Welcome to this week’s Hearth and Soul Link Party! It’s a whole new world these days, and I know we are all working hard to negotiate it in our own way. I’m grateful for so many things that can help, from the kindness of friends and neighbours, to our own online community here at Hearth and Soul. I appreciate you all!
Whether your blog posts are old or new, as long as they are about things that feed the soul, they are welcome here at The Hearth and Soul Link Party. 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.
What’s Been Happening
There’s nothing like hearth, home and community to comfort in challenging times. Here in the UK, our stay safe stay home measures have been extended for at least another 3 weeks. I’m grateful for them, as they have allowed us to slow the spread of the virus. This has helped to (mostly) keep the pressure as low as we can on our health services.
It’s hard not seeing family and friends in real life in what truly is a whole new world. However, not rushing out of the measures too quickly will save lives. That makes it all worthwhile. Everyone who has been affected by COVID-19, who has loved ones who are ill, or has lost loved ones is in my prayers.
On The Blog This Week
I am such a fan of Nigella Lawson, and credit her book ‘How to Be a Domestic Goddess’ with rekindling my love of baking many years ago. My twist on her recipe for Chocolate Pear Pudding Cake uses store cupboard ingredients and is very flexible too. Spiked with almond flavouring, it makes a wonderful dessert served with ice cream or chocolate sauce (or both, but I’m not responsible for the consequences!).
Virtual Cup of Tea Calls in a Whole New World – The Latest
As part of navigating a whole new world, I’m planning to hold Virtual Cup of Tea calls on a monthly basis. I look forward to connecting those of you who would like to join in. Keep an eye on my newsletter for more information.
If you aren’t a subscriber already, please do sign up to stay in the know. You’ll also get a copy of my free e-book with 5 Exclusive Vintage Recipes! Newsletters come out about once per month, although I’m endeavouring to make them a little more frequent. Having said that, you won’t be deluged with email, that is for sure!
Thank you to you all for visiting and sharing your wonderful content.
A Whole New World Featured Posts
A whole new world featured posts include (from top left, clockwise):-
It’s important to stay healthy beyond just avoiding COVID-19, and a good diet can help with that. This Lemon and White Bean Hummus from Carol of Comfort Spring is made from store cupboard staples and is great for healthy snacking.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with everything that is going on. We may not think we are doing enough. However, Lisa of Lisa Notes congratulates us all on the little things we are doing to help in Congratulate Yourself – Thanks for How You Are Helping.
If a whole new world is making you think about being more self-sufficient by starting or expanding your garden, Chris and Melissa of Little Frugal Homestead share their own Homestead Garden Journey to inspire you.
One of the things we’ve struggled with in the UK was a shortage of flour, and then there was no yeast to be had! Helen of 3 Winks Design tried an interesting experiment for baking in these challenging times. Find out how she got in Catching Yeast with Potato Water.
The Hearth and Soul Link Party
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What will you share this week? I look forward to visiting and sharing your posts!
Comments & Reviews
Hi April,
I agree with you April, it is going to be a whole new world, and we will all be changed as a result of our current situation. Hope you stay well and healthy and thanks so much for the party!
Miz Helen
Thank you, Miz Helen! I hope you stay well and healthy too! Have a lovely week.
Hi April!
I think a photo book would be a great gift for Mother’s day this year, or for a senior to give them some happy memories. I hope my post at #8 will be helpful.
Liberty
Hi Liberty, A photo book is always a good idea, especially with Mother’s Day coming. I look forward to your post!
Thanks so much for hosting! I’m linking up today with WHO ARE YOU BLOGGING FOR? PART 1 OF 5 and I added links to my 2 current link parties.
Thank you for visiting, Dee!
I Would Love To get a copy of the loaf recipie, I have just started My amish Bread Run, And Looking for other bread options.
Thank You.
Hi David, I don’t have a lot of bread recipes on the site (yet), but if you type ‘bread’ in the search bar in the side bar, they do come up. Is there any particular kind of bread you are looking for?
I agree, I’d much rather have a slow easing back into normal to be safe.
Thank you, Barbara. Take care and stay safe.
Thank you for hosting! I’m at #’s 30 &31 this week. Have a safe & healthy one!
Thank you, Suzan! I hope your week is safe and healthy too!
Yes, our attitude about this time of quarantine makes all the difference. There’s space here for some assessment of what’s important and, I’m trusting that we’ll all come out of this time better than we went into it.
You are so right, Michele! Although I deplore the cause of our quarantine, I hope we will be better for it on so many levels.
Good morning, April. Thanks so much for hosting another fun party. Stay healthy!
Thank you, Katie! You too!
It is wise that the UK has extended stay home measures. It will certainty saves lives, which I agree is the most important thing. I don’t know what to expect here in the U.S. 🙁
Thanks for highlighting my post from last week. I’m still having to work on congratulating myself for staying home because it seems so counterintuitive. lol.
