Hello and welcome to the May 2024 edition of The Hearth and Soul Link Party. What’s new in your corner of the world?
My husband and I are enjoying settling into our home post the renovations. I am so pleased that we had all the work done. It has really given the house a new energy and I love how it feels as well as how it looks. (Photo by Terry Joshi Images.)
The Hearth and Soul Link Party welcomes family-friendly 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.
The Latest
I am writing this from the Bay Area in California, where we arrived earlier this week. My husband is here on business and I am enjoying the sunshine. I am also looking forward to catching up with friends, including Sandi of Fearless Dining, Beth of OMG Yummy and author and website designer Pauline Wiles.
We visited Paris last weekend for my husband’s annual university reunion weekend. We had a wonderful time catching up with friends, and we managed to fit in quite a lot of sightseeing too. I will be updating my Visiting Paris post as soon as I can to include even more things to see and do in the French capital.
It was a very quick turn around for our flight to San Francisco; we were only home for 48 hours!
On The Blog – May 2024 Edition
Planning a visit to Jersey in the Channel Islands – or fancy a virtual visit if a real life visit is not on the cards at the moment?
Get the inside scoop of Things to See and Do In Jersey and our favourite Jersey Restaurants on the blog now.
There is a brand new recipe on the blog, another vintage gem from my late mom’s recipe box.
Lemon Poppy Seed Pound Cake has a buttery texture and sweet tangy flavour. It is delicious for afternoon tea, a snack or dessert. (Photo by Terry Joshi Images.)
I also shared some delicious Spring Salad Recipes and Carrot Walnut Bran Muffins, one of my favourite breakfasts at the moment.
Plus there is everything you need to know about visiting Hampton Court Palace on the banks of the River Thames, and a review of Kevin Kwan’s upcoming novel, Lies and Weddings in my New Book Releases post too!
The Hearth and Soul Community on Facebook
We now have over 70 members in our friendly Hearth and Soul Community on Facebook. Thank you all for your support! If you are not already a member, please do come on over and see us. The Community gives you even more opportunity to share your content and also offers a deeper connection with other community members. We would love to welcome you.
Featured Posts – May 2024 Edition
Thank you all for sharing your wonderful content! I appreciate your support of Hearth and Soul. Some of the posts that caught my eye this month include the following:-
From The Hearth and Soul Community on Facebook
Heather of Modern Woman Old Soul shared a wonderful Traditional Cottage Pie recipe. Cottage Pie is one of my favourite comfort foods.
If you are looking for a pretty treat for Mother’s Day or afternoon tea, these Pansy Topped Shortbread Cookies from Karin of Karin’s Cottage would be perfect.
From The Hearth and Soul Link Party
I was challenged and excited by Lisa of Lisa Notes’ post Is Technology Stealing Your Handwriting, which explores the value of a handwritten letter and keeping in touch in a more personal way.
Looking for a fun idea for children’s birthday parties? Don’t miss these ideas for hosting a Cooking Birthday Party from Priyam at Simple Joys.
These Homemade Croutons from Drugstore Divas look really yummy and they are a great way to avoid wasting leftover bread too!
Join Pat of Mille Fiori Favoriti for a virtual tour of Scotland’s Loch Ness – and find out if she spotted the monster!
Laurie and Laura from Our Grand Lives have some really cute ideas for Mother’s Day Treasures, gifts that little ones can help to make.
The Hearth and Soul Link Party – May 2024 Edition
The Hearth and Soul Link Party is held monthly, opening on the first Sunday of every month and remaining open until the 25th of the month, or until 300 entries are reached. Please share a maximum of 8 links per month here at the party. (You can share more in the Hearth and Soul Community on Facebook all month long.)
Please share the permalink to your blog post with the May 2024 edition, not a link to the home page of your blog. Please do not link to anything except blog posts. You can share other types of content in the Hearth and Soul Community on Facebook.
By submitting a post to the May 2024 edition of the link party here, you assert that you own the content and photographs. You also give me permission to share them here on the blog as well as on Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), and both my own Facebook page , The Hearth and Soul Link Party page and The Hearth and Soul Community Facebook Group.
