you all, April! We’re feeling lots of hope here as well. I and my whole family will be fully vaccinated by mid-April. So very happy about that! I can’t wait to see everyone again!! And I’m ready for the warmer Spring weather.
I like your cleaning tips. I use vinegar for a lot of things, including as fabric softener. Those hand pies are adorable and look amazing!
I’ve linked up my Cauliflower Power cookbook giveaway (such a terrific book!) with a sample recipe from it, Shepherd’s Pie with Whipped Cauliflower Topping as well as my newly updated roundup of gluten-free oatmeal cookies. Yum on all!
Have a great week! Thanks for hosting as always. 🙂
Shirley
Thank you so much, Shirley! I’m so pleased things are looking better for you as well. Your Cauliflower Power cookbook looks amazing, and I love the idea of Shepherd’s Pie with Whipped Cauliflower Topping. Everything sounds delicious (especially the cookies!). I hope you have a wonderful week as well!
I’m so glad things are looking up for you! Your latest lockdown has to have been a real challenge, but I suspect your government saved a lot of lives by doing so. And I applaud your government’s strategy in getting so many vaccinated quickly.
Here in the US different states are rolling out vaccinations with different strategies. In our state (Nevada) about 15% of the adult population has been fully vaccinated (meaning 2 vaccines) Unfortunately, due to Trump having politicized the pandemic about 50% of Republicans are refusing vaccination. It’s so sad. But my husband and I got our first vaccine last Tuesday – ahead of schedule. So that’s been nice for us.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
Thank you, Michelle! I’m so glad you and your husband have had your first vaccination. It is sad that some people are turning down the privilege of being vaccinated. I’m glad things are going well for you though. Take care and have a lovely week!
Thanks so much for hosting! I’m linking up with OUTSTANDING BLOGGER AWARD – DELIGHTFUL REPAST and HAVE YOU EVER HAD COKE WITH PEANUTS?
Thank you for visiting and sharing, Dee!
That would be wonderful to have restrictions eased up a bit more! I will have to look into those natural cleaners. I don’t like the smell of many commercial cleaners and wonder how healthy they are.
It really would, Barbara. I’m really hoping everything goes according to plan. I do like to use natural cleaners where I can. I hope some of my ideas work for you too 🙂 Take care.
Glad things are improving April. I also received my first vaccine this week, and my husband had his second. I feel so fortunate, and so relieved!
Thank you so much, Leslie! I’m very glad to hear that your husband has had his second vaccination and that you have had your first. It’s definitely a good feeling to be vaccinated. Take care and have a lovely week.
Happy Sunday, April. Thanks for hosting 🙂 I am hoping things will pick up tomorrow. My dog Mollie is having another operation to remove more cancer. I am hoping they can remove it and it has not spread x
I will be thinking of you and Mollie tomorrow and saying a prayer too, Claire. Take care and I hope all goes well. x
Happy Spring April! So many lovely things at your party as always
Wishing you the most wonderful of weeks! 🙂
Thank you so much, Ramona! I hope your week is wonderful too!
April, thanks so much for including my spring green table among your features! What a wonderful surprise for the beginning of a new week!
It’s a pleasure, Sandra! Have a wonderful week!
Happy beginning of Spring!
And to you too, Michele!
Happy Spring April,
Spring always brings renewed hope and a fresh outlook for all of us. My husband and I have both had our first vaccine and will get our second very soon. I am grateful to be able to have it and get on with living! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for the party!
Miz Helen
Happy Spring, Miz Helen! I’m so glad you and Leonard have had your first vaccinations. Guy and I have both had our first ones too. I agree, I’m feeling very grateful. I hope you have a wonderful week!
Hi April
Happy Spring!
I’m #64 in the link-up today. –an interesting sculpture along an unusual area.
It sounds promising that your lockdown will end soon and you can see your son and his partner soon/ I plan on having my family at our home for Easter as all the adults have been vaccinated. It is such a relief!
Hi Pat,
Happy Spring! The lockdown will end in stages here, but I am grateful for this first step of seeing our son and his partner outside.
I am so pleased you will be able to have Easter together with your family! We will be having an online dinner on Easter Sunday as we still cannot meet indoors.
