Friday, April 7, 2017

Quaint Cottage Homemaking Music and Musings with Video Clip ~ Beatrix Potter Series


"There's nothing like open air for soothing present anxiety
and memories of past sadness."
~ Beatrix Potter in Letter to Mrs. Wight (her friend & neighbor) June 1942


As the modern world has its set of challenges (though we can't forget the blessings too!), often we crave a bit of nostalgia and quaint charm. The following video will take you away to the old world of Beatrix Potter for just a few minutes...


Perhaps it will inspire you to take a moment outside and breathe in the "open air" where spring is a promise of renewal... The dreamy (and yet somewhat haunting) theme song is called "Perfect Day" and is sung by the talented Miriam Stockley.


The video "clip" is an excerpt from the closing credits of BBC's The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends. It was so charming that I felt the need to include it in our Beatrix Potter Spring Series. I thought it would be a whimsical way to start your morning! There was a sweet soundtrack that used to be sold from the DVD set but it is no longer being produced and unfortunately seems quite rare.


Included today are also some lovely photographs of the Lake District cottages and land which were owned (over 4,00 acres!) by Beatrix Potter and later donated to the National Trust.


Imagine walking through this countryside in a long Edwardian gown. Breathe in the fresh air and listen to the melody of the birds... Perhaps you will find some of the same creatures that enchanted Ms. Potter.


One way to transport you back to this world is by planting lavender bushes, roses and an abundance of cottage flowers. Imagine an assortment of delphiniums, hollyhocks and foxgloves. Include some beautiful cottage style stones in your landscaping. I am dreaming of the possibilities as I type this.


For those without garden space, you can still display a few potted herbs in your kitchen which gives your home that same old fashioned feel. The bonus is the fresh garnishes you will have for foods and teas!


For me, the playing of quaint cottage music can always transport you to the "Old World" while performing your daily duties. 


I have included some ideas (per the request of a kind reader). These would be fine choices for some peaceful homemaking moments or to enjoy with our free Beatrix Potter printable coloring book. Do you have any suggestions to add?




Note: All Photos are of Beatrix Potter's Lake District where she herself stands in the above photograph. 

Well, it is time to go... I hope this little post has refreshed you like a cheery pot of tea! 

 Happy Fun Friday to you and have a wonderful weekend!


All the fine print. This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making MondaysModest Mom Monday'sMonday's MusingsGood Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Tuesdays with a TwistRaising HomemakersWise Woman Link UpHomestead Blog Hop Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and ConversationHomemaking ThursdaysHome Sweet HomeOur Simple HomesteadAwesome Life Friday Link Up and Create, Bake, Grow & Gather. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them).

32 comments:

  1. This was a pleasant read. Thank you. And it gave me another idea for where to visit when my husband takes me to England later on this year. :)

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  2. What a lovely post ~ her voice is beautiful. I had not heard of her so now will have to take more of a listen. I could just lose myself in the briars and brambles of those pictures. Just coming out of a severe winter, those are such dreamy welcome sights.
    Also, 'The Secret Garden' (music, not the book) is nice spring/summer music - I think anyways.

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    1. That sounds like a lovely music selection! I will have to check that out! Thanks for sharing :)

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  3. I have 5 of those CD's because I sold Greenhill in my shop for years. I think I actually have 2nd copies of the Old English ones in my car - you would also love Old English CHRISTMAS!!! I love Beatrix Potter too! Thanks for a lovely post.

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    1. Your shop sounds lovely Bernideen! Thank you for sharing here today! Glad to hear from you :)

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  4. So beautiful! I second your suggestions for greenery, especially in tiny spaces. When we lived in SoCal, we had a town house. Ours had a huge yard at 10 x25 sq. Ft. The others were smaller. But we all seemed to make the most of our tiny spaces. When my friend trimmed her olive tree, I took the branches and bundled them to be an arch over the door. I planted vines on either side and they grew up around the arch and bloomed beautiful flowers the next year. I surrounded the yard with bouganvilia, geraniums, begonias, roses, and random clay pots of tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, and strawberries. I had bird baths, feeders, and some whimsy. Two patio chairs and a nice drink and I had a little nature escape surrounded by concrete in the city. Priceless and it cost less than $20.

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    1. What a perfect picture of cottage living anywhere! Thanks for sharing Debby!

