Unbeknownst to me, my ties with England began some 20 years ago.
Let me stop right here and give a little background information to you all. Before my vision for Cotswold Kitchen Mom ever came to be, I was a young girl- eager for an adventure written by God. I was not aware of concepts like slow cottage living, English traditional recipes, thrifting, or even homeschooling. Simply put, I was a young lady excited for the future… and excited to be alive.
Allow me to set the scene for your mind: “Picture this, the year was 2004 and my high school class had decided to take a senior trip to England.”
Our trip was a lovely experience, and my first time out of the United States, so a very memorable time in my young life.
During our weeklong stay, we were mostly stationed in London, Stratford, and Oxford- where we did all the main “touristy” things. We enjoyed spicy curries, traditional fish and chips, tea and scones, and some of the most delicious chocolates, breads, and sharp, white cheddar cheeses I had ever had!
This was only the tip of the iceberg- continue following along to see how my English inspired lifestyle began to unfold. For this was the story of something ordinary becoming something lovely.
~Tea and Scones-An Ordinary (Yet Lovely) English Delight~
Of all the treats, the hot tea and scones were my personal favorite.
You see, I am from the south, where we like our southern sweet tea. But my mom is from the North- where they enjoy hot tea. Therefore, I had already learned to appreciate a “cuppa” hot tea from an early age.
For those of you unfamiliar with a “cuppa” that is English slang for a hot black tea with milk and sugar. Delish! If you have not ever had the pleasure of trying a “cuppa”, go make a cup of hot tea right now. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Now, if you really want to be posh- try adding a fresh English scone to the hot tea sipping experience. Now that…that, will tip it over the edge from ordinary to extraordinary!
As a young woman, it was such a fancy, fine treat (and a lovely experience) to drink proper tea- poured from a proper teapot- into a proper teacup. All the while, immersing myself in the English culture and beautiful English countryside. That was a dining experience, that was… and still is, hard to top in my opinion. (The epitome of English inspired, slow living).
~How to Enjoy a Cup of English Tea~ :
Naturally, I am sidestepping a little here, but while we are on the topic of English tea… I thought I would give my top tips on how to enjoy a “cuppa” English tea.
The tips are simple, the setting varies, but the comfort of the “cuppa” tea is always the constant.
First, good English black tea is a must.
Second, a lovely teacup is necessary.
Third, a scone- or at very least- a few English biscuits are needed. (See my post on English Biscuits here:).
Fourth, a dash of vintage and feminine tabletop charm is always appreciated.
Fifth, good company is welcome.
By following these simple suggestions, you too can create an English inspired tea table experience.
~The History and Beauty of England~
Back on topic: As we walked about the streets, my friends and I all appreciated the red phone boxes- and letter boxes- as well as the many double-decker buses and black cabs. Of course, we enjoyed seeing the iconic sites like Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, the crown jewels, Shakespeare’s home, and Oxford University- to name but a few.
The history and age of the homes and buildings was mind boggling to American students. We thought a building of one hundred and fifty years was very old. We had no idea. Our idea of age was shattered, and our minds broadened, to the vast size and scale of the world.
~How My Visit to Oxford, England Inspired Me~
When we visited Oxford University, we admired the peaceful stone streets and beautiful ancient architecture. I loved seeing all the bicycles lined up on the streets- and I remember wandering about in awe of the city’s beauty.
As I walked in wonder, I suddenly spotted in the corner of my eye, a tree with pink flowers. Behind the pink buds was an old building with a unique twisted column that caught my eye. “A proper barley twist building.” (my mind said). Instinctively, I snapped a photograph- and kept moving- so as not to get separated from our group.
~My Return to America~
Alas, the good times came to an end. My class and I returned to our homeland with memories that would last a lifetime.
Upon my arrival in America, I almost immediately had the photograph of the proper “barley twist building” and lovely pink, flowering tree developed and printed. I just loved it that much. Whatever it was about this spot I may never know, but I know it truly captured my imagination. Unbeknownst to me then, the photograph would “call” me back to it, at a later time in my life.
I loved the photograph so much that I framed the picture and brought it with me wherever I lived after our trip to England (my parent’s home, my college apartment(s), and my first teaching job.) The photo was always framed- and always on my bedroom wall beside me.
~How I Found My Way Back to Oxford- Again~
Fast forward ten years later to 2014, my now English husband (Craig) and I were dating, and I made a second trip over to England to see him. I was to meet his family for the first time. Naturally, I mentioned this photograph to Craig. We thought it would be fun to try and find the same Oxford spot.
So, we planned our route, photograph in hand. After a fair amount of searching-we finally found it! The spot…the enchanting spot.
~Life is an Adventure~
A little different angle, a different tour guide, a different season, and a whole decade later … but sure enough, the very same spot. At the time (in 2004), I never could have imagined that ten years later, in 2014, I would find my way back to it! And even more amazing, was the fact that another three years later (2017), my Englishman Craig and I were married and living just an hour away from Oxford University. We were about to give birth to our first precious daughter…in-you guessed it-Oxford, England!
Life is surely an adventure! I wish I had written a note back in 2004 and hidden it to see if it was still there on my second visit in 2014. Now that would have been an awesome story to tell! (And while I didn’t leave a note there…I have left a few hidden notes in England, Wales, and America, but then that is another blog post!)
After we took the second photograph of my special Oxford spot, we went into a little, ancient café (small doors, short ceilings, and charming ripple glass windows). We had a lovely table in the upstairs portion of the café where we enjoyed a lovely “cuppa” tea and scones with clotted cream.
It was the perfect ending to a perfect fairy tale day. But also, the beginning of a wonderful (English inspired) story together.
*Photos Craig and I took on my second journey to Oxford and London.
~The Adventure Continues Today: ~
None of us know what our next moment will hold-but the Almighty God does. Each day of my life adventure has been written by Him. Looking back on the happenings of life often allows us to trace His hand.
I do not know exactly what my future holds, but I do know the One who holds it in his hands. I look forward to seeing what future adventures my husband, and my children, and I may have together.
To read about my early married life adventures read here. And to read more about my Cotswold Kitchen Mom vision and mission-see my About page here: For questions and curiosities visit my FAQ page to learn more.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog to read more of these adventures- as I record them with my writings, photographs, and posts. Also, for small insights into my daily life here in America, follow my Facebook and Pinterest pages.
~Final Thoughts~
To finish this post off, why not end with a lovely handmade air dry- clay heart- featuring two love birds? The one on the left symbolizes me- and the one the right symbolizes my loving husband. This easy craft can be seen in one of my English inspired posts here:
I hope to see you all again soon!
Until then…
~Cotswold Kitchen Mom (Elizabeth)~