I know what you mean, Lisa. I spent much of last year trying to take the blog more ‘into real life’ and also to go out and network more. I was just getting the hang of it!
I am wondering what will happen in the US and Canada as well. It’s a worrying time, but I pray we will all be okay. Take care and stay well.
Hi April, thank you for hosting! Have a good week.
I hope your week is good too, Dalila! Stay well!
Thanks so much for featuring my hummus. I hope you have a great week! Stay well.
Thank you, Carol. You too!
The beautiful thing about all this change is the change you can bring to your own life! We, humans, are very strong and resilient, we can come out better, happier and stronger…Have a great week ahead and thanks for hosting!
I agree, Melynda. That is a wonderful way to look at it! I hope your week is lovely too. Take care!
My husband and I are “high risk” so we will be continuing with social distancing until there is a successful vaccine or definite cure. It’s our new reality. I don’t mind so much except it Hurst not to hug my grandchildren.
Oh Pat, that is really hard! I’m sorry you are having to continue with social distancing like this, but I am grateful that you and your husband are strong enough to do it. It will help keep you all safe until a successful vaccine or cure is found. Hopefully it won’t be too long. I’m definitely praying!
April, my husband and I feel much the same way. It’s worth the inconvenience to help prevent the spread of this virus. There have been many upsides. I was talking to my husband about what a nice Sunday we had yesterday. We spent time with our church family on Zoom, spent time reading our own Bibles, my husband enjoyed golf tournament reruns while I scrapbooked, we had a relaxing lunch and dinner together and a restful evening. Not a bad way to spend the Lord’s Day!
That does sound like a truly lovely, Sunday, Donna. I think you are right, there are upsides, and we will learn from this experience. Take care.
Thank you for the wonderful party and I hope you’re having a lovely week.
Thank you so much for visiting and sharing, Chas. I hope you are doing well. Have a lovely week.
Thanks April for featuring my A Homestead Garden Journey this week! I know that we are seeing more and more gardens pop up around here. And seed companies are having a hard time keeping up with the demand. So many folks are concerned about food security and working to grow more of it for themselves – it’s a good thing!
I love visiting each week to see how things are going for you in the UK.
Take care,
Melissa | Little Frugal Homestead
It’s a pleasure, Melissa. We are finding the same thing here. All the garden centres are closed, but the online companies are struggling to keep up with demand as well! Thank you for your support of Hearth and Soul. Take care and stay well.
Thank you for hosting! This is what I featured the week of 4-13 to 4-17-20 on my blog. On Tuesday was Best Potato Salad From Grandma. Wednesday was Creamy Lemon Bars GF. Thursday was Tuna Noodle Casserole. And winding up this Week of Stay at Home is Tip Friday Safely Freezing Meat and How-To make Homemade Brown Sugar. Enjoy! Think positive!
Definitely thinking positive here, Marilyn 🙂 I hope all is well with you too. Thank you for visiting and sharing!
I always say I am no good to people dead and somewhat good to people alive. Want to stop the spread of this. That cake looks really yummy. Thanks for hosting and I hope that your family is safe and healthy.
Thank you so much, Patrick! I would say you are very good to people alive – but I agree, we want to stop this spreading. We are all well, thank you. I hope you and yours are too. Take care.
So glad to see so many staying in being healthy and protecting others. It is difficult for many and I am proud of their sacrifice. Thank you so much April for sharing my wild yeast experiment! It is a lot of fun to be home trying out new (Or old) skills!
It really is, Helen, and I agree! I was fascinated by your experiment Helen and really enjoyed chatting to you about it on the Virtual Cup of Tea, as well as reading your blog about it. Thank you for sharing! Take care and stay well.
I agree with you that we need to make sure that it is safe before we end the self quarantining. With our president so eager to restart the economy, people are getting riled and protesting their “imprisonment.” I’m sure some of our governors will cave and resume business as normal to soon. Because the almighty dollar is more important than people’s lives. I apologize, this turned into rant….
Best to you and your family!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
No apology necessary, Michelle, I can totally understand where you are coming from! Thank you for visiting and sharing. Best wishes to you and yours too – stay well!
Thank you so much for hosting! This week I am excited to share my favorite spots in Minocqua, a painted TV tray DIY, and my rustic fireplace mantel! Hope you have a wonderful day, and stay safe and healthy!
Thank you for visiting and sharing, Kristin! I look forward to a virtual visit to Minocqua as well as your other posts! Hope you have a lovely weekend. Stay safe and well.
That cake and ice cream looks heavenly.
Thank you, Lauren!
April, thank you so much for hosting. Your lovely blog helps give us a sense of “normal” these days!
What a lovely compliment, Jean! Thank you so much!