Greetings! How are you? No, really, how are you? With everything that is going on in the world, I think we are all too quick to just say ‘I’m fine’. That said, I hope you will join me in thinking positively and keeping the faith at this week’s Hearth and Soul Link Party. I hope the party will be a little escape for you, a chance to step away from just a moment from the challenges, connect with others in our community and celebrate the positives in our lives. I hope you are all safe and well. If you or your loved ones are anywhere in the path of the terrible fires ravaging the west coast of the US, please know my thoughts and prayers are with you.
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.
NB. Please only share blog posts. Unfortunately links to Facebook posts etc will be deleted.
An Announcement
Sometimes keeping the faith means recognising when you are feeling burned out. I confess to feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment, so I will be leaving the party open for two weeks this time, just to give myself a little break and some time to get my act together. It will also give me time to do some of the writing I’ve been wanting to do, including my long overdue posts on our visits to the New Forest and Cliveden. I’d be very grateful for your prayers as I navigate this time.
This week’s party will be open until Friday 25th September.
Updated to add – My apologies, I somehow set the linky up incorrectly, so for links after 22nd September please scroll to the very bottom of the post below the closed linky!
I will be popping in to visit and share your posts throughout that time.
The next Hearth and Soul Link Party will open on Sunday 27th September.
What’s Been Happening?
I’ve been having a bit of a challenging week due to some minor health issues so I didn’t get as much done as I had hoped this week. Luckily, I’ve got lots of wonderful content you may have missed.
These delicious treats are popular every fall and sure enough they are trending on the blog once again this year.
Learn a little about England’s beautiful Lake District as well as getting a delicious muffin recipe in Pumpkin Gingerbread Muffins Inspired By The Lake District.
Fancy a little armchair travel?
Join me, pre-lockdown, Behind the Scenes at Fortnum and Mason, one of London’s most iconic department stores. I have yet to re-visit this wonderful emporium so things may be different now, but the store has re-opened and is even serving afternoon tea. I’m planning a visit in a couple of week’s time as we will be in London for a wedding.
Speaking of afternoon tea…
If you’ve ever wondered about the very British tradition of afternoon tea, don’t miss What Is British Afternoon Tea Really? There are a lot of myths about, so join me as I share the inside scoop!
Keeping the Faith Featured Posts
Thank you all for sharing your content and being a part of the Hearth and Soul Community.
Keeping the faith featured posts include (from top left, clockwise):-
Pat of Mille Fiori Favoriti shares a bit of history and a beautiful celebration of faith in Italians in Denver.
A Spirit of Simplicity inspires us as we work on keeping the faith with a beautiful Diary of Home.
Shirley at Gluten Free Easily has some Gluten-Free Muffins That Taste Like Donuts for us to enjoy.
Celebrate Back to School with this beautiful, nostalgic piece from Amy of Days of Small Things.
The Hearth and Soul Link Party
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- Please do not link to anything except blog posts. Please share the permalink to your blog post, and not to the home page of your blog.
- Linking your blog posts here means you consent to me sharing as many of them as I can on Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook and featuring them on my blog with photographs from the post. It’s easier for me to share if you have share buttons on your blog, and if you put links to your social media on your home page.
- 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.
What will you share this week? Wishing you a wonderful couple of weeks!
For Links after 19th September, please link up here
Comments & Reviews
Hello April, happy Sunday. Thank you for hosting the link party each week.
Thank you for featuring my vintage school decor! It really made my day!
Best
Amy
I’m so pleased, Amy! It’s a pleasure 🙂
Hi April–I’m so sorry that you’ve been dealing with some health issues and going through a bit of a challenging time. Even “minor” health issues can make life more overwhelming. Hope you get some quality down time and recovery time these next 2 weeks, dear!
Thanks so much for featuring Cinde’s guest post recipe, Gluten-Free Muffins That Taste Like Donuts. It’s one of my favorites for sure. Plus, I (and everyone else!) want the Buffalo plaid coffee mug she shows in that post. 🙂
This week I’m linking up a new roundup of gluten-free bagel recipes. Amazing and some very easy recipes. Who knew you could make bagels with just three ingredients? And I shared my new Perfect Gluten-Free Fried Chicken Breasts. Only two ingredients required and one of them is the chicken. My family would have me make these multiple times a week!
Take care, dear, and thanks as always for hosting!
Shirley
Thank you so much, Shirley! Take care, and I hope you have a lovely week.
Thinking of you April, and glad you are taking a much needed break. Prayers for rest and healing.
Thank you so much, Leslie 🙂 Take care and have a lovely week.
I hope you are able to get refreshed and recharge on your break. Thanks for hosting! I brought by some Shrimp with Creamy Tomato Basil Sauce. Hope you enjoy. 🙂
Thank you, CJ! 🙂
Hope you enjoy your well-earned break!
Thank you, Michele!
I’m looking forward to the post on the New Forest – that sounds very interesting! Going to go check out those muffins now – the crumble on top looks incredible.
Thank you, Alexandra! I think the crumb is my favourite bit. I’m excited to share the New Forest, it’s such a unique and lovely place.
HI April,
So sorry to hear it’s been a rough week and you’re not feeling the best. Wishing you rest, peace and well-being.
-Niky
The House on Silverado
Thank you so much, Niky!
I’m sorry about the health issues. I hope you enjoy your break and feel well and get lots done.
Thank you so much, Barbara!
Hi April,
2020 has been a bit overwhelming for all of us and it is no wonder that folks are beginning to need a little down time to re-charge and re-group. Hope you get lots of rest in body, mind and spirit! I will be thinking of you and sending positive vibes! Hope to see you back soon!