I am hopeful that the timetable will stay on track and our son and his partner will be able to be with us in the house on my birthday in June – but so very grateful to hopefully see them next week outside.
Very pleased to hear all your adult family members have been vaccinated. Take care and have a lovely week!
Thank you so much April for hosting. Have a wonderful day!
I hope your day is wonderful too, Priyam!
I too love to use natural products for cleaning and glad everything happen as planned. Thanks for featuring my Plum Hand Pies using 2 Ingredients Dough, really appreciate it….
It’s a pleasure, Nora, and thank you!
It has surely been a year! I hope you are able to travel and see your family. It is so important.
Thank you so much, Carrie! Take care and stay well.
Good morning and thank you for hosting April!
Thank you for visiting and sharing, Maya! Have a lovely week!
This is what I served this week 3-15 to 3-19-2021 on my blog. Tuesday was Butternut Asiago Tortellaci. Wednesday was Butternut Squash Ravioli. Thursday was Brownie Rice Krispie Surprise. Friday was Caesar salad. Enjoy!
Everything sounds delicious, Marilyn! Thank you for visiting and sharing. Take care and have a lovely week.
April, I look forward to you recipe book. And I’m glad to hear you’ll have a little more freedom of movement and a chance to see your son and his partner. We’ve had more freedom for a while here although we are still careful. My husband and I have had the first shot and will get the second in a few days. We are praying that things get a lot better everywhere.
Thank you so much, Donna. We are definitely praying as well! I’m glad your second vaccination is scheduled. My husband and I will get our second in about 10 weeks time. I’m very grateful to have had the first vaccination though!
Congrats on being vaccinated, April! I’m so excited you will be able to see your son and his partner soon! We dined out in a restaurant with our son and his girlfriend last night, for the first time since this all began. It was lovely and so good for my soul. 🙂
Thanks for featuring my pound cake recipe!
Niky @ The House on Silverado
Thank you, Niky! I’m so happy you were able to dine out in a restaurant with your son and his girlfriend – that is wonderful! Take care and have a lovely week!
That Easter bunny cake is just adorable! Thanks for hosting us. 🙂 I brought by some Italian Dressing Seasoning. Hope you enjoy!
I thought so too, CJ! Thank you for visiting and sharing. Have a lovely week!
I’m glad to hear things are looking up in the UK! Here in Ontario we seem to have dropped the ball in a huge way. We are having a heck of a time getting vaccines for those who are willing to get it. Then we also have the issue of those who think everything is a control tactic from governments around the world and are opposing receiving the vaccination. I just hope life can return to a new normal soon!
Thanks so much for hosting April, and I hope you have a great week!
I am sorry things are moving slowly in Ontario, Cindy. It’s a scary time, but I am sure all will be well eventually. We have had some people refuse to be vaccinated here too. It’s sad because it puts us all at risk and will slow everything down. Luckily the majority are taking up the offer of the vaccination. Take care and I hope you are having a great week too!
Hi April,
Hope this finds you doing well hon. Just linked up, so thank you for hosting this fun linky party. For some reason when I linked up my pics did not come up, but they were there before I hit the done button, so don’t know what happened, just thought I would let you know. Have a great week.
Blessings,
Nellie
Thank you so much for visiting and sharing, Nellie. I’m so pleased the pictures came up eventually. InLinkz can be tricky sometimes, or sometimes it’s just the internet in general. Take care and have a wonderful week. Blessings x
Hi April, Oops I was going back to get your blog address and the pictures are there now.
So thanks anyway.
blessings, Nellie
omg. That little bunny butt cake is darling!
I thought so too, Lauren! I also liked the idea of all those Kit Kats! 😉
Thanks for hosting April! Hard to believe this pandemic has lasted to so long. I hope you are able to visit your son and his partner.
Thank you so much, Marie. Yes, it is hard to believe. Yesterday marked a year since the UK’s first lockdown happened in 2020. Take care and have a lovely week.
We had a slight relaxing of our restrictions as of this past Friday (the 19th) and I am hopeful that we will continue in that direction as well. Here’s hoping you get to see your son and his partner soon!!
Thank you so much, Joanne. I’m so pleased to read that things are moving in a good direction where you are. Take care.
That sausage looks so yummy. And I loved the cake. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
Thank you so much, Patrick. I hope you have a wonderful week as well!