Early Spring Slow Living in the English Countryside: Cottage Decor, Simple Recipes & Seasonal Inspiration

The first moments of Spring in the English countryside inspired me to sew my own cottage-style home decorations and bake a delicious, light cake to celebrate the Spring equinox. Walks in the countryside and the beautiful Quantock Hills are simply a must at this time of year for those wanting to practice seasonal slow living. This lifestyle demands attentiveness and awareness of your surroundings, and there is a lot happening right now – hedges are getting a flurry of the first bright green leaves, and trees with their pink and white blossoms are simply enchanting.

Watch " The Art of Spring Homemaking: Sewing Cottage Decor, Slow Living in the English Countryside" Vlog Here:

Spring Meal: Spinach & Garlic Scrambled Eggs

We’ve had some beautiful sunny days, but March and early April can still feel quite chilly in the English countryside. I’ve been craving something green and light, but also warm and filling for lunch. Scrambled eggs with spinach and garlic were just what I needed!

I’m sure you know spinach is great for you, but I also love how easy it is to add to so many dishes—you can throw it into a smoothie, mix it into a curry, or serve it as a simple salad with dressing.

To make it, simply wilt a cup of chopped fresh spinach in a pan. Add 1/2 tablespoon of butter, let it melt, then add garlic and let it fry in the butter until fragrant. Mix it all together and add one egg, stirring well. Toast some bread and place the scrambled egg on top – ready!

DIY Duck Garland: Sewing Spring Home Decor

I now have a sewing machine, yay! I mentioned to my husband that maybe I’d like one for my birthday in November… and it arrived in our home just two days later. I’m so excited to try sewing little things for the house, like seasonal decorations and maybe even simple clothes one day.

In this video, I’m sharing the unboxing of my new sewing machine, some bits and bobs that came with it, and my thoughts on it.

Now, with Spring arriving, I want to start making my own home decor, inspired by cosy cottage style, matching our rustic candles. The first thing I decided to make is a duck garland. I’ve been seeing these garlands on Pinterest for ages and always wanted one – so I’m finally making it myself! I chose ducks because small farm birds like chicks and ducks are some of my favourite animals, and I hope to have chickens or ducks one day.

Early Spring in Castle Combe

In this video, I’m taking you to Castle Combe. I love visiting here to watch the seasons change. I always wonder how many seasons & generations these cottages have seen, yet they still stand strong and still... From peasant homes to one of the prettiest villages in the UK, it’s amazing how much we have changed, while the cottages have stayed the same.

We visited on a gloomy March morning, and there were barely any people around, which is rare! I had a chance to get some really good shots which I share in the vlog.

Cottage Spring Home Decor

As we are now in Spring, it's time to decorate my kitchen and make it feel like a cosy cottage hidden in the rolling hills of the English countryside. I really enjoy decorating for the seasons – it motivates me to keep my home tidy and makes me excited about each new chapter in the year.

I hung my hand-sewn duck garland and put together simple Spring decorations with a blossoming branch and dried moss. I filled a jar with some silver foil (you could also use paper or empty bags) and covered the top with dried moss for a nice Spring touch.

Once my kitchen is ready, I light our handmade Spring candles inspired by the scents of the English countryside. I’ve been burning our Spring scents for a few weeks now—they’re perfect for these chilly but brighter evenings. Did you know that in some folk traditions, people would light candles at dawn to help “wake up” their homes after winter and invite light and warmth back in? That’s one of the reasons I love running a candle shop. Candles have been part of human history forever, and there are so many traditions, superstitions, and meanings behind them.

Cottage Baking Recipe: Lemon and Blueberry Loaf

Lastly, in this video, I’m baking a lemon and blueberry cake with crumble on top. I made it recently and Andrei loved it, so I promised to bake it again soon. It’s the perfect Spring cake—fresh and light thanks to the lemon and blueberries.

Lemon Blueberry Loaf recipe (I skipped the icing)

A cosy slow living at home sewing and reading

The cake turned out lovely, and it’s the perfect start to a slow afternoon with tea, a book, and a cosy candle. In this video, I’m also sharing a very cosy evening sewing my duck garland – enjoy!