March 2026

Springtime

It’s such a joy to walk the dog in sunshine. I know it’s not quite time to pack away winter coats, gloves and scarves, but I’m rather hoping we’ll get more of these fleeting, glorious, early spring days during March.

February has been quiet. I managed to continue reading widely. As well as my self set challenge (see my January post for details) I read Wuthering Heights, but decided against the film. (I found the cruelty, which runs through the book, quite shocking, Laura Thompson writes about Emily Bronte’s cruelty to her dog, also shocking, in a recent post) I am going to continue reading a Bronte a month, and have Villette lined up next.

I read this article by Dominika who writes at Gathering Light, about Maura Laverty, I simply had to order the books. They are both wonderful, I think they’d be perfect for reading in March (as St Patrick’s Day ☘️ in on the 17th). Although the novels are set in early 20th Century Ireland and Spain, there were enough similarities of her experience boarding with Nuns, to remind me of my own convent schooling in the 1970s. We also wrote home once a week, and could not seal our letter until a nun had read it! The description of the food Delia’s Grandmother prepares is mouth wateringly wonderful, if you’re interested in Irish recipes then Cherie Denham’s two recipe books The Irish Bakery and The Irish Kitchen, are both worth reading and more importantly, cooking from.

I mentioned my favourite Le Parfait preserving jars in my last post. They are widely available in French Supermarkets, I did buy some new ones in January for my marmalade marathon, but I do recycle them regularly. As they are made from a good quality glass they wash perfectly. For jams and other preserves (pickles, mincemeat etc) I buy new lids to ensure a good seal. However, I am very happy to reuse lids in my pantry cupboards.

A year’s supply of Seville Orange Marmalade.

I think the lids are perhaps the best thing - they can be purchased separately from the pots, which is extremely useful. Not only do they fit Le Parfait and Bonne Maman jars, I have found they fit the jars both of the fish soup and the chestnuts that I buy regularly in France. I now have fabulous recycled storage jars in my cupboards, I think the jars are perfect, looking both uniform and quite chic, with their pretty orange or green lids!

India Knight mentioned the recent radio adaptation of Gone With the Wind, which is available on the BBC Sounds App. I was uncertain about listening to it, but Rachel Joyce’s adaptation is thoughtful and considerate. I would recommend listening to it in conjunction with Opening Lines (also on the sounds App) which I have found useful.

I have also been listening to Shedunnit, a podcast about Golden Age Detective Fiction. It is available on various Podcast Apps and BBC Sounds, there is a vast backlog, which I am gradually working through. Caroline Crampton is particularly good on Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, Josephine Tey, Margery Allingham and Ngaio Marsh, she has also introduced me to new authors and reminded me to go back to Georgette Heyer’s detective fiction. I’ve re-read four so far this year!

I am now reading The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, following a recommendation from Nancy Wallis . I’ve followed Nancy for ages on Instagram and love her posts here on Substack. I was delighted when she told me she has ordered Miss Pettigrew after my suggestion, I hope she enjoys it.

A few seasonal things to do in March:

If you haven’t yet tried forcing some blossom, it is a lovely thing to do. Remember to only take one or two branches, and not from a private garden or property. Pop the branch into some water and over the next week or so, watch the blossoms unfurl.

Early March: Bake a Simnel Cake.

March 15th: Mothering Sunday, a special day to enjoy with one’s children and grandchildren.

March 17th:: St Patrick’s Day baking , some of my favourites are a Guinness Bread, a Boiled Cake and pretty little Shamrock Pies.

A walk beside the river, enjoy the spring weather and more blossoms.

Later in the month start decorating for Easter.

(I do have some photos to illustrate this little list, but I can’t add them at the moment, as I’m already running late, I had better post without them, many apologies! I will see if I can make a small post tomorrow)

See you next month.

Judith x