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  5. Just love these ideas, funnily enough I had just turned on The Tale of Samuel Whiskers as I started reading this...your pictures are so enchanting, thank you for a wonderful blog, can't stop coming back
    Heather

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    1. Ah, thank you Heather! Have a wonderful weekend! :)

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  6. Lovely post. My children, and myself, like to watch the Beatrix Potter episodes. They are currently on YouTube. The song you linked is a favorite. We play it before nap/bedtime, as it is very relaxing and peaceful.

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  7. So beautiful and calming, both the pictures and the music. Thank you! I recently planted an herb garden bordered with rocks and have enjoyed it so much.

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    1. I am sure it is just beautiful and not to mention medicinal! What a wonderful combination! :)

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  8. That is one of our favorite songs in this house! I have the sheet music printed for the piano. We LOVE these little sweet videos, as well. Beatrix Potter has even inspired us to have little rabbits in our life - we have them wild and free on our property. We look out and they are whimsical and magical to us. They are tame but wild. We do not have to put them in a cage. There is even one in the house, at present, as she was just getting accustomed to her new cage free life when a winter storm set in. We do so adore Miss Potter's way of living, indeed.

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    1. That is just darling! Thank you for sharing :)

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  9. How beautiful is this farm. Love Miss potter.

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    1. Yes, the grounds are gorgeous and I would love to visit them someday!

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  10. so beautiful, there is so much to BP than just her books as you mentioned her gifts of land to the National Trust and also her breeding of the Herdwick sheep probably saved them from extinction. This is a blog post from 2008 when we were blessed to visit her home again...no photography is permitted inside the house so I've shown some from a lovely book I have. Enjoy your weekend http://coffeee2001.blogspot.com.au/2011/10/beatrix-potter-part-3-hill-top-and.html

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    1. Sounds excellent! I will take a peak over soon! Thank you for sharing :)

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  11. Sorry for the off topic comment but I had followed a link to your blog article on the Beatrix Potter themed bug spray and noticed your reference to a possible choice of the plant tansy, tansy is extremely toxic, whether consumed or absorbed through the skin. http://strangersandpilgrimsonearth.blogspot.com/2016/04/diy-bug-be-gone-spray-insect-repellant.html?m=1

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    1. Hi Mary!

      Thank you for taking the time to comment! I had listed some of my information sources on the blog post (at the bottom) and the Herbal Academy of New England had tansy listed for horseflies, mosquitoes and ticks. They are a reputable website - I will include the link for you ---

      https://theherbalacademy.com/crafting-a-natural-bug-repellent-with-essential-oils/

      However, being I don't like to work with controversial oils (which I did mention I had not personally used the tansy in the article), I will remove the suggestion altogether. It can be very hard to discern amidst all the new information emerging each day about EO's and I thank you for your concern....

      Have a lovely week!

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  12. So loved your post, dear JES! You sure are a girl after my own heart! smile.. Have been into Beatrix Potter for many years and have collected much.. grin.. My favourite is an old calendar with bits and pieces of her drawings and writings.. So enjoyed the You tube and did not realise they were there.. Thanks dear heart... xo

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    1. Thanks for your sweet visit today Faye! Glad you enjoyed the video -- I thought it was so sweet and couldn't resist! :)

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  13. I so enjoy looking at these pictures of gardens and dwellings with their cottage stones and rock walls! Simply beautiful! I plan on listening to samples of your suggestions of "quaint cottage homemaking music" as soon as possible! Thank you for these suggestions, JES. Have a lovely week! ~Lynne

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    1. So glad you enjoyed your visit! Sometimes we can use a little change of scenery! :)

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  14. What a beautiful song! I will have it going through my mind now, such a lovely haunting melody indeed! Thank you for sharing the wonderful history of Beatrix Potter. What amazing land she owned, and how wonderful that she donated it too. Enjoyed this wonderful post today :)

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    1. Thank you for taking the time to comment! And yes, that sounds rings through my head all day after I hear it once! :)

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  15. Lovely post, JES. It transported me back several years when I had the pleasure of spending a couple of weeks in England in May. I love the Beatrix Potter video! My girls remember watching that series when they were young. Thanks for sharing with us.

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    1. How wonderful you were able to go to England! Thanks for sharing! :)

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  16. Oh what a fun post. Thanks for inviting me into Miss Potter's world.

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    1. You are most welcome! Thanks for visiting :)

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