The May 2024 edition is open until 25th May so please come back as often as you like. I look forward to seeing what you will share this month and to seeing you for the June 2024 edition of Hearth and Soul, going live on Sunday June 2nd. Have a wonderful month!
Comments & Reviews
How nice to have the renovations done. I love the blue cabinets, marble-looking backsplash, and inset bookshelf. Hope you have a good time in CA!
Thank you so much, Barbara! I hope you have a wonderful month ahead!
April, it’s so good to connect with you today!
As always, thanks for hosting your amazing party.
Hope you are having a marvelous month (and enjoying following you on your travels!)
It’s lovely to connect with you too, Ramona! Thank you so much, and thank you for visiting and sharing too. I hope you are having a marvelous month of May as well.
Glad you had a fun little trip to Paris! The lemon poppy seed pound cake looks delicious. It’s been quite awhile since I’ve had any. We’re in fresh strawberry season here, so I’ve had strawberry shortcake this week and make a fresh strawberry pie today. 🙂
Thanks for featuring my handwriting post! Have a great May, April!
Thank you, Lisa, we really did enjoy it!
It is a pleasure to feature your post.
I love strawberry season! I often serve strawberries alongside pound cakes. Strawberry shortcake really brings back memories and I love strawberry pie as well. I have fond memories of the rhubarb strawberry pie my late mom used to make. Thank you for bringing them back! I must try to duplicate her recipe – it is one of the few she did not write down.
I hope you have a great May too, Lisa!
Hi April
Happy month of May! Have a wonderful time in California and visiting friends.
Thank you for featuring my post on Loch Ness today. We enjoyed our visit to Scotland very much–I’m still blogging about it 🙂
Hi Pat
Thank you so much! Happy May to you too!
I am so glad you enjoyed your trip – I am really enjoying your posts about it! Thank you again for sharing.
It’s lovely when we enjoy our homes April, I’m so glad you’re enjoying yours. ☺️
Thank you for hosting & I hope you have a great month.
Blessings, Jennifer
Thank you so much, Jennifer. I hope you have a great month too.
Blessings to you!
Happy Bank Holiday Monday, April. Thanks so much for hosting the link up. I have been watching your home posts 🙂 Lovely photo of you both.
Thank you, Claire! Hope you are having a wonderful Bank Holiday Monday!
April, how nice to have all of the house renovations all done and I know you are going to love cooking in your new kitchen. How nice to be traveling now too. Thanks for hosting the link-up and enjoy the week.
Thank you, Julie, it really is lovely to be finished! I am so happy to be travelling again, that is for sure. I hope you have a great week too.
What the world travelers you are! I hope you have a great time in California.
Thank you, Joanne! I hope you have a lovely month of May!
Nice, you are in my neck of the woods. Hope you enjoy. Thanks for hosting and thanks for hosting this great party.
And what a lovely neck of the woods it is, Patrick! I’m glad the weather is picking up too. Thank you for visiting and sharing. I hope you are having a great week.
Wow… Paris to the Bay Area! What fun travels you are having! Thank YOU so much for highlighting our “Mother’s Day Treasures” post! We so appreciate it! Wishing you safe travels and a wonderful month of May, April!
It’s a pleasure, and thank you so much, Laura! I hope your month is wonderful too!
Hi April! We’re back again, with a special new post (#161). Thanks so much for providing this monthly opportunity to gather and share with this community!
Hi Laura! Thank you so much for being part of the Hearth and Soul Community! Have a lovely weekend.
I’m a travel addict, so I relish seeing all your travel photos. 🙂 Thank you for hosting this wonderful linkup. I’ve shared links 137 and 138, and I’m off now to visit and comment on 2 other posts. Have a wonderful time in California!
Thank you, Jennifer, and thank you for visiting and sharing too.
I am so happy that I found your linkup, thanks for hosting, April and having me over, sharing with your readers.
My entries this month #142+143.
It’s a pleasure, Esme! Welcome! I have added your SSPS link to the link up as any links in the comments get removed by my system. I look forward to visiting your links 142 and 143 and your link up! Have a lovely week!