Miz Helen
That is so true, Miz Helen! 2020 has definitely been challenging. Thank you so much for the positive vibes. Look forward to seeing you on the 27th if not before – and I’ll definitely plan on popping in at Full Plate Thursday too!
I hope you get the rest and balance you need during this break. Wishing you only the best!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
Thank you, Michelle!
I hope you are feeling better and more rested.
Thank you! 🙂
Hi April
Thank you for chosing my blog post as a feature! I really appreciate that. I hope you are feeling better and will be able to catch up with things while you take a little break. We all need one from time to time when life gets hectic. Enjoy your trip to London–I will look forward to seeing more. about that interesting department store. I am intrigued by afternoon tea and wish we also had that custom here in the states. Going to read that post next!
It’s a pleasure, Pat! I’m looking forward to our trip to London. We are going up for a wedding which makes it even more special. 🙂
Thank you for hosting! This is what I featured the week of 9-7 to 9-11 on my blog. On Tuesday was Broasted Chicken. Wednesday was American Goulash. Thursday was Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake. And winding up this week was 30 Minute Flaky Chicken Pot Pie. Enjoy!
Thank you for visiting, Marilyn!
Praying for your health and rejuvenation April. That’s so important to address your personal needs. Thank you for hosting!
Thank you so much, Marielle. I am very grateful for your prayers ❤️
Sending you positive thoughts and healing thoughts. Thanks for all you do. Hope that you have a wonderful break.
Thank you so much for your thoughts, Patrick! I really appreciate them. Take care and I hope you are having a wonderful week.
Dearest April,
First and foremost, please know that my most sincere prayers are with you. I’m sorry that you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, and dealing with some health issues on top of it all! Big, healing hugs, headed your way!
Secondly, thank you for hosting this blog link-up party. I am excited to discover other bloggers and hope that some will come and be inspired at my site too. 💕 I’m grateful for you and send my love to you. Thank you for who you are, what you do, and the joy you spread everywhere you go. You are valued!
Sincerely,
Holly
Dearest Holly,
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, and for your prayers and healing hugs. I deeply appreciate your support, and I’m very grateful for you too! I find your site so helpful and encouraging, and I hope that lots of the Hearth and Soul Community members will come and visit you. I’m so grateful you have joined our community!
Warmly,
April
Ah April! We all need a little break and change of pace once in a while. My prayers are with you as you regroup! We’ve had to do a bit of that lately ourselves with our blog and lives overall and we have seen a lot of blessings and growth. Thank you for all you do to help and support others. Have a good couple of weeks!
Thank you so much, Helen. I really appreciate your prayers. Please know that you and your family are in mine as you navigate this time of in your lives as well. Take care.
I was just thinking the other night how we do seem programmed to say “I’m fine” and from a youngish age too. My 14 year old was in the ER with a possible broken rib and I think he answered “fine” to all the “So, how are we today?” kind of questions. Obviously we were not fine or we wouldn’t have been there! Thankfully nearly a week later and he finally is starting to feel just fine (the ribs were bruised not broken).
I am so glad your youngest is okay! It is interesting though, that he answered ‘fine’ when he had bruised ribs – they definitely don’t make you fine at all! Hope he is healing quickly and feeling much better.
Good morning April. What wonderful features this week. Those pumpkin gingerbread muffins look AMAZING! Thank you so much for hosting and I hope you are enjoying your week 🙂
Thank you so much, Cindy. I think I might make another batch this weekend! Hope you are enjoying your week as well.
Praying for some rest and rejuve for you this week.
Thank you so much, Lauren! I really appreciate your prayers!
April,
Good for you that you recognize that you have to put self-care at the top of your to-do list. Even minor health problems can really take a toll on us! Enjoy your well deserved time to prioritize ! We will miss you and see you in 2 weeks!
Thank you so much, Judee! ❤️
Hey April,
Happy Wednesday and thank you for hosting. As someone who’s diving back into blogging after an extended break, it’s fun to see what other’s are up to.
Thank you for visiting and sharing, Jed. Hope your week is going well.
April, I understand; I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed just now myself. I’ve had the feeling of not quite being able to catch up, May we both find our balance soon! ☺ Thank you for hosting.
Thank you so much, Jean! I will be thinking of you, and I hope we both find our balance soon too. Thank you for visiting and please do take care.
Take care April and get some rest!
Thank you, Erin!
Thanks so much for hosting!
Thank you for visiting, Dee!
Stopped by today to link up, and the party says it’s ended. Will be back on Monday.
Hi Alexandra, I’m really sorry, I must have made an error setting it up. I’m trying to fix it on inLinkz but with no luck. I’ll update the post to reflect it. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.
Edited to add – weirdly it is still showing as open in both Safari and Chrome, and I was even able to add a link in Chrome. I’m really not sure what is going on. Again, my apologies.
Hi again Alexandra, Just to avoid confusion, this is my second comment on your post. Thank you for highlighting this issue. I’ve managed to add another link up to the post to extend the linky and referred to it in the text. If you have time please do pop back to add your link at the very, very bottom of the post. Thank you for highlighting this issue to me.
April,
thank you so much for the party!
iI enjoy it every week
best regards
Uwe
Thank you for your support of Hearth and Soul, Uwe! I’m so glad you enjoy it too. Best wishes!
Thanks so much for hosting April! Hope all is well, and that you are enjoying your week xo
Thank you, Cindy! Hope everything is going well with you too. Have a lovely rest of the week!