Monday, April 4, 2022

Cotswold Kitchen

 

The Cotswolds is one of my favorite areas in England that I have visited often. I was a teenager when I went there for the very first time and already back then I was captured by its gently rolling hills and the honey colored houses. During the late 80s and early 90s and then again late 90s I spent time in the Cotswolds every year and got to know it quite well. After we had moved to California we traveled extensively in the US to get to know this country better. But in 2014 we visited the Cotswolds again and I found it quite changed. The once quiet and charming little villages had become bustling tourist destinations - thank you (not), Rick Steves!

But the area was still lovely. We stayed in a lovely farm house B&B in the countryside at the end of a narrow country lane.



There were lovely plants at the front entrance (that no one used, everyone got in through the back door). My clematis are never as gorgeous as this one.




Of course the heart of the house was the kitchen. And the heart of the kitchen was this old Aga.



In many English novels that are set in the countryside you can read about the Aga. When I was much younger I loved to read the novels by Rosamunde Pilcher (wonderful soft un-challenging feel good novels) and the kitchens in her books always have an Aga and a scrubbed wooden table. It was just like this kitchen!




The lady of the house didn't use this Aga anymore since she cooked our breakfast in a more modern kitchen. But I thouroughly enjoyed sitting in this kitchen right out of Rosamunde Pilcher's books!


The view out of the kitchen through those old windows was lovely as well.


And what do you drink in an English country kitchen? Tea of course - with milk! That's my ticket to Elizabeth's T Tuesday.



22 comments:

kathyinozarks said...

Hi Carola, I really enjoyed reading about this charming place. Love that stove. Beautiful flowers, thanks so much for sharing Happy T Kathy

Mae Travels said...

I went on a tour of the Cotswolds once, years ago, when visiting Oxford for a while. It was still unspoiled! Recently, though, my encounters are with a dismantled-then-rebuilt Cotswold farmstead that is in the museum-like collection of old buildings of Greenfield Village near Detroit. I love your kitchen photos! I definitely remember novels that mention an Aga.

best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I've always wondered about the Cotswolds. I love your photos of the lane, the house, the garden, and of course the kitchen. In that kitchen, I felt sure I was in Mrs. Chapman's kitchen in the Grantchester vicarage. Or maybe I was in Cathy Keating's kitchen. Although I never see Mrs. McCarthy cooking anything for Father Brown, she always has food either on the table or in a basket going to someone. I loved seeing that incredible stove. I knew Father Brown was shot in the Cotswolds, so this post is especially interesting to me.

Loved seeing your mug opf tea, but the milk liiks a bit weak after drinking 1/2 and 1/2 all the time in my tea and coffee.

Thanks for sharing this great kitchen and area with us for T this week, dear Carola.

My name is Erika. said...

I have never been to the Cotswolds, but I have read a lot of Rosamunde Pilcher. What a lovely place to stay. And I would enjoy having breakfast by the AGA. And those flowers are gorgeous. I've had the Cotswolds on my wish list for quite awhile now, and I think I need to push it up on the list. Have a great T day and week Carola. Hugs-Erika

Linda Kunsman said...

The Cotswolds have always been another place I would love to spend time in. How wonderful to have been there so many times. This B & B is so charming, and that Aga stove- be still my heart! I wouldn't have wanted to leave. Thanks for sharing these beautiful memories. happy T day!

My name is Erika. said...

Good recognition of the photo on my blog post Carola. Capital Reef is the one National Park in Utah I haven't been to. Hope it's as good as the others.

Lorrie said...

What a charming post, Carola! I have read all the Rosamunde Pilcher books, too, and was enthralled by the Agas mentioned in the stories. The kitchens always seemed so cozy and welcoming. I have visited the Cotswolds just once, and it wasn't very touristy in the area we were in. I loved the villages, the churchyards, the honeycoloured stone, and the stone walls. Would love to return there some day.

jinxxxygirl said...

My goodness Carola those pictures are gorgeous! Honey colored houses.. really excites the imagination... Thank you so much for taking us there. Happy happy Tday! hugs! deb

Elephant's Child said...

I have watched numerous television programs about the Cotswolds and longed to visit. Some day perhaps. Your photos have added fuel to my longing.

Iris Flavia said...

Your description of Rosmanunde Pilcher sure made me curious - and that stove kinda scares me!
Boy. Women were doing a man´s job for sure back then!

Good idea. I will add milk to my tea today. It´s cold enough for tea, still.

Great Britain... a long, long time ago.
Oh, boy. I´m getting old! ;-)

nwilliams6 said...

Great pictures and love that stove! Thanks for sharing all this, Carola. Definitely tea and milk - I drink it several times a day. I shall think of this post when I drink it today. Happy T-day and hugz

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

What charming views you showed here, Carola, and yes we would like to visit the Cotswolds, one day (sigh). We met a couple many years ago who have a cottage there and it's been a goal to one day visit as we still keep in contact through emails, cards and notes.Coincidentally, we share the same wedding anniversary date and the plan is to one day celebrate together! Yes, that Aga was a staple in many British novels I've read that mentioned the kitchen. It's a wonderful piece of history and nice that the farmhouse B&B has retained it even if just for visitor appeal.

Divers and Sundry said...

Thank you for this lovely introduction to the area :) No wonder it's popular with tourists! Happy T Tuesday

DVArtist said...

This is a lovely place, Carol. How fortunate that you were able to visit there. That stove is amazing. Have a lovely day today.

Valerie-Jael said...

The Cotswolds area is really beautiful. We used to have an Aga, too, till it got thrown out for a new gas-stove! But I am not a fan of Rosamund Pilcher. Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie

CJ Kennedy said...

Lovely area. As you said, right out of a novel. Happy T Day

Kate Yetter said...

I have watched a lot of Rick Steves videos and yes, he talks about the Cotswolds often. It certainly is lovely! I can see how you enjoyed visiting there. I have never heard of the stove called by that name but it looks familiar. I may have to read some English novels. Any suggestions?
Happy Tea Day,
Kate

Let's Art Journal said...

The Cotswolds is a lovely place and thanks for sharing all the beautiful views and sights - amazing 😀. Happy T Day! Hugs Jo x

Jeanie said...

I was one of those tourists on a day-trip bus and I fell in love with the Cotswolds. I would adore a longer stay there in a B&B like the one you chose. My cousin has an Aga. I never wanted to leave her kitchen! What a wonderful holiday.

Spyder said...

Great post, and I will go to the Cotswolds sometime soon! Its on my bucket list. The trouble is, people want to move there from the cities, so the prices of houses go up and then the young families can't afford them but the city folk can and they really have no idea how to treat the countryside, even where I am they are building houses on what once was farm land, where cows and sheep once lived. The house in my pictures, number two, where I lived, had an aga just like that, as I remember the odd fireplace in the living room was somehow connected to it and there was a small warming oven that mum cooked rice puddings in! Also looking out any window would have looked out over the garden, and the fields and orchards beyond. Happy T Day!! ((Lyn))

Sharon Madson said...

Lovely. Thanks for sharing. I made a note of the author you mentioned. Happy belated T Day.

Empire of the Cat said...

I love the Cotswolds too, and lived there for a while. Thanks for sharing these photos. So sorry, RL got in the way, and I am terribly late. Happy T Day! Elle/EOTC xx